Category: Musicals
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The Letters of the Day in Hilton Village? P, C, T, and Q
Walking into Peninsula Community Theatre on Friday night, my perception of “Avenue Q” was basically – so they made Sesame Street dirty, sending the Muppets into the real world where they are allowed to cuss, have intimate (physical) relationships, do drugs, and be, can you believe it, gay. As a longstanding Muppet stan, I was…
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Disco, Dancing, and Dreams: The ‘Holy Trinity’ of “Sister Act” at LTVB
Photo courtesy of J. Stubbs Photography (https://jstubbsphotographyvb.com/) What is it about nuns that so consistently captures the imagination of audiences? By percentage of population in the real world, they have to be one of the most over-represented groups on stage – and yet, I’m totally here for it. Maybe it is the clash of cultures…
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The 2025-26 HRACT Awards Nominees
Another remarkable year of theater has come and gone here in the Hampton Road region, and we can’t wait to celebrate it all at our awards ceremony on August 20th at 7:30PM at the Ferguson Center at CNU. Narrowing down the list of nominees was once again incredibly difficult – a credit to all the…
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The Williamsburg Players Usher in the Summer (and the 250th Anniversary) with “1776”
You have to hand it to the Williamsburg Players’ season development team – they knew what they were doing when they picked “1776” to be their production closest to the 250th July 4th celebration in the Colonial Capital. With such a sure bet to sell well, the production team, cast, and crew could have phoned…
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When “Just Doing Your Job” Changes Lives: Zeiders American Dream Theater Presents the First Full Production of “Dr. Smile”
*Note: As per the performance eligibility requirements laid out here, this production is not up for HRACT Award consideration.* There is something innate inside of me that wants to be part of “firsts” or “exclusives”. I can’t explain it. The opening of a new Raising Cane’s in Norfolk? Count me in. An exclusive Disney pin available…
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“¡Alza la Bandera!” Come Join the Celebration at Little Theatre of Norfolk’s “In The Heights”
Photo courtesy of J. Stubbs Photography (https://jstubbsphotographyvb.com/) Every time we see a show, we are rooting for it. Some shows fall short of those hopes. Some shows are what we expect. And some shows explode off the stage, with color, and energy, and heart, right from the first number. “In The Heights”, playing now at…
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Smithfield Little Theatre’s “9 to 5” Takes Care of Business on Just Another Manic Monday While We Are All Working for the Weekend… But In a Dolly Parton Sorta Way
As we settled into our seats at Smithfield Little Theatre on Friday night, we noticed the many beds on stage, and a clock showing the time to be 8:00. I thought – glad these characters still have an entire hour to get ready, because I’m pretty sure they are going to need to be at…
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Hop on the Bandwagon at One Night Only Productions’ Debut Show “The Trail to Oregon!”
*Note: As per the performance eligibility requirements laid out here, this production is not up for HRACT Award consideration.* There is always something special about an opening night – extra tension in the air, some more nervous running around, extra bouquets of flowers being carefully propped up in the aisles. While Thursday in the Hofheimer Theater…
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As PCT Raises the Curtain, they Lift the Veil Between Worlds in “Ghost the Musical”
The “showmance” is a term that has become a part of our cultural lexicon – and, as big fans of our local community theater scene, we of course enjoy the gossip we get out of each new playbill that we are handed while walking into a show to find out who calls out each other…
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There’s More Than One Way to Crack An Egg and There’s More Than One Way to Peel An Orange, But There’s Only One Place in Hampton Roads to Catch “Purlie” (And That’s Downing-Gross)
When we got home from “Purlie”, playing now at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center, our cat Pepper was up in arms. “How offensive that they would do a song called ‘Skinnin’ a Cat’! Unbelievable!” she meowed at us. When we finally got her settled down enough to listen, and explained to her that it was just…
HRACT Awards 