© Photo by Scott Tilley | Lion King Performer, Sherri Tilley | Dallas Summer Musicals | Dallas, TX
THEATER REVIEWS
Promotional theater reviews, musical theater recaps, and season announcements by Sherri Tilley
What a wonderful write up! It was so nice to finally meet you! Many thanks!
Steven Walters, Resident Actor at Dallas Theater Center and Co-Founder of Second Thought Theatre
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Beauty and Pain Mark Love Never Dies, a Sequel to The Phantom of the Opera
7/26/18 | SHERRI TILLEY
Consider this production more like an angsty opera and less like a happy-go-lucky piece of musical theater.
Hilariously Gut-Wrenching Waitress Opens at Dallas Summer Musicals
3/29/18 | SHERRI TILLEY
Steering away from the standard lineup of family-friendly productions, this thought-provoking show runs for a limited two-week engagement.
Irving Berlin's White Christmas Offers a Vintage Time Capsule
12/5/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Retro choreography, fresh costumes, and festive holiday sets make this old-fashioned production a contemporary entertainment option for the entire family.
The Bodyguard Offers Full Protection of Your Entertainment Dollar
7/20/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Dallas Summer Musicals caps off their season with knock-out celebrity vocals and high-energy dance numbers.
Morgana Shaw Discusses Current Role as Hollywood Icon Bette Davis
6/1/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
The local actress opens up about digging deep for the currently-touring one-woman show All About Bette.
Step Right Up as Circus 1903 Brings Acrobats and Elephants to Town
5/26/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Pachydermian puppets grace the stage for the area premier of this decadent show featuring mesmerizing circus acts.
Kinky Boots Sparkles with Friendship, Acceptance, and Redemption
3/20/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Theatrically engaging and packed with thrilling choreography, this heartwarming tale inspires peace and harmony.
All-New Production of Let It Be Brings Peace and Love to Dallas
3/9/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
You'll be encouraged to clap your hands, stomp your feet, and go as mad as you like
during this fun Fab Four tribute.
The Illusionists Provide a Magical Evening of Exciting Entertainment
2/15/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Live from Broadway, this next-generation magic show captivates audiences with awe-inspiring performances.
Rhythmically-Mesmerizing Sounds of STOMP are Right up Our Alley
2/15/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
The fascinating production has a uniquely-raw story to tell and uses items like crinkly brown lunch sacks to do it.
Musical Theater Review: Love is a Three-Way Street for An American in Paris
2/2/17 | SHERRI TILLEY
Brilliant dancing, talented actors, and music by George and Ira Gershwin ... who could ask for anything more?
Musical Theater Review: Santa Brings Broadway Christmas Wonderland to Town
12/8/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
A vocal showcase and high-kicking chorus line keep the Music Hall at Fair Park hoppin' and a-boppin' by singing holiday songs.
Musical Theater Review: Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer is Cuuuuuute!
11/26/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
The nostalgic television classic is meticulously recreated for stage, stopping this weekend only at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
Tony Award-Winning 42nd Street Caps Off Dallas Summer Musicals 2015/2016 Season
07/01/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
One of our favorite shows of the season, this Lullaby of Broadway kept us perky and alert all evening long.
Knockout Performances and Fancy Footwork Make Bullets Over Broadway an Offer You Can't Refuse
06/16/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
This unapologetically silly and extremely well-performed musical elicits hearty laughs.
Theater Review: Ragtime Presented by Dallas Summer Musicals
05/25/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
The example of continually striving to rise above oppression reminds us that, no matter what, We Can Never Go Back to Before.
Making Wicked Tick: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Touring Production of the Smash-Hit Musical
04/19/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
New special effects and an army of cast and crew function like clockwork to bring this iconic one-of-a-kind show to life.
Dallas Summer Musicals Dazzles Guests with Cirque-Themed Entertainment at the 2016 Curtain Call Gala Event
04/18/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
The Music Hall at Fair Park was whimsically transformed into a uniquely-magical setting for the 2016 Curtain Call Gala imaginatively themed Cirque du Musicale.
Winners Announced for The 5th Annual Dallas Summer Musicals High School Musical Theatre Awards
04/15/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
Record-breaking participation made this year's event an exciting showcase culminating in awards for Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Musical, and more.
Interview with Actor Melvin Abston, Sebastian the Crustacean in Disney's The Little Mermaid
03/07/16 | SHERRI TILLEY
Melvin Abston speaks about the rewards of acting and his volunteer work within the theater community as well as his interests as a history buff and self-proclaimed foodie.
Theater Review: Elf The Musical
12/09/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
This well-written, well-performed show is rife with one-liners, slapstick comedy, and jazzy choreography that makes for pure 'elfin magic.'
