Tag: musical

Regional Theatre Review | Fun Home

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland
Fun Home The Musical

Fun Home

Playing at The Huntington Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush tickets? Discount ticket options available. Details online HERE.

What I Paid: n/a [PR Invite]

My Rating: ★★★★

Official Website: https://www.huntingtontheatre.org/whats-on/fun-home/

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is a beloved, groundbreaking, and emotionally rich story of seeing your parents through grown-up eyes. Based on Alison Bechdel’s best-selling graphic memoir, the musical traces Alison through childhood, college, and adulthood as she unravels her coming-out story, and her complex relationship with a brilliant, volatile, and closeted father. How have the mysteries of her father’s life shaped her own understanding of love and acceptance of her lesbian identity? With a soaring score by Jeanine Tesori and a sharp, heartfelt book by Lisa Kron, Fun Home is a beautiful, can’t-miss theatrical experience, directed by Logan Ellis.

REVIEW

One of my favorite things about regional theatre is being able to see shows that I missed on Broadway. That is the case for Fun Home, now playing at The Huntington Theatre in Boston through December 14, 2025. This musical is based on Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir of the same name. While you can certainly see the show with no pre-existing knowledge of the storyline, I did read the book in advance and I’m glad I did, as it adds a rich layer of character development to an already complicated family drama.

The musical opens with Alison, now in her forties, attempting to create her memoir while struggling to put her story down on paper. We flash back to her childhood and college years, while the present day Alison shadows her younger selves throughout key moments in her life. From her unique childhood growing up in the funeral home business, to her coming to terms with her sexual identity as a lesbian, Fun Home showcases the complexity of life. There are moments replete with anger and sadness, and others full of joy and epiphany. The musical itself captures these emotions through its dark humor, which invokes both laughter and tears throughout the course of the show.

One of the strongest themes in this production of Fun Home is reflection. The set utilizes a mirror at several points, with the characters gazing upon their reflections. This not only encapsulates the feeling of seeing your true self mirrored back at you, but we also see this theme at play when Alison interacts with the younger versions of herself. She spends the show literally reflecting on her life, but we also see the physical representation of how all of our lives are made up of different versions of ourself. It is both moving and endearing to see Alison feel embarrassed of her college-aged self, for example, as I’m sure many of us can relate to cringeworthy moments from our youth. Of course, Alison is also trying to grapple with whether or not she is a reflection of her father, who unbeknownst to her, was a closeted gay man who had several affairs with men, some of them underage.

Moreover, I was very impressed with both the direction and acting performances in Fun Home. The characters balance the complex emotions of the show well. For example, Middle Alison (Maya Jacobson) is charming with her naivety as she accepts her newfound lesbian identity, while Small Alison (Lyla Randall) puts up a brave front while loving, yet being fearful of, her father. Bruce Bechdel (Nick Duckart), however, is truly the most intriguing character in the show. The audience can empathize with his decision to live in a fraudulent marriage, yet still detest his violence. Seeing these incredible performances really gave a lot of meaning to Alison’s memoir, which was difficult for me to relate to in book form.

Overall, I highly recommend seeing Fun Home if you have the opportunity. My favorite scene in the show was “Come To The Fun Home,” in which the Bechdel children make a commercial for their family’s funeral home. It is hilarious, and showcases the talents of the child actors. Similarly, “Ring of Keys,” is another powerful moment that demonstrates how important the story Fun Home is. At the end of the day, this piece of musical theatre depicts why it is vital to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQIA+ community, so that no one feels the need to hide their true selves, or fear to live authentically.

Watch my vlog of seeing Fun Home on Instagram HERE.

Broadway Review | Operation Mincemeat

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Operation Mincemeat

Playing at Golden Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? $49.00 In Person Rush, $59.00 Digital Rush, and $49.00 Digital Lottery

What I Paid: $79.00

My Rating: ★★★★ 1/2

Official Website: https://operationbroadway.com/

Operation Mincemeat is the 2024 Olivier Award-winning Best New Musical , and 2025 Tony Award® Winner for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Jak Malone)! 

The year is 1943 and right now we’re losing the war. Luckily, we’re about to gamble all our futures on a stolen corpse. Bursting at the seams with the kind of chaos you couldn’t invent, the question is: how did a dead body, a fake love letter, and-of all people-Ian Fleming come together to wrong-foot Hitler?

REVIEW

Despite the high praise I kept hearing for Operation Mincemeat, I honestly wasn’t sure if I would enjoy this British musical about a real-life World War II secret mission. Luckily, the good word-of-mouth and the cast’s performance at this year’s Tony Awards convinced me to head to the Golden Theatre during my recent trip to New York City, and I ended up having an incredible night at the theatre.

