Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera” has been a musical-theater blockbuster since its debut in 1986. It has grossed more money worldwide than any other musical, and continues to pack houses in major cities and on global tours. That’s all the more remarkable when you consider that — real talk — the story […]
RBTL
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Theater Review: RBTL’s “Once”
“The bar onstage is open. Enjoy!” With those words as a greeting, I entered the Auditorium Theatre for Tuesday night’s performance of the Tony Award-winning musical, “Once.” That cheery welcome prefaced a scene I’m not generally accustomed to seeing at that venue: the stage, dressed to look like a charming, somewhat dingy pub, was crowded […]
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THEATER REVIEW: RBTL’s “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical”
Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s current show is the holiday-themed, kid-oriented “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical.” (That is a mouthful.) Since I am not a kid, and I tend to like my holiday programming more subversive (think “Scrooged,” “A John Waters Christmas,” “Gremlins”), I am admittedly not the target audience for this […]
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The gift of theater
There’s more to holiday-time entertainment than Hallmark Channel movies and antique animated specials. Instead of watching another Christmas movie marathon, why not get out of the house and see a holiday-themed play? The Rochester theater calendar is full of them this month, from old favorites like “A Christmas Carol” and “It’s A Wonderful Life” to […]
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THEATER REVIEW: RBTL’s “War Horse”
The touring production of “War Horse,” which runs through Sunday at the Auditorium Theatre, brings one of the most distinctive Broadway events of recent years to Rochester. “War Horse” started as a popular young people’s book by Michael Morpurgo, then became a play by Nick Stafford for the National Theatre of Great Britain, which produced […]
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REVIEW: RBTL’s “Ghost The Musical”
In theory, a musical based on the 1990 film “Ghost” might not seem like such a terrible idea. After 23 years, it remains a popular movie, filled with scenes that have become iconic in the time since its release (it’s impossible to hear “Unchained Melody” without it immediately conjuring up images of Patrick Swayze and […]
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THEATER: The next act
I’ve always heard Rochester described as a “theater town,” a distinction that seems like a rare one in the days of TV on demand, web series, and all the other performance media that keep a distance between you and the performers. Judging from a look at the Greater Rochester area’s 2013-2014 theater calendar, we’re still […]
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THEATER PREVIEW: “Les Miserables”
The old adage says that misery loves company. The musical adaptation of Victor Hugo’s “Les Miserables” has certainly had plenty of visitors over its nearly three-decade life span. The trials and tribulations of Jean Valjean, Fantine, Marius, and the other Revolution-era Frenchmen have pulled in audiences again and again. People are drawn in by Hugo’s […]
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“Wicked”
Since opening on Broadway in 2003, “Wicked” has had smashing success, breaking box-office records and becoming one of the most beloved modern musicals. It has a large, devoted fanbase and inspires the sort of passion in people so that they are eager to see it time and time again. That at least partially explains why […]
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Theater Review: RBTL’s “Wicked”
Since opening on Broadway in 2003, “Wicked” has had smashing success, breaking box-office records and becoming one of the most beloved modern musicals. It has a large, devoted fanbase and inspires the sort of passion in people so that they are eager to see it time and time again. That at least partially explains why […]
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Rochester Broadway Theatre League announces 2013-14 season
Still riding high on last week’s blockbuster run of “The Book of Mormon,” the Rochester Broadway Theatre League announced its 2013-14 season Wednesday night. The big news is that the subscription series has been increased to six shows from five. The line-up includes a new production of a modern musical classic, several new musicals, a […]
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Theater Review: “The Book of Mormon”
It was a huge coup for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League to book a run of the Broadway smash “The Book of Mormon” during its first national tour. Local audiences have taken advantage of the opportunity, with the six-night stand of the Tony-, Grammy-, and Drama Desk-winning musical completely selling out the Auditorium Theatre, save […]
