A couple of days ago we lost one of our greatest musical theater writers - Jerry Herman. He will be missed but he gave us so many great nights in the theater. All of the remembrances note his greatest works - "Hello Dolly"; "Mame"; and "La Cage aux Folles." They are all amazing and enjoyable … Continue reading In Memoriam – Jerry Herman
Broadway
Review – Derren Brown: Secret
Derren Brown is many things, but foremost in his current show at the Cort Theatre is a consummate entertainer. His easy, warm and confident manner comfortably holds the audience in his sway for the entire evening. He can be called a mind reader, mentalist or "psychological illusionist" but at heart he is a magician. Each … Continue reading Review – Derren Brown: Secret
Summer Broadway Spotlight – Clearing the Boards
It is common that Broadway shows that were not winners at the Tony Awards shut down or close early. That certainly happened again this year but this summer feels a tad different. Yes, open end run musicals such as "Be More Chill," "The Prom," "The Cher Show," "King Kong," and "Pretty Woman" all could not … Continue reading Summer Broadway Spotlight – Clearing the Boards
Some Broadway Musings
My recent ankle injury will keep me from getting to the theatre for a while but that doesn't stop me from paying attention. This is not encyclopedic but a few comments... The shakeout from the recent Tony awards did not reward "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus" and "Hillary and Clinton" and quickly closed. Unfortunate, … Continue reading Some Broadway Musings
Review – Hillary and Clinton
Playwright Lucas Hnath is on a bit of a "what if" kick lately, following his recent "A Doll's House, Part 2" with a look into two of our most famous political figures. While I shied from his multiple universe framing device, he nails the insight inside one of the most famous marriages of all time. … Continue reading Review – Hillary and Clinton
Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Start with the "source material" - Shakespeare's bloodiest play "Titus Andronicus." This isn't really a sequel. Sure Taylor Mac's script starts by plucking three minor characters from Will's play to follow as they clean up all the corpses (and they are stacked high in Santo Loquasto's set). In theory they are here to clean up … Continue reading Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
My cousin’s trip to The Big Apple
I was thrilled that my cousin Kim and her husband Dennis traveled from Cincinnati to visit New York City last week. They were here for reasons beyond a tourist trip but they aced that part of it. They especially excelled in their show going expertise. They visited the box offices (strategically about 1-2 hours before … Continue reading My cousin’s trip to The Big Apple
Review – Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune
What happens when you combine a three decade old two hander by one of our greatest living playwrights with two of our finest stage actors? Magic at the Broadhurst Theatre, that's what. "Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune" is a passionate defense of reaching out for love against all odds. When co-workers from … Continue reading Review – Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune
Review – Ink
Who knew I would enjoy spending 2 1/2 hours with Rupert Murdoch? In this case it is a play by James Graham which dramatizes when Mr. Murdoch stormed Fleet Street to trash and revolutionize the august British newspaper trade in 1969. The now familiar themes and memes and methods of populist journalism are planted and … Continue reading Review – Ink
Review – Kiss Me, Kate
Director Scott Ellis and the Roundabout Theatre Company have a habit of putting together tremendous musicals. Their latest classic musical remounting is Cole Porter's "Kiss Me, Kate." But as we have recently observed many of these works come with problematic histories as we've recognized issues with misogyony and the patriarchy. Just look at "Carousel" (spousal … Continue reading Review – Kiss Me, Kate
Review – Burn This
Lanford Wilson's BURN THIS is a good script where what the heart wants the heart needs to get despite odds and likelihood. I saw a wonderful production of this work at Signature Theatre in 2002 with Edward Norton and Catherine Keener. It is not a good sign when that production is a more compelling memory … Continue reading Review – Burn This
Review – Broadway by the Year; The Broadway Musicals of 1943 & 1951
Scott Siegel runs an excellent series of a musical cabaret program of Broadway hits from selected years at The Town Hall. Arguably 1943 and 1951 are slim pickings beside Oklahoma! but there are favorites from many sources. The performers were uniformly skilled but the stand outs were William Michals, Robert Cuccioli, and Oakley Boycott. The … Continue reading Review – Broadway by the Year; The Broadway Musicals of 1943 & 1951
Review – King Lear
