"There is a great devil in the universe and we call it time." One of the defining lines from the Roundabout Theatre's Broadway production of TIME AND THE CONWAYS. Sometimes I can be a lazy theater goer. Back in 1994 I saw a production of AN INSPECTOR CALLS by J.B. Priestly on Broadway. One of … Continue reading Review – Time and the Conways
Playwriting
My scripts in 2017
As 2017 winds down, time to take stock of how my scripts have done this year. While there is still a chance more will be accepted this year, less chance of any performances, readings or recognitions. Seven different scripts received a performance, reading or recognition this year and were featured in nine different productions and … Continue reading My scripts in 2017
Review – Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
Signature Theatre is having quite a season remounting important American plays and re-introducing playwrights. I was thrilled to see their productions of Susan-Lori Parks' Red Letter Plays and they continue their streak with this seminal play by Stephen Adly Guirgis. The playwright has created a compelling work of the prison system and the burdens of … Continue reading Review – Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train
Review – Red Roses, Green Gold
What a fabulous show. The show at the Minetta Lane Theater has a trite, hackneyed and contrived plot that provides the perfect excuse to play Grateful Dead music live and boy, is it worth it. Grateful Dead music should be experienced live. The songs are primarily from two of their greatest albums, American Dream and … Continue reading Review – Red Roses, Green Gold
Your final chance to see Plays & Prestidigitation #9
Today at 3 PM is the final performance of Plays & Prestidigitation #9 - The FRIGHT Edition. If you haven't already seen it get to http://www.polarisnorth.org for more info and if you've already seen it - come see it again! This has been such a magical weekend and I have to thank the whole team … Continue reading Your final chance to see Plays & Prestidigitation #9
Come to see P&P #9!
If you are in New York today, come see Plays & Prestidigitation #9: The Fright Edition at 245 West 29th Street, Fourth Floor at 7:00 PM tonight (Saturday). Check out http://www.polarisnorth.org for details! Kudos to everyone who recognized this is not the correct show image - just checking to see if you are paying attention! … Continue reading Come to see P&P #9!
Opening Night for Plays and Prestidigitation #9 – The Fright Edition
If you are in New York I hope you will join us for our show at Polaris North Studio on 29th Street tonight and this weekend. It combines short plays and magical interludes. It will be a little scary, a little macabre, and lots of fun. There are several brand new short works and the … Continue reading Opening Night for Plays and Prestidigitation #9 – The Fright Edition
Review: The Portuguese Kid
Manhattan Theatre Club is presenting John Patrick Shanley's new play at their off-Broadway space at City Center. The efforts of the cast are notable, especially Jason Alexander and Sherie Rene Scott who work hard and keep the play surging forward. Unfortunately the script is a reminiscent of a TV sitcom that reaches hard and out … Continue reading Review: The Portuguese Kid
Players Theatre Boo! Short Play Festival
Recently I saw a performance of the Boo! Short Play Festival at The Players Theatre in Greenwich Village. It was an interesting batch of plays in a seasonal festival. A little uneven and somewhat odd selections for a "scary" festival. I really went to take in the efforts of several Polaris North members putting together … Continue reading Players Theatre Boo! Short Play Festival
Lessons in the Patriarchy
A lot going on lately in relations between the sexes. Harvey Weinstein, Roger Ailes, Donald Trump, and so much more. Lots of public and private figures learning lessons and sharing tales and fessing up. Much weighing in on social norms and what must change. I found it in a much smaller forum looking for images … Continue reading Lessons in the Patriarchy
Time Travel for Writers
As a playwright I am always obsessed with language. What a character in a certain situation, certain environment, certain time period would or could say. Not every reader is fact checking what I write, but an off tune word or phrase can take an audience out of the moment and is one of the biggest … Continue reading Time Travel for Writers
Review: MY SWOLLEN FEET
The 2017 NY Summerfest included a short play by Carrie Robbins, a theater costumer with extensive credits on and Off Broadway. Directed by Paul Dobie it featured the significant talents of Amanda Rose, Tony Naumovski, Thomas Leverton and David Modello. I have worked with Tony previously and he has always been extremely talented. I was … Continue reading Review: MY SWOLLEN FEET
Review: WAR PAINT on Broadway
