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REVIEW: Hairspray is a Timely Reminder that Tolerance Never Goes Out of Style! #Hairspray @attpac

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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.

Michelle Dowdy as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray - photo (c) Paxton Maroney
Michelle Dowdy as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray – photo (c) Paxton Maroney

What’s Hairspray about?

Hairspray takes place in Baltimore, Maryland in the year 1962. The story centers on Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized high school girl who is bullied by the popular kids.

Tracy finds solace in a teen dance program called the Corny Collins show. Every day after school, she races home to watch it on TV. As Tracy relentlessly pursues her passion to be a dancer on the show, her naive dreams collide with the conflicts of the times and she ends up fighting for racial integration along the way.

Unabashedly bold and cheery, Michelle Dowdy (who has played the character on Broadway) is perfectly cast as Tracy Turnblad. You can’t help but smile as Dowdy convincingly exudes Tracy’s boundless optimism.

Reminder that we’re ALL quirky

Tracy’s mother, Edna, is a key figure in the story, as well. Since Divine originated the role of Edna Turnblad in the 1988 movie version, it’s been traditional for a man to portray Tracy’s mom. Aside from wearing a fat suit and a dress, David Coffee doesn’t try to feminize Edna. While that definitely creates many comedic moments, it’s also part of what makes the character feel genuine.

Tracy’s mom is an agoraphobic laundress and her father, Wilbur, runs a joke shop called the Har de Har Hut. Wilbur Turnblad is capably portrayed by Bob Reed, and the chemistry between him and Edna is sweet and funny.

The Turnblads are a quirky family, but aren’t all families a bit quirky when you examine them closely? By magnifying their eccentricities to a nearly cartoonish degree, Hairspray playfully reminds us that we’re all a bit wacky when you get right down to it.

And despite their odd facade, the Turnblads are a loving family. So although Tracy’s adventures force her to make some tough moral choices, she is able to choose the right path. Why? Because her parents haven’t simply told  her to be a good person, they have shown her how to be a good person.

Michelle Dowdy as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray - photo (c) Paxton Maroney
Michelle Dowdy as Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray – photo (c) Paxton Maroney

Timely even though set in 1962

There are so many messages in Hairspray about family, equality, love, and acceptance. In a time when hate speech and bigotry have made such a resurgence, I truly felt like this upbeat show was a tonic for my soul. Bottomline: Bouffants may come & go, but Hairspray reminds us that tolerance never goes out of style!

All that aside, Hairspray is jam-packed with great tunes and choreography. Since the story takes place in 1962, the songs reflect early 1960’s dance music, rhythm and blues, and gospel. The entire cast is great, and there were so many times during the show that I just wanted hop out of my seat and join the dancers. (And I know I wasn’t the only one, because at times, our whole row was moving due to audience members bopping along in their seats!)

Grab your tickets now!

I could go on, but this is a short run show and I want to get a review posted fast. The bottom line is that if you’re looking for something to lift your spirits, grab your tickets to Hairspray – pronto! (Use the promo code BALTIMORE for discounted tickets!)

See Hairspray in Dallas:

Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Runs for 2 1/2 hrs, with a 15-minute intermission.

PLEASE NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Want to keep up with me?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books & presentations take you on FUN adventures!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter, which comes out on Sundays. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to know:

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Filed Under: #TuiSnider #Texas #author #musician, Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: anthony chatmon, ATTPAC, Dallas, david coffee, hairspray, john waters, michelle dowdy, musical, musical theater, play, review, shane allen

REVIEW: Bright Star Offers Twangy, Toe-Tapping Fun #BrightStar @attpac

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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.

Edie Brickell and Steve Martin (c) Joan Marcus
Edie Brickell and Steve Martin (c) Joan Marcus

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 it, and I’m glad. The surprise elements and plot twists were fun to experience, so I won’t divulge any spoilers here.

The first act, for instance, ends with a shocking event. Seriously, there were a few gasps in the audience when it occurred, and during intermission, I overheard a woman say, “This plot is freaking me out. Please tell me the show ends well!”

That said, after you see the show, here’s a great article to read by Caleb Pirtle that includes a 1902 newspaper clipping of the strange-but-true news item that inspired the story for Bright Star. Also, here’s a YouTube clip of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell performing a song inspired by the event called “Iron Mountain Baby”.