Seeing a great work of art elevates the soul. William Shakespeare's KING LEAR is a very familiar and one my favorite's of the Bard's script. I was fortunate to see the great Christopher Plummer take up the mantle a couple of decades ago in what was a more traditional but powerful production. Controversial director Sam … Continue reading Review – King Lear
Review – [title of show] 10 year anniversary concert
Last month I attended an Actor's Fund 10 year anniversary concert of [title of show]. Though I did not see the original run a decade ago I was aware of the premise. Essentially a writer and composer team up to enter a show in the first New York Musical Festival. The problem is they don't … Continue reading Review – [title of show] 10 year anniversary concert
Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 2
As promised I am here to preview Broadway opening nights in April as they vie to be eligible for this year's Tony Awards. If you are in or can travel to New York a good time is April as at least some of these shows will close after nominations are made. Yesterday I listed five … Continue reading Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 2
Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 1
April 25 is an important date on Broadway this year. It is the last possible opening day to be included in the 2019 Tony Awards. Thus many shows crowd into next month to be eligible. There will be 10 opening nights and I will give you a quick rundown in two parts. If you are … Continue reading Broadway Preview April 2019 – Part 1
World Theatre Day
Today is World Theatre Day and you should do all you can to see a live theatrical performance. I see about one theatrical performance per week and living in New York City, often at steep discounts, sometimes free. I highly recommend spending a communal experience with a group of strangers in the dark watching talented … Continue reading World Theatre Day
Review – Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)
I've seen a few productions of Fiddler on the Roof, but none quite like this. I saw the recent Danny Burstein Broadway production with the controversial emigrant framing method and provocative version of Matchmaker and enjoyed it. But the version currently at Stage 42 here in New York is something very special. It is performed … Continue reading Review – Fiddler on the Roof (in Yiddish)
Review – Merrily We Roll Along
Stephen Sondheim is one of American Musical Theatre's most treasured composer and lyricist and one of my favorites. I am a huge fan of many of his works including Company, A Little Night Music and Sweeney Todd. His famously "troubled" work, Merrily We Roll Along opened in 1981 and closed after only 16 performances. It … Continue reading Review – Merrily We Roll Along
Review – My Fair Lady
When I heard that director Bartlett Sher was bringing his musical hit-making formula to Lincoln Center Theater for a production of My Fair Lady, I knew I wanted to be there. My Fair Lady was one of my favorite musical from my youth when I was first learning about the musical theater oeuvre. I also … Continue reading Review – My Fair Lady
Review – The Cher Show
I am always skeptical about jukebox musicals (that mold a show from songwriters songbook or star selected song lists). Luckily for The Cher Show they have a terrific Book writer in Rick Elice (who wrote The Jersey Boys) and a compelling focus in Cher. Cher is such a rich subject that the show engages three … Continue reading Review – The Cher Show
February 2019 Broadway Preview
Whether you live here or are visiting New York you should know that February is a great time to be here. Theatre is cheaper and restaurants more available because the city is less trafficked during this month. Stop by and try it sometime. Better yet, this February has four excellent new shows starting performances you … Continue reading February 2019 Broadway Preview
RIP Michel Legrand
Got the news last night that prolific composer Michel Legrand has passed away. I loved his work, especially after seeing his film "The Umbrellas of Cherborg." One lesson you should take from my love for Michel Legrand is that you should always take my show reviews with a big fistful of salt. I gave a … Continue reading RIP Michel Legrand
Review – The Ferryman
English playwright Jez Butterworth has created an amazing tale of an Irish family in the midst of the 1980's Troubles that is full and vital and fascinating. This is not a documentary of the struggles between the IRA and the British. This is a compelling family tale the will break your heart and confirm your … Continue reading Review – The Ferryman
Review – The Waverly Gallery
Kenneth Lonergan is having quite a time lately on Broadway. Widely respected as a writer of scripts for Off-Broadway and regional theatre and recognized as an expert screenplay writer, he has had three of his back catalogue brought to the Main Stem. The Waverly Gallery (as of this writing with only one week remaining at … Continue reading Review – The Waverly Gallery
