I have attended MEGACON nearly every year since 2010. It is literally one of the biggest fan conventions out there. They cover everything from comics, anime, sci-fi, horror, animation, gaming, & more. It is truly one of my favorite events each year. This year the show took place on Thursday March 30th and ran through Sunday April 2nd. My favorite day to go was Friday, it was busy but also not insane like Saturday usually is. This year, the wife and I even dressed up as a steampunk version of Disney’s Figment and his Dreamfinder. We ended up taking over 35 photos with other fans that stopped us along the way. It was a ton of fun. I have never dressed up for a convention before and it will not be the last time.

The highlight of the convention had to be some of the special events that took place including the Studio Ghibli VIP experience with Hirokatsu Kihara, former Chief Production Officer at Studio Ghibli, who was there to show key pieces of his collection and also to celebrate 35th anniversary this year: My Neighbor Totoro. This was a rare U.S. appearance and one not to miss. If you are a comic fan, Saturday was lit with the 25th anniversary of 300, featuring the man himself Frank Miller, doing a special panel as he discusses the ideas, art, and history that inspired the legendary comic, 300.

Friday was on fire with the following celebrity talent: Cerina Vincent (POWER RANGERS: LOST GALAXY, CABIN FEVER), Greg Sestero (THE ROOM), Sam Raimi (DIRECTOR OF EVIL DEAD AND SPIDER-MAN TRILOGIES), Anthony Michael Hall (JOHN HUGHES’ FILMS, THE DEAD ZONE), Carl Weathers (THE MANDALORIAN, ROCKY), Mercedes Varnado (THE MANDALORIAN, WWE’s SASHA BANKS), Sonequa Martin-Green (STAR TREK: DISCOVERY), COBRA KAI was represented with Ralph Macchio, William Zabka and Martin Kove and more, Henry Winkler (HAPPY DAYS), Tara Strong (TEEN TITANS GO!, MY LITTLE PONY) and Charles Martinet (VOICE OF MARIO)

Saturday brought some overwelming talent including Hayden Christensen (STAR WARS), Rosario Dawson (CLERKS II, AHSOKA), James McAvoy (X-MEN), Chevy Chase (NATIONAL LAMPOON SERIES), John Cleese (MONTY PYTHON), Zachary Levi (SHAZAM), Charlie Cox (DAREDEVIL), Steve Burns (BLUES CLUES), SCREAM cast includes Skeet Ulrich, Jamie Kennedy, Neve Campbell, Matthew Lillard, Mark-Paul Gosselaar (SAVED BY THE BELL), Giancarlo Esposito (THE MANDALORIAN, BREAKING BAD) and Vincent D’Onofrio (FULL METAL JACKET, DAREDEVIL)

If you were a anime fan, MEGACON, hooked you up solid with an outrageous guest list including
Christopher Sabat (DRAGON BALL Z, MY HERO ACADEMIA), Zach Aguilar (DEMON SLAYER), Aleks Le (DEMON SLAYER), Abby Trott (DEMON SLAYER), Justin Briner (MY HERO ACADEMIA) and Colleen Clinkenbeard (ONE PIECE, MY HERO ACADEMIA).

Besides just celebrities signing, there is SO MUCH MORE to the convention including a cosplay competition and endless supply of panels and workshops. There is a row of tattoo artists doing their thing as well as Artist Alley featuring Comic Legends, Pro Comic Book artists, and writers. Are you a video game fan? They have a tournament to battle it out and test your skills against other fans. If you are a D&D fan, you can roll for initiative and take part in play sessions.

Honestly, one of the best parts are MEGACON is that it is a family convention. They have activities and attractions for the whole family. I loved walking around and see groups of families all dressed up in costumes. There is so much for a family to do at a show like this. They even have an opportunity to take part in workshops & panels just for kids. Not to mention there is ten of thousands of square feet of shopping for the whole family.

