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
New York City
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
The Brant Foundation Basquiat Exhibit
The Brant Foundation Art Study Center at 421 East 6th StreetNew York, NY The Brant Foundation is doing the art world a great favor. They acquired the building pictured at right and launched an inaugural exhibit of the works of Jean-Michel Basquiat. For Free. Incredible. The building was constructed as a Con Edison Substation in … Continue reading The Brant Foundation Basquiat Exhibit
Review – Classic Albums Live: The Beatles; Abbey Road
Interesting Concept. This group has been around for sixteen years and I have never heard of them. Their idea is to create live concerts with note by note, cut by cut. This is not a tribute band where performers play the parts in audio and appearances. It is not an interpretation of an artist's work … Continue reading Review – Classic Albums Live: The Beatles; Abbey Road
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
National Jeep 4×4 Day
Many of the National Days I feature here are set because of seasonal or traditional time frames (imagine strawberry shortcake day in summer and eggnog day near Christmas). Others are set because of arbitrary number and word play (remember pi day on 3.14 and Star Wars on May the Fourth be with you). Today is … Continue reading National Jeep 4×4 Day
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
Today is Opening Day of the Reds World Series 2019 Season. Really. I Mean It!
Today at 4:10 PM the first pitch is scheduled for for the Cincinnati Reds. Only one major league team still holds an opening day parade - The Cincinnati Reds. This is the 150th year anniversary of the first professional baseball team - The Cincinnati Reds. This is the last season that the best announcer in … Continue reading Today is Opening Day of the Reds World Series 2019 Season. Really. I Mean It!
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 – Sign in the Six O’Clock Sky – A Fable With Songs
Theater For The New City is a home for experimental and ambitious theater. It is fitting that Arnold Schulman's "Sign in the Six O'Clock Sky; A Fable With Songs" is currently playing there. The new play is aspirational, captivating but ultimately flawed. It is as if the author stood before a restaurant chef's cooktop with … Continue reading Review – Sign in the Six O’Clock Sky – A Fable With Songs
The 2019 Baseball Season gets underway this week – Celebrate at Edwards in NYC
Finally, the 2019 Cincinnati Reds season begins this week. This is our year. The acquisition of Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp and others; First year for coach David Bell; a new aggressive attitude all point to a positive outcome. But tonight I will clinch the deal to bring us luck for the season. I'll be stopping … Continue reading The 2019 Baseball Season gets underway this week – Celebrate at Edwards in NYC
Review – Éléphant
I recently had the great pleasure of seeing a reading of a play by Eva MeiLing Pollitt - Éléphant. Because it was a developmental and promotional reading I won't go into any depth but have several observations. The play is set in 1890's France in and around a bordello. It artfully blends French and English … Continue reading Review – Éléphant
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 – Alice by Heart
The team that brought you "Spring Awakening" has a new musical at the brand new MCC Theater complex on the west side. "Alice by Heart" is yet another retelling of the Alice in Wonderland tale with a different twist. The framing device occurs in the London Underground during the German bombing raids early in WWII. … Continue reading Review – Alice by Heart
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)
Winter hangs on stubbornly
I think it always feels this way at the end of the winter season. It seems it will never end but spring is certainly around the corner. Right? Please confirm. But hopefully the recent Sunday/Monday snowstorm was the last substantial downfall before meltdown. Our mayor Bill de Blasio was criticized for closing schools when less … Continue reading Winter hangs on stubbornly
National Oreo Cookie Day
I write today about Oreo's who have their own national day, today. Not really about the cookie but about where they were founded, right here in New York City. Yep, I'm talking about Chelsea Market. Back in 1912 in a Nabisco bakery Oreos were first baked here. Eventually a number of buildings took up an … Continue reading National Oreo Cookie Day
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
Cincinnati Night at Edwards Restaurant in New York – Last Monday of every month!
Are you a Cincinnati ex-pat living in New York? On the last Monday of every month you will feel welcomed at Edward's at 136 West Broadway between 5 PM and 10:30 PM. Here you can order Montgomery Inn Ribs, Skyline Chili, LaRosa's Pizza, and Graeter's Ice Cream. A delicious taste of home (unfortunately Goetta is … Continue reading Cincinnati Night at Edwards Restaurant in New York – Last Monday of every month!
Last Chance to Catch my new short play
I know I have peppered you with pleas to see my short play as part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival for the last several days . I promise I will stop because today is the last day of the festival. Today's matinee is your very last day to catch this play. Come down … Continue reading Last Chance to Catch my new short play
Walter Thinnes 
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