Mike Birbiglia is an actor, comedian and monologuist who has had several off-Broadway shows in New York. But I had never seen one of his highly regarded performances. When his new one transferred to Broadway, I took the opportunity to see it. His "New One" is his new child. This is hilarious and Mike is … Continue reading Review – Mike Birbiglia’s The New One
New York City
National Pickle Day
Today is National Pickle Day and it seems this ancient food is more popular than ever. Last month I visited a New York City Pickle Day on the Lower East Side and it was so crowded with such long lines I couldn't get close to the actual pickles. There are a number of vegetables that … Continue reading National Pickle Day
Review – King Kong
I LOVE King Kong. Not the musical, mind you, but the articulated title character at the center of it. The astounding puppeteers (named the King's Company) work out in the open, making many of the creature's moves in plain sight. They jump from heights with ropes connected to pulleys to make him stand using their … Continue reading Review – King Kong
Live Podcast taping and my favorite political podcasts
Last Wednesday I attended a live taping of KCRW's Left, Right & Center post election special edition at The Town Hall here in New York. It is a radio show but I consume it as a podcast. It was up within 12 hours and is on their feed now if you wanted to listen to … Continue reading Live Podcast taping and my favorite political podcasts
Review – Bernhardt/Hamlet
Some plays I rave at, some plays I cringe at, other plays are comfort food for my soul. Bernhardt/Hamlet is just such a play. Steeped in history, theater lore and examinations of playwrights and plays - it felt nourishing just to be in the theater to watch it. Though it strays a bit in the … Continue reading Review – Bernhardt/Hamlet
Review – Sakina’s Restaurant
Audible continues its run of solo works and I have seen all of them so far. Sakina's Restaurant, written and performed by Aasif Mandvi is one of the best to date. It was first presented 20 years ago and it is refreshing to see a pre-9/11 and pre-Donald Trump work on immigrants to the US. … Continue reading Review – Sakina’s Restaurant
VOTE
In the United States we have federal elections every two years and today is that day for 2018. I work hard to keep my political beliefs out of this blog. I respect every belief that is based on careful consideration of the facts. It can seem daunting to be a single citizen with a single … Continue reading VOTE
Last Chance!
Today's matinee (3 PM) at the Players Theatre Short Play Festival will be the very last opportunity for you to see my play THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY. It is a fun romp through scary movie tropes and was written just for this festival so will not be performed again. Don't miss the hilarious hijinks … Continue reading Last Chance!
Have a Fun Weekend
I hope you have a fun weekend. And I am certain you will if you come to tonight's 7 PM performance of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival at 115 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. One of the short plays this evening is my production of THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY, written specifically for the … Continue reading Have a Fun Weekend
Wanna Laugh? We need it!
Need a good laugh? Don't we all in these times. Come to see THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY, part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival at 115 MacDougal Street in Greenwich Village. Shows tonight and tomorrow are at 7:00 PM and on Sunday at 3:00 PM. Reserve your tickets at http://www.shortplaynyc.com or pay at … Continue reading Wanna Laugh? We need it!
OPENING NIGHT for The Ride Down Mount Scary!
If you are in New York this weekend I hope you can join us for THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY. My short play script, a fun romp on scary movie tropes, is part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival in Greenwich Village. Tonight is Opening Night and it runs through Sunday. Directed by … Continue reading OPENING NIGHT for The Ride Down Mount Scary!
National Boston Cream Pie Day – an omen?
I do enjoy chocolate, but not those complicated desserts with six different types of chocolate all piled on each other. The chocolate topping of a Boston Cream Pie nicely counterpoints the yellow butter cake and delicious creamy custard sandwiched between. I really like Boston Cream Pie, even if it is more like a cake and … Continue reading National Boston Cream Pie Day – an omen?
