Today is National Banjo Day. Generally people either love or hate banjo music, I happen to fall in the former camp. My college roommate played the banjo exceptionally well and thrilled to memories of meeting and strumming with his hero Roy Clark. There are other celebrity banjo players like Bela Fleck and Steve Martin. What … Continue reading National Banjo Day!
Music
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
Review – If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka
Sorry if the the above title offends you. I considered using asterisks (as a current NYC play "HateF**k" does) but knew I would be using a Playwrights Horizon program cover and it would show up unedited. A scattering of play titles have included the "F" word recently and I don't mean "Fork." Like the late … Continue reading Review – If Pretty Hurts Ugly Must Be a Muhfucka
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
Review – The Other Josh Cohen
Go see "The Other Josh Cohen." It holds two lessons I take to heart. Created by David Rossmer and Steve Rosen (who also star) it has gone through years of development and workshops and has come out in a sharp distinct performance that does not feel like it came from a committee but from the … Continue reading Review – The Other Josh Cohen
Review – The African Drum
It is not often that I go to public school auditoriums to view theatre. But the presence in the cast of talented actress Kasey Moorhouse (who has been in several of our productions) was enough to draw me in. The Shadow Box Theatre has been performing a repertoire of plays for elementary schools for decades … Continue reading Review – The African Drum
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 – How the Westons Won
The great part of living in New York is the plethora of innovative theater that can be found. The bad part is the options can be overwhelming and the runs relatively short. This show closes Sunday, December 23, and is very, very much worth a visit if you can make it. Go to the producer's … Continue reading Review – How the Westons Won
Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
Recently I traveled over to Carnegie Hall to catch the Distinguished Concerts International New York with their orchestra and various chorales performing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. I love Ode to Joy and thrill to it whenever it is done well and this certainly was. It was one night only so you … Continue reading Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
Broadway theatre owners have long rented out their venues for short term attractions between major bookings. These can be for special holiday shows (like the Illusionists show I reviewed on November 29). Last year there was an absolutely terrible Broadway show (Home for the Holidays) that featured "YouTube Personalities" and I reviewed on November 22, … Continue reading Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
Usually I stick to plays and musicals here in New York. But recently we went to Birdland to see a set by jazz musician Curtis Stigers. Pamela has been his fan for decades and she had the opportunity to not only hear his great talents live but to chat with him and get him to … Continue reading Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
TOMORROW: The Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival
For months I have been suggesting you mark Sunday, September 30 on your calendar to attend The Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival and tomorrow it finally arrives. Take the A Train to 190th Street, take the elevators to the street and turn right. Welcome to my neighborhood. Enjoy some jousting, cosplay, shops and more at … Continue reading TOMORROW: The Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival
Be More Chill heading to Broadway
You may recall my review of BE MORE CHILL on August 27. I thought it was great and was excited it was rumored to be ready to transfer to Broadway. It will start previews at the Lyceum Theater on February 23, 2019 and will open on March 10. I am excited that it was discovered … Continue reading Be More Chill heading to Broadway
Review – Tomorrow is a Long Time – a tribute to Bob Dylan’s 1963 Town Hall Concert in Town Hall in 2018
Sometimes it takes me a while to post a review after I have seen the show. Sometimes it is because I am overwhelmed by other things to post but in this case because of the awful taste I had to wash from my mouth before sitting down to do it. The show was on May … Continue reading Review – Tomorrow is a Long Time – a tribute to Bob Dylan’s 1963 Town Hall Concert in Town Hall in 2018
Review – Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
The Encores! Off-Center Series is a revival of previous and oft forgotten musicals. I got to see the final performance of their limited weekend offering of Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope. When it appeared on Broadway it featured the first time on The Great White Way that a woman had written the music and … Continue reading Review – Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
Review – Head Over Heels
Jukebox musicals can take many forms. Maybe you just play through the catalogue with no commentary (like Smokey Joe's Cafe currently revived at Stage 42 - highly recommended). Or marry it to a plot crafted to explain the sequence of songs (like Mamma Mia!, something I still unbelievably have not seen). Maybe you put it … Continue reading Review – Head Over Heels
Review – Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses
We've seen Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses live several times and he never fails to deliver a high energy show loaded with infectious hits from both his father's era and the rock and roll landscape he grew up in. We recently caught his show at the Cutting Room in New York City where he … Continue reading Review – Louis Prima Jr. and the Witnesses
Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
A bit more than 20 years ago I saw the Broadway tour of Smokey Joe's Cafe and fell in love with it instantly. The incredible song catalogue of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller makes it one of the few jukebox musicals I admire. They don't try to twist themselves in knots with a framework and … Continue reading Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Review – Booker T. Jones at City Winery
Catching up on some past shows as so much has been going on lately. I had the distinct pleasure to see a performance by Booker T. Jones at City Winery in New York. He has been a favorite of mine my whole life. Indeed my cell phone ring tone is "Green Onions" by Booker T … Continue reading Review – Booker T. Jones at City Winery
Review – Broadway by the Year 1956 & 1975
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
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
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
My Super Bowl plans
Hosting a Super Bowl? Going to a party or bar to enjoy? Hunkering down in your man cave? I'm going to Broadway. I don't really care which team wins this year's Super Bowl nor do I enjoy watching grown men giving each other brain injuries as much as I used to. I was fortunate to … Continue reading My Super Bowl plans
Walter Thinnes 
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