John Guare's script for Six Degrees of Separation has always been on of my favorites. I didn't live in New York when it premiered in 1990 and so did not see the original production. But I did buy a script and performed in a reading in Florida. And, of course, it established a meme that … Continue reading Six Degrees of Separation on Broadway
Author: walterthinnes
The Price on Broadway
Had the chance last night to catch "The Price" by Arthur Miller in its most recent Broadway revival. I've seen different versions of the play including the 2000 Broadway Revival. Arthur Miller is one of my favorite playwrights and this is among his best scripts. The cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Esther Franz, Tony Shalhoub and … Continue reading The Price on Broadway
Indecent on Broadway
Time to catch up on more show going observations as this Broadway season winds toward a close. Paula Vogel is a fantastic playwright and her Broadway debut is long overdue. Indecent tells the story of a play in the early 20th Century (God of Vengeance) that was innovative and original and thus branded sinful and … Continue reading Indecent on Broadway
“Your Turn to Watch Dad” is a Minnesota Shorts semi-finalist!
My short play "Your Turn to Watch Dad" has been selected as a semi-finalist in a playwriting competition in Mankato, Minnesota. The competition is Minnesota Shorts: A Festival of Short Plays. They will choose 7 plays from Minnesota writers and 7 from other writers. There were 407 scripts submitted and 77 were selected for this … Continue reading “Your Turn to Watch Dad” is a Minnesota Shorts semi-finalist!
Groundhog Day on Broadway
Groundhog Day was a earth shaking movie that turned an obscure weather predicting rodent into a cultural phenomenon. This was largely due to director and script doctor Harold Ramis though Bill Murray often gets the credit. My favorite scene: Phil: What would you do if you were stuck in one place and every day was … Continue reading Groundhog Day on Broadway
Present Laughter
The reason to see "Present Laughter" at the St. James Theatre is to personally experience Kevin Kline's mastery of physical comedy, wordplay comedy and facial expression comedy. He is an amazing treasure and well worth the price of admission. His supporting cast is deft and a suitable foil but make no mistake, this is Kevin's … Continue reading Present Laughter
A Meeting Without End Moment
I've written a number of short plays and they sometimes seem to go in and out of vogue as they are chosen or rejected by various theaters around the country. Recently I've had two pieces of good news about a ten-minute play "Meeting Without End." It sends up corporate speak and company meetings (I've had … Continue reading A Meeting Without End Moment
A surprising Oslo
Hmmmm. Let's write a three hour play about Middle East peace negotiations that sounded good at the time but have since unwound before our very eyes. For a policy wonk like me that sounds interesting but it is amazingly good theater. Who knew? I am admittedly a political junkie who was fascinated at the time … Continue reading A surprising Oslo
Lynn Nottage and Sweat on Broadway
The next daily catch up on my 2017 theater going brings me to the stage of Studio 54 and playwright Lynn Nottage's long overdue Broadway debut with her new play "Sweat." I have long been a fan of the work of Lynn Nottage, especially her "Intimate Apparel." She has a wonderful way with bringing fully … Continue reading Lynn Nottage and Sweat on Broadway
If I Forget – Roundabout Theatre
OK, back on the boards. Been busy lately and need to catch up. I will attempt to blog each day about recently seen performances in New York as I have been seeing a lot. Backlog to clear. "If I Forget" by Steven Levenson is presented by the Roundabout Theatre at their Laura Pels Theatre. It … Continue reading If I Forget – Roundabout Theatre
Plays and Prestidigitation #7 opens tonight!
I've been a very bad blogger. I've seen several Broadway shows and have several restaurant reviews to post but my energies have been taken by the production at Polaris North studios that opens tonight. We had tech/dress ;last night and it plays Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 3. It is a collection … Continue reading Plays and Prestidigitation #7 opens tonight!
Am I entering a post-critic age?
Before I moved to New York I would often vacation here, seeing several shows in a short period, usually a weekend. I would fly in on a Friday morning, see a Friday Evening, Saturday Matinee, Saturday Evening (often an off-Broadway show starting at 10 or 11 PM Saturday night), a Sunday Matinee, then catch a … Continue reading Am I entering a post-critic age?
