HELL'S KITCHEN

Roy Berko The touring production of HELL’S KITCHEN is special.  It far succeeds the expectations for a juke-box musical.  The director, choreographer, music-supervisor, technical staff, cast and crew well-deserved the extra-long-standing ovation the production received.  It is a show I could see again and again and be satisfied each time.  Bravo!

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop

Every member of the cast astounds the audience with dancing and singing abilities -- powerfully, yet charmingly, headed by Maya Drake as Ali (i.e teenage Keys). Roz White regally takes on the role of Ali's mentor Miss Liza Jane, a character invented just for the musical to reflect the great tradition of black female blues and jazz pianists and songwriters in the vein of Etta James. Even in the rather thankless role of Ali's slightly domineering mother, Kennedy Caughell stops the show in the heart-wrenching ballad "Pawn it All." With a talent deck that's as stacked as the new touring production of "Hell's Kitchen," it's of no surprise that this jukebox musical quickly transcends from seen-it-done-it to let's see it again. 

To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning

Opening night saw a capacity crowd greet this production with open arms and a rousing well deserved standing ovation. This show is simply that good. The fusion of superb singing, acting, dancing, lights, sound, and music will carry you away from your troubles (at least for a couple of hours). After all, this is what great theater does...helps us escape. Come enjoy the thrill of great live theater.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Gwendolyn Kochur

The “Hell’s Kitchen” musical is much like the adapted version of “Empire State of Mind” that it uses to close out the show: it foregoes grittiness and a hard plot for big lights (and even bigger talent) that will inspire (and entertain) you.

To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's review in Cleveland Scene.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona

Powered by Alicia Keys’ timeless songs and a charismatic, immensely talented young lead, “Hell’s Kitchen” is as soulful and authentic as the artist who brought it to the stage — and just as entertaining.

To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.

 

CANADIAN GOTHIC & AMERICAN MODERN @ Cesear's Forum

"Canadian Gothic" & "American Modern"

Cesear's Forum

September 26th through October 25th

216-241-6000 | www.playhousesquare.org 

 

Roy Berko
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Kate Klotzbach
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Kate's posts here.

Gwendolyn Kochur
When audiences leave a show, it’s common to hear them chatting about how much they loved a production or making special note of which moments were their favorite. The conversation following a showing of “Canadian Gothic” and “American Modern” is more nuanced; you’ll be wondering at the reasoning behind artistic choices, or explaining your interpretation of the work and its structure, comparing and contrasting your analysis with your guest.

To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's review here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi
In both plays, McClelland Glass gives the audience a glimpse of the lives of small, remote townspeople, filled with mundane chores and repetition. Canadian Gothic, set in a town in Saskatchewan, McClelland Glass’s home province, depicts the couple’s apathy, followed by the wife’s death and their daughter’s interracial dating. These events lead to a violent incident that determines the characters’ future, contrary to their expectations or wishes. In American Modern, the wife copes with her depression by consuming herself with super-busy, mundane tasks.  Her additional coping mechanism includes scavenging and holding what she discovers in her neighborhood. In both plays, the husband character is quite passive and unfeeling (or he tries to suppress his feelings), as many of us do—“do nothing.”

To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.

 

Witch @ Dobama Theatre

Through November 2, 2025

 https://www.dobama.org/witch

(216) 932-3396

Roy Berko

From its inception Dobama has continued to stage challenging scripts with skill and effectiveness.  WITCH continues that tradition. This is a challenging script that in less talented hands could have been a very long and frustrating experience.  As is, it well developed the author’s intent and purpose.  Some will probably still find it obtuse, while others, like myself, will find it a very satisfying experience.

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning

At a time in our country when rights are being trampled and souls being purchased on the cheap we need a reminder of what is real, what is valued and what is true. Not a word is wasted nor a gesture thrown away in this gem of a show. These are the words of sages for the ages that will bewitch you.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Gwendolyn Kochur
You don’t have to trade your soul for theater that will entertain you, enrapture you and make you laugh as often as it makes you think. Just exchange the cost of a ticket and your time for a night at Dobama’s “Witch.” It’s quite the lucrative deal.

