Broadway by the Year is essentially an show business cabaret in the 1500 seat Town Hall in midtown. Scott Siegel has put on nearly a score of these events but last night was the first time I had the chance to see one. It was terrific and I'll be looking to attend more going forward. … Continue reading Review – Broadway by the Year 1956 & 1975
Author: walterthinnes
Review – SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical
You may recall how distressed I am that as Broadway becomes more tourist dependent it also more closely resembles a theme park attraction where productions are geared to be flashy events that a city visitor must see on their vacation to the Big Apple. Indeed more than half the current Broadways venues are tied up … Continue reading Review – SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical
25% off an Off Broadway play
Going to be in New York during the month of June? See an Off-Broadway show at the Flea Theatre and save 25% off your ticket. Below are some details. It runs from June 6 through June 30 and I will supply other details in the coming weeks. To use your discount us this live link … Continue reading 25% off an Off Broadway play
33% off an upcoming show
Mark your calendars, reserve your tickets and use your discount code! The Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival runs from June 7-24. My play TAKE WING runs in the middle week, June 14-17. Take Wing is an award winning short play with a terrific director and cast for this production in its New York … Continue reading 33% off an upcoming show
Review – Happy Birthday, Wanda June
Kurt Vonnegut Jr. has long been one of my favorite novelists. Through my high school and college years his quirky world view thrilled me and I have read Slaughterhouse Five many times. He wrote a play that was made into a movie, neither of which I have seen but were vaguely aware of. The Wheelhouse … Continue reading Review – Happy Birthday, Wanda June
National Cherry Cobbler Day
Today is National Cherry Cobbler Day. I have always marveled at these craftsmen and worry that automation will make them obsolete. You have heard the stories of the cobbler's kid who have no cherries? That's the pits. Okay, I know when I've worn out my welcome and driven this topic into the ground. Have a … Continue reading National Cherry Cobbler Day
Go see some MAGIC in NYC!
We recently caught another edition of Monday Night Magic. This is a weekly event at The Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. Discovered a terrific classic magic performer Torkova, who was wonderful. There were imports Keith Fields & Lady Sarah from the UK who were lackluster (Mr. Blackstone wants his cage back). The featured performer was … Continue reading Go see some MAGIC in NYC!
Review – Live from Here Broadcast
We recently saw a live radio broadcast program of LIVE FROM HERE with Chris Thile, the host and program that replaced Garrison Keillor's Prairie Home Companion. It was broadcast from the Town Hall here in New York and was tremendous fun. It featured exceptional music guests Calexico and Meshell Ndegeocello and the very funny Mike … Continue reading Review – Live from Here Broadcast
National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
Nothing beats a nice buttermilk biscuit. Perfect for honey or jam. Lovely for a breakfast sandwich with an egg and sausage. Absolutely necessary for a base with sausage gravy. Or heavenly just as a platform for butter. There is little else that I make that requires buttermilk so I seldom bought it. Until I discovered … Continue reading National Buttermilk Biscuit Day
National Eat What You Want Day
This may be one of my favorite National Days and one that basically includes all the other ones listed on this blog. It was founded to be an excuse to break your diet for one day, to indulge so that you are ready to go back to your dreary food life tomorrow having sated yourself … Continue reading National Eat What You Want Day
Quick update on TAKE WING
My short play TAKE WING takes the stage at the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. Mark your calendar. Performances are Thursday, June 14 - Saturday, June 16 at 7 PM and Sunday, June 17 at 3 PM. Shows in the series tend to sell out quickly so buy your tickets now at http://www.shortplaynyc.com. Use the … Continue reading Quick update on TAKE WING
Review – Carousel
Rodgers and Hammerstein's CAROUSEL is one of the American Musical Theatre's seminal works and one of my favorite musicals. The current production at the Imperial Theatre on Broadway is a great (if dance heavy) work. They seem to have added extended dance breaks and while talented, the dance sections weigh down the show. In addition … Continue reading Review – Carousel
Rydes are back in season
While I ryde my Can-Am Spyder year round, the really fun times come as spring breaks and I can take some of my favorite routes. That is especially true of Arden Valley Road on the edge of Harriman State Park just north of NYC. The road is actually closed from December 1 through April 1 … Continue reading Rydes are back in season
Review – The Iceman Cometh
Anytime I get the chance to see Eugene O'Neill on stage I am happy. This production of The Iceman Cometh is a terrific production, directed by wonderfully by George C. Wolfe. Amazingly the star turn by Denzel Washington is not a preening look at me self centered STAR guy. The script is the star and … Continue reading Review – The Iceman Cometh
Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
Great article in the New York Times this morning revealing that the famous Swedish Meatballs come from a recipe originating in Turkey (Ottoman Empire) back in the early 18th Century. Turkey crowed and Sweden swooned but the article included a recipe. You can find it here... https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/02/world/europe/swedish-meatballs-turkey.html?module=WatchingPortal®ion=c-column-middle-span-region&pgType=Homepage&action=click&mediaId=thumb_square&state=standard&contentPlacement=3&version=internal&contentCollection=www.nytimes.com&contentId=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nytimes.com%2F2018%2F05%2F02%2Fworld%2Feurope%2Fswedish-meatballs-turkey.html&eventName=Watching-article-click So, of course I had to try it. … Continue reading Are Swedish Meatballs really Turkish?