Theater Review: The Sound of Music
11/05/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
Longtime fans of the classic movie are certainly liable to appreciate the close-to-original sound of the beloved songs that so many have grown to adore.
Theater Review: Pippin
07/08/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
The Tony Award-winning musical Pippin delivers all the components that audiences could reasonably want from a nationally-touring production.
Theater Review: Dirty Dancing
06/24/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
Well-performed dance sequences and well-known scenes based on the movie unfolded in alternating dramatic and humorous scene-by-scene depiction.
Theater Review: Cinderella
06/10/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
Dallas Summer Musicals' production of Cinderella dazzles audiences with can-you-believe-your-eyes twirling makeover transformations
Theater Review: Rodgers & Hammerstein's The King and I
03/30/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
The King and I is wonderfully entertaining, richly layered, and dazzling to behold ... et cetera, et cetera, et cetera.
Theater Review: Kinky Boots
02/26/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
The nationally-touring production of Kinky Boots has now placed its uniquely stiletto-ed footprint on the 75th anniversary season of Dallas Summer Musicals.
25 Questions with Grace Stockdale
02/19/15 | SHERRI TILLEY
Grace Stockdale will be making her tour debut in the role of Nicola in the cast of Kinky Boots, opening at Dallas Summer Musicals.
Theater Review: A Christmas Story
12/03/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
It's Ralphie to the Rescue with high-action entertainment, pink-bunny pajama-wearin', leg-shaped lamp-breakin', and more outrageous shenanigans!
Theater Review: A Christmas Carol
12/03/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
The times, they are a-changin'; and DTC's revamped production of this holiday classic melds the old with the new in a freshly relevant and distinctly traditional way.
Theater Review: Nice Work If You Can Get It
09/04/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Packed with beloved Gershwin tunes, vintage-styled costumes, and loads of fancy footwork, this well-paced retro rom-com is consistently funny throughout.
Theater Review: Les Miserables
07/04/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
This outstanding reinterpretation provides a sense of timelessness, as if the story could be taking place in the past, present, or even the future.
Theater Review: Mamma Mia!
06/04/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Bring your mom, daughter, friend, neighbor, or entire Sisterhood of Traveling Pants to this high-energy musical seen by millions worldwide.
Theater Review: Evita
04/16/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Latin-flavored ballroom moves, muted colors, and amber lighting in this production offer a historical documentary approach (think Newsies or Les Mis).
Theater Review: The Wizard of Oz
03/20/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
This well-paced journey through the magical land of Oz features impressive set design, lavish costumes, dramatic video projections, and music from the iconic film.
Theater Review: The Fortress of Solitude
03/16/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Spanning generations, musical genres, and cultural boundaries, this intriguing production serves up soulful harmonies and music that's finger snappin' good.
Theater Review: We Will Rock You
03/05/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
We Will Rock You is loud and live fun musical entertainment with a live band above the stage rocking out to a fantastic score of Queen's biggest hits.
Theater Review: Disney's The Little Mermaid
02/19/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Audiences flip head over tails for The Little Mermaid's stunningly realistic swimming effects, catchy tunes, splashy costumes, and Disney magic.
Theater Review: Cock
02/01/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
The acting in this show is so superb that the audience is easily taken beyond shallow superficiality and plunged into the depths of this examination of romantic love.
Theater Review: Ghost The Musical
01/29/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
The supernatural story of love follows Sam and Molly, a young couple whose connection takes a shocking turn after Sam's untimely death.
Theater Review: Oedipus el Rey
01/26/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Take destiny into your own hands when reading about this unique and riveting new production, an adaptation of an ancient Greek tale examining fate versus free will.
Theater Review: Oedipus el Rey: The Blue Pill
01/26/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Take destiny into your own hands when reading about this unique and riveting new production, an adaptation of an ancient Greek tale examining fate versus free will.
Theater Review: Oedipus el Rey: The Red Pill
01/26/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Take destiny into your own hands when reading about this unique and riveting new production, an adaptation of an ancient Greek tale examining fate versus free will.
Theater Review: Rehearsal for Murder
01/03/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Harry Hunsacker returns to the stage with another Living Black & White adventure creating the illusion of a 1930's-40's black-and-white movie brought to life on stage!
Theater Review: Pegasus Theatre
01/03/14 | SHERRI TILLEY
Pegasus Theatre's innovative signature Black and White shows are designed to recreate the look and feel of an old 1930's-40's era movie live on stage.
Theater Review: White Christmas
12/18/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Retro choreography, fresh costumes, and festive sets make this old-fashioned production a contemporary entertainment option for the entire family.
Theater Review: The Screwtape Letters
11/11/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
The Screwtape Letters is an entertaining and illuminating look at the menacing powers at work on the battlefield of the human mind.
Theater Review: Clybourne Park
10/12/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Bruce Norris' sharp-witted look at cultural changes explores layers of racial tensions leaving a full gamut of intensely-wrought emotions littered across the living room floor.
