Cody Carlson

The Great American Trailer Park Musical written by David Nehls and Betsy Kelso is a two-act musical exploring relationships between the tenants of Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Starke, Florida. Its main focus is between Pippi a “stripper on the run,” Jeannie an Agoraphobic, and Norbert, Jeannie’s toll booth collector husband. First performed in 2004 at the first annual New York Music Theatre Festival, and then on off-Broadway in 2005. Opening at Bows at Dodger Stages in November of 2005, with Betsy Kelso directing. The show played 121 performances and closed in December of 2005. The first regional premiere in the U.S. was performed in June of 2006 at the Hippodrome in Gainesville, Florida. The first National Tour began in Spokane, Washington in January of 2008.

Jonathan Larson a name synonymous with American Musical Theatre in the 90s penned this phenom of a Musical based on the Puccini Opera La Boheme. Featuring a rock and roll score unlike anything heard on Broadway at its time, Rent received critical and mass acclaim following the untimely passing of its creator, who passed prior to its premiere. With such recognizable songs as, “Take Me or Leave Me,” “Will I,” “Out Tonight,” and probably the biggest musical theatre anthem of its time “Seasons of Love,” Rent went on to achieve Tony and Pulitzer claim and won the world over with its unique score and storyline of unlikely characters who were mirror images of very real people in its time. Still a musical that has many outdated references manages mass appeal today.

The musical is all over the place, but key performances make this one show to go out of your way to see.

What did our critic think of LOVE'S, LABOR'S, LOST at Classical Actors Ensamble?

Hennepin Theatre Trust announced that Classical Actors Ensemble is back in Twin Cities parks and downtown Minneapolis for their eighth summer to present a new production of Love's Labor's Lost.

It's like 'Sesame Street' meets 'Rent,' with more than a dash of 'Book of Mormon' humor thrown in for good measure.

Coming to stage at University Area CDC is a lesser known musical production called Violet. Violet tells the story of a young disfigured woman who embarks on a journey by bus from her farm in Spruce Pine, North Carolina to Tulsa, Oklahoma in order to be healed.

Young people wanting answers and adults refusing to give them is the theme of Eight 'O Clock Theatre's newest production July 13-22, a dark coming of age tale, Spring Awakening. Written in 1891 with modern folk-rock music and lyrics applied by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater in 2006, Spring Awakening is a story of friends growing up in Germany, girls and boys discovering their sexuality with no one willing to guide them. The musical covers topics like abuse, homosexuality, masturbation, sadomasochism, suicide, and abortion. It frankly explores what happens when parents are too prudish to discuss the hormonal urges that come with impending adulthood.

With themes of abuse, statutory rape, abortion, and suicide, director Jason Tucker does not shy away from any of the controversial subjects. It's today's story… except for the unmistakable fact that it's based in Germany circa 1891. Based on Frank Wedekind's 1891 play, Spring Awakening at Eight O'Clock Theatre is a dark coming-of-age tale of kids looking for answers and the adults who refuse to provide them.

A look back at the very best local productions that 2017 had to offer.

My daughter introduced me to the sarcastic wit of the music in Avenue Q on the way to college a few years ago, so I sort of knew going in, this wasn't your typical musical.

Performed in The Studio at Carrollwood Cultural Center, BROADWAY BENT: VILLIANS was a celebration of the most despicable, evil, contemptable characters in the history of Broadway.

Funny and serious, cynical and heartwarming at the same time, it's extremely enjoyable but offers nothing new or revelatory.

The incredible, lively performances, especially among the show's leads, should not be missed.

New Tampa Players is bringing Jesus Christ Superstar to their home stage at the University Area CDC March 31 through April 2 and April 7 through April 9, but first they have been taking the show on the road. Earlier this month, the cast performed a musical revue for the resident families at Metropolitan Ministries. 'Rehearsals for Superstar have been demanding, so I wasn't sure how the cast would feel about giving up a Saturday,' Director G. Frank Meekins said, 'but in the end it was a privilege to be able to share musical theater with adults and children who might not otherwise get to see a live performance like this.'

Jesus Christ Superstar is a 1970 rock opera with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started as a rock opera concept album before its Broadway debut in 1971. The musical is sung-through, with no spoken dialogue.

When did you learn about sex? How? Who told you about 'the birds and the bees,' 'making a baby,' 'when two people really love one another'? I'm not sure where I picked it up, though I'm fairly certain it wasn't from my parents. The gag reflex rising in my throat even at the thought makes me certain I never flat out asked my mother. In any case the information got to me somehow, and I lived to tell the tale via hazy, inconsistent memories. mad Theatre of Tampa's production of SPRING AWAKENING, the first show of their 16th season, follows a group of adolescents in late 19th century Germany as they question what's happening to their bodies - physically and emotionally

mad Theatre of Tampa, 2014 & 2015 Best Community Theater from BroadwayWorld.com, continues their successful 2016-2017 season with their production of the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening. Mad Theatre of Tampa is excited to move into the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts for this production. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in costume!

mad Theatre of Tampa, a resident musical theatre company at the Straz Center, is proud to announce their next production opening of the Tony award-winning musical Spring Awakeningon September 8, 2016 at the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts.

mad Theatre of Tampa, 2014 & 2015 Best Community Theater from BroadwayWorld.com, continues their successful 2016-2017 season with their production of the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening. Mad Theatre of Tampa is excited to move into the Jaeb Theater at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts for this production. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in costume!