Author Archives
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‘MJ: The Musical Shines’ and Redefines the King of Pop’s Legacy
BY JESSICA NEU What comes to mind when you hear the name Michael Jackson? Perhaps “King of Pop,” Genius, the moonwalk, a Glove, white socks and black shoes, the Jackson 5, Bubbles the Chimp, the “Thriller” music video, media freak, the… Read More ›
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Review: Jason Robert Brown at the Cultural Trust’s Cabaret Series
BY JESSICA NEU I was a senior in High School when I was first introduced to the multi-hyphenate Broadway extraordinaire Jason Robert Brown. My friends at CAPA were doing Parade as their Spring Musical and I vividly remember my friends in the show saying how challenging… Read More ›
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Riverfront Theater Company’s ‘Constellations’ is a Theatrically Triumphant, Metaphysical Experience
By JESSICA NEU By definition, a constellation is a group of visible stars that form a visible pattern. This pattern, however, is based solely on one’s perception, thereby rendering infinite ways to interpret a single cluster of patterned stars. Nick Payne’s 2012… Read More ›
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Nick Diffatte Transforms Liberty Magic Into a Space of Magic and Humor in the “Offbeat”
By JESSICA NEU Magic is one of those concepts that can be interpreted and defined in a myriad of ways. Magic is a personal concept that can correlate to anything from hope to the daily mundane to coincidences or a… Read More ›
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Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s Pete Pan Pixie Dusts Pristine Magic on the Benedum Stage
By JESSICA NEU Any performance by the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is guaranteed to be a masterclass in technique, poise, elegance, and intricate choreography. PBT opens its 55th Emerald Anniversary Season with the Pittsburgh premiere of Trey McIntyre‘s Peter Pan, which… Read More ›
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‘& JULIET’ Ponders What If Only Romeo Died ? – Opening October 29th at the Benedum
By JESSICA NEU “To be or not to be” a Shakespeare historian… “that is the question.” Regardless of your Shakespeare knowledge, you can conjure up a general synopsis of Romeo and Juliet. Star-crossed teens from rival gangs meet and nearly instantly… Read More ›
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Iron Horse Theater Company’s ‘The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time’ is a Compassionate and Dignified Portrayal of Humanity
By JESSICA NEU Iron Horse Theater Company continues its 2024 season with a riveting production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. The play by Simon Stephens, based on Mark Haddon’s novel by the same name, was highly successful in… Read More ›
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Miguel Muñoz Evokes the Space Between Imagination and Reality in ‘What is Magic for You?’
By JESSICA NEU Miguel Muñoz, World Champion of Magic, opens Liberty Magic‘s 2024-25 season with his show What is Magic for You? Muñoz is a magician, circus artist, and Puntocero co-director. He won the World Champion of Magic (Grand Prix Fism 2018),… Read More ›
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REVIEW: ‘Fragments of Time’ Tells a Textured Story of Conflict, Mortality, and Love Through Dance
By JESSICA NEU Texture Contemporary Ballet’s Fragments of Time opened Friday evening at the New Hazlett Theater. The show opens Artistic Director Alan Obuzor’s 2016 work “Un-Preservation of Humanism” and features the music of Ezio Bosso. Audiences will enjoy that the dancers are on pointe while melding together… Read More ›
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An Interview with Hamilton’s Lauren Mariasoosay and Marja Harmon – Who Play the Schuyler Sisters in ‘Hamilton’
By JESSICA NEU I had the pleasure of recently interviewing Marja Harmon and Lauren Mariasoosay, who will perform on stage at the Benedum Center from September 11th to 29th as part of the touring cast of the hit musical Hamilton. Mariasoosay is making her Hamilton debut as Eliza Schuyler,… Read More ›