Theater Review: The Lion King
10/09/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
The art of puppetry throughout the evening was beyond magnificent with puppeteers mimicking the gestures thereby providing double the character experience.
Theater Review: A Raisin in the Sun
09/21/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
A Raisin in the Sun and Clybourne Park offer an in-your-face conversation about race, real estate, and the volatile values of each.
Theater Review: Flashdance The Musical
06/27/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Flashdance is less like a traditional symphony-accompanied singing play and more like a pop/rock concert jam session with really dynamic back-up dancers.
Theater Review: Gruesome Playground Injuries
06/14/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Touching, oddly realistic, quite believable, and as it turns out ... a compelling observation of evolving answers to the multifaceted question Does it hurt?
Theater Review: Sister Act
06/06/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
The snappy light musical is ideal for the relaxed spring/summer season, and groovin' to the beat of the Philly soul is a 'habit' you won't want to break.
Theater Review: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
05/15/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Far from being a pushy political statement, Priscilla is a fun, extravagant, sexy, adult show about loving and accepting people from all dance styles of life.
Theater Review: Wicked
04/12/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
A giant mechanical Time Dragon, circus-inspired talking Oz, elaborate scenic design, phenomenal cast, and 200+ exquisite costumes ... why, it's positively thrillifying!
Theater Review: The Odd Couple
03/25/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Local actors shine in supporting roles in Neil Simon's The Odd Couple about iconic characters Oscar the slob and Felix the neat freak.
Theater Review: Mary Poppins
03/20/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
Mary Poppins takes the Banks family as well as audiences on a Jolly Holiday where it turns out that Anything Can Happen if you let it.
Theater Review: King Lear
01/26/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
In a co-production with Trinity Repertory Company, Dallas Theater Center presents King Lear, one of William Shakespeare's greatest tragedies.
Theater Review: Oral Fixation
01/15/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
From heartwarming to hilarious, the Oral Fixation storytelling series features true, personal stories that each correspond with a particular theme.
Theater Review: Catch Me If You Can
01/13/13 | SHERRI TILLEY
This 1960's style 'ultimate reality show' is based on the hit DreamWorks film and amazingly true autobiographical story of Frank W. Abagnale, Jr.
Theater Review: A Christmas Carol
12/01/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Chamblee Ferguson is magnificent as the penny-pinching Scrooge who receives a stern warning about the consequences of a life of opportunities misused.
Theater Review: The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity
10/28/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
You don't have to be a wrestling fan to enjoy this thrilling production about the characters and concepts that make up the world of wrestling and world in general.
Theater Review: The Addams Family
10/05/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Living, dead, and 'undecided' members of the Addams family come vibrantly alive for this macabre musical comedy amidst the 'intoxicating smell' of the graveyard.
Theater Review: The Second City Does Dallas
09/08/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
An over-the-top sketch comedy evening of hilarious (and quite accurate) references to some of Dallas' quirky characteristics and well known residents.
Theater Review: Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan
07/10/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
The charming and pixie-like Cathy Rigby plays Peter Pan with all the youthful exuberance of the gymnastics sweetheart that she still is.
Theater Review: Mamma Mia!
05/30/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Travel your entire sisterhood to this high-energy production running for one week only. You won't even need your hairbrush microphone in order to sing along!
Theater Review: Rain
04/25/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Baby boomers were still twisting and shouting and the grade school aged girl standing in the seat next to us was belting out lyrics to Give Peace a Chance.
Theater Review: La Cage Aux Folles
04/11/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Winner of three 2010 Tony Awards including the award for Best Musical Revival, this hilarious new production was the biggest hit of the 2010 Broadway season.
Theater Review: The Midwest Trilogy
03/23/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Motivational and therapeutic, The Midwest Trilogy written by Eric Steele centering around two films and a one-man play is a strong but easy-to-swallow antidepressant.
Theater Review: God of Carnage
03/21/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
This humorously chaotic play starts out funny enough and continues to escalate into hilarity leaving audience members with their mouths agape.
Theater Review: Tigers Be Still
03/10/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Sherry's got a new job, Grace's got a new love (Jack Daniels), Joseph's still got his old prom crown, Zach's got a black eye ... oh, and there's a tiger on the loose.
Theater Review: Million Dollar Quartet
03/07/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
A terrific cast of musician/actors portray rock 'n' roll icons with plenty of the signature moves and signature sounds that you expect.
Theater Review: Second Thought Theatre
02/19/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Second Thought Theatre strives to enlighten and entertain audiences by pushing the boundaries of human thought and emotion.
Theater Review: Bring It On
02/15/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Jaw-dropping gymnastics, hiiiiigh flying cheerleading stunts, energetic hip-hop choreography, catchy music, and over 1100 'rock concert' type lighting cues.