The fun doesn’t end when the convention is over though, they have a ton of great after hours content to enjoy for those visiting. First up there was Karaoke with Emily Swallow (THE MANDALORIAN) kicking off things on Friday night. Also on Friday there was a special, interactive screening of THE ROOM, the best bad movie ever made with Greg Sestero, the actor who plays Mark, doing a live Q&A. That’s just the beginning with Anime After Dark featuring special Cosplay guests, amazing DJs like DJ Awesomeus Prime and DJ Kino, plus Anime, electronic, and hip-hop music all night.

Overall, I think it was a solid weekend, jam packed with tons of great content for everyone. MEGACON definitely stepped it up this year. Everything was easily down from the parking, which they handled very well to the registration, which was incredibly easy. I cannot wait till next year on February 1st through the 4th for the 2024 MEGACON convention! I will be first in line for sure!

Ro Malaga is Head of Business Development for the Tampa Bay Comic Convention as well as part of the marketing team. We got a chance to chat with him to discuss the plans for this year’s show and the already impressive guest line-up so far!

The Tampa Bay Comic Convention takes place on July 28-30, 2023 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. The first round of celebrity guest attendees include Giancarlo Esposito, Jim Cummings, Pauly Shore, Steve Downes and Jen Taylor.

Click here for the official website and to purchase tickets now while they are on-sale!

TAMPA BAY – March 17, 2023 – Tampa Bay Comic Convention (https://tampabaycomicconvention.com/) announced today its first round of celebrity guest attendees, including Giancarlo Esposito, Jim Cummings, Pauly Shore, Steve Downes and Jen Taylor for the 2023 show on July 28-30, 2023 at the Tampa Bay Convention Center. 

“Our first round of celebrity guest announcements is a huge win for fans as Ginacarlo, Jim, Pauly, Steve and Jen are five of our most requested guests from our fans” said Dan Farr, Tampa Bay Comic Convention Show Producer. “This is a great start to the show in July and it’s just the tip of the iceberg as we’re pulling out all the stops to make this our biggest and most epic show ever.”

Esposito is currently starring as Moff Gideon in Disney’s Mandalorian. Over the course of his career, he also played Gus Fring in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul, Mike Giardello in Homicide: LIfe on the Streets, Sidney Glass/Magic Mirror in ABC’s Once Upon a Time and Amazon Prime’s The Boys and The Boys Presents: Diabolical. He’s a three-time nominee for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series.

Cummings is best known for his many voice roles on Disney movies such as Winnie the Pooh and Tigger from Winnie the Pooh, Razoul and Farouk on Aladdin, Ed and Scar’s singing voice on The Lion King, Pete on A Goofy Movie and Chief Powhatan and the singing voice of Kekata on Pocahontas as well as the Tasmanian Devil from Looney Toons.

Shore is a comedian, actor and filmmaker who rose to fame in the 1990 through a series of comedy films, most notably in Encino Man, Son in Law,  Bio-Dome and Pauly Shore Is Dead. In addition to acting, he’s lent his voice to a number of voice roles including, A Goofy Movie and An Extremely Goofy Movie.  

Downes was a radio disc jockey (DJ) for 44 years. In 1990 he started voice acting in 1990 and in 1999 he voiced his first role in a video game when he played Gunnar in Septerra Core: Legacy of the Creator. That role opened the door for him to play Master Chief in Halo: Combat Evolved and he’s voiced that role ever since.

Taylor is a voice actress best known for her role as Crotana in the Halo video games. In addition to Halo, she’s voiced characters in a number of other video games including Princess Peach, Toad and Toadette in Mario games and Salem in RWBY. She’s also a prolific narrator for audio books, narrating more than 25 audiobooks.

Tampa Bay Comic Convention will feature the best in geek and pop culture, including movies, TV shows from network TV, streaming services and other online sources, cosplay, gaming, books, comic creators, artists, vendors and many more. Attendees can meet all their favorite celebrities from fandoms such as Marvel, DC, Disney, Star Wars, 90s Sitcoms, Cartoons as well as artists, author and comic creators and attend panels where they can hear about their careers and current projects.