Bright Star catches flak in some circles for its happy ending and melodramatic bent. In interviews (such as this one) Steve Martin and Edie Brickell have stated that they wanted to create something sincere and without cynicism, so keep this in mind when you head to the theater.

Cast of "Bright Star" (c) Joan Marcus
Cast of “Bright Star” (c) Joan Marcus

The plot for Bright Star revolves around the connections between Billy Cane (Henry Gottfried), a budding small-town writer, and Alice Murphy (Audrey Cardwell), a jaded big-city magazine editor. As an author, I’m a sucker for any plots involving writers, so I was immediately hooked.

As Alice Murphy, Cardwell seamlessly transitions back and forth from spunky teen to a world-weary 30-something. Her chemistry with Jimmy Ray Dobbs (Patrick Cummings) was a delight, as was the sweet frisson between Billy Cane and Margo Crawford (Liana Hunt.)

Flirty moments were balanced with one-liners traded between secondary characters Jeff Blumenkrantz and Kaitlyn Davidson, who played the snarky office staff at Alice Murphy’s literary magazine.

The storyline for Bright Star hops between two time periods: the early 1920’s and the post-war 1940’s. This gives Martin and Brickell ample room to inject the folksy score with Jazz Era flair and hints of Big Band rhythm. I really enjoyed the music and found myself tapping my toes throughout the production. Many of Martin and Brickell’s songs offer haunting harmonies and beautiful syncopation and are worth listening to on their own.

Cast of "Bright Star" (c) Joan Marcus
Cast of “Bright Star” (c) Joan Marcus

Since Steve Martin wrote the Bright Star book, the witty dialogue and humorous observations sprinkled throughout the show came as no surprise. Also as expected, Edie Brickell’s lyrics were earnest and poetic.

Eugene Lee’s scenic design was sparse yet clever. It offered just enough staging for my mind to fill in the gaps. The choreography by Josh Rhodes had a very natural feel, rather than simply being a series of dance numbers. That said, I especially loved the boozy physical humor in “Another Round.”

Bright Star is well cast, with strong performers across the board. The opening night performance in Dallas brought the audience to its feet for a well-deserved standing ovation at the AT&T Performing Arts Center Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House. The show plays here through June 24th, so grab your tickets before it’s too late!

Cast of "Bright Star" (c) Joan Marcus
Cast of “Bright Star” (c) Joan Marcus

Follow #BrightStar on social media:

Official website: Bright Star
Twitter profile: @BrightStarBway
Hashtag for social media: #BrightStar
AT&T Performing Arts Center on Twitter & Instagram: @ATTPAC

See Bright Star in Dallas:

Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Runs for 2 1/2 hrs, with a 15-minute intermission.

PLEASE NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Hey, you! Want to keep up with me?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books & presentations take you on a FUN adventure!

PRIVATE NEWSLETTER: If you’d like to keep up with me, you might like my newsletter, which comes out twice a month. Use the form below to sign up if you’d like to know:

  • What I’m up to
  • Where I’m speaking next
  • When my next book comes out
  • What’s going on behind the scenes
  • Any other fun news!

As a thank you for signing up to my newsletter, you’ll receive a historic cemetery symbols guide I created called “A Quick Guide to The Many Meanings of Hands.” 






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Filed Under: #TuiSnider #Texas #author #musician, Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: ATTPAC, bright star, Dallas, edie brickell, musical, musical theater, play, review, steve martin

Review: RENT 20th Anniversary Tour @ATTPAC @RentOnTour #Rent20

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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 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com

RENT’s Storyline: Making a Living versus Making a Life

Set in the 1990’s, RENT follows the lives of seven aspiring creatives throughout a single tumultuous year as they struggle between making a living and making a life for themselves in New York City. Along the way, the characters are confronted with homophobia, class disparity, drug addiction, and what it means to succeed without selling out.

Inspired by an opera

Although inspired by Giacomo Puccini’s opera La Bohème, much of the storyline in RENT is autobiographical. Playwright Jonathan Larson’s best friend growing up was gay, for instance, while Larson dated a fickle dancer who eventually left him for a woman.

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com

RENT: Charismatic Cast

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour features a talented, energetic, and youthful cast, for whom the 1990’s must feel so very far away! David Merino who plays Angel, is charismatic and amazing from the moment he struts onto the stage. I especially loved his moves and whoops a la Prince during the lively “Today 4 U” number.

