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‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’ Review: Small Screen, Small Stage, Big Impact
April 16, 2020Florida Repertory Theatre’s production of Lucas Hnath’s play rises where the original Broadway production stumbled. By Terry Teachout April 16, 2020 Read the Review at WSJ.com When I first started covering regional theater 16 years ago, I was astonished to discover that... …
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BWW Review: A DOLL’S HOUSE, PART 2 via Florida Repertory Theatre (Online Stream)
April 09, 2020by Emily Yorgey Apr. 6, 2020 Florida Repertory Theatre's production of A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2, directed by Chris Clavelli, unfortunately never got to open. However, they did film the show and have the video stream of it available... …
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The show must go online: Fort Myers’ Florida Rep puts canceled plays on web
April 09, 2020Audiences never got to see “A Doll’s House, Part 2” at Florida Repertory Theatre. Not live, anyway. And it’s a shame, says co-star Rachel Burttram Powers. “It’s unlike anything I’ve ever done at Florida Rep, certainly,” Powers says. “It’s so... …
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“Every Brilliant Thing” reminds you of what makes life worth living
March 11, 2020¦ A kitten sneezing for the first time ¦ A dog’s head resting on your thigh ¦ A phone call from an old friend ¦ A giggling baby ¦ Rubbing a dog’s tummy ¦ An unexpected joke ¦ A perfect... …
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2’s Review: ‘Every Brilliant Thing’ reminds us to embrace our lives
March 10, 2020Actor Michael Satow is charismatic and does a wonderful job narrating this story. Monday, March 9th 2020, 12:54 PM EDT by Dave Elias Updated: Monday, March 9th 2020, 1:23 PM EDT 'Every Brilliant Thing' is giving Southwest Florida audiences more than a... …
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BWW Review: EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Florida Repertory Theatre
March 02, 2020EVERY BRILLIANT THING at Florida Repertory Theatre, directed by Eleanor Holdridge, is a beautiful show about mental health, love, loss, and what makes life brilliant. The story follows the narrator as he reflects on his life from his childhood to the... …
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Review: How to knock off family members and become an earl
February 19, 2020ARTS COMMENTARY | February 19, 2020 Nancy STETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com FacebookTwitterEmailCopy LinkFacebook MessengerPrintFriendlyShare Was murder ever so much fun … or so funny? Every time someone died onstage at the Florida Repertory Theatre, the audience gleefully laughed and applauded. The more gruesome... …
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BWW Review: A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER at Florida Rep is Delightfully Deadly
February 17, 2020Florida Repertory Theatre's production of A GENTLEMAN'S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER, directed by Jason Parrish, tells the story of Monty Navarro, a young man who learns he is part of the D'Ysquith family and is in line to become the... …
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Review: Yes, Florida Rep’s ‘Alabaster’ is terrific. You can stop texting me now.
January 17, 2020First, someone messaged me on Facebook. Then a text from a friend. Then a phone call. Then another message. And another. They all said the same thing: You HAVE to see ‘Alabaster’ at Florida Repertory Theatre. It’s amazing! I wasn’t planning on... …
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BWW Review: BAREFOOT IN THE PARK at Florida Repertory Theatre is Charmingly Comical!
January 14, 2020by Emily Yorgey Jan. 13, 2020 Florida Repertory Theatre's production of BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, directed by Florida Rep's Artistic Director, Greg Longenhagen, is a fun rom-com that tells the story of a newlywed couple moving into a new apartment and all... …
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BWW Review: ALABASTER, “Incredibly Special”
January 02, 2020BWW Review: ALABASTER at Florida Repertory Theatre is Powerful and Poignant by Emily Yorgey Dec. 21, 2019 Florida Repertory Theatre's World Premiere production of ALABASTER by Audrey Cefaly, directed by Jason Parrish, brings to life a story that is inspiring... …
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NBC2 Review: “A true work of art that should not be missed!”
