Area Stage Company Archives – Theatrical Musings

Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz The orphans look up to Annie in Area Stage Company’s immersive production By AARON KRAUSE Young, visionary director Giancarlo Rodaz’s winning approach in Area Stage Company’s (ASC) current unorthodox, yet triumphant production of the classic musical Annie features eight actors playing all roles. That compares to a…

Giancarlo Rodaz By AARON KRAUSE For its next professional production, South Miami’s Area Stage Company (ASC) promises the musical Annie “like you’ve never seen before.” Still, ASC Associate Artistic Director Giancarlo Rodaz, who is mounting the production, said the award-winning, nonprofit professional company will present the classic next…

Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company In the 2018 production, Shrek (Ryan Bauta) gives fair warning to anyone daring to enter his territory By AARON KRAUSE It really isn’t easy being green. In fact, in the fictional world, such characters as Wicked’s Elphaba, Jim Henson’s Kermit the Frog, and…

(Photo by Giancarlo Rodaz) The flamboyant, charismatic Master of Ceremonies (Giorgio Volpe) interacts with the audience in Area Stage Company’s production of Cabaret. By AARON KRAUSE CORAL GABLES — Without warning, a group of Nazi flag-waving activists march down the aisle of the audience seating area, fervently singing the anthem…

(Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company) Shrek (Ryan Bauta) gives fair warning to anyone daring to enter his territory. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Can audience members believe in a world onstage even if the theatrical magic is simple and visible? After witnessing Area Stage Company’s (ASC) exhilarating production…

Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company Abigail Baldwin, Kate Markus and Jackeline Gonzalez appear in a scene from Area Stage Company’s production of Eric Lane’s Ride. CORAL GABLES, Fla. — Stories about a long journey allow the playwright to focus not only on the physical trek but to metaphorically suggest…

(Photo courtesy of Area Stage Company) Mallory Newbrough (Dora) and George (Robert Richards, Jr.) appear in a scene from Area Stage Company’s production of An Octoroon CORAL GABLES, Fla. — “If anything, the theatre is no longer a place of novelty,” says a character in Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon. “The…