I mentioned in my last post that I had two contentious reviews and this is part 2. Lucas Hnath's "A Doll's House, Part 2" has opened to uniformly rapturous reviews. I'm sorry to say, I am a lone disagreer. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the night in the theater. Sam Gold has directed a … Continue reading A Doll’s House Part 2 – one part too many
Theatre
The Little Foxes on Broadway
The next two Broadway reviews will be a little more contentious than usual. I had the chance to see "The Little Foxes" as part of my subscription to Manhattan Theater Club. This production is first rate with terrific direction and performances. Laura Linney is one of my favorite stage actresses of all time. She alternates … Continue reading The Little Foxes on Broadway
Six Degrees of Separation on Broadway
John Guare's script for Six Degrees of Separation has always been on of my favorites. I didn't live in New York when it premiered in 1990 and so did not see the original production. But I did buy a script and performed in a reading in Florida. And, of course, it established a meme that … Continue reading Six Degrees of Separation on Broadway
The Price on Broadway
Had the chance last night to catch "The Price" by Arthur Miller in its most recent Broadway revival. I've seen different versions of the play including the 2000 Broadway Revival. Arthur Miller is one of my favorite playwrights and this is among his best scripts. The cast includes Mark Ruffalo, Esther Franz, Tony Shalhoub and … Continue reading The Price on Broadway
Indecent on Broadway
Time to catch up on more show going observations as this Broadway season winds toward a close. Paula Vogel is a fantastic playwright and her Broadway debut is long overdue. Indecent tells the story of a play in the early 20th Century (God of Vengeance) that was innovative and original and thus branded sinful and … Continue reading Indecent on Broadway
“Your Turn to Watch Dad” is a Minnesota Shorts semi-finalist!
My short play "Your Turn to Watch Dad" has been selected as a semi-finalist in a playwriting competition in Mankato, Minnesota. The competition is Minnesota Shorts: A Festival of Short Plays. They will choose 7 plays from Minnesota writers and 7 from other writers. There were 407 scripts submitted and 77 were selected for this … Continue reading “Your Turn to Watch Dad” is a Minnesota Shorts semi-finalist!
Present Laughter
The reason to see "Present Laughter" at the St. James Theatre is to personally experience Kevin Kline's mastery of physical comedy, wordplay comedy and facial expression comedy. He is an amazing treasure and well worth the price of admission. His supporting cast is deft and a suitable foil but make no mistake, this is Kevin's … Continue reading Present Laughter
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
Lynn Nottage and Sweat on Broadway
The next daily catch up on my 2017 theater going brings me to the stage of Studio 54 and playwright Lynn Nottage's long overdue Broadway debut with her new play "Sweat." I have long been a fan of the work of Lynn Nottage, especially her "Intimate Apparel." She has a wonderful way with bringing fully … Continue reading Lynn Nottage and Sweat on Broadway
If I Forget – Roundabout Theatre
OK, back on the boards. Been busy lately and need to catch up. I will attempt to blog each day about recently seen performances in New York as I have been seeing a lot. Backlog to clear. "If I Forget" by Steven Levenson is presented by the Roundabout Theatre at their Laura Pels Theatre. It … Continue reading If I Forget – Roundabout Theatre
Plays and Prestidigitation #7 opens tonight!
I've been a very bad blogger. I've seen several Broadway shows and have several restaurant reviews to post but my energies have been taken by the production at Polaris North studios that opens tonight. We had tech/dress ;last night and it plays Friday and Saturday at 7 and Sunday at 3. It is a collection … Continue reading Plays and Prestidigitation #7 opens tonight!
Am I entering a post-critic age?
Before I moved to New York I would often vacation here, seeing several shows in a short period, usually a weekend. I would fly in on a Friday morning, see a Friday Evening, Saturday Matinee, Saturday Evening (often an off-Broadway show starting at 10 or 11 PM Saturday night), a Sunday Matinee, then catch a … Continue reading Am I entering a post-critic age?