More celebrity guests will be announced leading up to the convention in July. To stay up to date on Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2023, visit the website, Tampa Bay Comic Convention Social Media, and subscribe to the Tampa Bay Comic Convention Newsletter for all the latest Tampa Bay Comic Convention 2023 Promotions and Guest Announcements.

For more information about Tampa Bay Comic Convention or to purchase tickets now, visit  https://tampabaycomicconvention.com/. 

ABOUT TAMPA BAY COMIC CONVENTION:

Tampa Bay Comic Convention is a comic pop culture convention located in Tampa, Florida. Tampa Bay Comic Convention is Tampa’s largest, true comic convention. Featured are exhibitors that cater to a wide-spectrum of interests including comic books, magazines, toys, games, Star Wars, Star Trek, anime, manga, cosplay, artwork, sketches and apparel. In addition, a roster of comic industry professionals, and comicdom-related celebrities are in attendance for attendees to meet and greet. As admission is kept reasonable for adults and FREE for children 10 and under, the Tampa Bay Comic Convention is a family-friendly convention. Find out more at: https://tampabaycomicconvention.com/.

Gotta admit, I am not the biggest SpongeBob fan. I have seen a few episodes and the two movies that have been released and that’s really it. I never watched religiously over the years…yet I have always respected the show that has been on the air nearly 25 years and going strong. I am however a sucker for musicals when I saw that “Spongebob Squarepants” was becoming not only a musical but an acclaimed musical, my interest was peaked. Especially when I saw that “The Spongebob Musical” was going to be at the Orlando Repertory Theatre, I knew I had to go. I ended up taking my 11 year old daughter and let me tell you we both had a blast at this showing. The show was fun, colorful and full of amazing songs that had you nearly up and dancing in your seats.

Official Premise: Are you ready, kids? The hit Nickelodeon show has become a big, splashy Broadway musical! Dive into the undersea town of Bikini Bottom with SpongeBob and his quirky circle of friends and neighbors – Patrick, Sandy, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, and even Plankton – in this dynamic stage musical with songs from music’s most legendary artists. Chaos erupts when SpongeBob and all of Bikini Bottom face the total annihilation at the threat of Mt. Humongous. Just when all hope seems lost, a most unexpected hero rises up and takes center stage. The power of optimism really can save the world!

When I mentioned the music, there are amazing original songs by Yolanda Adams – Steven Tyler and Joe Perry of Aerosmith – Sara Bareilles – Jonathan Coulton – Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros – The Flaming Lips – Lady A – Cyndi Lauper – John Legend – Panic! At the Disco – Plain White T’s – They Might Be Giants – T.I. and songs By David Bowie – Tom Kenny & Andy Paley. My favorite has to be Bikini Bottom Day, which kicked off the show and also act 2 in reprise. Like I mentioned the song were just so energetic and fun. Definitely not what I expected from a Spongebob musical but I was pleasantly surprised.

The sets at the Orlando Repertory Theatre were very impressive as well. There were filled with color and really added a lot to the show. The cast was also amazing especially Joel Hunt, who played Spongebob, who was all over the stage including doing back flips and running into the aisles. My daughters favorite was Squidward, played by Liam Joshua Munn. Though I got to admit, the entire ensemble was very talented. I love coming to shows at the Orlando Repertory Theatre because there is always a diverse cast and I have never been let down in terms of quality of performances. I can’t wait to see what they have planned next. And if you can I would highly recommend catching a performance of “The Spongebob Musical” before it closes out on April 30th, you won’t be disappointed.

LOS ANGELES, CA – March 9, 2023 – Full Moon Features (FMF) announced today the launch of Tentacula, an innovative subsidiary that designs and creates high-end, unique gift and lifestyle items centered around mysticism, magic and arcane entertainment. Celebrating the launch of the company, Tentacula revealed its flagship product, The Fortune Teller (image HERE)*, a metallic, beautifully designed and eerily sentient high-end entertainment device that taps into the mysteries of the unknown, the ether, the spirit plane. 

