Opening night for THE COLOR PURPLE in Dallas ended with a cheering crowd and a standing ovation at the Winspear Opera House in the downtown Dallas Arts District. THE COLOR PURPLE is a Tony Award-winning musical revival based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Alice Walker. The story spans the years 1910 through 1940, and the Grammy-winning score expertly infuses the musical flavors of that era, everything from gospel, jazz, ragtime, and blues. For those unfamiliar with the source material, the opening scene of THE COLOR PURPLE may come as a jolt. The casual manner in which 14-year-old Celie…
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Opening Night for Once On This Island Opening night for ONCE ON THIS ISLAND, brought Caribbean heat to chilly North Dallas at the Winspear Opera House in the downtown Dallas Arts District. I was excited to attend since Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty’s catchy lyrics and island rhythms won the 2018 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical with this captivating production. Storm-ravaged Tropical Paradise ONCE ON THIS ISLAND is set on an island in the French Antilles, although we never find out precisely which one. Even before the show starts, we quickly realize that the world of…
Opening Night Ovation for ONCE Opening night for ONCE, a multiple Tony award-winning folk musical, ended with a cheering crowd and a standing ovation at the Winspear Opera House in the downtown Dallas Arts District. Onstage Pub and Jam Session If you’re someone who frequently runs late, make sure you come early for ONCE. If you arrive after the show starts, you will not be allowed to enter for a full 30 minutes. The show is very quiet at the beginning and latecomers could disrupt the plot for the rest of us. The other reason to come early is…
Hairspray is a satisfying confection While waiting for the doors to open at the Winspear Opera House on Hairspray’s opening night in Dallas, Lyft offered theater goers complimentary Pop Rock macarons. Much to my delight, these hot pink confections were surprisingly satisfying rather than sickeningly sweet. Those pastries made the perfect pairing for Hairspray, because from the moment the curtain rose until the last curtain call, this musical blends fast-paced fun with a cast of quirky characters who, much like a hot pink Pop Rock macaron, create a surprisingly satisfying experience. What’s Hairspray about? Hairspray takes place in Baltimore, Maryland…
Bright Star is a bluegrass musical that first opened on Broadway in 2016 as the result of a creative partnership between renowned comic, writer and banjo player, Steve Martin, and the talented songstress, Edie Brickell. Although set in the hills of North Carolina, it’s worth nothing that this creative duo has roots in the Lone Star State: Edie Brickell grew up in Dallas and Steve Martin hails from Waco. The storyline for Bright Star was inspired by the “Iron Mountain Baby” of 1902, but beyond the inciting incident, it’s pure fiction. I decided not to read anything about the show before seeing…
Opening Night Ovation for RENT: Feels like a Party! Opening night for RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas ended with a cheering crowd and a standing ovation. This much-lauded and multi-award-winning show with book, music and lyrics by Jonathan Larson plays through October 2nd at the AT&T Performing Arts Center as part of its 2016 – 2017 Broadway Series. It was obvious by the crowd’s cheers and anticipatory applause throughout the show that a good portion of the opening night crowd had not only seen RENT before, but they were very familiar with it. It felt like a party! RENT’s Storyline: Making…