"The Postman's Daughter" by Illusion Theater at Center for Performing Arts

It's only April, and already we've been treated to two new original small-cast one-act musicals starring #TCTheater veteran Bradley Greenwald, paired with younger performers. Just over a month ago, Open Eye Theatre premiered Strange Heart: The Dream Songs of John Berryman, an odd and dreamy musical in which Bradley played the titular poet, with Anna Hashizume and Sam Albright (and some puppets). Now Illusion Theater is premiering the lovely and touching musical The Postman's Daughter, in which Bradley again plays the title character, with Katherine Fried as his (spoiler alert but not really since it's in the title) daughter. In a year when only one new original musical premiered on Broadway, it's heartening to see that new original musicals are flourishing in our own theater community. At just about 80 minutes, this one gives us a sweet little story that feels like the beginning, and leaves you wanting more, but also feels satisfying. It's mostly sung-through, has the feel of a modern musical, and is beautifully performed in the intimate theater at Center for Performing Arts. Playing through April 25 only, go see it if you're interested in the future of music-theater.

"Nobody, No Time" by Illusion Theater at Center for the Performing Arts

In History Theatre's new original musical Whoa, Nellie! this spring, I was introduced to the Black Vaudevillian Bert Williams, one of the most popular and successful performers of his time. And now he deservedly gets a show of his own, the new play with music Nobody, No Time (named after his most well-known song) written and directed by Illusion Theater's playwright-in-residence Carlyle Brown. It's a multi-layered story of a Black man from the Bahamas achieving huge success in early 20th Century America, while dealing with racism off-stage and leaning into racial stereotypes on-stage performing to White audiences. Set at the end of his life with flashback performances, the play gives us a full picture of the man and the artist. The talented cast brings Bert and his contemporaries to life, and perform over a dozen songs of the era. Head to Center for Performing Arts now through October 25 to experience this important part of entertainment history, of American history.