January 02, 20202's Review: 'Alabaster' makes premiere at Florida Rep This is a story that asks each one of us what we ache for. Wednesday, December 25th 2019, 9:28 AM EST by Dave Elias A tornado rips through the small town of... …
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Florida Weekly Review: ALABASTER is “tender, heartbreaking, yet humorous”
January 02, 2020Florida Rep’s ‘Alabaster’ moving, engaging, quirky in the best way ARTS COMMENTARY January 01, 2020 nancySTETSON No one gets through this life unscathed. We all endure bumps and bruises and acquire scars, seen and unseen. We all experience loss. “Alabaster,”... …
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Thrilling, enjoyable ‘An Inspector Calls’ at Florida Rep
December 11, 2019ARTS COMMENTARY | December 11, 2019 Nancy STETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com A psychological thriller? A “Downton Abbey”-esque period piece? A morality tale? “An Inspector Calls,” playing at the Florida Repertory Theatre’s mainstage is all that and more. Not only does it combine all... …
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BWW Review: AN INSPECTOR CALLS at Florida Repertory Theatre is Meaningful and Mysterious!
December 11, 2019Florida Repertory Theatre's production of AN INSPECTOR CALLS, directed by Michael Marotta, brings a mysterious and chilling twist to a story about morality and the lessons one must learn about kindness. The plot revolves around an inspector who pays a visit... …
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2’s Review: ‘An Inspector Calls’ sends a powerful message
December 11, 2019It shines a light on the need for social justice, class inequality, and tolerance that should leave all who see it questioning their own morality at a time our own social and political climate is center stage. Monday, December 9th 2019,... …
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BWW Review: A FOX ON THE FAIRWAY at Florida Rep is Fun and Farcical!
November 05, 2019Florida Repertory Theatre's production of Ken Ludwig's A FOX ON THE FAIRWAY is a fun farce about a high-stakes golf tournament between rival country clubs, a new engagement, love affairs that were a long time coming, and a fancy vase. I... …
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BWW Review: ALWAYS… PATSY CLINE at Florida Rep is Entertaining and Exuberant!
October 09, 2019ALWAYS... PATSY CLINE at Florida Repertory Theatre, directed by Maureen Heffernan, tells the true story of Patsy Cline's rise to fame through the account of a loyal fan who just so happened to become a close friend of Patsy's, Louise Seger.... …
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‘Always … Patsy Cline’ at Florida Rep is a knockout
October 03, 2019ARTS COMMENTARY | October 02, 2019 Nancy STETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com Over the years, I estimate I’ve seen close to half a dozen productions of “Always … Patsy Cline” at various local venues. Theaters love to produce it, because it’s basically a two-hander... …
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2’s Review: Audience crazy about ‘Always… Patsy Cline’
October 02, 2019The musical is based on a true story and follows the friendship between country music legend Patsy Cline and a Texas divorcee Louise Seger. Monday, September 30th, 2019, 11:26 AM EDT by Dave Elias The Sunday matinee for 'Always... Patsy Cline' at... …
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Florida Rep’s ‘Spring Awakening’: Controversial musical explores teen sex, self-discovery
August 16, 2019Isaac Kueber and Katie Means star in Florida Rep's Conservatory production of "Spring Awakening." (Photo: Joe Dafeldecker) Teen sex. Suicide. Rape. Masturbation. Abortion. Child abuse. No wonder Florida Rep slapped a parental advisory on “Spring Awakening,” the Tony Award-winning musical opening Friday in Fort Myers.... …
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BWW Review: SPRING AWAKENING at Florida Rep is Powerfully Provocative!
August 12, 2019Florida Repertory Theatre Education's conservatory production of SPRING AWAKENING brings topics that are often considered "taboo" for youth to life on stage, showcasing the dangers of a lack of education, discussion, and sympathy. This production of SPRING AWAKENING is especially... …
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BWW Review: Now Is The Time to Seize The Day with NEWSIES at Florida Rep!
May 21, 2019Florida Rep Education’s production of NEWSIES, directed by Kody C Jones, brings the inspirational, high-energy Disney musical to life on Florida Rep’s stage in a tremendous way. Sawyer True plays Jack Kelly, and I was thoroughly impressed with his performance. Not... …
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BWW Review: NATIVE GARDENS at Florida Rep is Hilarious and Heartfelt!
April 08, 2019Florida Repertory Theatre's production of NATIVE GARDENS closes out their 2018/19 season with a comedy that is not only very hilarious, but also quite heartfelt. The cast of NATIVE GARDENS includes Carol Halstead as Virginia Butley, V Craig Heidenreich as... …
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Review: Florida Rep’s ‘Million Dollar Quartet’ kills it. And so does The Killer.