In addition to the daily rush and lottery options available for discounted tickets, there is a monthly draw on the Operation Mincemeat website. You can enter your email and receive a coupon code to buy tickets for $79.00. I purchased a seat in Orchestra Center in Row C at this price, which was amazing because the face value of the ticket is $199.00. I absolutely loved sitting up close to the stage, as the actors have a powerful stage presence that is instantly captivating.

Speaking of which, don’t let this cast of five actors fool you – they are each playing several characters! Not only do they all have amazing vocals, but their acting ability is incredible. You can see the physical transformation take place when they switch characters. It’s really quite impressive! I especially loved when David Cumming would go from the shy and awkward Charles Cholmondeley to one of his other roles. The switch was immediate and noticeable, allowing the audience to follow the story even if the action is constantly on-the-go.

Moreover, what I love most about Operation Mincemeat is the energy. The show is replete with upbeat and fun songs that are downright goofy (All the Ladies is a personal favorite!). Yet the show leaves room for truly heartfelt moments, such as Dear Bill sung by Jak Malone, which brought me to tears. Operation Mincemeat doesn’t take itself seriously, but it still leaves room to tell this story respectfully. For instance, I connected with the character of Jean Leslie (Claire-Marie Hall), who just wants her intelligence to be useful in a male-dominated workplace. Plus, I have to be honest, I love anything that has a boy band parody moment!

The set itself is functional yet not over-the-top. I see the set as more of a tool for the actors to tell the story to the audience, rather than just being decorative. There are cleverly placed doors, maps, and phones, for example, that allow for smooth transitions between scenes. Yet an elaborate set is not needed for Operation Mincemeat with the focus of the musical being the actors themselves.

At the end of the day, I left the theatre with a big smile on my face wanting to immediately go down a Google rabbit hole to learn about the real Operation Mincemeat. There are few experiences that make me think “this is theatre” when the curtain falls, and this show accomplishes that easily. Do I think this show is for everyone? No, I think more traditional theatergoers may not understand nor appreciate the comedy of the show, especially considering the topic. Yet if you are looking for a fresh take on a historical story that is told in a unique way, I highly recommend this show. This is certainly one that I would not hesitate to repeat attend.

STAGE DOOR

The Stage Door at the Golden Theatre is directly to your left when you exit. There were barricades set up, and the cast quickly began trickling out to sign Playbills and take selfies with those who asked. All five actors came out to sign (FYI – I saw understudy Amanda Jill Robinson go on for the roles typically played by Zoë Roberts) , and they were all so nice and down to earth. The audience members were also very respectful, and it was fun to hear that many of the fans have seen the show multiple times to try to catch all the understudies! We also got to say hi to some of the actors from The Outsiders, who walked by from the Jacobs Theatre next door.

See my vlog from Operation Mincemeat on Instagram HERE.

Musical Manicures | Let It Be Inspired Nails

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Today I’m back with the sixth installment of Musical Manicures, the series where I combine my love of musical theatre with my love of nail polish by creating a nail polish look inspired by a Broadway show I’ve seen in the past. This week I picked out Let It Be from the jar of shows. Let It Be was a tribute show for The Beatles that played at the St. James Theatre. I saw it back in 2013 through a papering service I used to see Broadway shows on a budget. Essentially, in exchange for a $5.00 processing fee, I would get a comp ticket to the show. I remember the first time I used this service I thought it was a scam because I had to pick up my ticket from a man waiting outside the Starbucks at the Marriott Marquis. Luckily, this service was completely legitimate, and I ended up seeing a handful of shows for just $5.00, which was perfect for a student! Unfortunately, the service no longer exists in this format today, but it was great for me at the time.

As for the show itself, Let It Be essentially felt like a Beatles concert. As a lifelong Beatles fan, the show was a lot of fun for me, especially seeing all of the famous costumes and eras recreated throughout the show. That being said, I’ve seen many Beatles tribute shows in my life, and this one does tend to blend in with the others in my mind. In fact, I saw another Beatles tribute on Broadway around this same time, and I have difficulty differentiating between the two in my head. Nonetheless, I’m glad I got the opportunity to experience Let It Be, but I’m not sure it would have been worth the price of admission if I paid full price for my ticket.

