The 2018 TONY Awards were announced yesterday. With my love of theater and Broadway, I have seen a majority of the nominations but not all. There were no shocks or surprises this year. There were a number of great productions on the boards this season and the TONY Award show on June 10 should be … Continue reading TONY Award Nominations
Playwriting
TAKE WING in the next Players Theater festival
I've just gotten word that my short play TAKE WING has been invited to be part of the Short Play Festival at the Players Theatre in the Village in June - Only in New York edition. There are three weeks of programming and we will find out which slot we will be part of very … Continue reading TAKE WING in the next Players Theater festival
Review – Lobby Hero
First note: Catch this play on Broadway soon as it closes on May 13. The production, performers and playwright all require your attention. Second note: Welcome Second Stage Theatre to Broadway. I have been a fan of your offerings for decades and now that you are bringing living American Playwrights to the Main Stem, I … Continue reading Review – Lobby Hero
Review – Travesties
Tom Stoppard is one of my favorite playwrights. The intellectual twists and turns come pouring at you as from a fire hose. His plays are incredibly crafted, carefully assembled tours de force that are a mental workout that I absolutely love. Travesties was written in the 1970's and sprang from Mr. Stoppard's discoveries that an … Continue reading Review – Travesties
National Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Today's National Day coincides with the anniversary of the Bard's Birth in 1564. Of course we need to Brush Up Your Shakespeare even if you Hate Shakespeare (Name the two musicals!). He is truly the fountainhead of English Playwriting. There is no escaping him in theatre so homage must be paid. However, today's Speak Like … Continue reading National Talk Like Shakespeare Day
Review – Children of a Lesser God
You would think that having seen as many stage productions as I have that by now I would have seen just about everything. Not quite. I did not see earlier mountings or the movie of Children of a Lesser God but I saw the most recent Broadway version last night. Of course I knew about … Continue reading Review – Children of a Lesser God
Review – Once on this Island
Don't miss this joyful expression of love and loss at one of my favorite Broadway venues. Once on the Island is a remounting of a Lynn/Flaherty story taking place in one of the French Antilles. Accordingly the stage is covered in sand and the entire theatre is dressed in poor but vibrant environment of the … Continue reading Review – Once on this Island
Review – Harry Clarke
Every actor and playwright I know should hurry to the Minetta Lane Theatre to see the production of Harry Clarke performed by Billy Crudup before it closes mid-May. Discounts abound and there is no reason to miss this incredible work. Mr. Crudup has long been one of my favorite stage actors and I have just … Continue reading Review – Harry Clarke
My first published play
I had noted earlier that one of my ten minute plays had been selected to be published and represented by http://www.seniortheatre.com. Well, the new catalogue is out and my play "At The Diner With Dad" is in it! So if you want a copy to can order from there and if you want to produce … Continue reading My first published play
World Theatre Day
Today is World Theatre Day, an opportunity to celebrate every facet of this very human storytelling medium. Theatre has defined my life since I caught the bug in high school and so I am featuring a photo of my high school auditorium below. Or at least it feels that long ago. With the inspiration of … Continue reading World Theatre Day
Review – Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika
I saw the original Broadway production of "Angels in America" in the early 90's. While clearly an important work by a talented playwright at the time I felt it too self-indulgent and wildly unedited as work for the stage. At the same time it was clearly an important work and I was never bored or … Continue reading Review – Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Perestroika
Review – The Band’s Visit
Some people going to a Broadway show simply need to see chandeliers crashing or big brass bands playing to believe they got their money's worth. They should not go to see The Band's Visit currently at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. The Band's Visit is a simple story of human longing and desires, living and loving, … Continue reading Review – The Band’s Visit
Review – Escape to Margaritaville
I am always dubious about jukebox musicals and a new one has washed ashore based on songs by Jimmy Buffet at the Marquis Theatre. Scripts for these affairs have to be twisted around the canon being celebrated to fit lyrics never intended to be linked into a storyline and in this case is twisted into … Continue reading Review – Escape to Margaritaville
