Justin's Theatre Reviews

   In my opinion, after "Hamilton", "Allegiance" was the best new Broadway musical of the 2015/2016 season. Unfortunately, it couldn't find it's audience on Broadway and closed after only a few months. But luckily, since this show has been George Takei's ("Star Trek") passion project, the show wasn't just going to exist among other closed shows and somehow be forgotten about, as some others have. So, for one night only, Fathom Events presented the Broadway production of "Allegiance", which was professionally filmed about a month or two before it closed on Broadway.   "Allegiance" is the story of a family, The Kimuras, who were put into a Japanese Internment Camp during World War II. The show tells of the family's struggles and takes you through the twists and turns that occurred during their time in the internment camp. The show was conceived by George Takei and his personal experiences in an internment camp. The s...

   For their second annual student production, the UTEP Dinner Theatre put on a killer production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's "Hedwig and the Angry Inch", which is a show about a transgender women named Hedwig, who was left with an "angry inch" when her sex change operation got botched. Judging from some of the other reviews I have written on this blog, you might think that "Hedwig and the Angry Inch" would be the type of show I wouldn't like. However, I LOVE this show. I love this show so much, that in fact, I was Hedwig two or three Halloweens ago. The music (By Stephen Trask) is great and book writer and original star, John Cameron Mitchell, did an amazing job creating the complex character that is Hedwig.    In the title role, Allen Thompson is a ROCK STAR. Hedwig has to be one of the most demanding males roles in the male musical theatre canon and he absolutely SLAYED that role. I really cannot say enough good things a...

   With another December, comes yet another one of NBC's live musicals. Last year, NBC put on "The Wiz", which blew us all away. Then, a month later, FOX puts on "Grease: Live", which almost put NBC's previous three live musicals to shame. After "Grease" (one show I don't like), I wondered what NBC was going to do 11 months from then to top that. Then sometime after that (maybe even before, I don't remember), NBC announced they were going to do "Hairspray". I wasn't initially excited for "Hairspray" because I am not that huge a fan of the show. It's not a bad show, it's just always been on the more "meh" side to me. In the original stage show, I think the songs are very good, but all the scenes were too long and dragged out, making for a rather boring night in the theatre, whenever they weren't singing. Then, the cast announcements started to roll out for "Hairspray: Live!" Harvey Fier...

    In the midst of "Hairspray: Live", I took in a performance of this year's national tour of "Elf: The Musical". Based on the 2003 film that starred Will Ferrell, "Elf" tells the story of an elf named Buddy who crawled into Santa's bag as baby and was taken back to the north pole and raised as one of their own. Of course, when Buddy becomes very tall, by elf standards, he learns he is human and must go back to New York city to meet his real family and most importantly, earn the affection of his father who is a New York city business man, who is on the naughty list.    If I had to use only one word to describe "Elf: The Musical", it would be "funny". "Elf" is just an overall funny show. At the start of the show, we are greeted by Santa Claus (played wonderfully by Ken Clement), who almost immediately starts cracking jokes. After Santa is finished telling us about his electronic problems, he begins telling us the sto...

    Although this is a theatre review blog and not a movie review blog, I have to talk about Disney Animation's latest feature film, "Moana". The reason I wanted to talk about "Moana" on this theatre blog is because everyone's favorite person, Lin-Manuel Miranda ("In the Heights", "Hamilton") wrote the movie's songs, along with Opetaia Foa'i. What makes this slightly on topic for this blog is not only Miranda's presence, but also the fact that this film is a musical. So, here is a review of "Moana".    I have been anticipating "Moana" ever since it was announced. I am a huge Disney nut, so how could I not be excited? Not only would this film add to the never ending list of Disney animated features, but it would also introduce a new princess the Disney Princess line up. When it was announced that Lin-Manuel Miranda would be writing the film's music, my excitement went through the roof. Did "Moana...

*Please note that this review was intended to be published on November 17 2016, but life happened*    2 years ago today, the 2014 Broadway revival of "Side Show" opened. "Side Show" is definitely one of my favorites, up there with "Hamilton", "The Book of Mormon" and "Les Miserables". The score is absolutely beautiful and the story is so lovely and fascinating.  "Side Show" (Music by Henry Kreiger, Book and Lyrics by Bill Russell) is a true story about conjoined twins, Daisy and Violet Hilton, who go from a drabby Side Show in Texas and rise to fame in Vaudeville when they meet two talent scouts, Terry and Buddy. While falling in love with both Terry and Buddy, the two twins go on to become the highest paid vaudeville act of their time. They also go on to star in Tod Browning's film "Freaks". The original Broadway production opened on October 16 1997 and closed on January 3 1998, after 91 performances. The show...

    Before I say anything else: I already don't like Mamma Mia . "But, Justin," you ask, "then why did you go see it?" I went to go see it because I wanted to have more of a right to say I didn't like it. I have only watched a less than legal recording of the show and have seen the movie in bits and pieces. So, to be able to say that I didn't like this show in a better conscience, I headed down to the Plaza Theatre to catch a performance of the Farewell Tour of the show. I also wanted to be able to see the show because seeing as this tour is being billed as "The Farewell Tour," I wanted to be able to say that I have seen the show in it's complete and (almost) original form before the show goes away for awhile. While the show was quite fun and entertaining, I am still not a fan of the show itself. The company of "Mamma Mia"   The reason I do not like Mamma Mia has nothing to do with ABBA's music, but because of the ridic...

   I am just going to dig right in: The UTEP Dinner Theatre's Production of "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" was absolutely delightful! From the beginning to the end, the entire show is just a total blast. The costumes, the scenery, the make up, the props, everything about the show was simply too much fun. The whole show is just pure camp, and if you come out of this show without being able to say that you had a good time, then something is wrong with you.   Based on the 1994 film, "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" is about two drag queens and a transgender woman who embark on a road trip across the Australian Outback in their big party bus. Throughout the show, the three leads discover things about themselves, as well as each other. Also, One of the drag queens, Tick, has a son and he has to come to terms with that and be a part of his life. At the end of the day, it is a cute show is about friendship, acceptance, and discovering yourself. The show is a jukebo...