Category Archives: Reviews

October 21, 2026 · 2:04 pm

BOOP! The Musical Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

BOOP! The Musical presented by Broadway in Cincinnati through October 25th. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

Aliya Grace as Betty Boop. Photo by Matthew Murphy.

In a limited run, Broadway in Cincinnati is presenting BOOP! The Musical with book by Tony Award winner Bob Martin, music by GRAMMY winner David Foster, and Lyrics by Tony Award nominee Susan Birkenhead. In BOOP!. we find Betty, who dreams of an ordinary day off from the fame of her very own black-and-white world, thrust into the complicated world of colour.

While Broadway Direction & Choreography was originated by Jerry Mitchell, re-creation credit of this production is given to DB Bonds (Direction) and Rachelle Rak (Choreography). Both Mr. Bonds and Ms. Rak do an exceptional job with pacing, use of the playing space, and highlighting featured as well as ensemble members. While the story and songs are very strong, this is a dream show for an accomplished and versatile dancer. Euphonious melodies fill the stage thanks to Music Director/Conductor Braden Chudzik; he clearly has a solid understanding of several musical genres.

Highest of praise to Scenic Designer David Rockwell whose conceptions create an additional character (or characters) with stunning stage pictures and rich visuals. In addition, beautiful work by Costume Designer Gregg Barnes (so many gorgeous and tailored lewks!), Lighting Design by Philip S. Rosenberg, and Projection Design by Finn Ross complement the vision seamlessly. Use of both black-and-white and colour are important to the story and they meet this goal without issue.  

I am hard-pressed to choose individual performing artists to highlight as this is a cast chain which does not have a weak link. However, I will do my best to give out some flowers. The ensemble of dancers are particularly the underdog heroes in this sparkling production. We are gifted with movers who crush a little jazz, a little hip-hop, a little tap, and a whole lot of energy and coordination – bravx to each of you!

Joshua Woodie is wonderfully cringey as “real world” villain, Raymond Demarest – he has charisma with a capital “C”. Mason Ballard is extremely affable as Dwayne – you will find yourself rooting for him throughout. Adam Clarke as Pudgy is marvelously expressive as sweet Pudgy – and now I want a Pudgy. Michelle Jennings and Dan Mason have ineffable chemistry together as Valentina and Grampy, respectively. Finally, Aliya Grace is utterly delightful as the complicated Betty Boop. Ms. Grace embodies the essence of the cartoon character flawlessly while making her a 3-dimensional person. Of course, she has the voice, manner, and aesthetics down pat – but she somehow makes it easy to believe this entity could exist in our timeline.   

There is something refreshing and wonderfully pure about the story of a classic cartoon character coming into the modern age “real world” and making an impact on those around her. The homage to Ms. Boop’s origins (she was inspired by “Baby Esther” Jones, a Black jazz singer from 1920s Harlem) are just the cherry on the proverbial sundae. The character of Betty Boop was constantly evolving over the years which is why this story is entirely apropos. Young or old, sentimental or logical, I defy you to leave this pleasing musical without a smile on your face or a pep in your step.

Click here for more information about the production.

 

 

 

 

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October 15, 2026 · 6:20 pm

MRS. MANNERLY Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

Mrs. Mannerly presented by Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati through November 1st. I attended the Opening Night performance. 

Dale Hodges and Raymond McAnally in Mrs. Mannerly. Photo by Ryan Kurtz.

Ensemble Theatre Cincinnati opens its 2026-2027 6-show season with an audience favourite: the Regional comedy revival of Mrs. Mannerly by Jeffrey Hatcher. Set in Steubenville, Ohio circa 1967, this autobiographical tale follows nine-year-old Jeffrey as he enrolls in the rigorous etiquette class of the tough-as-nails Mrs. Mannerly.

Director (and Producing Artistic Director) D. Lynn Meyers leads the two-hander with her usual punch. Pacing is impeccable while use of the playing space is second to none. Scenic & Lighting Designer Brian c. Mehring is able to make even the simplest of sets appealing, using strategic furniture pieces and a screen backdrop to accommodate rapid-fire scene and timeline shifts.

When considering the remount of this beloved show, Ms. Meyers made sure to contact the actors who appeared in the 2014 premiere. Fortunately for us all, they both agreed to reprise their roles. Stage royalty Dale Hodges is exceptional as the doyen of decorum, Mrs. Mannerly herself. Ms. Hodges ensures the titular character’s every word and every move is deliberate, combining manners with an innate need for control. Her performance is delightful as always and I will admit I get personal pleasure from hearing such a consummate lady curse on stage – so this turn did not leave me disappointed.

