The reasons to flock to see Water for Elephants are not your typical musical theater must-haves. They include thrilling circus artistry and innovative puppetry, and, for those in the know, experiencing the adaptation of a beloved book-turned-movie-turned-theatrical romance. The touring company’s edge-of-seat daring was on display on opening night, as performers were tossed and caught, or were hanging and tumbling by a figurative thread, with only each other as a net.
“Water For Elephants: The Musical,” coming to the Benedum Center March 31-April 5, is purposefully, unapologetically theatrical. The show that takes its inspiration from the 2006 novel by Sara Gruen, comes alive with circus performers and life-sized puppets, including the elephant Rosie, a horse named Silver Star, and a dog named Queenie.
Wicked’s popularity was not a foregone conclusion when it powered onto Broadway in 2003. The New York Times critic Ben Brantley came right out and wrote that only Kristin Chenoweth as Glinda deserved praise. “Wicked does not, alas, speak hopefully for the future of the Broadway musical. Ms. Chenoweth, on the other hand, definitely does,” he concluded. Critics. What do they know?
Extraordinary voices vying for best in show and a vibrant, pulsating production touched down at the Benedum Center this week, as Hell’s Kitchen made Pittsburgh the second stop in the musical’s first national tour.
Featuring more than 20 songs from the catalog of 18-time Grammy-winner Alicia Keys (including best musical theater album), the gritty coming-of-age story, with mother-daughter dynamics front and center, is woven with autobiographical elements of Keys’ own experiences.
From the first appearance of the iconic DeLorean time machine on the Benedum Center stage, “Back to the Future: The Musical” takes off with the whoop and wow of a theme park attraction, powered by high-energy performances and crowd-pleasing special effects wizardry. Just as in the original 1985 movie, there’s magic in the DeLorean’s journey to the past, with the added thrill of seeing it all happen live, courtesy of the national tour presented by Pittsburgh CLO.
“Some Like It Hot,” the musical, pays tribute to the “enduring treasure” of a film, with antics and jokes that are a throwback to the Roaring ’20s, plus an updated twist or two, for a rollicking, old-fashioned, good-time night at the theater.
By PRIA DAHIYA Pria Dahiya is currently a Critical Insight fellow at Pittsburgh Public Theater, in partnership with American Theatre magazine. Degenerative genetic disorders, alcoholism, New Jersey. Not the standard fare in a feel-good musical comedy. The ironic juxtaposition between tragic circumstances… Read More ›
By SHARON EBERSON The actress playing Fanny Brice, Leah Platt at Tuesday’s opening-night performance of Funny Girl, opens the show with, “Hello, gorgeous.” That’s really not fair, to conjure Barbra Streisand from the get-go. The real-life entertainer at the center… Read More ›
By SHARON EBERSON Corey Mach was on a balcony in Charlotte, N.C., last week, looking out at a cloudless sky and talking about coming to Pittsburgh as William Shakespeare in the hit musical & Juliet. Mach is on tour with… Read More ›
The Play Closes the Broadway in Pittsburgh 2023-24 Season By SHARON EBERSON In the resume of Ramzi Khalaf, there are quite a few attention grabbers. In 1993, he toured as bar mitzvah-boy Jason in the musical Falsettos, and under “skills,”… Read More ›
