Stage Write

Lovers facing an impossible obstacle, catchy pop song medleys, and epic Parisian sets, what more could you want? Moulin Rouge is the story of a courtesan with a secret and a young artist blinded by love. It’s a premise that’s hard to resist. Fans of the original movie (2001) will recognize many of the big numbers, but in this new iteration, the songs have been updated. Brittney, Beyoncé, and Adele’s work are all present, but lesser-known songs from artists like Regina Spektor make surprisingly delightful appearances. The unexpected pop hits could’ve been gimmicky, but it works because the performers nail their vocals and the audience cares deeply about the characters.   After a whirlwind opening in the nightclub, the show finds its footing as we slow down and meet our Bohemians. In the classic style of RENT, La Boheme, and Les Mis, we fall for the poverty-stricken artists with big dreams. There’s so much playful humor, even in their stark tawdry world that the overarching feeling i...

I think we all felt the earth move a little bit at Clowes Hall this week. Beautiful, the musical of Carol King‘s life, is on stage now. The singer/composer famous for hits like "It's Too Late" and "You've Got a Friend" had a incredible career and the musical chronicles her rise to stardom in the 1960s. I went into the show thinking I knew only two of King's songs, instead I was blown away by her body of work. Whether she sang the song originally or created it for another band like The Drifters or The Shirelles there were so many familiar oldies. I intentionally ignored the set list in the program until after the show because each new numbers provides a surprise as you hear her compose it with her lyricist husband. Those big reveals are half the fun of the show. In that way, the show is reminiscent of Jersey Boys. At times you hear a song in the early stages of creation and you get to watch its evolution as it moves from the songwriter...