It is common that Broadway shows that were not winners at the Tony Awards shut down or close early. That certainly happened again this year but this summer feels a tad different. Yes, open end run musicals such as "Be More Chill," "The Prom," "The Cher Show," "King Kong," and "Pretty Woman" all could not … Continue reading Summer Broadway Spotlight – Clearing the Boards
Theatre
Start of the Long Reach Long Riders 2019 adventure
Today is the start of the Long Reach Long Riders 2019 Altimeter Tour, plying the twisties and scenic routes of Colorado. This is a group of theatre technicians and motorcycle enthusiasts that gather annually to tour different parts of the country each summer. I joined them for the tail end of their New England ride … Continue reading Start of the Long Reach Long Riders 2019 adventure
Some Broadway Musings
My recent ankle injury will keep me from getting to the theatre for a while but that doesn't stop me from paying attention. This is not encyclopedic but a few comments... The shakeout from the recent Tony awards did not reward "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus" and "Hillary and Clinton" and quickly closed. Unfortunate, … Continue reading Some Broadway Musings
Review – Hillary and Clinton
Playwright Lucas Hnath is on a bit of a "what if" kick lately, following his recent "A Doll's House, Part 2" with a look into two of our most famous political figures. While I shied from his multiple universe framing device, he nails the insight inside one of the most famous marriages of all time. … Continue reading Review – Hillary and Clinton
Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Start with the "source material" - Shakespeare's bloodiest play "Titus Andronicus." This isn't really a sequel. Sure Taylor Mac's script starts by plucking three minor characters from Will's play to follow as they clean up all the corpses (and they are stacked high in Santo Loquasto's set). In theory they are here to clean up … Continue reading Review – Gary: The Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Review – Proof of Love
Audible, the company that brings you entertainment meant for ear buds, has teamed with the Minetta Lane Theatre by producing stage work that can be translated to their medium. I have seen a number of these works, most impressively "Harry Clarke" performed by actor Billy Crudup. To this point they have chosen existing one character … Continue reading Review – Proof of Love
Review – Jack of Cups
Unlike the folks doing this work, I am old enough to have seen and worked around Experimental Theatre back in the 1970's and 1980's. Inevitable components included earnest monologues on how we need to come together, interpretive dance, and sounds and music made from unusual items and innovative instruments. Turtleneck shirts were optional but recommended. … Continue reading Review – Jack of Cups
Review – Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune
What happens when you combine a three decade old two hander by one of our greatest living playwrights with two of our finest stage actors? Magic at the Broadhurst Theatre, that's what. "Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune" is a passionate defense of reaching out for love against all odds. When co-workers from … Continue reading Review – Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune
Review – To She Who Waits
The American Renaissance Theater Company is presenting a new play at Theatre 54 at the Shetler Studios. It is the 2018 Jerry Kaufman Award winner "To She Who Waits" by Bob Clyman. The subtitle "God's Plan v. A Mother's Love; Winner Takes All" provides a clue to the plot. The play jumps back and forth … Continue reading Review – To She Who Waits
Review – Caroline’s Kitchen
Caroline's Kitchen is a transfer of a British farce that was very popular there. Maybe they will cling to anything to divert them from Brexit. It is certainly a manic comedy with characters keeping secrets from each other running in and out of the set. The concept is that TV cooking show host Caroline (Caroline … Continue reading Review – Caroline’s Kitchen
Review – The Archbishop’s Ceiling
Great playwrights create some less than great works in their career. Even though I admire many works by Arthur Miller ("A View From the Bridge" is in my top ten plays of all time) I had never heard of "The Archbishop's Ceiling." I am glad I had the chance to see it, but it remains … Continue reading Review – The Archbishop’s Ceiling
Review – Curse of the Starving Class
Many directors and designers have chosen to tear apart a stage set as a physical mirror of the disintegration happening to characters on stage. This can happen as a steady erosion or a grand explosion. This production switches that up with the walls and shelves of the Tate family kitchen being rendered in one grand … Continue reading Review – Curse of the Starving Class
Review – BLKS
It is very good to hear new voices in the American Theatre and the play BLKS at the new Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space certainly represents new outlooks. This is poet Aziza Barnes' first play script and she doesn't hold back. It is a full bore buoyant bounty of Brooklyn people of color that … Continue reading Review – BLKS
Review – Friendly’s Fire
In this blog I review lots of Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. There are many readings and off-off-Broadway shows I attend and they must be addressed sightly differently. FRIENDLY'S FIRE by John Patrick Bray is just such a developing work. Productions like this are being formed and will hopefully develop into larger environments. This play addresses … Continue reading Review – Friendly’s Fire
Review – Sincerely, Oscar
Sometimes a theatre production makes an unfortunate decision that mars or hobbles a show. When a series of unfortunate decisions are made in one show you get "Sincerely, Oscar" at the Acorn Theater on Theater Row. It is certainly an earnest effort by Doreen Taylor, a singer with a strong set of pipes, who conceived … Continue reading Review – Sincerely, Oscar
Review – Nantucket Sleigh Ride
There is some self-indulgent frippery going on at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center. But as the playwright is John Guare, he has certainly earn the right to be indulged. And because the playwright is John Guare, his frippery is far funnier than most. The plot is far too complicated and intricate to … Continue reading Review – Nantucket Sleigh Ride
“At the Diner with Dad” to be performed in Hood River, Oregon
My short play "At the Diner with Dad" will be performed at the Adult Center Theater in Hood River, Oregon over the next two weekends. Performances are scheduled for April 26-28 and May 5-8. It will be part of a program of four short play on the theme of "Parents and Their Adult Children." As … Continue reading “At the Diner with Dad” to be performed in Hood River, Oregon
Review – Ink
Who knew I would enjoy spending 2 1/2 hours with Rupert Murdoch? In this case it is a play by James Graham which dramatizes when Mr. Murdoch stormed Fleet Street to trash and revolutionize the august British newspaper trade in 1969. The now familiar themes and memes and methods of populist journalism are planted and … Continue reading Review – Ink
Shakespeare’s Birthday?
NEW YORK - Statue of William Shakespeare by the American sculptor John Quincy Adams Ward was erected in the Central Park in 1872. We don't really know for sure. The later to be famous Bard was christened on April 26, 1564 and that is the first time he is recorded to be around. Scholars make … Continue reading Shakespeare’s Birthday?
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
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
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