While the entire ensemble has strong voices, Aaron Harrington’s lush baritone blew me away.  I could listen to him sing all day. Speaking of vocals, the solo in “Seasons of Love” gave me some serious chills!

RENT’s choreography is varied and imaginative throughout, but I especially loved the “Tango: Maureen.” The show’s dance moves often add a bit of witty subtext to the vocals, such as in the playfully seductive “Light My Candle” song and dance, featuring Kaleb Wells as Roger and Skyler Volpe as Mimi.

Follow the the #Rent20 Tour site and social media:

Official website: Rent On Tour 
Facebook page: Rent On Tour
Twitter profile: Rent On Tour
YouTube page: Rent On Tour
Hashtag for social media: #RentOnTour

RENT cast member’s sites and social media:

Danny Kornfeld as Mark Cohen,
Kaleb Wells as Roger Davis,
Skyler Volpe as Mimi Marquez,
Aaron Harrington as Tom Collins,
David Merino as Angel Dumott Schunard,
Katie LaMark as Maureen Johnson,
Jasmine Easler as Joanne Jefferson
Christian Thompson as Benny Coffin III.

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas plays through October 2nd, so grab your tickets while you can. After all, there’s no day but today!

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com

 

The world has been robbed

It’s such a shame that Jonathan Larson,  who wrote the book, music and lyrics for RENT, unexpectedly died of an undiagnosed heart condition on the day of RENT’s preview performance 20 years ago! Aside from the obvious grief this caused his friends and family, the entire world has been robbed of knowing what else he would have given us through his creativity.
To learn more about Jonathan Larson and the background behind RENT, check out this documentary on YouTube: No Day but Today: Rent

Jonathan Larson was posthumously awarded many awards for RENT including: the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, the Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Original Score; the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Musical; the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Musical in the Off-Broadway category; the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical, the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Music, and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Lyrics; and three Obie Awards for Outstanding Book, Outstanding Lyrics and Outstanding Music.

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour in Dallas plays through October 2nd, so grab your tickets while you can. After all, there’s no day but today!

RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com
RENT 20th Anniversary Tour Company. Photo credit Emilio Madrid-Kuser, Broadway.com

RENT tickets & more information:

What: RENT 20TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR
When: Now through October 2, 2016 in Dallas, TX

Closed Captioning: The TDF will be offering live captioning for the following performanc: Sunday, October 2, 2016 at 7:30pm
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Runs for 150 minutes, with a 15-minute intermission. No children under 4-years-old allowed. 

NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.white-line-separator

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FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, music & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below.  You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

 

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Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: #CabaretTour, ATTPAC, Cabaret, Dallas, musical, musical theater, review, sliding doors, theater review, Tui Snider, Winspear Opera House

Review: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder @ATTPAC in Dallas

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Opening Night Ovation

 

The national tour of A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder received a well-deserved standing ovation last night in Dallas, Texas at the AT&T Performing Arts Center. It was easy to see why this Tony Award winning musical received so many accolades – including winning Best Musical and Best Book – when it debuted in 2014!

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" photo provided courtesty of AT&T Performing Arts Center
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” photo provided courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

Lighthearted Black Humor

While the story revolves around a series of murders conducted by a ruthless serial killer, it’s actually a comical show that keeps you smiling and laughing from start to finish.

Fans of “Arsenic & Old Lace,” “Sweeney Todd” and “Clue” will instantly connect with the lighthearted black humor so capably rendered by A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder. (And for those who live in the Dallas – Fort Worth area, Pegasus Theatre’s Living Black and White™ plays fall into this genre, as well!)

 

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" photo provided courtesty of AT&T Performing Arts Center
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” photo provided courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

The Plot: Shades of Burton & Gorey

The story begins with an orphan named Monty Navarro (Kevin Massey) learning that his mother was an heiress who was disowned by her wealthy family. Monty’s mother, you see, had married for love instead of financial gain. This madcap tale of love and lust is set in Edwardian England, so any fans of Tim Burton and/or Edgar Gorey will be delighted by the costumes (which won a Tony Award) and the clever digitally-enhanced scenery (which was nominated for a Tony Award.) As someone fond of wordplay, the witty lyrics kept my interest and the story pace never lagged.

