Harker Jones – BroadwayWorld While WENDY’S PETER PAN would be better served by trimming the fat, focusing on more sharpened performances, and allowing its performers room to breathe, children, despite its evening start time, will likely appreciate the show more than adults who will take notice of its distracting bumps and peculiarities. Read more… Philip … Read more
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw In this new biographically-themed coming-of-age musical pitting modern romantic sensibilities against the rigid class structure and social conventions of Victorian-era England, the real-life Alice Liddell once again provides the inspiration for a work of quirky creative imagination. Read more…
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw Weaving personal history, original songs, and abundant humor, the show explores the confusion, frustrations, and unexpected joys in raising a child on the autism spectrum. Read more…
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw Amid the fine production values, watching the three actors’ energetic, at times acrobatic, often hilarious and always moving performances is to experience live theater at its spellbinding best. Read more…
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw That darkness remains far too subtextual, however, to convincingly plumb the depths of Cash’s artistic soul, let alone his biographical one. Read more
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw Through its outrageous comedy, The Thanksgiving Play delivers a soberly insightful warning —as long as we fixate on the trappings of multicultural diplomacy and protocol, true understanding doesn’t stand a chance. Read more…
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw Making excellent use of a 26-member ensemble and the outdoor Topanga venue’s expansive natural canyon backdrop, Ellen Geer’s atmospheric staging leans into the eerie supernatural elements; the precision and clarity are bound to satisfy viewers already familiar with the play, and provide a thrilling introduction for MacNewbies. Read more…
Philip Brandes – Stage Raw. What starts out as an intimate, often comically awkward reunion of aging Boomer scientists evolves into a sobering meditation on climate change, intergenerational responsibility, and personal sacrifice in Santa Barbara’s Ensemble Theatre Company production of The Children. British playwright Lucy Kirkwood’s 2016 drama is already a theatrical staple thanks to … Read more