Theater Review: Giant
01/28/12 | SHERRI TILLEY
Storytelling through song with a 15 member orchestra suspended over the stage, Giant addresses family, politics, drilling, and even the Six Flags over Texas.
Theater Review: A Christmas Carol
12/02/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
Singing, dancing, eerie apparitions, flashes of light, startling booms, and enough dry ice fog to douse the bah, humbug right out of the harshest of yuletide resisters.
Theater Review: To Kill a Mockingbird
10/28/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
Adaptation of the Pulitzer Prize winning novel about a young girl's discovery of injustice and racism in her tired old town of Maycomb, Alabama.
Theater Review: The Tempest
09/17/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
A plane crash, survival, love, loss, hope, revenge, half naked drunks, talking spirits, and magic dogs! ... It's a dreamy Lost, 17th century Italian style.
Theater Review: Guys and Dolls
07/20/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
Wheddah you're a dame or a mug, a classy lady or a high-rollin' gent, go see Guys and Dolls at Fair Park. You won't soon fuggedaboutit.
Theater Review: The Wiz
07/15/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
Dallas Black Dance Theatre dances up a 'storm' in The Wiz, a wonderfully entertaining collaboration with Dallas Theater Center
Theater Review: Spamalot
06/15/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
This Tony winning musical adaptation of Monty Python and the Holy Grail is hilariously raunchy ... nonstop razzle-dazzle zaniness from beginning to end.
Theater Review: 9 to 5 The Musical
05/19/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
You can feel the essence, see the mannerisms, and hear the voice of Dolly all over DeGarmo's performance, especially in her song Backwoods Barbie.
Theater Review: Cabaret
04/29/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
Like a crafty, cocky puppet master, Wade McCollum mesmerizes the audience with seductive German / French / English translations and Axl Rose dance moves.
Theater Review: Dallas Theater Center
04/25/11 | SHERRI TILLEY
DTC is one of the leading regional theaters in the country, produces classic as well as contemporary plays, and performs for over 90,000 North Texans annually.
Theater Review: The Trinity River Plays
11/14/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Exceptionally well cast and extremely well acted, The Trinity River Plays chronicle the lives of a houseful of strong, resilient women and the men who come and go.
Theater Review: Shrek The Musical
09/29/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
The inspirational message is to let our freak flag fly preached by a cast of zany fairy tale characters including puppets, rabbits, and hobbits with bad habits.
Theater Review: Henry IV
09/22/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
You know a show is going to be different than most when it begins with a warning from house management to remain in your seats ... for your safety.
Theater Review: Wicked
05/01/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Giant mechanical Time Dragon, circus-inspired talking Oz, elaborate scenic design, phenomenal cast, and 200+ exquisite costumes ... why, it's positively thrillifying!
Theater Review: Death of a Salesman
04/26/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
The play is an important part of American life, and the acting in this production is absolutely fantastic, and the most profound development in this story turns out to be our own.
Theater Review: It's a Bird ... Plane ... Superman
04/26/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Look, over at the Wyly! It's a Bird ... It's a Plane ... It's Superman. And the Man of Steel is dispersing truth, justice, and the American way via a musical.
Theater Review: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber
04/21/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
With a live onstage orchestra and a cast of vocal all-stars, the show features over 30 songs by the famous composer of musicals like Cats, Evita, and The Phantom of the Opera.
Theater Review: Xanadu
04/17/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
A stage flooded with colored light, cast bedecked with Deney Terrio era satin and sparkle glory, and over three dozen disco balls sprinkling light across the auditorium.
Theater Review: Fat Pig
03/22/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Tom, a successful, in-shape professional, falls into a romantic relationship with Helen a plus size librarian who happens to be completely content with her body.
Theater Review: The Beauty Plays
03/05/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Playwright Neil LaBute portrays with astute accuracy (and only a minor sense of political correctness) America's obsession with physical attractiveness.
Theater Review: The Shape of Things
03/05/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
Adam, an overweight college student who falls in love with Evelyn, a sexy graduate art student. But this is not a cute little light-hearted romantic comedy.
Theater Review: Give It Up!
01/25/10 | SHERRI TILLEY
In an attempt to arouse the boys' passion, Lysistrata leads the girls in an oath to hold out on 'giving it up' until the boys decide to quit 'giving up.'
Theater Review: A Christmas Carol
12/15/09 | SHERRI TILLEY
DTC is going out with a bang. Several bangs. And flashes of light, and smoke, and echoing clock chimes, and furniture that seems to move around the stage on its own.
Theater Review: A Midsummer Night's Dream
11/01/09 | SHERRI TILLEY
The Wyly Theatre seems just as much nightclub as theater, and its opening production by Dallas Theater Center was as much a party as a play.