New York Theater Grab Bag
First a reminder that my short play (poster above) is at the Players Theatre NEXT weekend. If you are in New York that weekend (October 25-28) we hope to see you there. Check the poster or footnote for more information and be sure to use the discount code when ordering on line or at the … Continue reading New York Theater Grab Bag
Good Eats RELOADED
Alton Brown is one of my favorite television cooking celebrities. His goofball antics and scientific cooking explanations have always thrilled me. While I have baked all my life I only did rudimentary main course cooking after I learned from Alton. I don't much like his competition game show programs but did enjoy his Broadway Show. … Continue reading Good Eats RELOADED
Review – Pound
Playwright Sean O'Leary has weighed in on a fascinating historical puzzle. Acclaimed poet and literary influencer Ezra Pound disgraced himself with anti-Semitic broadcasts in favor of Italy's fascist government during World War II. Returned to the US in 1945 he was committed to an asylum under threat of treason charges. With the support of one … Continue reading Review – Pound
National Motorcycle Ride Day
Today is National Motorcycle Ride Day. You can peruse my blog to see videos of various rides I have taken recently and documented with my GoPro camera. Like the Henry Hudson Drive, with the Long Reach Long Riders (LRLR.ORG), with my mom on her first ever ride (My Motorcycle Mama) or my recent ride on … Continue reading National Motorcycle Ride Day
Review – My Parsifal Conductor
Plays based on historical figures and events can tend to be dry or preachy. That is not the case with MY PARSIFAL CONDUCTOR which opened last night at the West Side YMCA Little Theater. Happily it is a sprightly concoction of vivid characterizations and engaging examinations of a particularly fascinating moment in music history. Composer … Continue reading Review – My Parsifal Conductor
The Ride Down Mount Scary
We had a terrific rehearsal last night for my short play THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY which will soon be in the Players Theatre Short Play Festival in Greenwich Village. Directed by Pamela Wilson it features the talented performers Carly Ruda, Eric Diamond, Holly Rosen and Maggie Hunter. Performances are October 25-27 at 7 PM … Continue reading The Ride Down Mount Scary
Baseball and Football
Well, there are no longer any teams from Ohio or New York in the baseball playoffs. I will follow the post season because of my love of baseball but am already looking forward to next season. Spring training is just around the corner. So now I focus a bit on football where the Bengals already … Continue reading Baseball and Football
Review – The Nap
THE NAP is an odd bird at the Manhattan Theatre Club's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The first extended and endless scene is taken up with exposition, explaining the game rules of Snooker, the family connections to come into play and the meaning of the title (The Nap of a snooker table - the patterns of … Continue reading Review – The Nap
2018 Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival
Did you make it to the amazing Medieval Festival here at the upper tip of Manhattan so very close to my home? It was marvelous with many people in costume, lots of fun food, crazy vendors, stadium shows, street shows, and generally festive atmosphere. It was more crowded than normal with a new safety lane … Continue reading 2018 Fort Tryon Park Medieval Festival
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
Review – Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties
MCC Theater is ensconced in the Lucille Lortel Theatre this season and has mounted a new play written by Jen Silverman and directed by Mike Donahue. While it brings to mind the ground breaking "Vagina Monologues" it has taken the feminist body image advocacy in Eve Ensler's play and thrown in SNL style improv accomplished … Continue reading Review – Collective Rage: A Play in 5 Betties
Two show discounts
Tickets are now on sale for the Players Theatre Short Play Festival that includes my script "THE RIDE DOWN MOUNT SCARY" in October. It is directed by Pamela Wilson and features Carly Ruda, Eric Diamond, Maggie Hunter andHolly Rosen The dates my play is featured is October 25-28 and you can buy tickets in advance … Continue reading Two show discounts
Catching Up – Seasons, Storms and Stones
Quick catch up on several topics: Today is the first day of fall and the weather in New York City is cooperating with a turn to the cool. Love it. Heard from the friends and relatives I know that were in the path of Florence and all seem fine but flooding has really taken a … Continue reading Catching Up – Seasons, Storms and Stones
