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
Playwriting
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
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
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
The Ride Down Mount Scary
I have written a new short play specifically for the Players Theatre Short Play Festival in October with the theme of Boo!. The dates will be October 25-28 in Greenwich Village. Casting is underway and will be announced soon. When tickets go on sale online I will give you a heads up. Please make a … Continue reading The Ride Down Mount Scary
A New Short Play Performance in New York City!
The Players Theater Short Play Festival has confirmed that my new short play "The Ride Down Mt. Scary" will appear in their next play festival in October with the theme: Boo! Dates are yet to be finalized and casting is underway. Pamela will direct and fun will be had by all. Watch for more details … Continue reading A New Short Play Performance in New York City!
Review – Gettin’ The Band Back Together
Gettin' The Band Back Together is a very funny show, high energy, expertly casted, energetically directed and keeps the audience laughing the entire time. It lights up the stage of the Belasco and animates the familiar themes of middle age angst, good versus evil, redemption and being true to yourself. So that is all I … Continue reading Review – Gettin’ The Band Back Together
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 – Paradise Blue
Been busy, sorry to review this show after it has closed. Dominique Morisseau has written a play with a fascinating premise, strong period detail and dialogue, but left me still wanting further development of the script. The two primary characters, J. Alphonse Nicholson as Blue and Simone Missick as Silver are rich and interesting to … Continue reading Review – Paradise Blue
Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
Lately I've seen a number of one night only events that I am unable to review in time for you to decide to see or avoid. I'll be trying to catch up a few of those in the coming weeks, for your reference. Jack Shamblin has conceived, written, starred in and performs in Slumming It … Continue reading Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
Review – Girls & Boys
Carey Mulligan is featured in an engrossing one woman play written by Dennis Kelly at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Ms.Mulligan does an incredible job with a very difficult subject. I don't wish to spoil it but the script takes a very dark and difficult turn two thirds of the way through. It will be difficult … Continue reading Review – Girls & Boys
New York Theatre Spotlight
Several Big Apple Theatre notes to catch up on. First two shows ending at the end of the month: "A Blanket of Dust" is a show I reviewed here on June 18. I had several disagreements with the script but found the performances riveting. Always be open to seeing points of view different from your own … Continue reading New York Theatre Spotlight
