Wanted to give you advance notice for one of my new scripts that will be featured in the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival. Dates are tentatively scheduled for February 21-24. Pamela will direct and casting is underway. More details will be announced soon. I would describe this play as my take on George … Continue reading Heads up for an upcoming performance of a new short play
Theatre
Review – How the Westons Won
The great part of living in New York is the plethora of innovative theater that can be found. The bad part is the options can be overwhelming and the runs relatively short. This show closes Sunday, December 23, and is very, very much worth a visit if you can make it. Go to the producer's … Continue reading Review – How the Westons Won
Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
Recently I traveled over to Carnegie Hall to catch the Distinguished Concerts International New York with their orchestra and various chorales performing Beethoven's Choral Fantasy and Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. I love Ode to Joy and thrill to it whenever it is done well and this certainly was. It was one night only so you … Continue reading Reviews – DCINY Beethoven Symphony #9
Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
Broadway theatre owners have long rented out their venues for short term attractions between major bookings. These can be for special holiday shows (like the Illusionists show I reviewed on November 29). Last year there was an absolutely terrible Broadway show (Home for the Holidays) that featured "YouTube Personalities" and I reviewed on November 22, … Continue reading Review – Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show
Review – Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway
Do you like Celebrities? To see them and hear about them? Then hurry to the Marquis Theatre for the next two Monday evenings. The show Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway would work better in a party or a bar. Current celebrities (or who are classified as such) read selections from published celebrity autobiographies. As Rachel Dratch … Continue reading Review – Celebrity Autobiography on Broadway
Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
Usually I stick to plays and musicals here in New York. But recently we went to Birdland to see a set by jazz musician Curtis Stigers. Pamela has been his fan for decades and she had the opportunity to not only hear his great talents live but to chat with him and get him to … Continue reading Review – Curtis Stigers at Birdland
Review – Pretty Woman The Musical
Don't hate me. You've likely heard all the buzz about how Pretty Woman The Musical, currently playing at the Nederlander Theatre on Broadway, is terribly out of date and decidedly wrong for the #metoo era. I was never a great fan of the 1990 movie it mimics completely but recognized that many people were thrilled … Continue reading Review – Pretty Woman The Musical
Review – The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays
For the last several years an enterprising multi-magician group "The Illusionists" have parked for a limited holiday season run on Broadway and then gone out to tour America. This year it is especially themed to be a Christmas show though the dressing is rather thin and they call this one"Magic of the Holidays." I've seen … Continue reading Review – The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays
The loss of Ricky Jay
Magician and actor Ricky Jay passed away this weekend at age 72. He was one of my favorite magician and I will always treasure his performance in one of my favorite movies "House of Games." I had the great luck to see him live onstage at Second Stage Theatre in "On The Stem." It was … Continue reading The loss of Ricky Jay
Review – Mike Birbiglia’s The New One
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
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