March 27, 2019There’s a reason they call him The Killer. I’ve seen three different productions of “Million Dollar Quartet” now. And in every single one, the character of Jerry Lee Lewis absolutely kills it. And I mean that in the best possible way. It’s... …
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BWW Review: MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at Florida Rep is Refreshing and Rhythmic!
March 26, 2019MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET at Florida Repertory Theatre, directed by Jason Parrish, brings to life some of the most iconic voices in music history, Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis, in a high-energy, fantastically fun show. The cast included Joe Boover as Elvis Presley,... …
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A witty weekend of bad manners delights at Florida Rep
February 26, 2019People complain about houseguests from hell, but in “Hay Fever,” Florida Repertory Theatre introduces us to the hosts from hell. The Bliss family, surely, is ironically named. This is, after all, a play by Noel Coward, the king of word... …
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BWW Review: HAY FEVER at Florida Repertory Theatre is Classically Crisp and Comedic!
February 18, 2019Noël Coward's HAY FEVER at Florida Repertory Theatre tells the story of the eccentric Bliss family and their houseguests on a weekend in June 1927. Florida Rep manages to do fantastic work with every genre of theatre they produce, but... …
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Review: Florida Rep finally takes on August Wilson with powerful ‘Fences’
January 23, 2019It’s hard to believe, but Florida Rep has never staged a play by the great 20th-century playwright August Wilson. Not once in 21 years. That is, until now. But the Fort Myers theater's new production of “Fences” was well worth the wait. Director... …
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BWW Review: TENDERLY at Florida Rep is Stirring and Splendid!
January 04, 2019TENDERLY: THE ROSEMARY CLOONEY MUSICAL at Florida Repertory Theatre tells the beautifully bittersweet story of Rosemary Clooney through a variety of flashbacks, songs, and therapy sessions.Susan Haefner played Rosemary Clooney, and she was absolutely phenomenal. She showcased the contrast between the façade Rosemary would... …
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BWW Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Florida Rep is Spirited and Superb!
December 05, 2018Florida Repertory Theatre's production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE TALE OF EBENEZER SCROOGE puts a fresh spin on a classic, much-loved Christmas tale. This world premiere, adapted from the Charles Dickens classic by Mark Shanahan, tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge in... …
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Review: Florida Rep’s timely ‘Damascus’ takes you on a suspenseful ride
November 16, 2018Hassan is exhausted. You can see it in his eyes, in the set of his shoulders and in his short temper. The Somalia-born man drives an airport shuttle van, and business is bad. So bad, in fact, that he’s forced... …
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BWW Review: BECOMING DR. RUTH at Florida Repertory Theatre
October 22, 2018Florida Repertory Theatre's production of BECOMING DR. RUTH by Mark St. Germain, directed by Florida Rep ensemble member Chris Clavelli, tells the story of Dr. Ruth K. Westheimer. Susan Greenhill played Dr. Ruth, and she truly was flawless in the part. From the moment... …
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BWW Review: STEEL MAGNOLIAS at Florida Rep is Heartwarming and Hilarious!
October 17, 2018Florida Repertory Theatre's production of STEEL MAGNOLIAS, directed by Jason Parrish, kicks off their first Historic Arcade Theatre show of the 2018-2019 season with a hilarious, clever, and bittersweet bang. STEEL MAGNOLIAS is about a group of women who rely on... …
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Review: Dr. Ruth talks sex and survival in Florida Rep’s inspiring ‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’
September 28, 2018You get what you expect from Florida Rep’s “Becoming Dr. Ruth”: A bubbly German sprite dispensing frank talk about orgasms, oral sex, penis size, and masturbation. “Sex!” she cheers with her arms in the air, completely unable to contain her enthusiasm. But... …
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BWW Review: A CHORUS LINE Dazzles at Florida Repertory Theatre!
August 10, 2018Florida Rep Education's production of A CHORUS LINE was truly fantastic. It was incredibly fun, emotional, mature, dazzling, and so much more. Every detail of the production came together to create one sensational show. A CHORUS LINE is a very... …
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BWW Review: Life is a CABARET at Florida Repertory Theatre!
March 30, 2018Florida Repertory Theatre's production of CABARET brought to life the well-known, Tony Award-winning story of romance, exploration, 1920s German politics, and so much more. The entire cast was phenomenal and very strong in all aspects of this production; their singing,... …
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Florida Weekly Raves! “How the Other Half Loves” at Florida Repertory Theatre shows us exactly how it should be done.
