Kevin Taft

West Hollywood

Film and Theater Critic at We Live Entertainment

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Articles

A Missed Opportunity in a Wilted Corsage

2 weeks ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

The latest entry in Netflix’s Fear Street franchise, Fear Street: Prom Queen, had the potential to be a sharp, satirical blend of horror and comedy in the vein of Scream or Heathers. Unfortunately, what we get instead is a bland, paint-by-numbers slasher that lacks both the bite and the brains of the original trilogy.
Teens Get Shucked and Plucked in This Entertaining Throwback

4 weeks ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

The new horror film Clown in a Cornfield proudly dons its vintage slasher mask, paying homage to the campy, blood-soaked thrillers of yesteryear. Based on the 2020 novel by Adam Cesare, it plunges viewers into a small Midwestern town with a dark secret—an ominous figure lurking among the endless sea of corn stalks, ready to harvest terror. Sound familiar?
"Life of Pi" Is A Roaring, Visual Feast For The Senses

1 month ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

Playing through June 1st at the Ahmanson Theater, the touring production of Life of Pi is nothing short of a theatrical triumph. Faithfully adapted by playwright Lolita Chakrabarti and directed with spectacular ingenuity by Max Webster, this stage version of Yann Martel’s beloved novel isn’t just a retelling—it’s a powerful immersion into an awe-inspiring tale of survival, faith, and the delicate boundary between reality and belief.
'Juliet & Romeo' Review: Despite Catchy Songs, There Never Was a Story of More Woe

1 month ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

The houses of Musical and Serious Drama are at battle in the latest (and unnecessary) retelling of Shakespeare’s “Romeo & Juliet,” now with the uninspired title of Juliet & Romeo. While the film notes state it’s based on the “real story” that inspired Shakespeare’s play, something seems rotten in the declaration.
Concert Review: Cheyenne Jackson Showed Signs of Spectacular Life During his One-Man Show

1 month ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

From the back of the darkened theater, a man begins to sing. Just his voice. No accompanying piano. Just him and his instrument. “Birds flying high, You know how I feel…” he crooned. The Samueli Theater crowd immediately turned from their tables and craned their necks to spot the man inhabiting this haunting, crystalline, clear voice singing one of the most beloved songs of all time. And there he was. Cheyenne Jackson.
Concert Review: Another Memorable Celebration of the World's Favorite Film Composer!

2 months ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

In what has been a year-long tribute to one of the greatest film composers of all time – if not THE greatest film composer of all time – the Los Angeles Philharmonic celebrated the work of a master of cinema – John Williams. Curated for the LA Philharmonic’s season at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, LA’s favorite conductor, Gustavo Dudamel, led the orchestra in 15 selections from Williams’ oeuvre. The night began with William’s “Olympic Fanfare,” composed for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
Overcomes Weaknesses With a Lot of Charm

2 months ago | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

A cute but slight call back to the gay rom-coms ‘90s, A Nice Indian Boy is a sort of queer My Big Fat Greek Wedding for a new generation. Based on the play by Madhuri Shekar, the film stars Karan Soni (Deadpool) as Dr. Naveen Gavaskar, a gay Indian guy living in Hampshire, in the UK. The film opens at his sister Arundhathi’s (Sunita Mani) wedding to a stud named Neel (Sean Amsing).
Concert Review: Broadway's Hunk Claybourne Elder Charms with Naughty Stories and a Dazzling Voice

Feb 24, 2025 | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

The Gay Hunk of Broadway Claybourne Elder made his Segerstrom Center for the Arts cabaret debut this past weekend, sharing stories and singing Sondheim as only the “Gilded Age” star can. Having starred in such productions as the musical “Benny & Joon,” the remounting of “Company” with Patti Lupone, “Bonnie & Clyde,” “Venice,” and “Sunday in the Park with George,” Elder has been all over Broadway (and beyond) for the past seventeen years.
Some Extra Bite Added Into Fan-Favorite Genre

Dec 5, 2024 | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

The new horror/thriller Werewolves certainly doesn’t mess around with getting to the point of what the movie is about. Yep, if you guessed “werewolves,” you’d be right. That’s not to say that the film directed by Steven C. Miller (Margaux) and written by Matthew Kennedy (the Simon Pegg/Lily Collins thriller Inheritance) isn’t original. Because of what it is, it does offer something new to the fans of the werewolf genre.
The Birds Are Alright a Revival of "La Cage Aux Folles"

Nov 26, 2024 | weliveentertainment.com | Kevin Taft

A (now) classic musical brought back to the stage, La Cage Aux Folles bursts to colorful life at the award-winning Pasadena Playhouse.