Long Island Theater Reviews: Best Shows & Critic Recommendations Page 5

Review: ANNA IN THE TROPICS at Bay Street Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - July 08, 2022

What did our critic think of ANNA IN THE TROPICS at Bay Street Theatre? Sag Harbor's Bay Street Theatre certainly has another hit on their hands with their latest offering, the Pulitzer winning Anna in the Tropics. The stellar production, the second of their current season, runs through July 24th at...

BWW Review: HEAD OVER HEELS at The Gateway
by Melissa Giordano - June 10, 2022

What did our critic think of HEAD OVER HEELS at The Gateway? Happy Pride! June is starting off splendidly with The Gateway's wonderful incarnation of Head Over Heels. Running through June 26th, this Keith Andrews directed mounting boasts an extraordinary cast and the fun music of the Go-Go's. Not to...

BWW Review: WINDFALL at Bay Street Theater
by James Blinken - June 05, 2022

There is nothing like starting off Summer with a great comedy, especially one that you cannot guess what is going to happen next and gets better the longer you stay with it! If you are looking for an evening of fun, laughs and even reflection on the human condition, Windfall is the play for you!...

BWW Review: PLAZA THEATRICALS production of The Long Island Premiere Of THE COLOR PURPLE Is Beautiful and Here
by Nicholas Pontolillo - May 31, 2022

Alice Walker wrote in The Color Purple, 'I think it pisses God off if you walk by the color purple in a field somewhere and don't notice it.' In other words, you have to appreciate the beautiful, good things of life no matter how bad life may be. Readers, I'm telling you if you don't make it over to...

BWW Review: KINKY BOOTS at The John W. Engeman Theater
by Shelley Dean - May 24, 2022

Don't miss out on this dazzling performance of KINKY BOOTS running now through July 3rd. This is one show you won't want to miss....

BWW Review/Photos: 'Put on Your Sunday Clothes' & Head on Down to HELLO DOLLY at CMPAC In The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre
by Nicholas Pontolillo - May 12, 2022

Closing out its 48th season, CMPAC does manage to put on a dazzling production of Hello Dolly, albeit a few hiccups, which I will attribute to opening night jitters. ...

BWW Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Theatre Three
by Shelley Dean - April 11, 2022

Port Jefferson’s Theatre Three has cracked open their hairspray cans, turned on their radios, and opened up an absolutely fabulous production of Robert Harling’s Steel Magnolias running now through May 7....

BWW Review: DRIVING MISS DAISY presented by Studio Theatre At BayWay Arts Center
by Melissa Giordano - April 08, 2022

Alfred Uhry's Pulitzer Prize winning play Driving Miss Daisy, presented by Studio Theatre through April 22nd at the BayWay Theatre in East Islip, is indeed a stirring and heart rendering tale. The heart of this story follows the relationship of Daisy Werthen and Hoke Colburn over the span of twenty-...

BWW Review: A BRONX TALE at John W. Engeman Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - April 01, 2022

The John W, Engeman Theatre does it again with their current offering, A Bronx Tale. Based on Chazz Palminteri’s 1993 movie and autobiographical play, Mr. Palminteri also created this musical incarnation with Alan Menken. This spectacular Paul Stancato directed production runs through May 8th at the...

BWW Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR at CM Performing Arts Center
by Shelley Dean - March 31, 2022

CM Performing Arts Center has a production of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR you won't want to miss. This is a dazzling, foot-tapping, high-energy take on the Andrew Lloyd Webber classic....

BWW Review: RIPCORD at Hampton Theatre Company
by Melissa Giordano - March 25, 2022

Celebrating their 37th season, The Hampton Theatre Company (HTC) offers a hilarious showing of David Lindsay-Abaire’s Ripcord. The entertaining two-act play seems to be the female version of/answer to The Odd Couple. We follow two very different people who try to make it work when they are assigned ...

BWW Review: THE DROWSY CHAPERONE at The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre At CM Performing Arts Center
by Melissa Giordano - March 04, 2022

The Tony Award winning musical The Drowsy Chaperone, the current offering from The Noel S. Ruiz Theatre at CM Performing Arts Center (CMPAC), is indeed a fascinating piece. I say fascinating because at its entertaining core, it is a show within a show spoofing old musicals. The plot includes mistake...

BWW Review: THE MARVELOUS WONDERETTES at Theatre Three
by Melissa Giordano - February 25, 2022

Port Jefferson’s Theatre Three indeed has a hit with their current offering The Marvelous Wonderettes. Running through March 26th, the adorable production is superbly directed by Long Island theatre vet Linda May. This show hasn’t been on Broadway, per se, but it did have two off-Broadway runs in 20...