To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's review here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi

A Faustian fable with timely poignancy, the show prompts the audience to consider whether we can recover from institutionally rooted social illness, corruption, and cruelty driven by those in power and status, whose sole intention is to become richer and more powerful to the extent that they would be immortal, replacing God. Devil in this play is portrayed as a “servant” to an invisible master, which, in the real world, refers to systems, institutions, and hegemony.

To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here. 

La Version Infinita (The Infinite Version) @ Latin US Theatre

Through October 12, 2025

https://www.latinustheater.com/

(216) 369-7158

WORTH NOTING: 

In order to bring attention to local productions of merit at theaters that are not on the Cleveland Critics Circle’s approved Equity Theater list, members of the Circle who attend a community or educational theater production that is perceived as of high quality will have the option of listing that production on the CCC blogsite.  These review(s) fall into that category. 

Roy Berko
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning

Sometimes you need to just take a chance and go see a show that will have you asking “What is it all about?”. This is such a show. While confounding in parts, the idea of alternate universes and persons is not that far off. Come experience the future of theater right now.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Kate Klotzbach
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Kate's posts here.

Gwendolyn Kochur
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's posts here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi

La Versión Infinita, written by Maria Paula Olmo and Carolina Sturla, dramaturged by Daniela Contreras, and directed by Jonathon Morgan, is staged at LatinUs Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio. The story follows Liilian, an insurance sales employee who harbors dreams of becoming an astronaut and walking on the moon. Her routine life takes a dramatic turn when she receives a phone call from a voice identical to her own, shattering her reality (website). This online description instantly reminds me of Alter by Tania Benites, produced by Cleveland Public Theatre, which I reviewed at Cleveland Public Theatre last year.

While Alter is a fantasy thriller about a female employee under pressure to achieve higher sales who transforms into a materialistic demon, staged with a realistic style, La Versión Infinita is a truly conceptual, metaphysical, allegorical, futuristic, and high-camp work that exists in a parallel universe. Creating an allegorical world and the characters that resonate with those in some B-futurist movies from the 1950s, the play presents a view of an infinite universe that contrasts with our daily lives, consumed by materialistic incentives.

To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.

 

ANDY WARHOL IN IRAN @ Beck Center for the Arts

ANDY WARHOL IN IRAN

BECK CENTER FOR THE ARTS

October 3-November 2, 2025

beckcenter.org or 216-521-2540

 

Roy Berko

ANDY WARHOL IN IRAN is a gem of a production.  The well-honed script, focused direction and fine acting all lead to the conclusion that this is MUST SEE show that exposes the audience to an understanding of Warhol, Iran and the Middle East conflict through high drama and humor!  

To see a full review of this show, read Roy Berko's blog here.

Howard Gollop

Instead, the would-be terrorist -- although exceptionally honed by Kareem Chaourab -- becomes something of a gruff teddy bear, while Warhol -- inventively and endearingly rendered by Scott Exposito -- at times becomes a sniveling fop whose wild blonde wig (which Warhol never denied wearing), makes him less stoic and stone-faced artist and more Carol Channing.

This is not to say the play, under the skillful, studied and detailed direction of Sarah May, is anything less than engaging -- and particularly timely, considering the current goings-on in the Middle East. There may be no time-stopping dramatic crescendos in this play, but timeliness and a great time will do quite nicely.

To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning

This is one of those little “slice of life” shows that concentrates on an important event of the last century. The taut and realistic characterizations work to involve the audience as more witnesses than viewers. It opens your eyes to the life of a misunderstood artist, his unwilling involvement in the Middle East conflict and the manner in which he is able to extricate himself from the situation with drama and humor.

