Kaitlin Descutner News

Fresh from an acclaimed NYC engagement, MURDER BALLAD makes its Professional Midwest Premiere at Short North Stage Aug 7 - 16.Fresh from an acclaimed NYC engagement, MURDER BALLAD makes its Professional Midwest Premiere at Short North Stage Aug 7 - 16. Check out a sneak peek below!

MURDER BALLAD offers its four actors little room to hide when the show makes its Midwest debut Aug. 7-16 at the Short North Stage's Green Room in downtown Columbus.

I love the Short North Stage for several reasons. First, they have boldly devoted themselves to resuscitating the nearly flatlined Short North theater scene, saving an iconic historic theater in the process. Second, more often than not, they embrace the eccentric, edgy flavor that makes the Short North remarkable, rather than conforming to traditional theater fare. That's where "The Who's Tommy" gets it right- it is edgy, fierce, and at times, electric. The rock opera, which premiered in 1983 with lyrics and music by The Who's Pete Townshend is a virtually dialogue free story of a 4 year old boy who becomes essentially catatonic after witnessing his presumed dead father kill his mother's lover upon returning unexpectedly from WWII. Young Tommy (played by an adorably wide-eyed, but obviously inexperienced Christian Giannone) becomes an accidental sensation once he discovers his talent for pinball.

Lisa Andres, the director of the Pleasure Guild's SHREK THE MUSICAL, knows the final days before the opening of any show can take the toll of the cast. Her cast had four days to erect a massive set before beginning their show's March 7-9 run at the Palace Theatre.

Shadowbox Live presented the completely campy REEFER MADNESS again last night, and in Julie Klein's warped little director's brain, it was pure "mockumentary" delight. REEFER MADNESS is a wacky musical adaptation of the 1936 exploitive propaganda film by the same name that became a cult classic.

What do you get when you strip away all pretenses between men and women, mix in some sexy rock ‘n' roll, and add a generous helping of uproarious sketch comedy? You get The Naked Truth, Shadowbox Live's new show that delves into everyone's favorite topics - Love, Sex, and Relationships.

Columbus audiences just can't seem to get enough of Shadowbox Live's hit musical Back to the Garden. The theater has already had two successful runs of the musical journey through the Woodstock Festival as well as a free, outdoor performance of the show, which drew over three thousand people. Due to popular demand, the producers at Shadowbox Live decided to bring it back for a third run this fall.

Columbus audiences just can't seem to get enough of Shadowbox Live's hit musical Back to the Garden. The theater has already had two successful runs of the musical journey through the Woodstock Festival as well as a free, outdoor performance of the show, which drew over three thousand people. Due to popular demand, the producers at Shadowbox Live decided to bring it back for a third run this fall.