Ohmigod, Legally Blonde the Musical

Never underestimate the power of blonde ambition. The charming Elle Woods from the 2001 cinematic confection Legally Blonde is back in her own imperturbably perky musical, fresh from a successful Tony Award-winning Broadway run and an unprecedented partnership with MTV (which aired the musical uncut last October to 12.5 million viewers as well as a [...]

It’s Not Over Yet, the Music of the Night: The Phantom of the Opera at the Detroit Opera House

The Phantom of the Opera is the most popular and successful musical of all time. It has played in 125 cities in 25 countries to over 100 million people and has grossed over $5 billion in its lifetime. It has firmly situated itself as an emblem of Western popular culture, with songs and melodies more [...]

Theatre Review: Rent at the Ringwald

The Spirit of Rent: Christine Chemello as Mimi

I hate Rent. Since seeing it performed at the Fox Theatre almost a decade ago, I’ve been pretty outspoken about how over-the-top, hyper-sentimentalized, and over-hyped I thought it was. After all the buzz, I was simply disappointed. I was further perturbed by the fact that this rock opera [...]

Behind the Bizarre

“We’re all mad here. I’m mad, you’re mad…,” said The Cat.
“How do you know I’m mad?” said Alice.
“You must be,” said The Cat.
“Or you wouldn’t have come here.”
Madness? This is Detroit.

In April the group of performers loosely collectively known as “Theatre Bizarre” (known for their yearly Halloween fete which is probably best likened to a [...]

Review: The Pendergrass Fortune or Liars and Moneygrubbers

“The Pendergrass Fortune or Liars and Moneygrubbers”
Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester
Through April 7, 2009
The cast of “The Pendergrass Fortune or Liars and Moneygrubbers” duke it out
with their flashlights as they try to decide which one of them will star in the theater’s
one-man show. (From left to right: Ryan Falcheck, Jamie Kolacki, Savannah Lee
and [...]

Review: Killer Joe @ The Ringwald Theatre

“Killer Joe”
Who Wants Cake?
The Ringwald Theatre, Ferndale
Through April 27, 2009
Killer Joe (Joel Mitchell) looms over timid and innocent
Dottie Smith (Christa Coulter) in the Who Wants Cake?
production of “Killer Joe” at the Ringwald Theatre.
Sitting through “Killer Joe,” by Tracy Letts, is like watching your worst nightmare at gunpoint—except you are holding the gun. [...]

Review: Trip to Bountiful @ Meadow Brook Theatre

Meadow Brook Theatre Ensemble
Meadow Brook Theatre, Rochester
Through April 12, 2009
Mother Watts (Mary Benson, left) tells her new traveling companion,
Thelma (Julianne Somers, right), about her past as they ride the
bus to Bountiful in Meadow Brook Theatre’s “Trip to Bountiful.”
What if you had only one item left on the list of things you want to do [...]

Review: “Red Light Winter” – Extended to March 28th

“Red Light Winter”
by Adam Rapp
The Planet Ant Theatre, Hamtramck
Through March 21, 2009
Review by Heather Bonner
Christina: Morgan Chard
For anyone who likes to study how specific actors handle different roles, this is your show. The Planet Ant’s “Red Light Winter,” by Adam Rapp, has its male cast members trade vastly different roles each night. I [...]

Review: The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies Come From

by Christopher Durang
Who Wants Cake?
The Ringwald Theatre, Ferndale
Through March 28, 2009
Review by Heather Bonner
Hardy Boys Joe (Tony Gross, left) and Frank (Josh
Campos, right) study up for their sleuthing duties in
“The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of Where Babies
Come From,” directed by Joe Bailey.
Want to see a show, but not sure if you can sit through [...]

Review: Purlie @ New McCree Theatre

“Purlie”
The New McCree Theatre, Flint
Through March 14, 2009
Review by Heather Bonner
Purlie Judson (Johnnie Person, left) tries to calm down Aunt Missy
(Billie Scott Lindo, center) as she excitedly hugs Lutiebelle
Jenkins (Jon’Tise Samuels, right) in the “New” McCree
Theatre’s “Purlie.”
“If they’d cut an album, I’d buy it” was the response a friend gave after seeing “Purlie” at the [...]