West Side Story Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
West Side Story transports Shakespeare's classic romantic tragedy Romeo and Juliet to the streets of 1950s Manhattan. Instead of warring Montague and Capulet families, there are warring gangs, the Jets and the Sharks. Instead of swooning young lovers Romeo and Juliet, we have Tony and Maria, two teenagers who are torn between ethnic loyalty and their intense love for each other. The amazing score includes "Tonight," "Somewhere," and "Something's Coming."

Broadway Review
This exciting new production of the Broadway classic features a very energetic cast and faithfully re-creates Jerome Robbins' iconic choreography and Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim's extraordinary score. The production is directed by the show's bookwriter, Arthur Laurents, who has also added a bit of a twist (and authenticity) by having the Sharks speak and sometimes sing in their native Spanish tongue.

Hair Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
Led by the charismatic Berger, a group of spirited young idealists enjoy lives of free love and pacifism in New York City's bohemian East Village. But soon "the tribe" is faced with the harsh realities of the Vietnam War draft.

Broadway Review
Even the most jaded theatergoers can't help but enjoy classic songs like "Age of Aquarius," "Good Morning Starshine," "Easy To Be Hard," "Hair," and "Let the Sunshine In" in this sensitively directed, well-choreographed, and Tony Award-winning production of the 1967 classic musical about NYC hippies. Although many of the show's other songs are less-than-classic, and the humor can be sophomoric at times, the energetic show certainly resonates emotionally. And the Baby Boomers just love it - especially the part where the audience is invited to go up onstage and dance with the cast at the end of the show!

Rock of Ages Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
Former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis stars as an aspiring rocker who arrives on L.A.'s Sunset Strip with dreams of fame and glory, but instead he finds heartbreak and hard times in this tribute to the era of hard rock "hair" bands.

Broadway Review
From the little lighter-shaped flashlights they hand you when you enter the theater to the beer being served during the performance, Rock of Ages has the feel of an awesome rock concert. Oh, yeah, and then there's the music. If you lived through the '80s (and have happy memories of listening to the radio or watching MTV during those years), then you'll be grinning like an idiot and desperate to sing along as the energetic cast belts out melodic rock favorites such as Bon Jovi's "Wanted Dead or Alive," Whitesnake's "Here I Go Again," and Foreigner's "I Want To Know What Love Is". Sure, the story and dialogue is pretty silly (sometimes deliciously, sometimes cringingly), but when they start singing "Don't Stop Believing," you'll be waving your lighter in the air with everyone else.

Bye Bye Birdie

Show Summary
This musical theater classic follows what happens when popular Elvis-style rock 'n' roll singer Conrad Birdie is drafted into the army.

Our Recommendation
This is a great choice for a family looking for some good clean fun and who don't want to see yet another Disney show. The production stars John Stamos (TV's Full House) and Gina Gershon, and the score features classic songs like "Put On A Happy Face," "Kids," and "A Lot of Livin' To Do".

Mamma Mia Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
Set in the Greek islands, Mamma Mia incorporates nearly two dozen songs by international pop sensation ABBA into its lively story about soon-to-married Sophie, her free-spirited single mom Donna, and three men from Donna's past -- one of whom, Sophie hopes to discover, is her father.

Broadway Review
Mamma Mia has become a global smash since its West End debut in 1999, and its biggest fans are usually the middle-aged crowd who fondly remember the disco days of ABBA. Women in particular enjoy watching fun-loving Donna and her two wacky best friends reminiscing about their wild youth, when they were in a singing trio. Since the plot is a bit thin and the tone decidedly silly, the upbeat musical Mamma Mia is best appreciated as a big Broadway-style ABBA concert.

Jersey Boys Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
This fascinating biographical Broadway musical tells the amazing story of how a group of tough young guys from New Jersey became the internationally renowned hit-making pop group Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons.

Broadway Review
Jersey Boys is a both a smartly-written play about four men chasing after -- and dealing with the pitfalls of -- fame, and an unforgettable concert rolled into one terrific Broadway show. Wonderfully sung and staged versions of all the Frankie Valli/Four Seasons hits are here, including "Walk Like a Man," "Oh What a Night," "Sherry," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You".