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Gwendolyn Kochur
Art is most powerful not when it tells you what to think, but when it poses questions and allows you to come to your own conclusions. “Andy Warhol in Iran” tells us that we are more alike than we are different, that art has a role in politics and we all have an ethical responsibility to be aware of injustices perpetrated upon fellow humans. Unfortunately, it does not trust the audience to digest these themes on our own; instead, we are spoon-fed them, which rather diminishes the overall meal. 

To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's review here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi

Andy Warhol in Tehran, written by Brent Askari and directed by Sarah May, is running at the Beck Center for the Arts. Personally, the title of the play echoes Reading Lolita in Tehran, an autobiographical work by Azar Nafisi, the book I have read and re-read in the past. It is “Tehran” that makes this play and Reading Lorita in Tehran resonate with each other, as Tehran is no longer a popular tourist destination, but rather a city of our imagination, filled with global information and misinformation.

There is also a coincidental linkage between the two works.  In Andy Warhol in Tehran, the character Farhad, a young, undertrained revolutionary, expresses his love for literature. In Reading Lolita in Tehran, the author Azar Nafisi recounts her experiences as an English literature teacher in Tehran immediately after the 1979 revolution. So, suppose Farhad survives violence and persecution under the Shah regime, he might become one of the literature students taught by Nafisi—but perhaps only until a new cycle of persecution under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini worsens.  

To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.

 

Dracula - A Comedy Of Terrors @ Convergence Continuum

Through October 25, 2025

http://www.convergence-continuum.org

(216) 687-0074

 

Howard Gollop

No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning

Take a blender and mix equal parts of Stoker’s classic, Monty Python, Mel Brooks and Ken Ludwig. Blend until smooth and drink it up in one quick intermission free 100 minutes of mad cap farce that will having you screaming with laughter rather than terror. This is the perfect season to check out this masterpiece of absurdity. 

To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Gwendolyn Kochur

There are so many vampire stories out there that you’d assume that we’d have tired of the blood-sucking, garlic-fearing monsters by now. Yet, their appeal is seemingly as death-defying as the creatures themselves, especially when they are portrayed with slapstick absurdity. 

To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's review here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi
As the press release states, Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors, written by Gordon Greenberg and Steve Rosen, directed by Scott Zolkowski, is a “Bram” new comedy (referring to Bram Stoker, the author of his 1897 Gothic novel), filled with clever wordplay and numerous pop culture references, all condensed into a 90-minute show. The work is a witty spoof of a solemn, dark, gothic story, imbued with cultural and social attributes of Victorian values. Identifying, underscoring, and then caricaturing different literacy and cultural gears and elements in Bram’s work, as normal and “ideal”—like decorum, suppression of desires, inhumanity in the medical profession, patriarchy, capitalism, and other “conventions” that divide the world into two groups—good and evil—are challenged in Greenberg and Rosen’s script, which allows each theatre company to develop its creative interpretations and staging devices. 
To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.

 

Hallowed Owls @ Cleveland Public Theatre

Through October 12, 2025

http://www.cptonline.org

216.631.2727 x501

 

Howard Gollop

No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Howard Gollop's review here.

Sheri Gross
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Sheri Gross' review here.

Mark Horning
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Mark Horning's Review here.

Laura Kennelly
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Laura's posts at Cool Cleveland.

Gwendolyn Kochur
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Gwendolyn's posts here.

Dr. Yuko Kurahashi

Hallowed Owls by Robin VanLear is an interactive installation that combines storytelling, poetry, instrumentals, voice, and dance, transporting you to its world and the mythologies we create—this is a short description from the program note (slightly modified).  With this brief description in hand, I had no idea what this work entails or reveals; it turns out to be an amazingly spiritual and mystical experience, immersing myself in the magical forest created within the church ( the former St. Mary's Romanian Orthodox Church), located off the parking lot.   

To see a full review of this show, read Yuko's posts here.

Joey Morona
No review yet.
To see a full review of this show, read Joey's posts here.