Stage Write

There are some musicals that become stale with age. They don’t hold up after multiple viewings and the magic seems to disappear with time. I don’t think Wicked will ever be one of those shows. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, the show feels just as fresh and exciting as it did the first time I saw it. The elaborate sets are captivating, the costumes are whimsical and you’ll be humming the score for days. This fan-favorite tells the story of the Wicked Witch of the West before she was so infamously titled. The emerald-hued Elphaba struggles to find her place in a world that seems set on rejecting her. Through the story she discovers that the power of friendship and standing up for what’s right is much more important than simply fitting in with the crowd. The two leads are played by Hayley Podschun (Glinda) and Jennifer DiNoia (Elphaba), both are excellent. DiNoia nails each of her big numbers while still making Elphaba a sympathetic and relatable character. Podschun is p...

Women sporting victory rolls in their hair and exclamations of “swell” and “cheese and crackers” let the audience know we’re no longer in the 21st century. In the Booth Tarkington Civic Theatre’s current production, The 1940’s Radio Hour, we take a trip back in time to Dec. 21, 1942. The country was at war and each night families gathered together and tuned in to hear their favorite variety show on the radio.   The production gets off to a slow start. As the cast trickles in to prep for the live show audience members feel a bit like they’ve shown up too early for the performance. It’s a waiting game until the first number, but once the show kicks off we don’t slow down until the final bow.   The set is a live radio stage; complete with flashing applause signs to cue the audience. It also features a live 17-piece orchestra in stadium seating. They are the highlight of the show, performing each song beautifully led by their talented conductor Brent Marty. The comme...