Justin's Theatre Reviews

  The Kit Kat Club in Berlin, Germany surely came to life in the UTEP Dinner Theatre's incredibly moving production of Kander and Ebb's "Cabaret". The UTEP Dinner Theatre has put on a splendid production of this show and I must give kudos to all involved for putting on a really great production of this risque and intricate show.    "Cabaret" (Book by Joe Masteroff, Music by John Kander, and lyrics by Fred Ebb) is the story of a romance between a British nightclub singer named Sally Bowles and an American novelist named Clifford Bradshaw set in Berlin in the year 1938. Also in the mix are two doomed lovers, one who runs a boarding house and another a fruitshop, and a master of ceremonies who oversees the entire story, all while the Nazi Party is beginning to rise to power in Germany.  "Cabaret" really is a masterpiece. The show perfectly illustrates the issues of the time period (some of which are issues that still exist today) and the divide th...

  From the second it was announced that "Newsies" would be screened in cinemas, I was ECSTATIC. "Newsies" is a show that I love so much and I had been dying to see it. When it was announced that some of the original cast members would be reprising their roles for the taping, I went through the roof. As I had hoped, February was here in the blink of an eye and I was ready to absorb "Newsies". As I expected, it was amazing.   "Newsies" is the story of the Newsboy Strike of 1899 and how the newsboys of New York City went on strike when the price of the papers that they purchase to sell for the New York Sun goes up for the best interest of the company's profit and not their employees. "Newsies" is an inspiring show about standing up for what is right and fair for all. "Newsies" is a treasure in every single way. The music is fantastic, the story is interesting, and the staging is brilliant. Alan Menken and Jack Feldman's...