Come From Away
There are some shows that I yearn for and others that I shudder at. And then there are others that sound like a perfectly nice but not impactful evening at the theater. Years ago that is how I was blown away by Having Our Say, that turned out to be exceptional. This year that title … Continue reading Come From Away
Significant Other on Broadway
Significant other has transferred to Broadway from the earlier run at Roundabout. Up and bursting into the big leagues Joshua Harmon has written quite the vehicle for actor Gideon Glick. The production is expertly acted and well mounted on the stage of the Booth Theatre, my favorite Broadway venue. The story of a gay man … Continue reading Significant Other on Broadway
A pretty darn good Comet
Recently took in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway. It has received raves from the critics and word of mouth and I largely, but not entirely agree. The transformation of the Imperial Theatre is astonishing. Bold and eye popping it tickles the brain and brings you into an immersive environment that … Continue reading A pretty darn good Comet
An exciting new The Glass Menagerie
This Broadway entry will be a little longer than my usual few lines of reaction because this is an absolutely extraordinary production. When The Glass Menagerie came up on one of my discount theater sites I hesitated. I've seen so many productions of this classic work and studied it in high school and in college … Continue reading An exciting new The Glass Menagerie
Meeting Without End at Mary Baldwin
I am delighted to announce that my short play "Meeting Without End" will be performed in mid-May at Mary Baldwin University in Staunton, VA. It will be done by a member of a directing class as part of a project. I am confident it will be well directed because it will be led by a … Continue reading Meeting Without End at Mary Baldwin
Pitchers and Catchers Report!
Ah, such beautiful words. Spring is truly on its way. Throw and catch. Run and hit. Hope springs eternal. My beloved Cincinnati Reds will triumph this season. Of course, I've had that same refrain since 1991 but I believe it every year. Even without Brandon Phillips (we miss you already dude) I believe we can … Continue reading Pitchers and Catchers Report!
Discount Ticket Code
As noted in an earlier post, my short play HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEONARD will be part of The Player's Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival. Performances are: Thursday, February 23 @ 7:00 PM Friday, February 24 @ 7:00 PM Saturday, February 25 @ 7:00 PM Sunday, February 26 @ 3:00 PM You can catch the shows … Continue reading Discount Ticket Code
MEETING WITHOUT END now a Finalist
My short play MEETING WITHOUT END is a Finalist in the Rover Dramawerks Third Annual 10-Minute Play Festival in Dallas-Fort Worth. I enter lots of competitions for festivals, roughly 50 a year or so. They are run by big organizations and small, sometimes offer a token payment for use of the play, but most often … Continue reading MEETING WITHOUT END now a Finalist
Jitney
I recently had the opportunity to see the first Broadway production of August Wilson's JITNEY by MTC at The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. This was the first play of the cycle of plays written by Wilson but the last to reach Broadway. I was fortunate enough to see a production of the play in 1996 … Continue reading Jitney
Happy Birthday, Leonard in play festival!
The Player's Theater Short Play and Music Festival (with a focus on Sex!) has invited us to present my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" from February 22-26 in Greenwich Village. It will be directed by Pamela Wilson and feature Joan Shepard and Sophie Lauren. We are excited to be part of the Festival and have … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Leonard in play festival!
Hold the dates for Plays & Prestidigitation #7 – The Politically Incorrect Version
Periodically I present a series called Plays & Prestidigitation at Polaris North. I offer the opportunity for other playwrights to present short plays in an event I assemble, stage manage, create marketing and playbills, provide reception food and most importantly host and perform magical interludes between plays to stitch together the evening and cover scene … Continue reading Hold the dates for Plays & Prestidigitation #7 – The Politically Incorrect Version
WBAB Cold Finger Run
Again this year I joined in on the WBAB Cold Finger Run on Long Island. Hundreds of motorcycles participate in a police escorted ride from the Cradle of Aviation Museum Center (Charles Lindbergh took off from the field on his historic flight across the Atlantic before being elected a Nazi friendly President in an alternative … Continue reading WBAB Cold Finger Run
Baker’s Dozen + 1 extra
Twice a year Broadway sheds a number of shows as limited runs ends and shows run out of steam. It generally happens in January and June as the months after are a generally lower ticket sales/fewer tourists zone. This is a good thing as theater is a live experience that is not there forever like … Continue reading Baker’s Dozen + 1 extra
Walter Thinnes 
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