The Lion King at DPAC Boasts a Top-Notch Cast and Spectacular Production Values
Published, Arts, Children, Music, Sustainability Melissa Rooney Published, Arts, Children, Music, Sustainability Melissa Rooney

The Lion King at DPAC Boasts a Top-Notch Cast and Spectacular Production Values

Much like "The Festival of the Lion King" performance that comes with tickets to Disney World's Animal Kingdom theme park, the Broadway musical features actors in animal costumes as well as giant, hollow puppets. The Lion King (musical), which has been on Broadway since 1997, is Broadway's third longest-running show in history and the highest-grossing Broadway production of all time. But unlike the movie or amusement-park production, The Lion King (musical) puts its audience in the center of the life-sized animals that are integral to its Hamlet-like plot and message.

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Mrs. Doubtfire at DPAC Is WONDERFUL!
Published, Arts, Relationships Melissa Rooney Published, Arts, Relationships Melissa Rooney

Mrs. Doubtfire at DPAC Is WONDERFUL!

I had my doubts about going to see the Durham Performing Arts Center's presentation of the 2021 Broadway musical comedy Mrs. Doubtfire. I couldn't imagine anyone holding a flame to Robin Williams' performance in the movie. But I was more than pleasantly surprised -- at some points, nearly ecstatic -- by two-time Tony nominee Rob McClure's multifaceted performance as Daniel Hilliard, the man-child protagonist of the production.

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On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is a Pop Concert, Dance Party, Documentary, and Musical Theater, All Rolled Into One
Published, Arts, Relationships, Community, Music, Inspiration Melissa Rooney Published, Arts, Relationships, Community, Music, Inspiration Melissa Rooney

On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan is a Pop Concert, Dance Party, Documentary, and Musical Theater, All Rolled Into One

“It's a shame that there is only one more performance of On Your Feet! -- at 7:30 p.m. tonight at DPAC. The house should be filled for the show's final Durham performance, and audience members should inform the producers and DPAC that they want it back for a longer run next year.”

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Zalman  Raffael's  Elegant  Reinterpretation  of  The  Nutcracker  Sparkles
Inspiration, Relationships, Community, Published, Music Melissa Rooney Inspiration, Relationships, Community, Published, Music Melissa Rooney

Zalman  Raffael's  Elegant  Reinterpretation  of  The  Nutcracker  Sparkles

Not feeling that Christmas Spirit as much this year as in the past? Going to see the Carolina Ballet artistic director Zalman Raffael's reinterpretation of The Nutcracker, inspired by the Raleigh, NC-based ballet's previous productions by George Balanchine and Carolina Ballet's founding artistic director Robert Weiss, will change that. Last night, I saw The Nutcracker at the Durham Performing Arts Center, with my 12-year-old son, who had never seen the holiday staple and -- except for the melody of The Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy (which I couldn't stop humming since we got the tickets) -- knew very little about it…

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Postcards from Ireland Featured Three Superb Singers and a Fiddle-Playing Sprite
Arts, Published, Music Melissa Rooney Arts, Published, Music Melissa Rooney

Postcards from Ireland Featured Three Superb Singers and a Fiddle-Playing Sprite

For the Durham Performing Arts Center's Wednesday, March 16th, presentation of Celtic Woman: Postcards from Ireland, my fellow audience members -- who did not have to wear masks after showing vaccination cards and photo IDs at the door -- ranged from 8 to 80 years old and reflected not only the diversity of Durham, NC, but the diverse population that has come to appreciate traditional Irish music and its modern influence.

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Grace and Mercy at UNC’s Memorial Hall

Grace and Mercy at UNC’s Memorial Hall

Although more than 200 Confederate monuments have been removed across the country since 2019, the slabs of Confederate names in UNC's Memorial Hall still stand, rendering the Carolina Performing Arts ' presentation of Grace and Mercy an act of justice in and of itself.

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