January 17, 2018British farce! It can be so difficult for us Yanks to get it right: the tone, the attitude, the inflections, the timing. In lesser productions, the lines fall flatter than a steamrolled soufflé and the show’s merely a series of... …
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BWW Review: SYLVIA at Florida Repertory Theatre is Doggone Delightful!
November 08, 2017by Emily Yorgey | Oct. 28, 2017 Read the Full Review Here If you have ever wondered what your dog would say if they could talk, SYLVIA is absolutely the show for you. And even if you don't have a... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY – “Falling in love with Sylvia at Florida Rep”
November 08, 2017ARTS COMMENTARY| November 07, 2017 nancySTETSON at nstetson@floridaweekly.com Read the Full Review Here Dog lovers should never marry dog haters. They just don’t get it. In this kind of union, I wouldn’t blame the marriage for breaking up due to... …
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BWW Review: OUTSIDE MULLINGAR Delights Audiences at Florida Repertory Theatre
September 22, 2017by Emily Yorgey Sep. 22, 2017 Read the Review on BroadwayWorld.com Here Florida Repertory Theatre opened their 20th anniversary season this week, and after getting the chance to see the first of their nine shows for this season, I completely... …
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Florida Weekly Raves! “an honest and loving look at…living lives of quiet despression”
June 01, 2017Nancy Stetson, nstetson@floridaweekly.com Read the Review on Florida Weekly.com Jim Starkey feels as if he’s trapped and he’s “never getting loose.” As he puts it, life feels like “One compromise after another, just a constant slipping.” Things have not turned... …
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Florida Weekly Raves! “At Florida Rep for a spell: the trials of youth”
April 07, 2017nancySTETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com Read the Review on Florida Weekly.com Year after year, school kids devote themselves to that annual torture called the spelling bee. They memorize long lists of words they’ll never use in real life, as well as prefixes, suffixes and... …
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NEWS-PRESS RAVES: “IT’S ALL ABOUT FAMILY IN FLORIDA REP COMEDY”
November 14, 2016Charles Runnells, The News-Press 8:34 a.m. EDT November 2, 2016 Read the Review on News-Press.com After watching Florida Rep’s new comedy, I wanted to hop on a plane and go give my Grandma a big hug. And I bet you’ll feel... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY RAVES: “HANGING OUT WITH GRANDPARENTS AT FLORIDA REP”
November 14, 2016nancySTETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com Read the Review on Florida Weekly.com Family. You’re stuck with what you get, and there’s nothing you can do about it. Well, that’s not exactly true. In “Over the River and Through the Woods” on the main stage at... …
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NEWS-PRESS RAVES: “ERMA BOMBECK WIT FLOWS IN FLORIDA REP PLAY!”
October 20, 2016CHARLES RUNNELLS , CRUNNELLS@NEWS-PRESS.COM 3:04 p.m. EDT October 18, 2016 Read the Review on News-Press.com Carrie Lund delivers each zinger with sizzling comedic timing. These may be Erma Bombeck’s words, but Lund makes them sing — and she makes her... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY RAVES: “LAUGHING WITH ERMA BOMBECK AT FLORIDA REPERTORY THEATRE”
October 20, 2016ARTS COMMENTARY nancySTETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com Making someone laugh is no small feat. Read the Review on FloridaWeekly.com Consistently making them laugh continually is even more impressive. At the height of her popularity, humor columnist Erma Bombeck accomplished that at least twice... …
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THE NEWS-PRESS RAVES: ’12 ANGRY MEN’ IS RIVETING DRAMA!
February 18, 2016by Charles Runnells Read the Review on The News-Press Website A teenage boy’s life is at stake, and everybody in the jury room thinks he’s guilty of murder. Everybody, that is, but one. And Juror Eight won’t budge — despite... …
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THE SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ISLANDER-REPORTER RAVES: A FAVORITE MOVIE BECOMES A FAVORITE PLAY!
February 15, 2016If your tastes in movies and plays are anything like mine, one of your all time favorite movies has probably been “Twelve Angry Men.” Well lucky us, Florida Rep has brought us a truly superb production of the play version.... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY EXCLAIMS: THE COCKTAIL HOUR’ CHARMS AND ENTERTAINS AT FLORIDA REP!