In the Heights Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
The vibrant northern Manhattan neighborhood called Washington Heights comes to thrilling life in this rhythmic and heartfelt Broadway musical about the denizens of a changing community.

Broadway Review
One of the most exciting new Broadway musicals of the last few years, the Tony-winning sensation In the Heights has an original musical score by newcomer Lin-Manuel Miranda that includes Latin, hip-hop, and plain old-fashioned Broadway ballads. With Andy Blankenbuehler's electric choreography and terrific performances by a diverse and talented cast, In the Heights brings the flavor of the New York City streets to the Broadway stage.

Wicked Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
In this popular Broadway musical based on Gregory Maguire's bestselling novel (a kind of "prequel" to The Wizard of Oz), we learn how Elphaba, a sensitive and misunderstood green-skinned college student in the land of Oz, came to be known as the Wicked Witch of the West.

Broadway Review
This Broadway musical spectacle is especially loved by tweens, who can relate to its tale of a different young woman struggling to fit in, but audiences of all ages can appreciate the show's themes about prejudice and friendship, as well as the pop-infused score by Stephen Schwartz featuring songs like the soaring "Defying Gravity". If you're thinking of bringing your pre-tweens, bear in mind that, as in The Wizard of Oz itself, there are some scary scenes.

The Phantom of the Opera Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
A disfigured man who secretly lives beneath the Paris Opera House becomes obsessed with a beautiful young singer and "haunts" the owners until they make her the star of the opera.

Broadway Review
This romantic musical tends to be especially liked by female audiences, but in its 20-year Broadway run it has become popular with viewers of all kinds. The lush Andrew Lloyd Webber score boasts modern classics "Music of the Night," "The Phantom of the Opera," and "All I Ask of You". Despite the Phantom's penchant for seductive ballads, he's a disturbed guy, so be aware that this often eerie musical does feature kidnapping and murder.

Chicago Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
Blonde bombshell Roxie Hart kills her lover and becomes an overnight celebrity as a result of her crime in this cynical satire of corruption in the criminal justice system set in 1920s Chicago.

Broadway Review
There is virtually no set in Chicago, so don't go to this particular Broadway musical expecting fancy visuals or bright colors. The appeal of this long-running Broadway revival is its sharp sense of humor, the sexy Bob Fosse-style choreography, and the jazzy tunes by the songwriting team of John Kander & Fred Ebb ("All That Jazz"). Skimpy costumes, suggestive dancing, and sassy anti-heroines who murder without remorse make this musical suitable for more mature audiences.

Avenue Q Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
A recent university grad moves into his first apartment and navigates love, work, friendships, and the challenges of everyday life in this Sesame Street-style satire of post-college life.

Broadway Review
The combination of puppets and actors may make Avenue Q look like a kids' show, but songs such as "The Internet is for Porn" and "If You Were Gay" point to a much more adult sensibility. Clever jokes about everything from racism to the difficulty of finding your purpose in life make this modern musical comedy a particular favorite among the twenty and thirtysomething crowd. But just about anyone who has ever made the transition to adulthood (and, preferably, has also seen Sesame Street) can relate to the people and puppets of Avenue Q.

Billy Elliot Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
Set against the backdrop of a lengthy and massive coal miners' strike that took place in Northern England in the 1980s, Billy Elliot is about a motherless boy who wants to give up his boxing lessons and learn to be a dancer instead.

Broadway Review
A musical version of the British independent film of the same name, Billy Elliot has been a huge hit in London's West End and is now wowing Broadway. Lee Hall has written a solid and sometimes pleasantly surprising adaptation of his own screenplay, and together he and famed singer/songwriter Elton John have created a functional score that is pretty good, though seldom soars. Billy Elliot's greatest strengths are its stars (a few extraordinarily talented boys alternate in the title role), director Stephen Daldry's inspired staging, and Peter Darling's electric choreography.

The Little Mermaid Broadway Show Review

Show Summary
A beautiful young mermaid is unhappy with her life under the sea and finds love with a handsome human prince.

Broadway Review
The Little Mermaid creates a shiny, magical, underwater world onstage and has cast members on barely detectable roller skate footwear, giving the graceful illusion that they're gliding through the water. In addition to memorable songs from the animated Disney film, such as "Under the Sea" and "Kiss the Girl," the Broadway musical version of The Little Mermaid features several new tunes as well.