BWW Review: ROCK OF AGES at John W. Engeman Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - February 18, 2022

The John W. Engeman Theatre certainly has another hit with their current offering of Rock Of Ages. Running through March 13th at the exquisite Northport venue, this Tony nominee celebrates all things 80’s with some of music’s greatest songs making up the score. Created by Chris D’Arienzo, there are ...

BWW Review: Plaza Theatricals' MAN OF LA MANCHA 'Makes Golden History'!
by Nicholas Pontolillo - November 28, 2021

Question: Why is Man of La Mancha considered one of the great works of the theater? Answer: It is one of the few plays/musicals that will always resonate with its audience. When you have a show with themes including the importance of honor and nobility, being chivalrous, and maintaining idealism, yo...

BWW Review: CHARLES DICKENS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Theatre Three
by Melissa Giordano - November 28, 2021

The show is wonderful to begin with; there is no doubt about that. Theatre Three's 37th annual production of the iconic Charles Dickens tale A Christmas Carol has certainly become a beautiful tradition on Long Island. Even with slight changes throughout the years, this ageless production is as spect...

BWW Review: You'll be "feelin' groovy" when you see THE SIMON & GARFUNKEL STORY
by Nicholas Pontolillo - November 26, 2021

Back in 2009, I had the honor of attending the 25th Anniversary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Concerts at Madison Square Garden. The two-night concert event honored the Hall of Fame by having nine Hall of Fame inductees highlight the history and greatest hits of Rock and Roll. The headliners, which als...

BWW Review: IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS at the John W. Engeman Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - November 18, 2021

Whenever you see a production presented by the John W. Engeman theatre, you're in for a wonderful event, especially around the holidays. Their current offering this holiday season, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, based on the classic Paramount Pictures film, is no exception. The Matt Kunkel directe...

BWW Review: Plaza Theatricals Production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC Was 'Some Enchanted Evening!'
by Nicholas Pontolillo - November 01, 2021

CBS News recently did a profile piece on the 'Renaissance of Theater on Long Island.' One of the theaters/acting companies featured in the news story was the Elmont Memorial Library Theatre - Home of Plaza Theatricals, Nassau County's only professional equity theater. ...

BWW Review: NATIVE GARDENS at Hampton Theatre Company
by Melissa Giordano - October 28, 2021

The Hampton Theatre Company’s doors reopened last weekend kicking off their spectacular 37th season. Running until November 7th, the charming Quogue venue has mounted a spirited incarnation of Karen Zacarias’ play Native Gardens directed wonderfully by George A, Loizides. The cast is excellent, and ...

BWW Review: CABARET at The Argyle Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - October 03, 2021

Between college productions and the many local theatres on Long Island, it may seem there is always a production of the Kander and Ebb classic Cabaret running. However, when you have a wonderful production like the one at the Argyle Theatre, it indeed warrants another look. Excellently directed by E...

BWW Review: You Will Be 'Hopelessly Devoted' to Theatre Three's Production of GREASE
by Nicholas Pontolillo - September 30, 2021

It has been over a year and half since the world shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Finally, I'm thrilled to say, Theater has returned. 'Welcome back!' Oops, Wait I'm mixing-up my 1970's John Travolta pop culture references. 'I got chills and they're multiplying' (that's better). Thankfully, th...

BWW Review: SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE at the John W. Engeman Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - September 23, 2021

If you want a high-energy show, Smokey Joe's Café is definitely for you. The musical revue, on Broadway from 1995-2000, highlights the music of songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The spectacle features their hit songs done back to back including 'Love Potion Number 9', 'Yakity Yak', 'St...

BWW Review: NEWSIES presented by The Gateway at the Patchogue Theatre
by Melissa Giordano - September 03, 2021

The summer is winding down in a big way on the Long Island theatre scene. The hit musical, Newsies, is being presented by The Gateway at the beautiful Patchogue Theatre and this offering is a must see. Running through September 11th and directed by Larry Raben, the Broadway caliber cast is superb an...

BWW Review: THE FANTASTICKS at Theatre Three
by Melissa Giordano - July 23, 2021

It may seem a production of the classic musical The Fantasticks can be found anywhere. However, when you have a cast as wonderful as those in Theatre Three’s incarnation, masterfully directed by Artistic Director Jeffrey Sanzel, you must check it out again. Running through August 15th at the beautif...