From the mind of trailblazing independent science fiction, horror and fantasy film producer Charles Band, the founder of venerable strange cinema brand Full Moon Features, The Fortune Teller is available now at www.TheFortuneTeller.com or on Amazon HERE.

“I’m super excited about launching Tentacula because it gives us an opportunity to create wonderfully exclusive products that are on the fringe of our cinema-specific merchandise,” said Band, FMF and Tentacula founder. “The idea behind the The Fortune Teller was to take the mysticism – and fun – of a Ouija Board or Magic 8 Ball and evolve the concept. It’s the first of many awesome and innovative products to come from Tentacula.”

With its upscale, sleek design, polished steel encasing and its gorgeous, lush velvet carrying case, The Fortune Teller retails for $90.00. Providing a direct link between the unseen world into the palm of your hand, The Fortune Teller is  an all-knowing, all-seeing slice of psychic and supernatural phenomena that provides a handsome distraction from life’s mundane day-to-day grind.

Band added, “With hundreds of answers tailored to your everyday questions and concerns about the past, present and future, The Fortune Teller creates a mood-sensing digital oracle that is both portable and a beautiful conversation piece for the home. It is the ultimate portal linking the cosmic forces that surround and bind us.”

*For entertainment purposes only

ABOUT TENTACULA:

Tentacula, a subsidiary of Charles Band’s Full Moon Features, designs and creates high-end, unique gift and lifestyle items centered around mysticism, magic and arcane entertainment. 

ABOUT FULL MOON FEATURES:

Full Moon Features (FMF) is an entertainment studio that founded in 1989 by the undisputed master of horror movies, Charles Band, and is the successor to Band’s groundbreaking Empire Pictures Studio. Band has produced more than 360 films, original series, toys, collectibles, merchandise, and comic books, and publishes the popular horror film magazine, Delirium.

FMF owns and operates its own streaming entertainment channel called FullMoonFeatures.com, a service that offers hundreds of new, classic and obscure horror, fantasy and cult movies. The studio also has their own Amazon Prime Video channel and their films are widely available on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Tubi, Google Play and Xbox One. 

Band’s films helped launch the careers of many of Hollywood’s biggest stars, including Demi Moore (Parasite), Helen Hunt (Trancers) and Viggo Mortensen (Prison).

Bo Bice is one of America’s most popular modern day southern rock singers. Bo’s epic run on American Idol as runner-up to Carrie Underwood in 2005 is still one of the most watched seasons in the shows history. Bo currently is playing the lead role in “Rock of Ages” at the Garden Theatre in Winter Garden, FL. The show opened on January 25. 2023 and recently got extended to March 12, 2023. Be sure to catch a performance if you can.

Click here to purchase tickets: https://www.gardentheatre.org/play/rock-of-ages/

Bo has received many awards over his 25 year career. As a Native of Alabama being inducted into the Alabama Music Hall of Fame and having Governor Bob Riley declare May, 24th Bo Bice day were among the greatest honors of his career. He has a string of 3 Gold Albums from his contribution to the Idols 2005 compilation CD, his single “Vehicle” and for his Debut CD “The Real Thing” recorded with Clive Davis/RCA Records. Bo has recorded and performed with such greats as Lynyrd Skynyrd, Phish, Marshall Tucker just to name a few. He has recorded a duet with Carlos Santana “Brown Skin Girl” 2005.

Winnie the Pooh and his friends in the 100 Acre Wood have always been a favorite of mine since I was a kid and straight through my adult life. Whenever there is a movie or anything relating to Pooh I immediately have to see it. When I heard about the Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical Stage Adaptation in NYC, I was dying to see it. I am currently 40 years old and the magic has never left me. Having a daughter myself, I have been able to introduce her to this world and pass it on to another generation. This show was recently held at the beautiful Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, FL and it was adorable, fun and left us singing as we left the theater.

