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 September 7, 2021

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Houston and Dallas on the Evacuation Tour I hadn’t expected to stay in Texas for 10 days when I evacuated the day before Hurricane Ida hit. I hoped it would be like so many other storms that have threatened NOLA over the years which turned out to be more much ado about nothing than the tempest. Mother Nature had another tale in mind, though. First of all, I hope everyone … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards September 7, 2021

Trodding the Boards August 10, 2021

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Matilda, the Musical at Swamplight Theatre It’s almost hard to believe that it’s been just two years since Matilda, the Musical had its regional premiere with a stellar Tulane Summer Lyric production as, in that short pandemic-filled time, it’s become a staple of local high schools (Hahnville in pre-Covid 2020) and community theaters with three productions scheduled in the … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards August 10, 2021

Trodding the Boards July 27, 2021

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Reverse Negative at The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts through July 31 Driving back from the North Shore recently, lightning crackled in the distance over Metairie and the West Bank. Lightning, however, had already sizzled earlier in the evening in Hammond at RoBenHood Productions and The Columbia Theatre for the Performing Arts’ presentation of Reverse Negative, … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards July 27, 2021

Trodding the Boards July 13, 2021

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Lehrer's Lyricisms at Canal Place Cinemas on July 15 (with possibly more dates to come) Since the demise of Le Chat Noir and Mid-City Theatre, New Orleans has been hungering for a venue suitable for cabaret, revues and small-scale theater. As it turns out, the solution might’ve been right before our eyes. Lehrer's Lyricisms, a new revue featuring the songs of Tom Lehrer, … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards July 13, 2021

Hosanna! Jesus Christ Superstar rises at Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane

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Summer Lyric Theatre (SLT) was one of the first theater companies to return to live performances in Orleans Parish with a splendid presentation of Songs for a New World, done in the courtyard of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Museum last month. They followed that up a few weeks later with the Rodgers and Hammerstein revue A Grand Night for Singing performed in SLT’s … [Read more...] about Hosanna! Jesus Christ Superstar rises at Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane

Trodding the Boards June 29, 2021

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Mount Rushmore and Southwest South Dakota I was looking forward to two days of exploring southwest South Dakota with a friend in his Airstream, but thanks to American Airlines’ mega-snafu of delays and cancelled flights, which forced me to spend 23 hours in the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport and a nearby Super 8 Hotel, I wound up with only a day in the 40th State. Frustrating as … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 29, 2021

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