Children's Theatre Reviews / Deborah Greenhut

Medium • 2nd May 2018

Delightful Dance Fusion in Keith Michael’s The Alice-in-Wonderland Follies: A Ballet Vaudeville

The plush red seats of Florence Gould Hall in New York City offered the perfect inspiring venue for New York Theatre Ballet’s company highlight, The Alice-in-Wonderland Follies, choreographed by the imaginative Keith Michael. The 2001 adaptation, also Lincoln Center Institute’s touring work for the 2002–2003 season, contains many charming surprises delivered with enchantment by some dozen global company members along with the rising star children from the New York Theatre Ballet School, founded

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Medium • 5th February 2018

Review: “Hanna and the Moonlit Dress,” created by Ronit Muszkatbilt and Yoav Gal

This is a kind and loveable play with beautiful, gently interactive staging for 2–8-year olds, and it’s not just a play to watch. Children are encouraged to participate in the stagecraft by unknowingly creating key props — flowers and stars — with the actors before the show officially begins. Hint: Come a few minutes early for the best experience so that you can participate in the craft and the performance, too! Hanna’s story derives from the 1937 book, “Hanna’s Sabbath Dress,” by Itzhak Schwei

OOBR.COM • 7th September 2007

Review of Goodnight Moon / oobr ("the off-off-broadway review) / Volume 13 Number 9 (2007)

Warning: This show will keep you awake! Adapted from Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurds Goodnight Moon by Henry Its difficult to improve on a much-loved story, yet Goodnight Moon, the delightful first show of Manhattan Children's Theatre's 2007-2008 season, takes the childrens classic to a new level by adding captivating song and dance to a soothing bedtime favorite. Echoes of The Runaway Bunny and favorite nursery rhymes and other stories propel the bouncy insomnia of Bunnys (Laurie Na

OOBR.COM • 19th September 2006

Leaping Literacy: Review of "Out of Orbit--You Choose the Adventure

Its an old dilemma: what makes Johnny read? -- in this case, it was an exciting, appropriately exhilarating, mission to save the world launched by the narrator (Dustin Tyler Moore)s distaste for reading. Out of Orbit engaged its young audience by sharing the fun. It was all systems go as the audience chose the strategies for moving the action forward -- reading was not a spectator sport. Special kudos to the Hero (Shawn Shafner), the literary counterpart of the boy narrator; and especially t

OOBR.COM • 4th November 2005

Review of Sideways Stories from Wayside School

Good teaching has certainly fallen by the -- er -- wayside -- in this school, and the children have been left behind under the evil spell of one wicked Mrs. Gorp, played with relish by Rachel Soll in this captivating production directed by Laura Stevens in Manhattan Childrens Theatres terrific new home between Broadway and Church Streets in Lower Manhattan. In this comfortable new location, the theatres looonnnnng flight of stairs has been replaced by a delightful drama about a school that wa

OOBR.COM • 1st October 2005

A Review of "The Nastiest Drink in the World," Book and Lyrics by Mark Lowenstern

You might think that a kingdom run by the uncorrectable, but often mistaken, King Fredipus (Dan Kolodny) would be a colorless, dismal, even frightening place. But youd be wrong. The authors, director, and choreographer (Dax Valdes), and costume (Sylvie Marc Charles), lighting (Rie Ono), and set (Jess Hooks) designers deliciously conspired to provide a colorful, madcap hour of escapist fun in the aptly named Kingdom of Baloneya. Lights (Shuhei Sho) and a simple but clever set of drapes contribu

OOBR.COM • 11th February 2005

Review of "Harry the Dirty Dog"

Say good-bye to Dick and Jane and their tame games. There's a new dog in town. His name is Harry, and he's taken an exuberant road trip on a long, dirty highway. Destination? Any place but a bathtub. This interactive presentation by Manhattan Children's Theatre celebrated audience participation and man's best friend. Children and adults bonded immediately with the canine antics of Harry, played by the energetically endearing Emily Hartford. Children of all ages cheered the dog's escapes as happ

Reviews of Children's Theatre Productions