Blake Graham

What did our critic think of SWEENET TODD at Derby Dinner Playhouse? Depending on who you ask about the late Stephen Sondheim’s body of work, I’d venture that most would say his masterpiece is the melodramatic revenge quasi-gothic horror opera Sweeney Todd.

Audiences are invited to witness the magic that comes from taking risks, celebrating differences, and, above all, accepting others for who they truly are in this summer's endearing and exhilarating season of Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS), which presents The Prom and Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical, on stage July 6–August 26, 2023, at Stanley Park's scenic Malkin Bowl.

With its fresh new take on the beloved tale of a young woman who is transformed from a chambermaid into a princess, the hilarious and romantic Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella combines the story's classic elements – the glass slippers, the pumpkin, and the prince’s ball – along with some surprising twists.

Myrtle Beach's newest professional theatre- Long Bay Theatre will present GODSPELL: the hit Broadway musical from November 6th- 15th outdoors at Broadway at the Beach.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will present the comedy BOEING, BOEING, opening January 8 and running through February 16, 2020. For ticket information please call 812-288-8281.

There's just one final week to submit votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

We're heading into the final week of voting for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Vote today to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

There's just two weeks left to vote for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

There's just a few weeks left to make your voice heard and submit your votes for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The people have spoken nominations are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatre's achievements and performers are recognized!

It's December! Voting is now underway for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! Now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatres and performers are recognized. Check out the first set of stats below.

Voting is NOW OPEN and the first votes are in for the 2019 BroadwayWorld Louisville Awards, brought to you by TodayTix! The nominees are set, and now you can vote to make sure your favorite local theatres and performers are recognized!

Playwright Ken Ludwig has made a name for himself writing some of the funniest modern comedies of any living writer, including Lend Me a Tenor, Moon Over Buffalo, and perhaps most notably, The Game's Afoot. The latter was a mystery-comedy involving real-life actor William Gillette (best known for playing Sherlock Holmes on stage) getting pulled into a real-life murder mystery. It was a funny show, and I had the pleasure of seeing it last year at Clarksville Little Theater.

Way back in those days of yesteryear, the early 1990's, Jeffrey Katzenberg was celebrating his success. He had almost single-handedly guided the Walt Disney animation studio back to glory after decades of reduced returns, and he had the bright idea to try to do the same to the live-action movie musical.

Within the world of Disney Theatricals, I would argue that Newsies is one of their finest and more unique offerings. As many know, the musical version of Newsies is based on the original movie of the same name which was originally released in 1992. Like many Disney properties, the theatrical division decided to play with the idea of adapting it for the stage. It was originally intended to be a one off production to be sent into licensing (sense then musical adaptions of The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Freaky Friday have done just that). However, the house of mouse saw something special in this particular adaptation and took the big step of mounting a full scale Broadway production. The rest is history. Newsies is now more popular than it ever was, it has forged its way out of being a cult classic, and is now cemented in the main stream.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will present NEWSIES, opening April 3 and running through May 19, 2019. Inspired by the true story of New York City's 1899 newsboy strike, "NEWSIES" tells the captivating story of a band of underdogs who become unlikely heroes when they stand up to the most powerful men in New York in a remarkable fight for justice and fair pay.

Derby Dinner Playhouse will present THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM, opening February 20 and running through March 31, 2019.  For ticket information please call 812-288-8281 or visit

In anticipation of the gala 30th anniversary celebration of The First Night Awards, Tennessee's best and brightest in live theater were revealed tonight as First Night's Top Ten of 2018 - reviewer and critic Jeffrey Ellis' annual recognition for theater in the Volunteer State - were announced during a Facebook Live presentation from Nashville.

Fog comes billowing out over the footlights, bringing with it a pervasive sense of foreboding that sets the tone for the next three hours of what is - without any fear of exaggeration - the most satisfying theatrical experience of 2018. Eye-poppingly gorgeous, with a design aesthetic that's perfectly wedded to the source material provided by composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim and book writer Hugh Wheeler, and featuring some of the most electrifying performances we've ever witnessed at Cumberland County Playhouse (where they know a thing or 100 about staging musicals), Sweeney Todd, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street is spectacular.

Managing to find time amid a typically busy week in Crossville, actors Weslie Webster and Lauren Marshall - who play Mrs. Lovett and the neighborhood beggar woman, respectively - graciously agreed to submit to The Tuesday 5(+1) and to answer our questions with enough candor and intrigue to ensure audiences come see their show!

Managing to find time amid a hectic tech week, actor Brett Mutter - who plays Beadle Bamford - graciously agreed to submit to The Friday 5(+1) and to answer our questions, hopefully, intriguing potential audience members with some background about his theatrical career and to explain why he thinks you should reserve your tickets now for Sweeney Todd.