Roy Berko

Normally, juke-box musicals, which are scripts created from pre-conceived music, have songs shoe-horned into what is generally an acceptable, but less-than well-written story (think MOULIN ROUGE! and MAMMA MIA!).

Normally, in a who-done-it, the question facing the audience is to figure out who the killer is.

Get all the top news & discounts for Cleveland & beyond. When theatre-goers think of the color green, many automatically recall Elphaba of WICKED.

SPAMALOT, also known at MONTY PYTHON'S SPAMALOT: A MUSICAL (LOVINGLY) RIPPED OFF FROM THE MOTION PICTURE MONTY PYTHON AND THE HOLY GRAIL, is settled in at the Connor Palace for a short run (December 1-6).

When I reviewed it on Broadway, several year ago, my capsule judgment stated: SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS THE BROADWAY MUSICAL is a wonder of neon

What drama or comedy has received the most Tony-Award nominations? The logical guesses would be DEATH OF A SALESMAN STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE , or maybe, OUR TOWN

GREASE, Porthouse-style, is a nostalgic reminder of the era of mid-1900’s and left those of a certain-age satisfied and maybe those of the Information Age/Digital Age asking “what was the attitude, grease and angst” all about.

Another exposure as Cleveland Heights’s Cain Park outstanding production directed by Victoria Bussert the present Director of Oberlin College’s Musical Theater program, which featured Gregg Violand, who will be featured, later this season, in Porthouse’s BRIGADOON.

Tina Fay’s MEAN GIRLS, with the right level of farce can be a delightful experience. Beck’s staging, inspite of a talented cast, was pleasant. It could have been great with the right concept. Go?, Of course! Most audience members, as displayed by the standing ovation at the end of the performance I attended, displayed their like-level of enjoyment.

In order to create authentic dances for Pothouse’s BRIGADOON, if social media pictures can be trusted, during rehearsals Martin Céspedes, the shows choreographer, wore a kilt. The results are the captivating visual movements that light up the stage.