Central New York Theater Reviews

Review: RENT at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 21, 2024

What did our critic think of RENT at Blackfriars Theatre?...

Review: A CHORUS LINE at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - July 15, 2024

Reviewing summer youth theatre productions is always an assignment I eagerly anticipate, because I’m reminded of the treasure trove of young theatrical talent that Rochester has to offer. Summer youth shows in Rochester (Blackfriars Theatre and JCC both have them) consistently feature professional-c...

Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - June 08, 2024

What did our critic think of THE COLOR PURPLE at Geva Theatre?...

Review: BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at JCC CenterStage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 10, 2024

What did our critic think of BEAUTIFUL: THE CAROLE KING MUSICAL at JCC CenterStage Theatre?...

Review: CABARET at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - May 10, 2024

One of theatre’s many powers is its ability to reflect the happenings of the outside world, illuminating events and societal trends, and even portending things to come. When “Cabaret” was written in 1966 we were only one generation removed from the biggest global conflict in world history, in which ...

Review: THREE MOTHERS at Capital Repertory Theatre
by Noah Casner - May 03, 2024

I’ll be the first to admit that when it came time for me to see Three Mothers, I was a bit worried what the experience would be. Watching three women grieve the loss of their sons didn’t sound like the kind of activity I would generally choose to subject myself to for entertainment— it frankly seeme...

Review: CHICAGO THE MUSICAL at Proctors Theatre
by Peyton VanDerheyden - April 21, 2024

What did our critic think of CHICAGO THE MUSICAL at Proctors Theatre?...

Review: STELLA AND LOU at Out Of Pocket Productions
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - April 20, 2024

What did our critic think of STELLA AND LOU at Out Of Pocket Productions?...

Review: CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Company Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - April 13, 2024

What did our critic think of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF at Company Theatre?...

Review: SISTERS IN LAW at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - April 08, 2024

Currently playing at Rochester’s JCC Centerstage Theatre is a play that seems out of place in our modern era of intense division and heightened polarization because it explores the deep respect and affection between two people who hold sharply different political and philosophical views, performed b...

Review: JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR at Proctors
by Noah Casner - April 07, 2024

What did our critic think of JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR: 50TH ANNIVERSARY TOUR AT PROCTORS at Proctors?...

Review: SANCTUARY CITY at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - March 29, 2024

Currently playing on Geva Theatre’s Fielding Stage is “Sanctuary City”, a powerful—and timely—story about the American dream and the concept of home....

Review: MRS. DOUBTFIRE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - February 22, 2024

f you’re a 90’s kid like me, that famous greeting from cinema’s most iconic Scottish nanny is permanently imprinted on your memory, especially if, like me, your childhood home had “Mrs. Doubtfire” playing on repeat throughout your formative years (I think we eventually burned out the VHS tape). And ...

Review: OEDIPUS REX at Company Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - February 18, 2024

What did our critic think of OEDIPUS REX at Company Theatre?...

Review: HITMAKERS: ROCK VS. DISCO at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - February 06, 2024

There is perhaps no greater rivalry in the history of music than that of rock and disco. Both genres had their icons and their laughingstocks, and the rivalry among the respective fanbases reached a level of ferocity unforeseen in the annals of popular culture. What better fodder for the 2024 instal...

Review: CLYDE'S at Syracuse Stage
by Dan and Julie Izzo - February 05, 2024

If you are hungry for some tasty theater that is fresh, natural and with just enough sizzle to keep you satisfied, get yourself down to Syracuse Stage to see Clyde’s, a thoughtful and inspiring new play by Pulitzer Prize winner, Lynn Nottage. Set in a lonesome truck stop diner somewhere outside of R...

Review: LES LIAISONS DANGEREUSES at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - February 02, 2024

“Les Liaisons Dangereuses” is a story with myriad adaptations. The 18th century novel was spun into a stage play in 1985 by playwright Christopher Hampton, which was then adapted into the 1988 film “Dangerous Liaisons”, which was THEN adapted into the 90’s cult sensation “Cruel Intentions.” It’s not...

Review: DIAL M FOR MURDER at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - January 23, 2024

What did our critic think of DIAL M FOR MURDER at Geva Theatre?...

Review: THE CHRISTIANS at Out Of Pocket Productions
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - January 15, 2024

What did our critic think of THE CHRISTIANS at Out Of Pocket Productions?...

Review: THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Blackfriars Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 17, 2023

What did our critic think of THE WICKHAMS: CHRISTMAS AT PEMBERLEY at Blackfriars Theatre?...

Review: ANNIE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 14, 2023

Though it’s not necessarily a Christmas show in the way that “A Christmas Carol” or “It’s a Wonderful Life” are, “Annie” captures many of the essential elements of the Christmas season: friendship, love, optimism, and hope for the future. There is possibly no more prominent feel-good story than “Ann...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Geva Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 04, 2023

As someone who covers theatre I’m always a bit apprehensive as the holiday season approaches each year, because having seen “A Christmas Carol” more times than I can possibly count, I fear that I won’t have something new to say; the story is 180 years old after all, so at this point there aren’t man...

Review: A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Syracuse Stage
by Dan and Julie Izzo - December 04, 2023

What did our critic think of A CHRISTMAS CAROL at Syracuse Stage?...

Review: LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE at JCC Centerstage Theatre
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - December 01, 2023

The power of memory is a fascinating thing. We all have that one song that transports us back to our wedding day, or that TV commercial that immediately makes us think of our Dad, or a smell that evokes the comfort of Christmas morning. Nora and Delia Ephron’s play “Love, Loss and What I Wore” explo...

Review: MOULIN ROUGE at Rochester Broadway Theatre League
by Colin Fleming-Stumpf - November 10, 2023

If Rochester’s gloomy late-autumn weather has got you down, prepare to be whisked away to the bright lights and teeming intrigue of Paris’ underground nightlife, and explore the Bohemian ideals of truth, beauty, freedom, and love; “Moulin Rouge” has landed at the Rochester Broadway Theatre League....