In the role of Jeffrey/Others (and boy, are there Others!), Raymond McAnally is genius. His timing and delivery are superb and he gives each person he plays – including the child Jeffrey and the adult Jeffrey – appropriately distinctive characteristics. Mr. McAnally’s vocal timbre along with his physical choices are smart and expertly executed. Further, his chemistry with his co-star is something we should be able to bottle and sell to the masses.

While we might not all have attended etiquette classes, I can bet each of us will relate to something in this sweet little show. My mum was rather rigid when it came to manners – and while I am grateful for much of the things she instilled in me in that regard, there is also a downside which is discussed in the text: while the term is “use your manners”, manner should never be used as a weapon. Putting on airs to make you feel better about yourself while making another feel worse is not the answer. However, particularly in this world we navigate today, it is important to remember that kindness doesn’t cost a quarter and never goes out of style.

Click here for more information about the production.

 

 

 

 

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October 12, 2026 · 6:13 pm

Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s MARY POPPINS JR. Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

Mary Poppins Jr. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati through October 25th. I attended an Opening Saturday matinee. 

The Cast of Mary Poppins JR. presented by The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati is taking flight (quite literally!) this October with its 2026-2027 season opener: Disney & Cameron Mackintosh’s Mary Poppins JR. Based on one of the most popular Disney films as well as its Broadway musical adaptation, it tells the story of the nanny who sweeps into town to take care of business at 17 Cherry Tree Lane, home of the Banks family.

Artistic Director Roderick Justice takes the helm as Director of this romp, maintaining excellent pacing and consistent action. (It’s almost like he knows how to keep a child’s attention or something…!) Further, his curtain speeches are worth the price of admission alone. Complementing Mr. Justice’s efforts are Music Direction by Jacob Priddy and Choreography by Maddie Jones. There are some gorgeous voices in this cast and Mr. Priddy does an excellent job creating a symphony from them. With a cast of very physical artists I had high hopes for Step In Time, one of my personal favourite numbers. Unfortunately, opportunities were missed when the chorus sang the words “Kick your knees up” and…well, they really didn’t.

Scenic Design by Seth Howard is the ideal combination of straightforward and grand all at the right times. Scene changes are quite efficient and echo the ease of the changing wind in our story. Costume Design by Noelle Wedig-Johnson (executed by Resident Costume Designer Alix Frish) is precise and aesthetically pleasing, offering nods to the familiar looks of the timeless characters.

This show boasts a large ensemble of capable performing artists who work together adroitly. Particular shout-outs are due to Emma Riley in the titular role (her dialect and diction are as practically perfect as her performance); A. James Jones as Bert (boundless energy and positivity throughout); Evan Koons as Mr. Banks (he runs the gamut of emotions expertly and the mustache alone deserves an award); and to Amy Oblinger as Mrs. Brill (she is nothing short of flawless and needs to be seen on more stages). Bravx to all for the sweet spirit they embodied throughout!  

Mary Poppins is a story I hold near and dear to my own heart. I spent hours on end reciting the songs from the record (as in vinyl) and I quite believe it’s one of the foremost experiences which awakened me to my gift of dialects and voices in general. While this adaptation strays a bit from the movie many of us know and love, The Children Theatre of Cincinnati’s production still holds the same magic, even for this adult! At under 70 mins, this is a great outing for the child or child at heart in your life. Just when you think all might be lost, the people who surround Cherry Tree Lane remind us that anything can happen – if you let it.

On a personal note: as I walked into the Emery Theater for the first time, my mouth was agape like a codfish. It is beautiful and detailed and thoughtful, with comfortable seats and rich colours. And I saved this moment to mention the utterly impressive stage technology and give kudos to Lightborne for its Video/Projection Design which enhances the fantasy of the live performance without serving as a distraction. I felt like a child all over again the more I looked around and I am looking forward to returning to this space.

Click here for more information about the production.

 

 

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September 22, 2026 · 5:00 pm

HEIST Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

HEIST presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park through October 11th. I attended the Opening Night performance.

The Cast of HEIST presented by Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Photo by Mikki Schaffner.

Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park opens their 2026-2027 season at Moe and Jack’s Place – The Rouse Theatre with HEIST by Arun Lakra. Co-Produced with Milwaukee Repertory Theater and Gulfshore Playhouse, it is described as a “high-tech mystery for the stage” where a heist goes wrong, leading to broken trust and new danger.

