Brian Sands

Critics’ Choice Gay Appreciation Award On behalf of Tony Leggio and myself, I am pleased to announce the nominees for this year’s Critics’ Choice Award that will be presented as part of the 36th Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA). They are: Carousel produced by Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane UniversityThe Crucible produced by Fat SquirrelThe Drowsy Chaperone presented by New … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards July 9, 2026

Echoes of the Heart at NOCCA’s Press Street Station Sometimes you don't realize how much you've missed something until you reencounter it after too long an absence. For example, billed as “a cabaret experience”, The NOCCA Stage Company’s recent original song cycle Echoes of the Heart took me back to the heyday of Le Chat Noir, that intimate boîte run by the stylish … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 26, 2026

Once at Le Petit Theatre through June 21 Based on the Oscar-winning movie that was kinda based on real life, Once is a “Czech girl meets Irish boy, boy almost gets girl, boy goes back to old girlfriend” tale. Or “Guy” and “Girl” as they’re called here. That Once rejects a “and they lived happily ever after” ending is refreshing and it’s not without its charms. But cliches … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards June 18, 2026

Medea at the Greenway Station through May 30 Do NOT miss The NOLA Project’s gripping production of Medea, Euripides’ still all-too-relevant 2,500-year-old tragedy, at the Greenway Station. Do NOT miss Natalie Boyd’s phenomenal performance as Medea, the granddaughter of the sungod Helios, who is cast aside for another woman by Jason (a terrific Jon Greene) of Argonaut … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards May 18, 2026

Jagged Little Pill at Jefferson Performing Arts Center There’s not much to say about the recent Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA) production of Jagged Little Pill other than “Bravo!” for presenting this new, challenging musical and doing such a fine job with it. Using songs from Alanis Morissette’s catalog, including two newly written ones, Jagged Little Pill tells the … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards May 1, 2026

Curtain Up What with French Quarter Fest and Jazzfest, there isn’t as much theatrical activity, especially on the Southshore, going on this April. Still, there are quite a few shows worth checking out on both sides of Lake Pontchartrain this month and next. Le Petit Theatre continues its 109th season with Yasmina Reza’s 2009 Tony Award-winning play God of Carnage … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards April 14, 2026

The Great Gatsby at the Saenger Theatre The Great Gatsby, a new musical, recently played at the Saenger Theatre as part of its national tour. Was it great? No. But it was better than I anticipated. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s 1925 novel has been adapted many times, including four movie versions and three on television. This one opened on Broadway two years ago to decent but not … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards April 5, 2026

Guys and Dolls at Le Petit through March 29 I’ll wager you’ll leave Le Petit humming one of the songs from its current production of Guys and Dolls. Or many songs. Take Back Your Mink. If I Were a Bell. Luck Be a Lady. The title song. And more. All classics. After enduring such recent Broadway touring productions as Back to the Future: The Musical and Hell's Kitchen (not … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards March 26, 2026

HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen March 13-15 [HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr returns to the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen March 13-15. The following are excerpts from my June 2021 review of it.] HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, Heather Massie’s one-woman show, made it to … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards March 6, 2026