ron gabaldon

This musical was fantastic, and I don’t know anything about Jem and the Holograms. The songs were catchy, hilarious, and pitch perfect for the theme. The cast featured some incredible voices and surgical comedic timing. The story is so hyper-typical of the genre that it pushes the comedy through the roof. ... full review

An extremely well written and acted wild ride, mixing horror themes with philosophical arguments and Christian schoolgirls bent on spreading the word of Jesus and getting rid of a body. Oh, and there’s a Spanish test they still need to study for tomorrow morning. The dialogue is quick and hilarious as the girls blithely argue bible vernacular while jumping from one danger to another. This was a TON of fun. And Pastor Ron would know.... full review

This was a very loving and completely unauthorized tribute to one of the most iconic bands of the 80s LA scene. A very fast moving trip through the history of a band known for not giving a fuck. Well played with a large cast who both know and love the material they are working with.... full review

This show is incredible! Start to finish I was thoroughly delighted. The way Natasha pulls in the audience and makes them part of the act is so charming and effortless. The simplicity of the set and props make sure the gravity of her message isn’t lost. A message i absolutely did not see coming. This show has a huge heart and a deep brain and probably a strong liver too. Put this on your last weekend list!... full review

This is a painstaking work of art. A stylized and concise display of the conformity and repetition you would expect in the rigid life of a housewife of that era. The dancers perform with laser precision, the voices deliver perfect harmonies, even the chant-like repetition of the spoken dialogue is like an oppressive kind of spoken word poetry. The overall effect is beautiful and poignant.... full review

Just like anything David Lynch does, this show gave me more than I could have possibly expected. This isn’t just a string of Lynch references and it’s more than an homage, it’s a wild ride of a Lynchian story with every familiar element of all the things you love about Davis Lynch as an artist. Even the most esoteric detail of his work is used and not just thrown in your face, it’s a part of the story, and it’s your story, and you are the story, and do you smell fish?... full review

This is an adorable children’s show with a very important message about the general anxiety kids would feel from time to time. Mr Malcolm has a great way with kids and gets his message through in a way that is relatable to both children and adults. Because he uses rhythm and music as his tools, the songs are cute and catchy. The puppets are wonderfully played with distinct personalities and the story is engaging with enough cheek for even the adults to get a laugh out of.... full review

This show is an outrageous amount of fun. I had no idea clowning was having such a moment, but Bonnie He has made me a believer. Her physicality is clear and adorably hilarious, rolling through her story beats with the slightest facial expressions and gestures one moment, then bubbling over with ecstatic or manic energy in the next. There are insane surprises and gutsy reveals that will knock you out of your chair. If she doesn’t come over and knock you out of it herself. ... full review

What starts as a fairly straightforward hometown solo show escalates to an absolutely explosive examination of a woman’s serious anger issues. Katierose is incredibly intense in her portrayal. I’d heard of people getting so wound up a vein pops out in their head, but I had never actually SEEN it happen until I saw her perform. Having been to Philadelphia a number of times, I can attest to this endearing tribute to the “city of brotherly spite.”... full review

I had heard the name Mike Royko, and I’d probably read a few of his columns reprinted in the Des Moines Register back in the 90s, but I couldn’t even imagine the impact a columnist can have on a city until Mitchell Bisschop brought him to life. Extremely well researched, brilliantly portrayed, fantastic sourced footage transitions, this show is engaging, funny, honest, and informative. Bisschop’s shifts from narrator Studs Terkel to Royko are smooth and hilarious. I learned more than I would have... full review