Come From Away
There are some shows that I yearn for and others that I shudder at. And then there are others that sound like a perfectly nice but not impactful evening at the theater. Years ago that is how I was blown away by Having Our Say, that turned out to be exceptional. This year that title … Continue reading Come From Away
A pretty darn good Comet
Recently took in Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway. It has received raves from the critics and word of mouth and I largely, but not entirely agree. The transformation of the Imperial Theatre is astonishing. Bold and eye popping it tickles the brain and brings you into an immersive environment that … Continue reading A pretty darn good Comet
An exciting new The Glass Menagerie
This Broadway entry will be a little longer than my usual few lines of reaction because this is an absolutely extraordinary production. When The Glass Menagerie came up on one of my discount theater sites I hesitated. I've seen so many productions of this classic work and studied it in high school and in college … Continue reading An exciting new The Glass Menagerie
Discount Ticket Code
As noted in an earlier post, my short play HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LEONARD will be part of The Player's Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival. Performances are: Thursday, February 23 @ 7:00 PM Friday, February 24 @ 7:00 PM Saturday, February 25 @ 7:00 PM Sunday, February 26 @ 3:00 PM You can catch the shows … Continue reading Discount Ticket Code
MEETING WITHOUT END now a Finalist
My short play MEETING WITHOUT END is a Finalist in the Rover Dramawerks Third Annual 10-Minute Play Festival in Dallas-Fort Worth. I enter lots of competitions for festivals, roughly 50 a year or so. They are run by big organizations and small, sometimes offer a token payment for use of the play, but most often … Continue reading MEETING WITHOUT END now a Finalist
Jitney
I recently had the opportunity to see the first Broadway production of August Wilson's JITNEY by MTC at The Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. This was the first play of the cycle of plays written by Wilson but the last to reach Broadway. I was fortunate enough to see a production of the play in 1996 … Continue reading Jitney
Hold the dates for Plays & Prestidigitation #7 – The Politically Incorrect Version
Periodically I present a series called Plays & Prestidigitation at Polaris North. I offer the opportunity for other playwrights to present short plays in an event I assemble, stage manage, create marketing and playbills, provide reception food and most importantly host and perform magical interludes between plays to stitch together the evening and cover scene … Continue reading Hold the dates for Plays & Prestidigitation #7 – The Politically Incorrect Version
Baker’s Dozen + 1 extra
Twice a year Broadway sheds a number of shows as limited runs ends and shows run out of steam. It generally happens in January and June as the months after are a generally lower ticket sales/fewer tourists zone. This is a good thing as theater is a live experience that is not there forever like … Continue reading Baker’s Dozen + 1 extra
In Transit – On Broadway
Saw the a cappella musical "In Transit" (#InTransitBway) last night at the Circle in the Square Theater. I've read the poor reviews and watched the low grosses and attendance number. I was prepared for a tuneful but disappointing evening diversion. Wrong. Unexpectedly I loved this show. I have not seen Pitch Perfect or Glee which … Continue reading In Transit – On Broadway
Love, Love, Love
This was the third of the three hopeful playwright redux this fall. Simon Stephen's Heisenberg further dazzled after his Punk Rock (and The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime). Stephen Karam's adaptation of The Cherry Orchard disappointed after his amazing The Humans. And now, Mike Bartlett's Love, Love, Love after his amazing King … Continue reading Love, Love, Love
The Illusionists – Turn of the Century
The current magic show on Broadway is an extension of The Illusionists franchise which has done two previous holiday season shows when short term theaters become available and also has an active touring presence. The premise is that you will get to see a handful of different magical styles in an evening doing everything from … Continue reading The Illusionists – Turn of the Century
The Cherry Orchard
There is good news and bad news in the Roundabout's production of The Cherry Orchard. The good news is the performers on stage. They are luminous and talented and committed to their work and they are a joy to watch. Diane Lane and John Glover are special standouts (Joel Grey was not in the night … Continue reading The Cherry Orchard
Get thee to the St. James
Saw Something Rotten! on Broadway for the second time. Needed to introduce Pamela to the show before it closes January 1. Any person with a passing knowledge of theater and musicals would enjoy it and recognize many references in the show. For someone as passionate as Pamela and I are about theater one spends the … Continue reading Get thee to the St. James
Walter Thinnes 
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