Review – Farinelli and the King
My only regret about seeing the new play at the Belasco Theatre - Farinelli and the King - is that I didn't see it earlier in its run so that I could give you more time to see it based on my recommendation ( it closes March 25). Playwright Claire van Kampen has written a … Continue reading Review – Farinelli and the King
Review – The Picture of Dorian Gray
While we seldom get to Brooklyn to see theater we make a special trip to see performers who have performed in my plays directed by Pamela. So we were excited to see Sophie Larin in The Picture of Dorian Gray mounted by The Heights Players. Director Cameron McIntosh (no not Cameron Mackintosh, but I'll bet … Continue reading Review – The Picture of Dorian Gray
Review – Amy and the Orphans
A new play by Lindsey Ferrentino offers an interesting evening of theater. It addresses how persons with disabilities (in this case Down Syndrome) were treated back in the 1950's and how many years later siblings try to correct what was casually accepted so many decades ago. It wisely neither excuses institutionalizing children nor condones it … Continue reading Review – Amy and the Orphans
Review – Jerry Springer the Opera
The only times I have seen The Jerry Springer show has been at doctor's offices because it was on daytime TV as I waited for an appointment. I recognized what has become a meme immediately in the Off-Broadway show currently at the Signature Theater courtesy of The New Group. This show is pretty much a … Continue reading Review – Jerry Springer the Opera
Review – At Home at the Zoo
The Signature Theatre is having quite the season. Their remounting of Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo: Homelife and The Zoo Story is spectacular and a must see this season. Directed by Lila Neugebauer and featuring the extraordinarily talented Robert Sean Leonard, Katie Finnernan and the explosive Paul Sparks, it should be on your … Continue reading Review – At Home at the Zoo
A LOT to talk about
Auction houses like Christie's, Sotheby's, Phillips and others offer free admission to selling exhibitions for a few days before each auction. From time to time I will select notable auction lots to bring to your attention. This blog feature is not endorsed by the auction house nor written by any kind of art expert. Just … Continue reading A LOT to talk about
Last show in the run – a matinee today!
Today is your last chance to see MATT AND SUSAN AND GREG AND JULIE as part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival and I hope you will join us for the 3 PM matinee. Pamela Wilson did a great job of directing the work featuring Shelton Tripp, Gabby Hammond and Carly Ruda. Use the … Continue reading Last show in the run – a matinee today!
Matt and Susan and Greg and Julie (well, maybe not Greg) invite you to see their show!
The Players Theatre Short Play Festival continues again tonight with a terrific production to my play MATT AND SUSAN AND GREG AND JULIE. Join us tonight for the 7 PM show by coming to the Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. Use the discount code CAST online at http://www.shortplaynyc.com or at the door. Visit with the … Continue reading Matt and Susan and Greg and Julie (well, maybe not Greg) invite you to see their show!
Come see the show in Greenwich Village!
Last night's opening went very well and we'll do it again tonight! My script MATT AND SUSAN AND GREG AND JULIE gets a first class mounting, directed by Pamela Wilson and featuring Shelton Tripp, Gabby Hammond and Carly Ruda. It is part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival Sex Edition at this historic venue … Continue reading Come see the show in Greenwich Village!
Opening Night!
Tonight is the opening night of my short play MATT AND SUSAN AND GREG AND JULIE as part of the Players Theatre Short Play Festival Sex Edition in Greenwich Village. The information can be found in the flier below. If you will be in New York this weekend I hope you will see it. Feel … Continue reading Opening Night!
Review – In The Body Of The World
Eve Ensler created a sensation and a valuable service with her Vagina Monologues which started as a performance piece, turned into an influential script and morphed into a movement that continues today. Her most recent work combines her struggle with cancer and her efforts on behalf of women the Congo. The problem with the show … Continue reading Review – In The Body Of The World
Review – Hello Dolly!
Thorton Wilder's play THE MATCHMAKER is the foundation for the musical HELLO DOLLY! Mr. Wilder's work is wonderful and the musical adapted from it was a big hit right from its premiere in the 1960's. The current re-incarnation features the very talented Bernadette Peters and Victor Garber. I've seen each of them previously on Broadway … Continue reading Review – Hello Dolly!
Walter Thinnes 
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