The products in this post were originally provided for my unbiased review. Some links are affiliate links. All opinions are my own. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

For my manicure this week, my intention was to recreate the British flag on the cover of the Playbill. I grabbed Zoya Isley for the blue base, LVX Fantom for the white shade, and KBShimmer Chilly Pepper for the red. I was disappointed in my choice of blue nail polish right away, as Isley dried down to a deep navy blue that was darker than expected. I would recommend a brighter blue shade like Zoya Sia. I then decided to free hand the flag design on my ring finger for an accent nail. I should have used Scotch tape or nail art striping tape to create clean lines. Thus, the flag result is not as good as I would have liked, but I had to Let It Be!

While my manicure may not emulate the Playbill perfectly, I think it does fit the vision I had in mind. Plus, I will have another chance at Beatles nails at some point in this series when I get to Rain, the other Beatles tribute show I saw on Broadway. It’s times like these I wish I had better nail art skills, but it’s more about having fun than a perfect result… right?!

See more #MusicalManicures content on my Instagram with this week’s corresponding Reel!

Broadway | Aladdin

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland
Aladdin on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre

Aladdin

Playing at New Amsterdam Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery available through Broadway Direct

What I Paid: $83.00

Official Website: https://aladdinthemusical.com/

Disney’s ALADDIN is a dazzling and extravagant showcase of special effects — including a flying magic carpet during “A Whole New World” — as well as glittering-gold costumes and art deco-style sets that mirror the grandeur of a Busby Berkeley musical. One of Broadway’s most popular musical comedies, the show opened at the legendary New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, 2014, and has since broken numerous house records (grossing over $500 million on Broadway). Eight-time Oscar winner Alan Menken composed the show’s music. The lyrics are by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), as well as three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice and six-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin. The book is by Beguelin and direction/choreography is by two-time Tony Award-winner Casey Nicholaw.   

REVIEW

Aladdin has been a Disney staple on Broadway since 2014. As a huge fan of the animated classic, I’ve always wanted to see this show. I attended for the first time in October, and overall really enjoyed this family friendly performance. I purchased tickets from TKTS the day before the show for the Sunday matinee, and got 50% off for Orchestra Left on the aisle. We had an excellent view of all the action! Unless you are going with a large group that wants to sit together, I highly recommend getting tickets last minute, as Aladdin is regularly available at TKTS.

The show itself is based on the movie Aladdin, but has some notable changes. I was disappointed that there was Abu and Rajah! were cut from the musical. Instead, Aladdin has a group of three human friends that have a substantial role in the show. Similarly, Iago is a human sidekick to Jafar rather than a parrot. The music is also a bit different. There are songs we know and love from the movie, with the addition of new songs written specifically for the stage show, and a few that were cut from the film as well. Despite these changes, the overall story remains the same, and is filled with Disney magic.

My absolute favorite character is Genie, currently being played by Michael James Scott. Genie honestly carries the show. He is hilarious, has great rapport with the audience, and his stage presence is fantastic. Scott’s performance in Friend Like Me truly stole the show! The other cast members were all talented, and had wonderful performances, but Genie really stands out amongst the performers.

Moreover, I was surprised with all of the different elements present in Aladdin. There are big dance numbers (including a tap dance!), ballads, extravagant costumes, special effects, and more. There are also funny moments where other Disney movies and television shows are referenced. Disney can use its vast intellectual property library to its advantage! I like that Aladdin can incorporate so much into one performance, making the show enjoyable to a wide audience.

I did want to touch on audience behavior for a bit in this post. I’ve heard a lot about bad behavior on Broadway since theaters re-opened after the COVID-19 closures. Luckily, while I have heard a lot of cell phones ringing during shows this year, I haven’t experienced anyone else acting too poorly. Unfortunately, the audience behavior at Aladdin was the worst I’ve encountered. I was worried about all of the children in the audience being disruptive during this Sunday matinee. However, the adults were the culprits! People sitting behind me were singing, adults ran into the aisles to pick up streamers for their kids mid-song, but the worst offenders were taking photos and videos during the show. As soon as A Whole New World began, the phones came out from multiple directions. The ushers did a fantastic job of shutting this down as soon as possible, but it was very distracting. I was disappointed that my favorite song of the show was tainted because of others. Parents, set a good example for your children and show them how to properly behave at a Broadway show!

Aladdin on Broadway Review

Now that I’m off that soapbox, I will conclude my thoughts on Aladdin by saying that I overall enjoyed it! Aladdin tends to have a mediocre reputation in the online Broadway communities, but I think that’s because the excitement surrounding the show has worn off since it’s been running for nearly a decade. That being said, I think Aladdin is a great option if you are looking for a family friendly show with a lot of classic Broadway elements. The show is fun, heartwarming, and based on a story that many of us love from our childhoods. I am glad I finally got to see it!