After Monty learns he is 8th in line to become the head of the wealthy and titled D’Ysquith family, he decides to avenge his disgraced mother by killing the D’Ysquith family members one by one. As dark as this sounds, the book and lyrics by Robert L. Freedman and the music and lyrics by Steven Lutvak will keep you in stitches throughout!

The humor varies from witty turns of phrase, slapstick, to the silliness of the characters themselves. Some of my favorite numbers include the wry, “I Don’t Understand the Poor” (which has a nearly spoken word quality to it that reminds me of Rex Harrison’s “Why Can’t a Woman Be More Like a Man?”) and “Better With a Man,” which is full of double entendres and hilarious choreography.

I should mention, too, that while we never see the 10-piece band in the orchestra pit, I thoroughly enjoyed how the instrumentation, heavy on clarinet, bassoon and oboe, perfectly matched the old-timey setting and scene.

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" photo provided courtesty of AT&T Performing Arts Center
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” photo provided courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

Talented & Energetic Cast

The entire D’Ysquith family (9 characters, total) is played by one man, John Rapson, and he is just amazing! Not only does Rapson have a wonderful voice, but his energy and quirkiness kept me giggling from one character’s demise to the next.

As the murderous Monty Navarro, Kevin Massey somehow manages to remain rather likable despite his despicable acts. When not killing, Monty spends his time wooing two beautiful women: Kristen Beth Williams is delightful as the shallow and vain gold digger, Sibella Hallward, while her competition for Monty’s affection is Phoebe D’Ysquith, played to cute and bubbly perfection by Adrienne Eller.

One of my favorite scenes involves Monty juggling these two love interests by skillfully dashing between rooms during in his mansion to keep them from seeing one another. I should add that all three of them have voices worthy of an opera. In fact, there is not a weak voice in the cast.

Based on a movie

Film buffs may be interested to know that the plot for A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder is based on a 1949 film entitled “Kind Hearts and Coronets” starring Alec Guinness in the multi-character role of the wealthy family members. But before you go stream that one on Netflix, catch the live performance of this madcap musical romp in Dallas while you can!

"A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder" photo provided courtesty of AT&T Performing Arts Center
“A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” photo provided courtesy of AT&T Performing Arts Center

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder tickets & more information:

What: A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder
When: Now through August 28, 2016 in Dallas, TX
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Approximately 140 minutes, with one intermission.

Official Twitter account: @GentlemansGuide

NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Want to read more from Tui Snider?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide: 
UNEXPECTED TEXAS
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places: 
PARANORMAL TEXAS

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history: 
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


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Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: Dallas, Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, musical, musical theater, review, theater review, Tui Snider, Winspear Opera House

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast @ATTPAC in Dallas

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Disney’s Beauty & the Beast

If you have any little princesses or princes in your immediate family, you absolutely must head over to the AT&T Performing Arts Center before Disney’s Beauty & the Beast leaves town! This entertaining musical, based on the animated 1991 Disney movie, portrays the classic fairy tale in a lush and lively style that will keep viewers of all ages highly entertained.

The Beast (Sam Hartley) & Belle (Brooke Quintana) in Disney's Beauty & the Beast
The Beast (Sam Hartley) & Belle (Brooke Quintana) in Disney’s Beauty & the Beast. Photo provided by AT&T Performing Arts Center

A Tale as Old as Time…

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a young woman who lives in a small town where her love of reading makes her a nerdy oddball. Every other girl in the village has a crush on a debonair-but-stupid fellow, Gaston. Gaston, however, ignores his adoring fans and pursues Belle – not because she is intelligent and interesting, but because she is the most beautiful girl he’s ever seen.

Lefou (Matt DaSilva) & Gaston (Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek)
Lefou (Matt DaSilva) & Gaston (Christiaan Smith-Kotlarek) Photo provided by AT&T Performing Arts Center

Happily Ever After

When Belle’s beloved father is captured by a scary beast, she frees him by offering herself as a prisoner, instead. The plot unfolds from there, and despite many more travails, everyone ends up living happily ever after. This is a fairy tale, after all!

