We appear to still be in the midst of a Stephen Sondheim revival. While tributes and accolades have increased exponentially since his passing at age 91 in 2021, the American composer and lyricist – regarded as one of the most important figures in 20th century musical theater – has never been out of fashion. How could he be? After all, he’s the theatrical elder credited with reinventing the American musical!

It ain’t easy being second fiddle. Even for TV’s most famous and beloved “second banana” Ethel Mertz who played Lucille Ball’s frumpy, housecoat-wearing neighbor for nine seasons of “I Love Lucy” and related TV comedies from 1951 through 1965. Everyone loved Vivian Vance’s portrayal of Ethel which won her the first Emmy for Best Supporting Actress in 1953. But when fans begged for her autograph and Vivian signed her real name, they’d ask for a redo as “Ethel.” 

Imagine theater’s longest-running show ever, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap,” turned inside out and upside down into a nonstop laugh riot of bumbling incompetence by a hapless yet determined amateur troupe known for choosing their plays based on their member numbers. But even then things don’t exactly work out. Earlier Cornley Polytechnic Drama Society productions came with revised titles such as “Two Sisters,” “The Lion and the Wardrobe,” “Cat,” and “James and the Peach.”  

What better way to top off a blockbuster 12th season than for Island City Stage (ICS) to gift us with Charles Busch’s notoriously famous and hilarious camp comedy DIE, MOMMIE, DIE! Playing now through September 22. The fabulously productive drag icon, and award-winning actor/director/novelist and cabaret performer, first played the leading role in his own killer melodrama comedy that skewers “Grande Dame Guignol” horror films of the 1960s (featuring aging stars like Bette Davis, Joan Crawford and Lana Turner) and Hollywood in general. Busch’s stage production proved so popular, it too was made into a film, with Busch starring and winning a Best Performance Award at the Sundance Film Festival.

There’s no business like show business – especially when the show envelopes you in a floor-to-ceiling, multi-screen Immersive Experience highlighting the greatest musical dance numbers of all time. The Wick Theatre and Museum Club of Boca Raton is now offering summer specials of their latest spellbinding and highly informative romp through musical history called DANCING FEET: The Experience. Held at the luxuriously appointed Museum Club section of the theater complex, the 360-degree video projection installation is complemented by what only Marilynn Wick – owner of Costume World, the nation’s largest theatrical wardrobe collection – can provide: original outfits worn by star dancers on Broadway.

South Florida’s larger theater companies follow the northern tradition of taking a seasonal break during the summer. But smaller companies have known for years that full-time residents far outnumber the cultured snowbird class of days of yore. Happy to fill the gap – and encourage those who exclusively patronize national touring troupes at massive arenas to give the locals a try – are our many talented smaller theaters. Where you can catch a star of tomorrow before they become a household name. And see a world premiere or quirky older play you might never have heard of, and are unlikely to encounter anytime soon.

When I first heard of Nickelodeon’s “SpongeBob SquarePants” animated TV series, I didn’t get the appeal. “Really?” I thought? “A talking sea sponge in shirt-and-tie, shorts or underpants?” But haven’t we all embraced talking mice and daffy ducks et al for generations? Who am I to cast doubt?