Folk Rhythms/Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum Much as I enjoy Beethoven and Mozart and Chopin and Bach, when I go to hear live classical music, I prefer something I’m not likely to encounter elsewhere. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) delivered that abundantly with its recent Folk Rhythms featuring composer and oud player Simon Shaheen, and a program … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards February 11, 2020
Trodding the Board January 28, 2020
Grace Kennedy, Darci Jens Fulcher and Dylan Hunter in The Uninvited (photo by Josh Brasted) The Uninvited at Gallier House through Feb. 14 The Uninvited, Goat in the Road Productions’ new show, adds another chapter of immersive historical drama to its successful The Stranger Disease of 2018. Set and performed in Gallier House, The Uninvited explores with imagination and … [Read more...] about Trodding the Board January 28, 2020
Meatball Séance at Southern Rep
Southern Rep Theatre will host Meatball Séance, created and performed by John Michael, January 31 - February 2 in the Sanctuary Stage at 2541 Bayou Road. In this interactive comedy, John Michael has a new boyfriend who’s been invited to meet John’s mom. But she’s deceased. So John Michael is gonna summon her from the dead by cooking her famous meatballs onstage for the new … [Read more...] about Meatball Séance at Southern Rep
Trodding the Board January 14, 2020
Curtain Up On 2020 With the Holidaze over and Carnival not quite yet fully kicking in, the first part of our annual theater season is upon us. The following are some shows that should get you in the mood for Mardi Gras...and some others for those who prefer some seriousness amidst the marvelous madness. Writer/director Nari Tomassetti’s 3 Ring Circus definitely falls in … [Read more...] about Trodding the Board January 14, 2020
Trodding the Boards 2019 in Review
The Year in Review I wish I could say that the 2019 theater season in New Orleans was exciting and provocative and rip-roaring and outrageous and edge-of-your-seaty and challenging and all sorts of other superlatives. But I can’t. Sure, there were many good shows as well as bad ones, some fantastic productions (which I’ll get to) and some stinkers (which I won’t, at … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards 2019 in Review
Trodding the Boards December 17, 2019
Period of Adjustment at Loyola’s Lower Depths Theatre through Dec. 21 Some people like to see things they’re familiar with; they’ll go to New York and get tickets to Phantom of the Opera or Chicago or Wicked. They’ll attend Romeo and Juliet rather than Troilus and Cressida (not that there’s much opportunity to see the latter). Sonia Rose Arredondo and John Lavin in Period … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards December 17, 2019
Trodding the Boards December 3, 2019
A Christmas Carol at Le Petit Theatre thru Dec. 23 [A Christmas Carol returns to Le Petit through Dec. 23. The following is my review from December 2018 of the original production. All of the actors mentioned below will be part of this year’s show.] Christmas arrived early at Le Petit this year with a smashing new production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. To be … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards December 3, 2019
Trodding the Boards November 19, 2019
Cabaret at The New Orleans Art Center through Nov. 24 If you haven’t seen Kander & Ebb’s Tony-winning musical Cabaret before (what, not even Liza’s Oscar-winning turn on celluloid?), get yourself over to the Bywater’s New Orleans Art Center on St. Claude for See ‘Em On Stage’s eminently watchable production, officially titled Cabaret (1998 Version), a nod to the … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards November 19, 2019
Wembley Arena! Carnegie Hall! NOLA at the Orpheum!
One night Bianca Del Rio was performing in storied Carnegie Hall. The next night she was in Pittsburgh at a venue with folding chairs. But rather than complaining, Roy Haylock, Bianca’s alter ego, said in a recent interview, “It keeps me real.” Recalling her sold-out evening on NYC’s 57th Street and 7th Avenue, Haylock stated “It’s insane on so many levels. Being a little … [Read more...] about Wembley Arena! Carnegie Hall! NOLA at the Orpheum!
Trodding the Boards October 22, 2019
The Sound of Music at Jefferson Performing Arts Center through Oct. 27 The Sound of Music??? “Been there, done that, seen the movie version,” you might respond. In these topsy-turvy times, however, a trip out to Metairie for JPAS’ highly satisfying revival of this enduring classic might be a welcome respite from the daily headlines. In case you’ve been in the desert … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards October 22, 2019
