AmericanTheaterWeb Original News & Reviews

Updates for February 5, 2009

Los Angeles CityBeat

'Leading the Way' into 'Stormy Weather'

L.A. Weekly

Theater Reviews: Jane Austen Unscripted, A Skull in Connemara, Model Behavior
Also, The Todd and Molly Show, Dai, Stormy Weather and more

Back Stage - L.A. Reviews

Review: Stormy Weather
The closing number, in which Uggams delivers a smashing rendition of Horne's signature song, "Stormy Weather," exemplifies the potential of this promising but flawed enterprise.

---

Updates on February 3, 2009

Variety

Review: Stormy Weather
Leslie Uggams' triumphant evocation of Lena Horne's spirit and talent is the main attraction, but bio-tuner "Stormy Weather" at the Pasadena Playhouse also boasts a cavalcade of sizzling standards, a p.o.v. and genuine emotionality. It should earn a wide and appreciative audience, especially with the addition of some stronger material in act one.

Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood Reporter

Theater Review: Stormy Weather
Bottom Line: The music is great, but the storytelling has a way to go.

Talkin' Broadway

Review: Stormy Weather in L.A.

---

Los Angeles Times Culture Monster Blog

Review: 'Stormy Weather' at Pasadena Playhouse

TheaterMania

Review: Stormy Weather
Despite some great moments and performances, this still-evolving biomusical about Lena Horne is not worthy of its majestic subject.

CurtainUp

Review: Stormy Weather
Sharleen Cooper Cohen's musical traces the life of Lena Horne in story and song, driven by the powerful performance and rich voice of Leslie Uggums as Lena..

Bitter Lemons

“Stormy Weather”: 67% Sweet
SWEET The show is too long, particularly the first act. Horne’s amazing life, both as a performer, and a civil rights pioneer, who often sacrificed her family life for those causes, is the kind of struggle that makes dynamic theater and it’s easy to see why book writer Cohen tried to pack everything in. Skillful chiseling ...
[This CA based digest will be more complete than I ever can hope to be, I'm sure]