Posted: 8/13/26 at 4:59pm
Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, MA is doing "Noises Off " Aug. 20 - Sept. 6. Lesli Margherita stars as Dotty Otley. I'm hoping to catch this next week.
Posted: 8/13/26 at 7:43pm
CJRochester said: "Barrington Stage in Pittsfield, MA is doing "Noises Off " Aug. 20 - Sept. 6.Lesli Margherita stars as Dotty Otley. I'm hoping to catch this next week."
Oh I’m so jealous. I love Aunt Lesli but unfortunately will not be able to get back up there for this. Please report back!
Posted: 9/11/26 at 10:06pm
9/11/26
Yesterday, we attended the Stratford Festival in Ontario, Canada. It felt like I had a musical comedy morphine drip all in one day! First, we saw Something Rotten!—which, for some odd reason, I had never seen before—followed by Guys and Dolls in the evening. It is always so impressive to see actors play entirely different roles in different productions on the same day. What remarkably talented ensembles! Donna Feore directed and choreographed both shows, and they were excellent. The staging, lighting, and especially the costumes were simply outstanding. Both of these productions have been extended to mid-November, and I cannot recommend them enough.
Last week, we attended As You Like It at the new, outdoor, 451-seat Samuel H. Scripps Theater Center at Hudson Valley Shakespeare in Garrison, NY. The theater is truly stunning, and the production was highly entertaining. It features a great cast, including wonderful performances by Helen Cespedes (Rosalind), Safiya Harris (Celia) and Jose Gamo (Orlando). The way the cast approaches the stage from downhill at the start feels quite magical and otherworldly—a true goosebump moment before the play even begins. I cannot wait to go back for Les Misérables in a few weeks! It was a beautiful, scenic drive from NYC to get there, and we thoroughly enjoyed dining at Folio, their farm-to-table restaurant.
Posted: 9/25/26 at 9:01am
9/23/26
I feel so lucky to have seen Les Misérables at the Hudson Valley Shakespeare Festival this week. What an intimate experience it was to sit so close to those glorious voices during such a mega-musical! Josh Young frequently brought me to tears as Jean Valjean, and I found the staging—especially the opening prisoner number—palpable. A true directorial and casting highlight for me was Haley Dortch, who played both Fantine and Enjolras; she possesses such an incredible voice and commanding stage presence. It was quite memorable. I think the rest of the run is sold out, but make sure you put this venue on your list for next year. Attending this gorgeous, intimate outdoor theater is an absolute must. You can get a feel for the theater and experience from the outdoor shots contained within this short behind the characters video. https://vimeo.com/1216504481?fl=pl&fe=sh
Posted: 9/28/26 at 6:50pm
9/25/26
I liked the story of friendship, prejudice, and animal welfare on display during the world premiere of The Snow Goose at the Goodspeed Opera House. The musical reminded me a little of Once, given its folky music and heavy use of strings. When the two main characters are on stage with the goose and its puppeteer, it’s great. However, the ensemble and narrator bogged the piece down for me. I’d still give it a 70 out of 100 because I liked many of the songs and thought the lead actors, Eric Graise and Ashlyn Maddox, were very good.
The song I Owe it to Myself was a highlight for me:
.png?format=auto&width=365)