Beauty & the Beast ensemble (photo provided by ATT Performing Arts Center)
Beauty & the Beast ensemble (photo provided by AT&T Performing Arts Center)

Pre-show Storytime: Children’s Book Readings by Local Celebrities

As a way of celebrating Belle’s love of reading, the nonprofit AT&T Performing Arts Center has partnered with Children’s Health to conduct a book drive called “Books for Belle.”
Attendees are invited to visit a pop-up library in the Winspear Opera House lobby and donate a new or gently used children’s book to benefit patients and families at Children’s Health hospitals and clinics. In return, children who donate two or more books can select a book of their own from the lobby shelves to keep and read over the summer.
Disney's Beauty & the Beast ensemble. Photo provided by AT&T Performing Arts Center
Disney’s Beauty & the Beast ensemble. Photo provided by AT&T Performing Arts Center

Celebrity Reader Schedule

Wednesday, June 22 (7:30pm performance, 6:30 pm reading: Gloria Campos
Thursday, June 23 (2pm matinee, 1pm reading): Shelly Slater, WFAA-TV
Thursday, June 23 (7:30pm performance, 6:30 pm reading): Steve Noviello, FOX
Friday, June 24 (2pm matinee, 1pm reading): Amy Vanderoef, ABC
Friday, June 24 (7:30pm performance, 6:30 pm reading): Funnyatrics Clown Troupe
Saturday, June 25 (2pm matinee, 1pm reading): SMU football players
Saturday, June 25 (7:30pm performance, 6:30 pm reading): to be announced

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast tickets & more information:

What: Disney’s Beauty & the Beast Musical
When: Now through June 26, 2016 in Dallas, TX
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Approximately 140 minutes, with one 15-minute intermission.

NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Want to read more from Tui Snider?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide: 
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places: 
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
.

For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history: 
The Lynching of the Santa Claus Bank Robber

 


white-line-separator

Hey, you! Want to come along for the ride?

No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui's books can take you on a FUN adventure!
No matter where you live in the galaxy, Tui Snider’s books can take you on a FUN adventure!

FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER: For updates on my offbeat travels, books, & other fun stuff (such as postcards from the road!) subscribe to my newsletter using the form below. Each week, I’ll let you know the Historic Cemetery Symbol of the Week, who Teal Gray & I are interviewing on our show that night, and any other fun or interesting news. You can also mix & mingle with me by clicking this link & “liking” my Facebook Author Page:

Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: ATTPAC, beauty and the beast, childrens hospital, Dallas, musical, musical theater, review, Texas, theater review, Tui Snider, Winspear Opera House

Review: Beautiful, The Carole King Musical in Dallas #BeautifulOnTour

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Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway

 

When a major recording artist is featured in a jukebox musical, you can pretty much guess which songs will be recorded – or so I thought before attending Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. The national tour of this Tony Award winning show opened in Dallas, Texas last night to a packed house at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Abby Mueller (“Carole King”) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus
Abby Mueller (“Carole King”) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus

Not just Carole King songs

Beautiful includes plenty of Carole King songs, but what surprised me was how many other familiar tunes came along for the ride. For instance, I didn’t know Carole King and her early songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin, spent a good 10 years writing for other recording artists before King dared to go solo.

Over the years, King and Goffin cranked out no less than 118 pop hits including: “The Locomotion” (Little Eva), “I’m Into Something Good” (Herman’s Hermits), “Pleasant Valley Sunday” (The Monkees), “A Natural Woman” (Aretha Franklin), “One Fine Day” (Chiffons), and “Will You Love Me Tomorrow” (Shirelles), among many, many more!

Curt Bouril (“Don Kirshner”), Liam Tobin (“Gerry Goffin”), Abby Mueller (“Carole King”), Ben Fankhauser (“Barry Mann”) and Becky Gulsvig (“Cynthia Weil”). Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus
Curt Bouril (“Don Kirshner”), Liam Tobin (“Gerry Goffin”), Abby Mueller (“Carole King”), Ben Fankhauser (“Barry Mann”) and Becky Gulsvig (“Cynthia Weil”). Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus

Beautiful: The Storyline

The plot for Beautiful: The Carole King Musical follows King’s career from a precocious start at age 16 to her triumphant Carnegie Hall appearance in 1971 at the age of 29.

As the fast-paced production hops from one catchy hit to the next, we follow the lives of Carole King and her songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin, through their productive career and tumultuous marriage. In the 1960’s, the duo shared an office next door to another prolific songwriting team: that of Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann. Despite intense competition on the musical front, the four soon become fast friends.

Although the story touches on heavy topics including depression, drug use and infidelity, Beautiful uses snappy dialogue and humor to create a lighthearted tone in the opening scenes and maintains this throughout.

