Wichita Theater Reviews

Review: THIS IS OUR YOUTH at Jabara Flexible Theatre In De Mattias Hall At Newman University
by Paula Makar - August 18, 2022

What did our critic think of THIS IS OUR YOUTH at Jabara Flexible Theatre In De Mattias Hall At Newman University?...

Review: THE WEDDING SINGER at Crown Uptown
by Paula Makar - August 12, 2022

The Wedding Singer made its Regional Debut at the Crown Uptown in July. It’s super fun, high energy musical based on the hit Adam Sandler movie, with music by Matthew Sklar (Elf, The Prom), book by Chad Beguelin (Aladdin, Elf, The Prom) and Tim Herlihy (Billy Madison, Happy Gilmore), and lyrics by C...

Review: HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - July 22, 2022

WhHeathers: The Musical is the comically dark story of Veronica Sawyer, a brainy teenage misfit who offers her forgery skills to the Heathers, the most powerful and ruthless clique at Westerberg High, in exchange for the good life. Before she can get comfortable atop the high school food chain, Vero...

Review: 42ND STREET at Music Theatre Wichita, Century II Concert Hall
by Paula Makar - July 04, 2022

After a two year hiatus, Music Theatre Wichita is FINALLY back in the Century II Concert Hall and Wichita Theatregoers couldn’t be happier! There was no better way to celebrate the return than an incredible performance of 42nd Street! I’m sad the show didn’t run another week, and sadder still if you...

Review: THE ADDAMS FAMILY at Crown Uptown
by Paula Makar - June 19, 2022

Snap! Snap! This production of The Addams Family at the Crown Uptown is A MUST SEE! This show runs until June 26, so call for tickets now! The show is well written and tight, with some really gorgeous music and equally gorgeous voices! The script is HILARIOUS, with some fantastic plot complications....

BWW Review: PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - May 18, 2022

With a book by Stephan Elliott and Allan Scott, and a slew of 70s dance floor anthems including It’s Raining Men, I Will Survive, Hot Stuff, Boogie Wonderland, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun, and I Love The Nightlife, it’s hard not to sit still in your seat. You’ll want to sing and dance along!...

BWW Review: THE COLOR PURPLE at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - February 20, 2022

If God ever listened to a poor black woman, the world would be a different place. –Celie The Color Purple is currently playing at Roxy’s Downtown. Their production is impressive, powerful, well-cast, and extremely well-wrought, from performances to design elements and direction. Do yourself a favor...

BWW Review: GREASE at Music Theatre Wichita At The Capitol Federal Amphitheater In Andover, KS
by Paula Makar - September 22, 2021

Oh, those summer nights! What a treat to sit under the stars on a cool evening and watch Grease! I felt like I was at a drive-in. The folks behind me were singing along to every song, and I was tempted to as well! It was such a feel-good production....

BWW Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at The Crown Uptown Theatre
by Paula Makar - September 19, 2021

I love it when I go to the theatre and there's a Vaccine Raffle! That's right, if you show your vaccine card you can be entered to win a prize! I feel like I'm back in a place where people care about the health of their community and do things like this to promote it. Crown Arts Collaborative is a 5...

BWW Review: DISASTER! at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - September 17, 2021

RUN RIGHT DOWN TO SEE THIS SHOW RIGHT NOW! To quote my students, “This show is ridiculous, and we laughed so hard.” Like a farce on speed, DISASTER! is like riding a freight train over rough terrain, hanging on for dear life until the engineer finally puts on the brakes. This show is so nutritionall...

BWW Review: GOLDEN: MTWICHITA AT 50 at Music Theatre Wichita, Century II PAC, Convention Hall
by Paula Makar - August 29, 2021

How lucky are we in Wichita to have such a wonderful theatre community?! Better still, how lucky are we to have such a gem like Music Theatre Wichita? Producing Director Wayne Bryan and his cohort of Wichita Favorites paid homage to the city that has supported MTW for the past 50 years by showering ...

BWW Review: COMEDY OF ERRORS at Blind Cupid Shakespeare Company
by Alison Bridget Chambers - August 20, 2021

Blind Cupid Shakespeare Company brings Shakespeare to International Audiences...

BWW Review: LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - August 12, 2021

If you want to have some serious fun this weekend, make sure you book your seats for this colorful, creative, and clever production of Little Shop of Horrors at Roxy's Downtown. The show sold out last weekend, and it's bound to sell out the next two weekends as well....

BWW Review: RED, WHITE, AND BROADWAY: A STAR STUDDED TRIBUTE TO AMERICA at Music Theatre Wichita
by Paula Makar - July 06, 2021

It was another beautiful night in Andover, Kansas. The temperature was in the mid-80’s, there was a slight breeze, and not a rain cloud in sight. Many in the crowd were purchasing snacks from the food trucks parked behind the audience. Golf carts were transporting the super annuated and folx with mo...

BWW Feature: National Theatre Live at Roxy's Downtown
by Paula Makar - June 18, 2021

It all started when Roxy’s Downtown was looking for ways to bring live theatre to our audiences during a global pandemic. We reached out to several different organizations, both nationally and internationally and an alliance was born. We are so happy to be bringing the following performances to you ...

BWW Review: MIRETTE at Music Theatre Wichita
by Paula Makar - June 18, 2021

Mirette is based on the Caldecott Award-winning book Mirette on the High Wire by Emily Arnold McCully. The musical runs June 16-20 at the Century II Convention Hall, with excellent socially distanced seating. If you have children, RUN, don’t walk, to purchase tickets for this delightfully charming t...

BWW Review: THE AGITATORS: Susan B. Anthony & Frederick Douglass at The Forum Theatre
by Paula Makar - May 26, 2021

This is the first time I’ve sat in a theatre since COVID19 took that privilege away in March 2020. It felt weird and wonderful all at the same time. Masks are optional at the Forum Theatre. Patrons I chatted with in the lobby were thrilled to finally get out and are feeling confident enough to spend...

BWW Review: NO MORE TALK OF DARKNESS: PHANTOM'S JEREMY STOLLE at Music Theatre Wichita At The Capitol Federal Amphitheater In Andover, KS
by Paula Makar - May 15, 2021

Jeremy Stolle started off his concert Thursday night with an opening line of a song from Phantom that gave me goosebumps! He whirled right into a sendup of Trouble from Music Man, abandoning the original lyrics for new, some of them having to do with Wichita! A delightful beginning that drew me in a...