Right off the bat I must tell you that I was skeptical of how much I would like WAR PAINT. After all it was about 20th Century make up tycoons and their business battles. Luckily it was better than I expected. I entered and won a lottery ticket contest and plunged in. The score, music, … Continue reading Review: WAR PAINT on Broadway
Plays and Prestidigitation #9 – The Fright Edition
If you are in New York City two weeks from today, I hope you will join me for Plays and Prestidigitation #9 - The Fright Edition. This is an occasional series I present at Polaris North, a co-operative of theater artists at 245 W 29th Street. We perform a group of short plays interspersed with … Continue reading Plays and Prestidigitation #9 – The Fright Edition
Review: 1984 – on Broadway
The stage adaptation of George Orwell's landmark book 1984 is ending its Broadway run this weekend. I was able to catch a performance this week and could have been fine missing it. The performing leads are exceptional including Tom Sturridge, Olivia Wilde, and the amazing Reed Birney. I last saw Mr. Birney in The Humans … Continue reading Review: 1984 – on Broadway
Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Stephen Sondheim's SWEENEY TODD is my favorite theater musical. I love the music, the story, the Steampunk atmosphere. I have seen a fully staged version, a John Doyle version, and a wonderful concert version with the New York Philharmonic. This was my first intimate version, not what one expects from this property. The Barrow Street … Continue reading Review: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
National Coffee Day
Today is National Coffee Day and for me that means another cup of Café du Monde, coffee blended with ground chicory from New Orleans. Chicory is the root of the endive plant which is roasted and ground up and blended with ground coffee. For me it provides a perfect blend of a black cup of … Continue reading National Coffee Day
Edward Albee Collection sells 100%
I hope you had the chance to visit the exhibit of the Edward Albee art collection at Sotheby's. Like theatre, such events are fleeting and of the moment. If you miss it, you will never get another chance to experience it. I made sure to visit and commune with the objects he collected over his … Continue reading Edward Albee Collection sells 100%
Review: The Red Letter Plays (IN THE BLOOD and F**KING A)
Recently I saw the two Red Letter Plays written by Susan-Lori Parks at the Signature Theatre in New York. Parks had off-handedly said she would write a new play based on the classic American novel "The Scarlet Letter." When she scrapped her first attempt that she titled F**KING A (I use the same attribute used … Continue reading Review: The Red Letter Plays (IN THE BLOOD and F**KING A)
The Edward Albee Collection at Sotheby’s
When Edward Albee died about a year ago his estate arranged an auction of the art work he had collected to benefit the foundation he established. Sotheby's won the right to conduct the auction and the exhibit for the sale opens today at their headquarters on the upper East Side of Manhattan. I have purchased … Continue reading The Edward Albee Collection at Sotheby’s
Broadway Season Preview
Living in New York City provides unlimited opportunities to see live theater. While I see Broadway, Off-Broadway and Off-Off-Broadway shows, this post I'll preview Broadway shows coming this season. I tend to value shop and seldom pay full price to see shows. I belong to several discount services. For a full summary of the season, … Continue reading Broadway Season Preview
September 11 Anniversary
That Tuesday in 2001 was a clear and beautiful day. I had voted in the mayoral primary and was at my desk as Managing Director of the New York State Theater (now the David H. Koch Theater) at Lincoln Center. My assistant let me know that a plane had hit one of the towers of … Continue reading September 11 Anniversary
National Stand Up To Cancer Day
The second Friday in September is National Stand Up To Cancer Day. I am a cancer survivor and grateful to be around to talk about it. Cancer is something many people don't want to even whisper about but it has far reaching consequences for many people. Mine was excised, removed, cut out and not returned … Continue reading National Stand Up To Cancer Day
100 Posts
About a year ago I started this blog, somewhat on a whim. The software (WordPress) keeps track of all sorts of statistics and informs me that this is my one hundredth post. When I started I had no specific goal and early entries were random and sporadic. As I recently left my last job I … Continue reading 100 Posts
Leni & Joseph at the New Ohio Theatre
I recently saw a production of a new play by Jacob Marx Rice at the New Ohio Theater on Christopher Street. It runs only three more performances and is worth seeing. You can find more information at: https://www.theshelternyc.org/production/threshold-2017/ I have been fortunate to be part of a playwrights group with Jacob and I can attest … Continue reading Leni & Joseph at the New Ohio Theatre
Walter Thinnes 
You must be logged in to post a comment.