Music Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations

Review: CELTIC WOMAN WITH THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - December 17, 2024

The holiday season is in full swing and this past weekend the holidays got a touch of the Irish as the international singing sensations Celtic Woman graced the stage of Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall with YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for an evening of traditional holiday tunes with a sprink...

Review: MAZZ MURRAY: THE MUSIC OF DUSTY SPRINGFIELD, Adelphi Theatre
by Gary Naylor - November 27, 2024

Mazz Murray delivers a classy spectacular, but do we need all those phones in the front two rows?...

Review: DAVE MATTHEWS BAND at Nationwide Arena
by Paul Batterson - November 17, 2024

As it is with the Dead, watching the interactions among the audience was almost as interesting as watching the show...

Review: AOIFE O'DONOVAN & BONNY LIGHT HORSEMAN WITH THE NATIONAL SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - October 24, 2024

Maestro Steven Reineke never ceases to amaze me with the wide range of artists he brings to DC to play with YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). In the past he’s featured everything from such Broadway stars as Norm Lewis and Megan Hilty to Grammy winning Latin performers Ozomatli. He always intro...

Review: Sara Bareilles with the National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - September 25, 2024

The Four Seasons had a hit song many years ago with a lyric that went “Oh! What a Night!” That is how I can best describe watching singer/songwriter/actress Sara Bareilles with YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), under the always stellar direction of Maestro Steven Reineke in Kennedy Center’s Co...

Review: ECHOES OF AMERICA at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - September 16, 2024

The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) began their classical season this past Saturday evening in a very satisfying manner. The program was entitled Echoes of America and was conducted by the Artistic Director of The Washington Chorus Eugene Rogers....

Review: HEATHER HEADLEY with the National Symphony Orchestra at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - September 10, 2024

When summer ends many people get depressed. Let’s face it, you can’t go to the beach or your private summer home for another year. However, you can look on the bright side of things knowing that the end of summer brings a new season of audible brilliance from the mighty National Symphony Orchestra (...

Review: THE RIGHTEOUS BROTHERS FAREWELL TOUR at Strathmore
by Roger Catlin - August 18, 2024

The latest Righteous Brothers farewell tour pulled into the Strathmore in Bethesda Thursday, entertaining an elderly crowd who enjoyed hearing their hits from the 1960s....

Review: BARRY MANILOW THE LAST SAINT PAUL CONCERT at Xcel Energy Center
by Jared Fessler - August 03, 2024

What did our critic think of BARRY MANILOW THE LAST SAINT PAUL CONCERT at Xcel Energy Center?...

Review: Nicole Henry's Return Engagement Plays To A Packed House At Birdland
by Bobby Patrick - July 19, 2024

Singing to a completely packed house (if there had been any more patrons, they would have had to hang them from the ceiling, my lambs!), La Henry stayed on the older jazz back roads with a set list to please any American Songbook aficionado....

Review: THE SHOW - LIVE ON TOUR - NIALL HORAN at Xcel Energy Center
by Jared Fessler - July 08, 2024

What did our critic think of THE SHOW - LIVE ON TOUR - NIALL HORAN at Xcel Energy Center?...

Review: BEN RECTOR AND CODY FRY WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA at Minnesota Orchestra Hall
by Jared Fessler - June 16, 2024

What did our critic think of BEN RECTOR AND CODY FRY WITH THE MINNESOTA ORCHESTRA at Minnesota Orchestra Hall?...

Review: BIG SHANE THORNTON Headlines at Picklefest
by Theresa Bertram - May 25, 2024

What did our critic think of SHANE THORNTON at Picklefest?...

Review: JESSE MCCARTNEY ALL'S WELL TOUR at The Fillmore Minneapolis
by Jared Fessler - May 05, 2024

What did our critic think of JESSE MCCARTNEY ALL’S WELL TOUR at The Fillmore Minneapolis?...

Review: TIM MCGRAW: STANDING ROOM ONLY TOUR 2024 at Xcel Energy Center
by Jared Fessler - April 21, 2024

What did our critic think of IM MCGRAW: STANDING ROOM ONLY TOUR 2024 at Xcel Energy Center?...

Review: PinkPantheress at Brooklyn Paramount
by Daniel Nolen - April 17, 2024

What did our critic think of PINKPANTHERESS AT BROOKLYN PARAMOUNT at Brooklyn Paramount?...

Review: PAULA COLE THE TOUR 2024 at The Parkway Theater
by Jared Fessler - April 13, 2024

What did our critic think of PAUL COLE THE TOUR 2024 at The Parkway Theater?...

Review: THE HEARTBREAK ON THE MAP TOUR WITH DAN + SHAY at Xcel Energy Center
by Jared Fessler - April 06, 2024

What did our critic think of THE HEARTBREAK ON THE MAP TOUR WITH DAN + SHAY at Xcel Energy Center?...

Review: THE NIGHTINGALE AND OTHER FABLES – ADELAIDE FESTIVAL 2024 at Adelaide Festival Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre
by Barry Lenny - March 02, 2024

It is as visually rich as it is aurally....

Album Review: Natalie Douglas BACK TO THE GARDEN Starts Club44 Pairing Well
by Erin Samms - February 29, 2024

It may, well, claim a spot as one of the best albums of the year....

Album Review: America's Fave Dragapella® Beautyshop Quartet High Kicks Back On Their New Album THE KINSEY SICKS: DRAG QUEEN STORYTIME GONE WILD
by Bobby Patrick - February 27, 2024

The songs range from fun to clever to hilarious and might well have stood up on their own without the inclusion of any script....

Music Review: The Drinkwater Brothers Show Their WonderTwin Powers With New Single THIS TOWN
by Bobby Patrick - February 25, 2024

This cover revives Horan’s music in an honorable, respectful way and gives it a slightly different hue....

Album Review: Concord Theatricals Recordings Releases The Studio Cast Recording of 17 AGAIN
by Bobby Patrick - February 21, 2024

The album and its producers get major points because the show as a whole is very well represented throughout...

Album Review: Sepia Records Remembers A Forgotten Star With BETTY HUTTON & CO-STARS THE PARAMOUNT YEARS: 1938-1952
by Bobby Patrick - February 16, 2024

The journey through these two discs, though, is not only enjoyable, it is an education....

Album Review: Melissa Errico, Stephen Sondheim, and The City Make For One Great Album
by Erin Samms - February 15, 2024

Melissa Errico singing Stephen Sondheim in the style of the big city? Twist my arm....