Shari Barrett (she/her)

This was perhaps the most homoerotic play (or movie) I have ever seen. But what sticks with me is the image of two shattered souls blending as one, a brilliantly artistic muddling of old and young, innocent and evil, guilt and pleasure, as took place between these two prisoners locked in individual cells. Starting from glancing at each other through keyhole images, the two men dance around in each other's minds and bodies (yes, there is full frontal male nudity and suggested masturbation) until ... full review

Solo show director Jessica Lynn Johnson has found another butterfly ready to break out of its cocoon and show the rest of us how to honestly depict their personal journey of self-realization. Veronica Carey definitely opened my eyes to how her gender decision-making process grew out of learning to cross-dress during the pandemic, shut in and watching You Tube videos all day. Her and his journey into acceptance of being non-binary was just the first step into the battle going on inside of how to ... full review

I really enjoyed this solo show about a young woman named Evie Edwards who came to Hollywood during its heyday to make a name for herself in the movies, telling her story from the time she dreamed of being a star as a young girl living in a Hooverville. Speaking to all the unfair practices she encountered along the way, friends who helped and encouraged her, her father whose gambling would seal his fate, and then on to the popularity of the Hollywood Canteen for starlets during WWII, the bosses w... full review

Much like the rags to riches story of The Princess Bride, this hour-long musical tells the tale of a young farm hand who dreams of more, longing to serve as a King's Cavalier who is aided in that quest by the almost-royal Viscountess Alanna (7 cousins would have to die first for her to become Queen). Narrated by a Troubadour whose cleverly constructed musical musings provide the story exposition in the beginning as well as scene breaks while the cast sets up the next location from the various set... full review

WOW! As a former high school theatre arts teacher, I am amazed at the wonderful talent and true-to-life story taking place in this world premiere production. It always amazes me when I am out in public how people are always on their phones and don't speak to each other in real time. And that's not just teens but adults as well. This musical deals with that issue; kids trying to be who they think they want others to see them as rather than being honest about who they really are and their real fee... full review

Durang's characters as so off the wall and larger than life, the direction of these plays has to match the craziness of the stories with a cast that can handle the absurdity of it all. And Kristin Towers-Rowles understands that and keeps the action as hectic as the thoughts going through the characters' minds while the actors enjoy chewing the scenery! This is especially true during "The Actor's Nightmare" when an understudy for Edwin Booth is called upon to take on his role at the last min... full review

This show speaks directly to the woes of current society, be it at home, in the workplace, online, because of the pandemic, lack of good jobs or fair housing, in the news, believing everything you read online, or due to discrimination in all its forms. In each of the scenes, it becomes apparent that everyone is waiting for someone else to fix the problem, and while we all can see them and comment on them, nothing is getting done because we are still "waiting for Lefty" to do something about it. P... full review

Such a fun immersive show, even though I was way past middle school in the 90s! But I am sure all of us can remember our own trying times as young teens trying to figure out how to make friends and let someone we really liked know it. And how you loved to get your sibling in trouble! Such is the case thanks to Janson Lalich - writer, director, actor, and producer of THE SLEEPOVER -who presents Mikey as just nerdy enough to always torment his older sister Louise (Susan Louise O'Connor) whose di... full review

In the age of "me too," no doubt many people have looked back through their lives and found times when faced with giving consent to be touched seemed just as confusing as saying "yes" or "no" when what you really thought was "maybe." Catherine Barnes takes us on a journey through her life, starting with a game of "nervous" with a local boy led her to realize no matter what, it was always going to be the girl's fault for not saying "no" and meaning it - even if she did. Her journey continues thro... full review

What a powerhouse performance! TL takes you through the chapters of her life as if each is a part of the book that tries to explain how she got to where she is from moment-to-moment. Packed with extremely expressive facials and constantly emotional body movement, TL's life experience as a "hard of hearing" person living in a fluid no man's land of diversity packs a punch that will shake you to your soul. And kudos to her uncredited ASL interpreter whose entertaining presence often becomes an impo... full review