This sitcom approach works because the true emotional movement of the story is created by witnessing Carole King go from domestic struggles and stage fright to an independent woman in charge of her own creative spirit. In fact, Carole King’s songs do most of the heavy lifting, emotion-wise.

I know I’m not the only one who was swept along by the breezy narrative. At one point, when the packed crowd in Dallas let out a collective gasp, my husband leaned over and whispered, “Listen to this audience!” At other key moments attendees cheered and/or broke into spontaneous applause to encourage Carole King along her life’s journey.

Abby Mueller (“Carole King”) and Liam Tobin (“Gerry Goffin”) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus
Abby Mueller (“Carole King”) and Liam Tobin (“Gerry Goffin”) Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus

Beautiful on Broadway’s talented cast:

In this 2016 Broadway touring cast, Abby Mueller‘s performance as Carole King is a real knock out. Rather than attempt to impersonate Carole King, Mueller somehow embodies the famous songstress. At times, Mueller’s performance made me giggle with appreciation at how perfectly she captured King’s particular way of phrasing and her overall style without ever turning it into a caricature. (Incidentally, Abby’s little sister, Jessie Mueller, snagged a Tony for originating the Carole King role on Broadway.)

Liam Tobin brought as much depth to his portrayal of Carole King’s first husband and songwriting partner, Gerry Goffin as the material allowed. It’s not Goffin’s story, after all, and there was only so much room in the plot to delve into his struggles with addiction and manic depression.

The biggest laughs of the night belonged to Ben Fankhauser as the talented hypochondriac, Barry Mann, while Becky Gulsvig is vibrant and adorable in her role as the commitment-phobic lyricist, Cynthia Weil.

Natural Woman. Foreground: Abby Mueller (“Carole King”). Background: (l to r) Britney Coleman, Sarah Bockel and Ashley Blanchet. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus
Natural Woman. Foreground: Abby Mueller (“Carole King”). Background: (l to r) Britney Coleman, Sarah Bockel and Ashley Blanchet. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Photo by Joan Marcus

Beautiful: How does Carole King feel about it?

Since the story is based on living people, Douglas McGrath created the characters in his book after extensive research and personal interviews, especially with the four main characters: Carole King, Gerry Goffin, Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil.

In case you’re wondering how Carole King feels about the musical based on her life, the first time she saw Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, King was so overcome by emotion that she left during intermission. She has since come to terms with seeing her life portrayed on stage.

These days, King makes a point of watching each actress who portrays her, although she attends performances secretly, wearing a full disguise to as not to draw attention to herself or intimidate the cast. She even advised Abby Mueller to, “Have fun being me,” when the pair met on the set of NBC’s “Today” show.

As for my advice: Grab your tickets to Beautiful: The Carole King Musical while you can!

Beautiful tickets & more information:

What: Beautiful: The Carole King Musical on Broadway
When: Now through June 19, 2016 in Dallas, TX
Where: AT&T Performing Arts Center/Winspear Opera House, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201
Tickets: Check availability and book online at the AT&T Performing Art Center official website.
Runtime: Approximately 2.5 hours, with one intermission.

Beautiful on Broadway Twitter: @BeautifulOnBway & hashtag: #BeautifulOnTour 

NOTE: While tickets were provided for review purposes, the opinions expressed in this article are wholly my own.

Want to read more from Tui Snider?


To read about more weird, offbeat, and overlooked places, check out my best-selling travel guide: 
UNEXPECTED TEXAS: Your Guide to Offbeat & Overlooked History, Day Trips & Fun Things to do near Dallas & Fort Worth
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For ghost hunting hot spots, check out my best-selling travel guide to haunted places: 
PARANORMAL TEXAS: Your Travel Guide to Haunted Places near Dallas & Fort Worth
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For a strange-but-true tale of Texas history, check out this bizarre piece of West Texas history: 
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Filed Under: Blog on Writing & Life, Blog Posts, My Reviews, Theater Reviews Tagged With: abby mueller, ATTPAC, barry mann, beautiful on broadway, beautiful: the musical, becky gulsvig, ben fankhauser, carole king, cynthia weil, Dallas, gerry goffin, lliam tobin, musical, musical theater, q1, review, sliding doors, theater review, Tui Snider, Winspear Opera House

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