Reviews

7/10 Gainesville Community Playhouse is taking chances this summer and catering to a younger theater crowd (not to be confused with youth theater) with its production of Heathers: the Musical, based on the 1988 dark comedy starring Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. The musical and the movie dabble in the absurd to effectively satirize and comment on the extreme effects of peer pressure, bullying, and the social hierarchies found in every school. As might be expected with the

*Due to unforeseen circumstances, this review is a little later than usual. We apologize to anyone who was hoping to read before the start of the second weekend, which is our typical timeline. 7/10 Through the eyes of Bobby, a 35 year old playboy in New York City, the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre explores the irony of urban isolation and the emotional vulnerability inherent in romantic partnerships in its production of Stephen Sondheim's Company. Originally staged in 1970, t

9/10 For nearly 90 years, Our Town has been a staple in the American theater scene, from Broadway to community theaters to just about every high school across the country. It tells the story of the mundane, not as a critique, but as a celebration, shining a spotlight on run-of-the-mill events in an attempt to point out the overlooked wonder that exists in the smallest moments. The Gainesville Community Playhouse’s production of Our Town shines throughout, but brightens consid

*In response to last season’s review of Little Shop of Horrors at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre, individuals associated with the production indicated that they did not want to be reviewed by this site. The current show at ART, "for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf", shares production team members with Little Shop. In an attempt to respect their wishes from last season and avoid controversy, we will not be writing a full review of the chore

9/10 The '90s are back and much funnier this time around. The Acrosstown Repertory Theatre's production of Sylvia centers around a married middle-aged man struggling to find realness and connection in New York City until one day the titular dog finds him in the park and the two become inseparable. The show premiered in 1995 and the distinct feel of the mid to late 1990s runs through every minute of the two hour run time. The disconnect caused by the increasingly intangible n

5/10 Summer kicks off early with Escape to Margaritaville at the Gainesville Community Playhouse. Palm trees and sand fill the stage while the ghost of Jimmy Buffett fills every other nook and cranny of the theater. Consider this a warning for anyone not already a fan of Mr. Buffett’s music or lackadaisical island life vibes: this show is a “jukebox musical” set to the songs of Jimmy Buffett, including hits like “Fins,” “It’s Five o’ Clock Somewhere,” and, of course, “Marga

5.5/10 Dealing with questions of power, duty, and influence, Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar is one of his more popular plays and feels particularly relevant in today’s climate. The tragedy builds not only through what happens on stage, but also with the audience’s knowledge regarding the inevitable fall of the Roman Republic. Walking into the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre for its abridged version of Julius Caesar is a jarring experience. Conflicting elements battle for the audi

7/10 The story of Randle P. McMurphy and his battle against the oppressive institutions of society strikes a chord in today's climate, with individualism and resistance at the forefront of the story. One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest at the Gainesville Community Playhouse provides a reminder of a dark past and draws parallels to today. The set is minimalist by design, utilizing colors meant to pacify instead of inspire, with set pieces that are cold and sterile. Taken together

9.5/10 For a play centered around the tragic death of three women, The Drowning Girls at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre feels alive in a way that is both haunting and beautiful. Part poetry, part play, Drowning Girls is exactly the caliber and type of show that is expected from the ART and it is hard to imagine it in any other space. From the time that the actors solemnly enter until the final curtain, the production is captivating with each intentional movement, word, and

4/10 Nothing feels quite as Christmas-y as a cozy small town, complete with a Main Street running down its center. To accentuate that Christmas coziness, the High Springs Playhouse presents Old Time Christmas Radio Shows. HSP takes different approach this year for its holiday spot, eschewing a full length show for two one-hour radio shows. The World War II Radio Christmas Play functions as Act 1, while Act 2 gives audiences Christmas Thieves: A Small Town Radio Play . The

6/10 ‘Tis the season for playhouses around the area to drape the stage in tinsel, lights, and feel-good holiday fare. This year, the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre presents The Holiday Channel Christmas Movie Wonderthon, a spoof of the cheesiest and most absurd tropes of the Hallmark Christmas romantic comedies. The "plot" focuses on getting through as many romantic storylines as possible with the help of two guiding narrators, a sassy best friend, a slew of other characters, a

8/10 It's hard to say what the expectation was prior to entering the Gainesville Community Playhouse for James and the Giant Peach . The music was completely unknown and the story was reduced to a faded childhood memory. However, GCP and the Peach production team deserve a great deal of credit for creating an immersive and wonderful world that greets audiences at the door with an atrium full of beautiful whimsy. Nods to the show fill the space around the Box Office, with tr

* This is the first guest submission to 352Reviews. The Chief Theatre is outside of our normal geographic range, but we were lucky enough that a reader was able to see Footloose: The Musical and write a review to share with everyone. As always, our goal is to shine a light on as many theaters, shows, and volunteers as we can to show appreciation for all the time and energy it takes to bring a show to stage! 7/10 It’s hard not to feel that staging Footloose: The Musical is a t

7.5/10 Coming on the heels of On Clover Road , the Accrosstown Repertory Theatre presents Evil Dead: The Musical, injecting some much needed levity and camp into the small black box. Based on the 1980s horror franchise of the same name, Evil Dead retreads the tried and true formula of following college students as they make questionable life choices in an abandoned cabin in the woods. A few short songs later and the show is thrown into chaos as demons, blood, and puns fill th

6.5/10 Just in time for Halloween, the High Springs Playhouse brings Wait Until Dark to the stage for those wanting a spooky or suspense filled evening. The story follows a blind woman in the 1960’s, beset by malevolent individuals searching for a missing doll. They invade her New York apartment and terrorize her, attempting to take advantage of the fact that she cannot see them and using this to gaslight her and attack her. Chelsea Chapman is compellin

7/10 Making its Broadway premiere in 1996, RENT was destined to become a classic staple of musical theater, highlighting the life and...

6.5/10 From the novel by Alice Walker to the Oscar-winning film with Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey, to the 2007 Broadway show and the...

9/10 Sitting down to write a review of On Clover Road , which opened at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre this past weekend, calls to mind...

Note: Puffs is the latest youth production at the Acrosstown Repertory Theatre. As with the youth production of Percy Jackson at the High...

7.5/10 The first few days of August saw the regional premiere of Succession at the Star Center Theatre. This relatively unknown modern...