Osborn Family Producing Artistic Director Blake Robison leads the brigade on this adventure. His direction of the action and his attention to detail are solid. Pacing could use some help, but this is of no fault of Mr. Robison’s (see my final paragraph). Set Designer Tim Mackabee gives us a sleek and versatile set with is complemented by Lighting Designer Jaymi Lee Smith’s bold and unique choices to fit the moods. Projection Design by Joe Payne is used in the right doses, but I do wonder if we needed so much of it to be AI-generated. Much of it could have been rendered by an animation artist, thus giving an independent artist the work. Food for thought.

Chemistry is key in a caper production and the performing artists satisfy the brief. Brian Vaughn is outstanding as Martin, the leader of the proverbial pack. His character is the narrator in this tale and Mr. Vaughn juxtaposes between breaking the fourth wall and being in the thick of things with seamless expertise. I’d love to have an Old Fashioned with him one of these days. Angel Lin is a stand-out as Fiona and I immediately picked up on the idea that she had to be a voice artist. (I was right, for the record.) Fiona is ridiculously smart to the point of being not-so-smart in less cerebral aspects and Ms. Lin commits to it.

The remaining ensemble members are no slouches, either. Alex Purcell is fundamentally believable as Ryan, Martin’s second-in-command – he has a certain “everyman” quality to him; Jessica Fishenfeld plays Angie with a plausible level of cunning and an exceptional physical prowess; Brian Thomas Abraham is appropriately both menacing and amusing as Kruger; and Kate Goehring’s turn as The Spider is masterful.

While HEIST is not altogether terribly original, I personally love a good bit of action and intrigue. The show is full of energy – which is why I question the motive behind the cadence of the flashbacks. Rather than giving the “behind-the-scenes” or “this is what really happened” point of view in larger increments, there is a constant switch between present and past day with every development. This not only slows the growing momentum, but it treats the audience like they aren’t very bright and feels a bit cheap. But even though some of it is what you might expect, even I was surprised by a thing or two. All in all, HEIST is well-executed, action-packed, and just plain good fun.

P.S. If we see each other out in the wild and you want to know the exact moment when I figured out one of the big mysteries, I’ll be happy to share – but this review, like all my others, will remain spoiler-free.

Click here for more information about the production.

 

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September 16, 2026 · 5:06 pm

EUREKA DAY Review

By Katrina “Kat” Reynolds

EUREKA DAY presented by Falcon Theatre through September 26th. I attended the Opening Saturday performance.

The cast of EUREKA DAY presented by Falcon Theatre. Photo by Claudia Hershner.

Falcon Theatre is opening its 2026-2027 theatre season with the Tony Award-winning EUREKA DAY by Jonathan Spector. When a mumps outbreak hits the student body of a progessive day school in Northern California, people get a harsh lesson in how difficult absolute consensus can really be.

Director Ed Cohen brings his expertise to this production with strong, solid pacing and excellent use movement in the appropriately confined space of an elementary school library. Scenic Design by Producing Artistic Director Ted Weil is exceptional: perfect colours, decorated with children’s artwork, and cozy enough to contribute to the play’s happier and more tense moments. Props and Set Décor by Faith Von Handorf complement Mr. Weil’s design seamlessly and made me crave a good scone to boot.

Mr. Cohen has assembled an excellent group of actors to play the parents and staff of Eureka Day School. Per usual, Rick Grant excels in the role of Don, the head of the school who is forced to remain calmest of all. Mr. Grant’s easy manner along with his spot-on expressions give his character the life it needs. Also of note is Julie Sonia Locker as Meiko, a single mother with a complicated present. Ms. Locker offers an honest and transparent lens into the struggles of wondering if what you’ve believed is good for everyone else and not just yourself. Finally, David Derringer is wonderful as Eli, a stay-at-home dad who is hit hard by the outbreak. Mr. Derringer rides the character’s emotional roller coaster with veteran performance skill. Rounding out the cast is Bekka Eaton as Suzanne, Kyndra Dyanne Jeffries as Carina, and Clint Ibele as Winter. Bravx to a great cast!

In this day and age where some people work hard to ensure everyone is included, things can still be bumpy. The line between “agreeing to disagree” and “I do not need your POV in my life” grows thinner with each new issue or stance. It is safe to say we know logically people will never agree on everything – but what happens when those who have been your support system cross into disrespect in reaction to your POV? This grey comedy has legitimate, pure laughs while still getting us to think about the hills on which we may have to die someday. I recommend you make the trip to Newport, KY before September 26th to experience the success of Falcon Theatre’s Eureka Day, with or without your Ohio passport (insert winky face here).

Click here for more information about the production.

 

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