Review – Saint Joan
We are fortunate in New York to have not-for-profits on Broadway to do Bernard Shaw's SAINT JOAN. The size of the cast alone would deter commercial producers as well as an earnest script by a playwright from early last century. Sure you can find this in regional theatre and university, but not on Broadway. I'm … Continue reading Review – Saint Joan
TONY Award Nominations
The 2018 TONY Awards were announced yesterday. With my love of theater and Broadway, I have seen a majority of the nominations but not all. There were no shocks or surprises this year. There were a number of great productions on the boards this season and the TONY Award show on June 10 should be … Continue reading TONY Award Nominations
TAKE WING in the next Players Theater festival
I've just gotten word that my short play TAKE WING has been invited to be part of the Short Play Festival at the Players Theatre in the Village in June - Only in New York edition. There are three weeks of programming and we will find out which slot we will be part of very … Continue reading TAKE WING in the next Players Theater festival
A LOT of the Rockefeller Sale at Christies
Auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips and others offer free admission to selling exhibitions for a few days before each auction. From time to time I will select notable auction lots to bring to your attention. This blog feature is not endorsed by the auction house nor written by any kind of art expert. Just … Continue reading A LOT of the Rockefeller Sale at Christies
Review – Lobby Hero
First note: Catch this play on Broadway soon as it closes on May 13. The production, performers and playwright all require your attention. Second note: Welcome Second Stage Theatre to Broadway. I have been a fan of your offerings for decades and now that you are bringing living American Playwrights to the Main Stem, I … Continue reading Review – Lobby Hero
Happy Birthday, Pamela
It is a very special National Day today - Happy Birthday, Pamela! As always you can find more on http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes TOMORROW: another classic script revived and reviewed
Review – Travesties
Tom Stoppard is one of my favorite playwrights. The intellectual twists and turns come pouring at you as from a fire hose. His plays are incredibly crafted, carefully assembled tours de force that are a mental workout that I absolutely love. Travesties was written in the 1970's and sprang from Mr. Stoppard's discoveries that an … Continue reading Review – Travesties
National Pigs in a Blanket Day
Today is National Pigs in a Blanket Day, when we celebrate flaky crust surrounding a meat product of vaguely mysterious origins. I don't want to ruin your enjoyment of these tasty snacks, but remind you to always eat kosher hot dogs. Trust me, you do not want to hear the stories of my younger days … Continue reading National Pigs in a Blanket Day
National Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Today's National Day coincides with the anniversary of the Bard's Birth in 1564. Of course we need to Brush Up Your Shakespeare even if you Hate Shakespeare (Name the two musicals!). He is truly the fountainhead of English Playwriting. There is no escaping him in theatre so homage must be paid. However, today's Speak Like … Continue reading National Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Review – Children of a Lesser God
You would think that having seen as many stage productions as I have that by now I would have seen just about everything. Not quite. I did not see earlier mountings or the movie of Children of a Lesser God but I saw the most recent Broadway version last night. Of course I knew about … Continue reading Review – Children of a Lesser God
