Carousel Theatre for Young People (CTYP)’s production of Oz, written by Patrick Shanahan, is a play that offers a backstory in how L. Frank Baum completed the writing of his book, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. It features wonderful theatrical magic, innovation, and intrigue, along with fine performances and production values; however, the cast and artistic team can only do so much with a script that runs too long for a children’s one-act play, lags in places (especially in the last quarter), and doesn’t quite land as well as anticipated.
Read moreFun, stylish musical production of The 3 Little Pigs lights up the holiday season
There’s a real sense of mystery and fairytale magic from the get-go when you walk into the Waterfront Theatre for Carousel Theatre for Young People’s holiday offering this year, Stiles & Drewe’s The 3 Little Pigs. The opening set is of a foreboding, dark, ominous woods with giant trees and eerie lighting—the kind made from fairytale magic. Once the show begins, we see the cast light up the stage with their fun energy and Nicole Rose Bond’s terrific choreography, and the next 45 minutes are a real pleasure to watch. Audiences of all ages will be happily transfixed by this fabulous one-act musical, which is slick, sassy, creative, and features some incredibly fine voices.
Read moreSongs and puppets help outcast kids cope in Tomson Highway's The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito →
Feeling like an outsider is a universal hardship that many people experience throughout life, but that sense of otherness is usually felt most acutely in childhood.The Incredible Adventures of Mary Jane Mosquito is a one-act musical that offers some important messages on how to deal with feeling like an outcast, told through an engaging story and fun songs.
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