‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Is Dull, Generic Photorealistic Animation Prequel

‘Mufasa: The Lion King’ Is Dull, Generic Photorealistic Animation Prequel

By Lynn Venhaus Woof. Thirty years after its landmark opening, Disney’s “The Lion King” has returned as a computer-animated prequel that’s a mere shell of... Details
IN UNISON Christmas Delivers Gift-Within-Gift Holiday Magic with SLSO, Take 6 and Inspired Performances

IN UNISON Christmas Delivers Gift-Within-Gift Holiday Magic with SLSO, Take 6 and Inspired Performances

By CB Adams If you’ve ever eagerly unwrapped a gift and found it filled with many other wrapped gifts, that’s the sort of Matryoshka doll... Details
Merry and Bright ‘That Christmas’ Is Clever Animated Comedy Film

Merry and Bright ‘That Christmas’ Is Clever Animated Comedy Film

By Lynn VenhausCharming and delightful, “That Christmas” is an animated comedy that will give you the warm-and -fuzzies without the too-sweet and unrealistic situations that... Details
The Rep, Stages Brightly Gift Wrap a Spirited ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas’

The Rep, Stages Brightly Gift Wrap a Spirited ‘Million Dollar Quartet Christmas’

By Lynn Venhaus Without skipping a beat, four iconic music legends continue a sentimental reunion in the cheery holiday show “Million Dollar Quartet Christmas,” which... Details
New Jewish Theatre’s Fun and Frisky ‘First Date’ Is a Polished Gem

New Jewish Theatre’s Fun and Frisky ‘First Date’ Is a Polished Gem

By Lynn Venhaus Laugh-out-loud funny, “First Date” is a refreshing tonic that we didn’t know we needed, a balm to sooth our jangled nerves, a... Details
‘Gladiator II’ Is An Underwhelming Sequel Stuck in the Past

‘Gladiator II’ Is An Underwhelming Sequel Stuck in the Past

By Alex McPherson Lacking the focus and heart of its predecessor, director Ridley Scott’s “Gladiator II” undercuts its splatter-filled action sequences and on-point performance from... Details
‘Wicked’ Enthralls, Frustrates in Long-Awaited Film Adaptation

‘Wicked’ Enthralls, Frustrates in Long-Awaited Film Adaptation

By Lynn Venhaus A dazzling spectacle based on the 2003 Broadway musical fantasy, “Wicked” is overproduced and padded with unnecessarily stretched out musical numbers and... Details
An Elegant, Exuberant ‘Anastasia’ Is a Knockout for Tesseract Theatre Co.

An Elegant, Exuberant ‘Anastasia’ Is a Knockout for Tesseract Theatre Co.

By Lynn Venhaus A zestful and exuberant “Anastasia: The Musical” is a crowning achievement for the Tesseract Theatre Company, which has crafted a big, bold... Details
Heartfelt Storytelling in PPA Alumni Theatre’s Moving ‘As Told By Us’

Heartfelt Storytelling in PPA Alumni Theatre’s Moving ‘As Told By Us’

By Lynn Venhaus Two life-affirming original one-acts grab the heart through humor and genuine emotion for a moving night of original stories in “As Told... Details
YoungLiars Fracture Fairy Tales in Clever Free-Spirited ‘Wolf Kings’

YoungLiars Fracture Fairy Tales in Clever Free-Spirited ‘Wolf Kings’

By Lynn Venhaus A movable feast of tumbling ideas and kernels of wit, “Wolf Kings” is an inspired piece of inter-disciplinary performance by indomitable producing... Details