All of Disney’s iconic characters were featured in this show, Winnie the Pooh, Christopher Robin Piglet, Eeyore, Kanga, Roo, Rabbit, Owl and Tigger too! It was amazing seeing them come to life in this beautifully crafted musical stage adaptation. This beautiful stage adaptation is told with stunning life-sized puppetry through the eyes of the characters we all know and love, in a brand new story from the Hundred Acre Wood. All the puppets featured in the show were designed and constructed within the walls of Rockefeller Productions by a talented team of artists, designers, patternmakers, builders, welders and fabricators. It also featured the timeless music of the Sherman Brothers along with further songs by A.A. Milne.

Inspired by Disney’s original character designs, each character is literally brought to life by its puppeteers perfectly. This production is created by renowned family entertainment creator Jonathan Rockefeller, and made by Rockefeller Productions alongside Disney Theatrical Productions. The theater was filled with families of all ages exposing them to the beauty of these characters and the classic Grammy winning music. The show itself ran for a straight solid hour with no intermission and left me wanting more, which is not a bad thing. If you are able to catch this show when it comes to a city near you I would highly recommend it for sure. It is nothing short of magical.

On sale February 17, the critically acclaimed and much beloved Broadway production stars Montego Glover, Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus and Gavin Creel –

– Arts center selected as one of 10 to present the straight-from-Broadway production –

ORLANDO, Fla. (February 7, 2023) – Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts today announced the hugely acclaimed and much beloved Grammy^®-winning Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony Award^®-winning triumph, Into the Woods, will go on sale for single tickets Friday, February 17 at DrPhillipsCenter.org. 

The direct from Broadway production will play a series of select engagements across the U.S. in 2023, including seven performances in Walt Disney Theater. Starring Montego Glover as The Witch, Stephanie J. Block as The Baker’s Wife, Sebastian Arcelus as The Baker, and Gavin Creel as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf reprising their Broadway roles, the strictly limited engagement will run from June 6 to June 11 presented by Dr. Phillips Center.

As one of only 10 cities in the entire country selected to present this direct from Broadway production, the downtown Orlando arts center is excited to welcome Into the Woods and its incredible company to Walt Disney Theater, bringing four Broadway stars to Central Florida. 

Into the Woods, which became the first Broadway hit of the 2022/2023 season after its sold-out run at New York City Center Encores!, is directed by Lear deBessonet, with music supervision by Rob Berman, and choreographed by Lorin Latarro. This production is dedicated to the memory of Stephen Sondheim.

The company will include Cole Thompson as Jack, Katy Geraghty as Little Red Ridinghood, Diane Phelan as Cinderella, Nancy Opel as Cinderella’s Stepmother, Jason Forbach as Rapunzel’s Prince, Aymee Garcia as Jack’s Mother, David Patrick Kelly as The Narrator, Josh Breckenridge as Cinderella’s Father, Felicia Curry as Cinderella’s Mother/Grandmother/Giant’s Wife, Ta’Nika Gibson as Lucinda, Brooke Ishibashi as Florinda, Kennedy Kanagawa as Milky White, Jim Stanek as the Steward, and Alysia Velez as Rapunzel with Erica Durham, Ellie Fishman, Marya Grandy, Paul Kreppel, Eddie Lopez, Ximone Rose, and Sam Simahk as understudies.

Into the Woods first premiered on Broadway in 1987, winning three Tony Awards including Best Score and Best Book. It has since been produced throughout the world and was adapted into a major motion picture in 2014. This production marks its first time on Broadway in more than 20 years.

About Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts 

Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts is a private nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization in downtown Orlando supported by the City of Orlando, Orange County, the City of Winter Park, the State of Florida and generous donors and sponsors. The 698,312-square-foot venue includes the grand 2,711-seat Walt Disney Theater, the community-theater style 296-seat Alexis & Jim Pugh Theater, the new adaptable 1,464–1,770-seat Steinmetz Hall and, opening in 2023, the dynamic cabaret-style music room Judson’s. In addition, the venue has various versatile event spaces like the DeVos Family Room, the Rooftop Terrace and the 3-acre outdoor Seneff Arts Plaza. In addition, the arts center’s AdventHealth School of Arts offers classes, camps and pre-professional productions. For more information, visit drphillipscenter.org. Follow on YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.

