Stage Write

  Kim's Convenience is onstage now at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. The 90-minute play is a beautifully crafted ode to family and all the complicated ways it shapes and frustrates us. The show opened in Baltimore and is moving to Portland, Oregon next, so the cast had already found a wonderful rhythm together. It premiered at the Toronto Fringe Festival in Canada in 2011 before becoming a hit show on Netflix. Playwright Ins Choi was inspired by his own experiences working in convenience stores and hearing about his uncle's store in L.A. Perhaps because of that, the characters feel so real, you can easily forget you haven’t just walked into your local corner store. Directed by cara hinh, the IRT's associate artistic director, each scene is handled with humor and sincerity. The story never feels heavy handed because each character is given the space to explore their relationships and motivations. The main family members inhabit their roles so perfectly that you often forget ...

  It's easy to think The Lion King is just for kids. As one of a slew of Disney movies turned into stage musicals, it could easily have been dismissed. But the famous Broadway show has stood the test of time since its 1997 premiere. It didn't make the mistake of sacrificing the heart of the story for the spectacle. The opening number alone is worth the price of admission. The musical's costumes are among the best in the industry. Even grass becomes beautiful when worn as headdresses on swaying dancers. The animals are incredible accomplishments in puppetry. Cheetahs strut, and giraffes lope across the stage, capturing each creature's movements with magnificent accuracy. Most kids are already familiar with the story from the movie, making this a very family-friendly show. It has that wow factor, and meshes a captivating plot, incredible sets, and an award-winning score together. There will be a few surprises for those only familiar with the film version. Some new songs, ...