There is good news and bad news regarding Avon Players Theatre’s 2019-20 season-opening production of Mamma Mia! the smash-hit musical. First the good news: if you have tickets to see this show, you’re in for a fun time. The bad news? The entire run is completely sold out.* Last season I was extremely impressed with Avon Players musical production of The Hunchback of Notre Dame. And I’ll be honest when I saw Mamma Mia! was on this season’s schedule, I wondered how it would compare. … [Read more...]
REVIEW: Avon Players’ ‘Steel Magnolias’ Dishes Up Sass and Southern Hospitality
September 8, 2018 by Leave a Comment
When it comes to southern women, there’s either the notion they are overly genteel (sipping sweet tea on their porches) or like Scarlett O’Hara (prone to theatrical hysterics). But those who have spent any amount of time living in the south know that while the women certainly do have a penchant for manners, they can also be tough as nails and are not to be crossed; like Leigh Anne Tuohy in the movie The Blindside. And it’s this juxtaposition that perfectly describes the ladies of Steel … [Read more...]
REVIEW: Avon Players’ ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ Transcends a Typical Love Story
May 20, 2018 by Leave a Comment
From real-life tragedy to comedy and even murder, Avon Players has taken audiences on an exciting journey during its 2017-2018 season. Now, for their curtain call it’s time for one final road trip that leads to The Bridges of Madison County. Over 25 years ago, readers fell in love with the book and soon after came the movie starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. While both these versions were wildly popular when they were released, I confess I never read the book or saw the movie. In … [Read more...]
Avon Players’ ‘The Bridges of Madison County’ Will Sweep You off Your Feet
April 24, 2018 by Leave a Comment
Romantic musical explores the divide between duty and desire The love story that had book clubs and moviegoers swooning will give theatergoers something to fall in love with as Avon Players presents the soaring Jason Robert Brown musical, The Bridges of Madison County, May 18-June 2. Francesca’s (Tracy Murray) life as a farmer’s wife in rural Iowa in 1965 is far removed from her early years in Naples, Italy. After 18 years in her adopted country, she has acclimated to an existence of … [Read more...]
REVIEW: Avon Players Christens Their 2017-2018 Season with ‘Titanic: The Musical’
September 17, 2017 by 2 Comments
Over a hundred years after the RMS Titanic’s fateful voyage, its story still resonates with audiences. Wait a minute. Arguably the worst maritime disaster in history … as a musical? Yes. But if you’re expecting something overly sentimental, or along the lines of the 1997 movie, you’ll be disappointed. And that’s a good thing. Instead this play focuses more on the human experience of its passengers through two attitudes: hubris and hope. Hubris rears its ugly head early on in the form … [Read more...]