• PRETTY WOMAN: THE MUSICAL
• Music Hall – Kansas City, Missouri
• December 6, 2022

WELCOME TO HOLLYWOOD!

Hundreds of newcomers receive this greeting daily.  For some new arrivals, it’s the beginning of fulfilling a dream.  For Vivian Ward (Jessie Davidson), it’s a daily reminder of the life she now leads.  A daily reminder that she has yet to find her prince. Yet?

There have been so many musicals in the pipeline recently – coming soon, shows based on “Mr. Holland’s Opus” and “The Nutty Professor” – and some are, to be polite, not very good.  So please take this as a great compliment when I say that “PWTM” is much better than I expected.  Based on the 1990 film that unleashed Julia Roberts on an unsuspecting world, “PWTM” is a very funny, and well produced, show that is carried squarely on the shoulders of the writers and the performers.

For those of you who may not be aware of the story, it’s the tale of Vivian, a working girl trying to drum enough business to help pay the rent.  A chance meeting with Edward Lewis (Adam Pascal) leads her to an arrangement she cannot turn down.  However, as things progress, unemotional business begins to take a backseat to actual feelings, as two lonely people connect.

Adam Pascal has one of the most powerful and recognizable voices in musical theater history (again, for those of you who don’t follow theater, he was Roger in the original production of RENT, as well as in the film).  Pascal gives Edward a sense of decency that helps make the character likeable.  Ms. Davidson also works some magic in making Vivian a true heroine of the story.  It’s hard to create a fairy tale out of cutthroat businessmen and prostitutes, but together Pascal and Davidson pull it off.  They are assisted greatly by a strong ensemble cast, including Jessica Crouch as Vivian’s roommate, Kit; Kyle Taylor Parker, as the overzealous greeter, proved an audience favorite.  And I want to give a special shout out to Trent Soyster as the limber and mischievous bellboy Giulio.

A fun night at the theater, PWTM is playing in Kansas City through December 11^th.  For information on this stop of the tour, or upcoming shows, please click HERE.

The wildly popular, award-winning musical Hamilton returns to the Dr. Phillips Center in Orlando, Florida for an almost one-month run from October 26-November 20. Hamilton is the story of America in its infancy, told by America now. With a score that seamlessly blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B, and Broadway, Hamilton tells the story of the birth of America through the eyes of Alexander Hamilton, one of the founding fathers. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Hamilton has won multiple Tony®, Grammy ®, and Oliver Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.

Having the opportunity to see Hamilton live for a second time with the touring cast, I was nervous it wouldn’t pack the same punch as the Broadway version. My nerves increased a bit more when I noticed that three (3) of the main characters – Eliza Hamilton, George Washington, and Hercules Mulligan – were all being played by understudies, and it was only the second night. Once the show began, however, I quickly realized that it was silly to worry as every actor on that stage brought the themes and story to life in a way where you felt the real emotions. By the end I had changed my tune to “Understudies: They get the job done.”

Each of the 34 songs (you read that right, 34 songs) were written in a way that it enhanced the story being told and eliminated the boring stereotype that tends to come with a historical narrative. In addition, Dr. Phillips Center used Gala Pro – and app which provides captioning on your personal mobile device – for this show, which allowed individuals with hearing impairments the ability to read and understand the, at times, very fast lyrics. For a show that celebrates diversity and the strength it brings to us as a country, it was great to see it was accessible for those with hearing impairments as well.

Tickets are still on sale for the remainder of the Hamilton run at Dr. Phillips Center, and before you think to yourself “What’d I Miss,” I highly recommend you find the time to “Take a Break” and see this “Non-Stop,” inspirational musical before it plays “One Last Time” on November 20^th. I promise you that you will walk out of the theater “Satisfied.”

