Bob Goepfert

[title of show] is a small musical that will be loved by anyone who has been involved in a theater production. It is also a work that can be appreciated by anyone who has tackled an impossible dream.

[title of show] is either the most perfect title for a musical - or the worst. Actually, the four-person show that opens tonight at Cohoes Music Hall could be titled “the little musical that could - and did.”

A mysterious truth about theater is that despite terrific acting, smart direction and solid technical support, a play - even one with a well-known title - isn’t always as satisfying as is it’s source material.

In the entertainment industry at the start of a new year the tendency is to dwell on the productions of the last year. Unfortunately, we tend to overlook those backstage who make the magic happen.

One of the toughest assignments for a writer is to review the previous year. It’s never fair, or even accurate.

It’s inevitable that sometime on Christmas Day, or soon after, thoughts will turn to how to celebrate New Year’s Eve. It’s not called the holiday season for nothing.

“The Queens Cartoonists’ Holiday Hurrah” is a difficult show to slot. It sounds like a group of musicians drawing cartoons. But the founder of the show insists it’s a night of high-quality music and comedy.

By running the musical “The Wizard of Oz” until December 24, Capital Repertory Theatre in Albany proves what everyone already knows. There’s a reason so many people spend part of Thanksgiving morning trying to find the film on television.

“The Flick,” a play written by Annie Baker, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 2014. The production of the work by Creative License at Cohoes Music Hall indicates the play is worthy of such an honor. It is a ground-breaking work in that modernizes the old kitchen dramas of the 60s and 70s.

On Tuesday, Capital Repertory Theatre opens the musical “The Wizard of Oz.” It’s a re-creation of the original 1939 film that starred Judy Garland as Dorothy. It runs through December 24.