Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

Brian Sands

Brian Sands began writing for Ambush Magazine in 1996. He became Co-Theater/Performing Arts Editor in 2002, going solo in 2011 upon the retirement of his late colleague Patrick Shannon with whom he founded the Ambie Awards in 2003 and presented them through 2011. He is a member of the Big Easy Theater Committee. He currently co-hosts, with Brad Rhines, Stage Talk with Brian and Brad; episodes can be seen at https://www.facebook.com/StageBeatNewOrleans

Trodding the Boards June 15, 2021

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Songs for a New World at the New Orleans Jazz Museum Hallelujah! Live musical theater performances have returned to New Orleans! Under its “Lyric Lagniappe” banner, Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University (SLT) recently presented Songs for a New World at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. And the only question I have is “Why did it take so long for anyone to do a show there?” … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 15, 2021

Trodding the Boards June 1, 2021

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Little Shop Of Horrors at 30 by Ninety Theatre through June 13 While theaters in New Orleans are beginning to open again (see HEDY! below), venues on the North Shore are now playing to 100% capacity. That being the case, if you want to see 30 by Ninety Theatre’s production of Little Shop Of Horrors, you better book now or risk being disappointed. For those unfamiliar with … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 1, 2021

Trodding the Boards May 18, 2021

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New in New York Broadway will be reopening in September and, elsewhere in New York, live performances have begun happening again, all great news. During a recent visit there, though I noticed only a few street musicians, I was able to go to a number of museums, some featuring special exhibitions, one in an exciting temporary location, and two even in Queens! While The … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards May 18, 2021

Trodding the Boards May 4, 2021

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Eurydice at the UNO Amphitheater After two online productions last fall (Single Black Female and The Emperor Jones), Theatre UNO rousingly returned to live performances recently with an outdoor production of Sarah Ruhl’s Eurydice. Though I’ve attended many productions at UNO over the past 15+ years, this was my first time at its Amphitheater--I even had to ask where it was, … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards May 4, 2021

Trodding the Boards April 6, 2021

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Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival 2021 online The Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival was, understandably and not surprisingly, online this year. While it was not the same as past festivals where one rushed from one event to another and enjoyed the experience of seeing celebrities and plays live, it was a laudable attempt to keep the festival … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards April 6, 2021

Trodding the Boards March 9, 2021

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Brighton Beach Memoirs at 30 by Ninety Theatre through March 14 I remember seeing Brighton Beach Memoirs at the then-recently rechristened Neil Simon Theatre and being a bit underwhelmed by it. I’m not sure if it was because my expectations were too high after its rave reviews and Tony Awards or because the charms of this intimate family dramedy got lost in the upper reaches … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards March 9, 2021

Trodding the Boards February 23, 2021

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The Glass Menagerie at Playmakers Theater through March 14 According to Tennessee Williams, “Time is the longest distance between two places.” When a play is done as superbly as Playmakers Theater’s current production of The Glass Menagerie, however, the distance between “Lights up” and “The curtain falls” feels less like two plus hours than a blink of the eye, a … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards February 23, 2021

Trodding the Boards February 10, 2021

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One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at Jefferson Performing Arts Center One may wonder who’s crazier: the inmates of a State Mental Hospital who populate One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) for putting on this complex play with its large cast? It may not matter as, nowadays, it seems like everyone’s a little bit crazy...or more. At a … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards February 10, 2021