The 23-time award winning musical SIX brings its Euphoric Celebration of 21 st century girl power to the Dr. Phillips Center Broadway series in Orlando now through October 9 th . Re-writing “herstory,” the SIX wives of Henry VIII go from Tudor Queens to Pop Icons in this non-stop, 80-minute concert-style show that will keep you dancing and entertained the entire time.

Having the opportunity to see SIX for the first time on its opening night in Orlando was phenomenal. There weren’t any set changes or costume changes (okay, maybe one costume change) leaving the music and story of the show as the main characters. The diverse cast of women who played The Queens – Khaila Wilcoxon as Catherine of Argon, Storm Lever as Anne Boleyn, Jasmine Forsberg as Jane Seymour, Olivia Donalson as Anna of Cleves, Cassie Silva (alternate) as Katherine Howard, and Gabriela Carrillo as Catherine Parr – not only exuded confidence in their period-inspired pop star attire, but also kept the energy high with their amazing vocal talents and dedication to telling the stories of these women. Feeling

inspired and empowered as I left the theater, I wanted nothing more than to listen to The SIX: LIVE ON OPENING NIGHT Broadway album as I couldn’t get enough.

If I had to give one complaint, it would be that the show itself was not long enough. When The Queens sang “for five more minutes we’re SIX,” I felt a tinge of disappointment as it was as if the show just hit its peak and then it ended, leaving me wanting more. Would this keep me from seeing the show again, ABSOLUTELY NOT! Just ask my husband who I have been begging to go see it again with me before its final curtain on Orlando 9th .

• SISTER ACT
• STARLIGHT THEATER – KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI
• AUGUST 16, 2022                

Over the past couple decades there have been a number of Broadway musicals that have been based on popular films.  “Hairspray,” “The Producers,”  “Beetlejuice,” “Rocky,” and “Young Frankenstein” are just a small fraction of the shows that have hit the Great White Way – with new productions of “The Nutty Professor” and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” currently previewing in smaller cities.  Some have gone on to Great success, while others have faded away.  One of the better ones has just arrived in Kansas City.

Based on the very popular 1992 film that starred Whoopi Goldberg, “Sister Act” is the story of lounge singer Delor1s Van Cartier (an excellent Tamyra Gray), auditioning to perform in a club owned by her gangster boyfriend, Curtis (Benjamin H. Moore) on Christmas Eve 1977.  However, despite her obvious talent, she is told she is “not ready” to play the club yet.  This does not phase Deloris, whose dream is to be a star.  She knows she has the talent and the desire.  She just needs the opportunity.  When Deloris accidentally walks in on Curtis and his henchmen immediately after they have killed someone, she runs to the police, who decide that the best thing to do is to hide Deloris where no one would think to look for her.

Smartly written, with a great score by multiple Oscar-winner Alan Menken and Grammy award winner Glenn Slater, “Sister Act” is a combination of laughs and music.  Ms. Gray brings a belter’s voice and a Catskill veteran’s comic timing to the role of Deloris and genuinely makes it her own.  Other outstanding turns by Mr. Moore, Anne Tolpegin (Mother Superior) and Susana Cordon (Sister Mary Robert) are accompanied by a supporting cast that keeps the show moving swiftly. 

If there was one drawback to the evening, it was one that had nothing to do with the performances.  In each city, local “celebrities” appear on stage in the silent role of the Pope and on opening night we were treated to Kansas City Mayor Quentin Lucas in all of his Papal glory.  Unfortunately, due to some local political issues, some idiots in front of the stage felt the need to stage a protest, causing security to escort them out and taking the fun out of the closing number. 

That aside, I highly recommend you catch “Sister Act” when it comes to your town.  It is, dare I say, a divine evening at the theater.

“Sister Act” runs through Sunday, August 21 at Starlight Theater in Kansas City. 

• ANASTASIA
• Starlight Theater – Kansas City, Missouri
• August 11, 2022