"Aladdin" - The Wow Factor

People don't go to Disney musicals for nuanced character development or sophisticated music.  They go for the production value and for the spectacle.  They go to be WOWED.

Well, with Wharton’s latest Broadway touring production of “Aladdin”, be prepared to be wowed.  

It took 30 semi-trucks and two weeks of labor to load this monster show into Wharton - and it’s worth it.  From the very beginning, the Great Hall stage is filled with color, spangles and even mini explosions. And the stage is surrounded by extra lights, speakers, and projectors.

Aral Gribble, The Dramatic Actor

The set-up for “A Christmas Carol: The Radio Show” is a tantalizing idea for a rip-roaring comedy but might lead us down the wrong path.

The latest Williamston Theatre production, which plays through December 22^nd, stars a Lansing theater favorite, Aral Gribble in the one-man show.

The premise for the story is simple enough – a local radio show has an annual tradition of presenting Dickens’ beloved “A Christmas Carol” live, using a full cast and in-house band.  The problem is there is a huge storm outside and the only person able to get to the studio is Bob Bennett (Gribble), the sound effects guy.