Broome Arts Mirror – Local Theatre Reviews
The Broome Arts Mirror is a group of volunteers affiliated with the Broome County Arts Council who write previews and reviews about local performances and arts shows. For inquiries, including having someone review your local production, please contact us at bamirror@broomearts.org.
Standing ovations well-deserved by BPO and its soloist
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd Take heart, blue grass fiddlers: You CAN go from a square dance in the barn to Carnegie Hall. Tessa Lark, featured violin soloist at the Binghamton Philharmonic's Saturday night concert (Sept. 9), proves it. Rare for a classical concert artist, the native Kentuckian calls herself a [...]
Former TCO exec Hartman dead at 73
By Barb Van Atta Former Tri-Cities Opera Executive Director Roger L. Hartman passed away Thursday (Sept. 7) from complications associated with long-term chronic illness. Hartman, 73, of Conklin, also was a baritone with the opera company, studying voice and singing leading roles in the early- to mid-1970s. […]
BAM reviewer's book released
UPDATE: Check out the Press & Sun-Bulletin's interview with Tony, who has a book signing coming up this weekend (2-4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 17, at the Roberson Museum): http://tinyurl.com/y9d38ztv Congratulations to Broome Arts Mirror reviewer Tony Villecco on the publication of his new book about silent star Pola Negri. [...]
BCAC Taps Former County Parks Director as Interim Leader
BCAC Taps Former County Parks Director as Interim Leader The Broome County Arts Council’s board of directors has selected former Broome County Director of Parks, Recreation and Youth Services Arthur (Art) Garrison as the BCAC’s interim executive director. Garrison, who will begin Monday (July 24), follows Laura Knochen-Davis, who [...]
With 'Sorcerer,' Savoyards conjure up a magical, musical show
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd The Summer Savoyards’ The Sorcerer created magic last night (Friday, July 14) in the Anderson Center Chamber Hall at Binghamton University. One of Gilbert & Sullivan’s lesser-known comic operas, presented here as a “staged concert,” didn’t skimp on much. It featured the full-length score and [...]
KNOW successfully pushes the envelope with 'The Goat'
Reviewed by George Basler Nobody ever accused Edward Albee of playing it safe. And that’s certainly not the case with The Goat or, Who is Sylvia, which opened this past weekend (June 9-11) at KNOW Theatre in downtown Binghamton. The play won the Tony Award for Best Play and the [...]
Ti-Ahwaga's ‘La Cage Aux Folles’ cast skillfully blends humor and heart
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri How do you fit as big a show as La Cage Aux Folles into as intimate a space as the Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center? You use every available inch of the stage, and the center staircase aisle of the house, too. You don’t shy away from [...]
'Ascend' shares the love in world premiere at EPAC
Reviewed by Tony Villecco Writing a short story can be challenging; writing a research paper can be daunting. But to actually compose a full-scale musical must be something akin to sitting in the dentist’s chair and waiting for the Novocain to kick in. Where to start? How to revise? Months [...]
'Flying' takes off in thrilling fashion at CRT
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri Flying, by Sheila Cowley, is a five-person tour de force of superb acting. A runner-up for the University of South Carolina’s Todd McNerney Playwriting Award, a nationally held contest, the play had its world premiere Friday night (May 26) at the Chenango River Theatre in [...]
An Apology
By Barb Van Atta Even the most empathetic person cannot truly know how the recipient of prejudicial remarks feels. And sometimes efforts at understanding, no matter how well-meaning, come off as insensitive. That point was hammered home to us at Broome Arts Mirror yesterday (May 17) through responses to [...]
Cast of SRO Underground's 'Avenue Q' offers good clean dirty fun
Editor's note: This is a revised version of the original review. Reviewed by George Basler Audience members know they’re in for a funny evening when even the pre-show announcement about fire exits and cell phones draws laughs. That’s the case with SRO Underground’s production of Avenue Q, which opened last weekend (May [...]
Full house at Forum over the moon for BPO's 'Star Wars' salute
Reviewed by Barb Van Atta Nothing like a good “Imperial March” to prove how meaningful orchestral music is in your life. A near-capacity crowd Thursday (May 4) cheered and clapped with delight as John Williams’ sweeping intergalactic themes filled The Forum in Binghamton for “The Music of ‘Star Wars’: The [...]
Superb BU cast will make you a fan of 'Lady Windermere'
Reviewed by Therese Bohn What makes a good woman? That is the question that pervades Oscar Wilde’s Lady Windermere’s Fan, which opened last Friday (April 28) at Binghamton University. The parlor comedy, which is grandly being presented by BU’s theater department, revels in blurring the lines between what is [...]
Hege, Russo and BPO wow audience in evening of show-stoppers
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd The Binghamton Philharmonic's concert Saturday (April 29) at The Forum in Binghamton should have been called the battle of the show-stoppers. A massive (nearly an hour long) Brahms' piano concerto with guest artist Andrew Russo filled the first half of the concert; the second half [...]
'Hydrogen Jukebox' rocks TCO
Reviewed by George Basler A lot of words could describe Hydrogen Jukebox: experimental, anti-establishment, provocative and surreal. So Tri-Cities Opera deserves credit for taking on this challenging work in a production that opened April 21 and will continue with performances this weekend. The production is admirably directed by Alison Moritz [...]
