Justin's Theatre Reviews

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!! Today I attended the first showing of opening day of Disney's new film "Into the Woods" Which as you well may know is the film version of the original Sondheim/Lapine  musical.        Being a huge fan of the original stage show, I was very excited to see what Disney did with the piece. I was not disappointed. Despite a few problems, They did justice to the original show.  I'm going to start off with the cast:   Meryl Streep as the Witch: She did great. She made the role her own. Her singing voice has definitely improved since "Mamma Mia" and she acted the heck out of the part . She did way better than I thought she would . Her strongest songs were "Stay With Me" and "The Last Midnight". Her weakest song was the rap she does in the prologue.  She will definitely get an Oscar nomination.    James Corden does a well job as the Baker. He had strong acting skills and an excellent set of pipes. I can see him doi

   Last night, December 9 2014. I attended a performance of the current national tour of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast."                 This show is Disney at it's best. First of all, "Beauty and the Beast" is my favorite Disney film and this was my second time seeing this production.        The entire show was beautiful and stunning. There are absolutely no flaws in this production.        Jillian Butterfield perfectly played the role of Belle (my favorite Disney Princess) Her voice rung throughout the theatre. She was Belle. She sang that score so perfectly and acted the heck out of the role. She is up there with Paige o' Hara and Susan Egan in this role. I can't wait to see her do so much more.    Ryan Everett Wood portrayed the role of the Beast. His portrayal of this role was wonderful. I very much enjoyed the chemistry between him and Butterfield as Belle. He is perhaps on of the greatest performers I've ever seen play this role. 

    This is all I have to say....PERFECTION.           "Peter Pan Live" is quite possibly one of the greatest things ever to be shown on television.        Despite a few hiccups with the camera and sound, The entire thing was just phenomenal.   Alison Williams was obviously born to play the role of Peter Pan. Strong acting skills,  a great voice. This is what I call a casting from the heavens.  Her voice was just amazing. Her portrayal of the role is absolutely perfect. She lived up to the talents of Mary Martin and Cathy Rigby. She didn't sing from her mouth...She sang from her heart. Flawless just flawless.    Christopher Walken was an interesting Captain Hook. I've just never seen the role portrayed that way. A very intriguing casting choice. His voice was good. Not something I'd go crazy over. He also did an okay job with his acting.    Ok now...TAYLOR LOUDERMAN as Wendy! YES!  JUST YES! After this I just want to see her play Wendy. No one else! Sh

 On Saturday November 1st, I attended a performance of the current national tour of "Flashdance." If it weren't for all the talent on that stage, the show would've been weak. The show did not have flash. The show had dancing, but weak choreography. The talent that the cast had saved the entire show.             Karli Dinardo played the role of "Alex" (played by Jennifer Beals in the 1983 film of the same title) Her performance in the role was great and believable. She had a strong voice and acting skills. Her voice shined during all of her songs. I would love to see her play other roles.        Adam J. Rennie's performance as "Nick Hurley" was truly an excellent one. His voice was incredibly strong and his entire performance was truly amazing. I would also love to see him in many other shows.       One of my favorite roles in the show was "Hannah" who was played by Patricia Bartlett. Her performance was strong and had me on the e

I will be taking requests to review anything musical related including movies, shows, etc.

Today, I watched the 1960 Broadcast of "Peter Pan" starring, Mary Martin and Cyril Ritchard Overall, It was an excellent production.  First off, the cast:    Mary Martin played the role of Peter Pan. Martin played the role with such enjoyment and charisma. Her voice soared during the ballads "Never Never Land' and "Distant Melody".  She also shined during the numbers "I've Got a Crow" and "Oh, My Mysterious Lady". Her acting skills are delightful and unforgettable. Martin's performance as Peter Pan is one that will never be forgotten because she IS Peter Pan.  Cyril Ritchard played the roles of Mr. Darling and Captain Hook. He is the real comedic relief of this show. Out of all the versions of the story "Peter Pan", This is the one where the character of Hook is portrayed best. He never had a weak moment during the show. His costume is also really great! He has an excellent singing voice and superb acting skills. A

Note: I will also be doing reviews on musical movies so keep an eye out for those. I will also review proshot DVD's (Shrek, Memphis, etc.)

 On Tuesday October 7, 2014 I saw the national tour of "Blue Man Group" This was an excellent show with an excellent cast. Who knew 3 blue men standing around could be so AMUSING!!!!! When they weren't playing the drums they were standing there being amusing.  The show was like one gigantic party. It was the best "party" I've been to in my life! This is the perfect show for you if you just want to go out and have a blast. The audience participation was the best I have ever experienced. The second you walk into the theatre you know you're in for a real treat.  Despite an incident that occurred before the show, It was still the greatest theatrical experiences I have had so far. If you ever have the chance to see the show do it. I would also love to give props to everyone who worked on this production. Excellent job! I apologize that this review was so short but there really isn't much to say except how great it is. I promise my next review will

Hi! I'm Justin and this blog is going to be theatre reviews for shows I see both local and professional (Broadway, Touring, etc.) The next show I will be seeing is Blue Man Group on October 7 so expect the first review to be posted on October 8. Thanks!