January 14, 2016Read the Review on FloridaWeekly.com by Nancy Stetson, 1/13/16 It was Flannery O’Connor who famously said, “Anyone who survived childhood has enough information about life to last him the rest of his days.” That’s certainly true for playwright A.R. Gurney,... …
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THE SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ISLANDER-REPORTER REVIEWS THE COCKTAIL HOUR!
January 11, 2016SANIBEL-CAPTIVA ISLANDER-REPORTER by Sid Simon Florida Rep has a 4 Star show on the boards. They have truly done justice to A.R. Gurney’s best play, “The Cocktail Hour.” You’ll know it from the minute you enter the theater and see... …
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THE WALL STREET JOURNAL RAVES ABOUT THE COCKTAIL HOUR!
January 08, 2016‘The Cocktail Hour’ Review: Anatomy of a WASP By Terry Teachout Jan. 7, 2016 Read the Review on WSJ.com If A.R. Gurney had been born in 1900 instead of 1930, all of his major plays would have had long runs... …
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THE NEWS-PRESS RAVES: HOLIDAY MOVIES HIT FLORIDA REP!
December 14, 2015By Charles Runnells 10/10/2015 Read the Review on News-Press.com You’ve seen “It’s a Wonderful Life” dozens of times. You’ve memorized every scene in “A Christmas Story,” from that hideous pink bunny suit to that tacky leg lamp (it’s a major... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY EXCLAIMS: YOU’D HAVE TO BE A GRINCH TO NOT ENJOY “JEAN SHEPHERD’S A CHRISTMAS STORY”
December 10, 2015Read the Review on Florida Weekly Here by nancy STETSON 12/09/2015 You’d have to be a Grinch to not enjoy “Jean Shepherd’s A Christmas Story” at Florida Repertory Theatre. This good-natured holiday play unabashedly wears its heart on its sleeve... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY RAVES: ‘THE SEAFARER’ STANDS OUT AS MUST-SEE THEATER
December 03, 2015Read the Review on FloridaWeekly.com by Nancy Stetson - 11/24/15 If you want to give yourself an early Christmas present, buy a ticket to “The Seafarer,” now playing at Florida Repertory Theatre’s ArtStage Studio Theatre (through Dec. 13). It’s as... …
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THE NEWS-PRESS RAVES: THE DEVIL PAYS A VISIT IN FLORIDA REP’S ‘THE SEAFARER’
December 03, 2015Read the Review on News-Press.com CHARLES RUNNELLS, 9:32 a.m. EST December 3, 2015 Are you dreaming of a dark, drunken Christmas? Then Florida Rep has the show for you. The comedy/drama “The Seafarer” puts a fresh spin on black-tinged holiday... …
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THE NEWS-PRESS EXCLAIMS: FLORIDA REP MURDER MYSTERY KEEPS YOU GUESSING!
November 05, 2015Read the Review on News-Press.com CHARLES RUNNELLS, CRUNNELLS@NEWS-PRESS.COM 9:30 a.m. EST November 5, 2015 Florida Rep’s “The Unexpected Guest” opens on a room plunged in shadow. Moonlight filters through the roiling fog outside. A woman lurks quietly by the bookcase... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY EXCLAIMS: TRUE TO AGATHA CHRISTIE, SEASON OPENER AT FLORIDA REP KEEPS YOU GUESSING!
November 04, 2015Read the Review on Florida Weekly Here Richard is dead. And no one is grieving. Not his mother, not his half-brother, not even his wife. He was a cruel man, an alcoholic, sadistic. Before sustaining an injury, he was a... …
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THE NEWS-PRESS RAVES: FLORIDA REP’S ‘SPAGHETTI’ IS ONE TASTY DISH!
October 15, 2015Read the Review on News-Press.com CHARLES RUNNELLS, CRUNNELLS@NEWS-PRESS.COM A warning about Florida Rep’s newest comedy: Whatever you do, don’t come hungry. Those aren’t plastic vegetables and fake spaghetti noodles onstage. They’re the real thing. Actor Michelle Damato whips up an... …
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FLORIDA WEEKLY RAVES: LOVE AND LOSS MARINATED IN LAUGHTER AT FLORIDA REP
October 14, 2015Read the Review on the Florida Weekly Site Here! nancySTETSON nstetson@floridaweekly.com Your mother probably taught you to never go grocery shopping on an empty stomach. I offer the same advice for those planning to see “I Loved, I Lost, I... …
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Season 23 | 2020-2021