Broadway | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Posted on by Adventures in Polishland

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

Playing at Lunt-Fontanne Theatre

Musical or play? Musical

Lottery or Rush Tickets? Digital Lottery Available through Broadway Direct

What I Paid: $266.70

Official Website: https://sweeneytoddbroadway.com/

For the first time since 1980, Broadway audiences can experience Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award®–winning score as it was performed in the original production—with Jonathan Tunick’s classic 26-player orchestration on an epic scale. Tony Award–winning director Thomas Kail (Hamilton) helms the return of this musical thriller starring Tony and Grammy® nominee Josh Groban (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812) as Sweeney Todd and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford (Sunday in the Park With George, Kinky Boots) as Mrs. Lovett. Tony winner Alex Lacamoire (Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen) reunites with Kail as Music Supervisor, and Olivier Award winner Steven Hoggett (Once, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child) choreographs this new production of Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

REVIEW

I’m usually the type of person who enjoys seeing fun, upbeat, and glitzy Broadway shows, but when I found out Josh Groban and Annaleigh Ashford are starring in the new revival of Sweeney Todd, I knew it was an absolute must attend on my recent trip to New York City. I purchased a full price ticket directly through the show’s website a couple months in advance. Since I’m familiar with the show and didn’t feel the need to be that close to the bloody action, I picked a seat in the Center Orchestra, Row R. While the mezzanine does overhang just slightly, I did not feel like my view was obstructed at all, and highly recommend sitting here if you would like a slightly more affordable price.

If you’re new to Sweeney Todd, the show follows the title character as he returns to London after being sent away to prison on false charges by the evil Judge Turpin. He plots to get revenge against the judge, and re-opens his barber shop above Mrs. Lovett’s pie shop. What follows is a dramatic and death-filled story about a man trying to seek justice whilst descending into madness.

As I expected, the show is amazingly performed. I can’t tell you how exciting and surreal it was to see this cast in person. Josh Groban’s voice is incredible, and he does a fantastic job at going from a quiet Sweeney to a downright scary one as the show progresses. Annaleigh Ashford is the perfect Mrs. Lovett. Her comedic timing is spot on, and she had the audience in the palm of her hand for the entire show. The rest of the cast is wonderful as well. Jordan Fisher sounds beautiful as Anthony, and while Gaten Matarazzo was out for the performance I attended, his understudy Nathan Salstone did a flawless job. The other stand-out performance for me is Ruthie Ann Miles as Beggar Woman. Every time she was onstage, my heart went out to her!

Moreover, the theatre itself is transformed to capture the eerie feel of the show. The use of fog when the show opens helps to evoke that unsettled feeling. Similarly, the lighting is very well done. The ensemble is often shrouded in shadow, and many of the scenes have a very dark feel to mimic the story’s themes. If it weren’t for the ambulance sirens going by the theatre (that’s NYC for you), it would be easy to imagine that I’d been transported to dreary London.

I do want to quickly mention the bloody scenes for those of you who may be nervous about attending a gory show. Without giving away too many spoilers, I’ll mention that the anticipation of the bloody moments is actually much worse than the moments themselves. The orchestra and actors work together to create so much tension, that I was actually a bit relieved when the first “shave” takes place and not much blood is seen. In fact, each death is pretty quick, and I feel like the show does a great job at not glorifying them. If you’re still a bit uneasy, do as I did and sit a bit farther back!

Overall, I am thrilled I had the privilege of attending this Broadway revival of Sweeney Todd. Not only was it an amazing opportunity to see so many incredible performers on one stage, but the entire experience was amplified by the audience. From the moment the lights went down until the final bow, I felt like I was part of a wonderful group of theatre-goers experiencing greatness together. Everyone applauded with gusto when appropriate, and was enraptured throughout the rest of the performance. If you are able to see this show, I highly recommend it!

STAGE DOOR

I attended a Saturday matinee performance of Sweeney Todd. While barricades were set up around the stage door, security was very quick to inform everyone that, “There is no Stage Door.” This was disappointing, since I’ve seen many others on social media get their Playbills signed by the entire cast, but I do understand the need to rest between matinee and evening performances. The only off-putting thing was that if you even stood 10-15 feet away from the stage door itself, security yelled at you to move. I tried standing about 15 feet away to order food, and some others were slightly closer trying to look up directions on their phone. I would cross the street or move father down the block to avoid getting scolded, even if you think you are out of the way! If you do want to get your Playbills signed, you may have better luck at evening performances.

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