Today is Presidents Day, a day off for many, and an opportunity to salute the Presidents who have made this country great. Though timed for the birthdays of George Washington (who demonstrated restraint with power) and Abraham Lincoln (who brought civility to our nation's greatest challenge), it is intended to salute all presidents. This post … Continue reading Presidents Day
Politics
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!
Review – Hillbilly Elegy
It has been a while since I finished reading Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance but I needed time to reflect on it before I commented on it. Surprising to me, much in it was familiar. I too spent some of my life growing up between Dayton and Cincinnati and had neighbors (very nice people) who … Continue reading Review – Hillbilly Elegy
Terrorist Attack
Thanks for those who have reached out to check on me after yesterday's terrorist attack in Manhattan. I am fine. Yes, that is a tunnel I have walked many times and in my previous job I passed through that station every day. Where I am working now I don't travel through that station. We are … Continue reading Terrorist Attack
Review – The Parisian Woman
Uma Thurman is a luminous presence on stage who draws your interest without fail and without limit. She is an amazing performer who should return to Broadway on a regular basis. Sorry, that's all the good news. I had looked forward to this production because the playwright is Beau Willimon. He is the originator of … Continue reading Review – The Parisian Woman
Election Day 2017
I often prep blog entries in advance and then edit up until the morning posting. This version I have completely re-written at least a dozen times with various quotes, facts and observations. I steer clear of political postings as there is enough bloviating in this environment. This blog is intended to highlight the theatre I … Continue reading Election Day 2017
Review of MICHAEL MOORE ON BROADWAY: The Terms of My Surrender
Michael Moore's show is a liberal rant, history lesson and all around entertaining performance. It is also a story of his background and involvement in the causes he supports. He makes very good points and is preaching to the choir here in New York. You know by now whether you agree with him or not. … Continue reading Review of MICHAEL MOORE ON BROADWAY: The Terms of My Surrender
Hobbit Day
September 22 was named Hobbit Day by the American Tolkien Society as it is the shared birthday of Bilbo and Frodo Baggins in the novels of J.R.R. Tolkien. Nowadays most people know of the excellent Peter Jackson movies. When I was in high school and college I read the Hobbit and Lord of the Rings … Continue reading Hobbit Day
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
Bonus post: Springtime for our Little Hitlers
Had to add a quick note. Just read a great piece in the flailing New York Times. I subscribe but think they allow visitors to read several articles each month. Give it a read: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/06/opinion/comedy-protest-taxes-nazis.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=opinion-c-col-right-region®ion=opinion-c-col-right-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-right-region Hope the link works. It helps me explain why I am both anti-White-Power and anti-Antifa. Non violence and humor always … Continue reading Bonus post: Springtime for our Little Hitlers
Confederate Monuments
The recent uproar regarding Confederate Monuments resulting from the ugly display in Charlottesville, VA is long overdue. I am an ardent fan of studying history and have always been astounded that a traitorous uprising is so broadly celebrated in so many places. The facts are so simple and yet an entire segment of our population … Continue reading Confederate Monuments
Time to wipe the sun from the sky – for a minute or two anyway
Ah, finally here. The much heralded, much hyped total eclipse of the sun running through a big chunk of America. Of course total eclipses happen on Earth about every two years or so, but seldom just traverse America. Because of this America is paying a lot of attention. It will be quite the event that … Continue reading Time to wipe the sun from the sky – for a minute or two anyway
A surprising Oslo
Hmmmm. Let's write a three hour play about Middle East peace negotiations that sounded good at the time but have since unwound before our very eyes. For a policy wonk like me that sounds interesting but it is amazingly good theater. Who knew? I am admittedly a political junkie who was fascinated at the time … Continue reading A surprising Oslo
Just One Political Note
OK, just this once. This blog was set up to chat about the plays I write and that are produced, the theater I see from time to time, the food I eat out and the food I love to cook. It was not intended to be political in any way, but the last election was … Continue reading Just One Political Note
