The Encores! Off-Center Series is a revival of previous and oft forgotten musicals. I got to see the final performance of their limited weekend offering of Don't Bother Me, I Can't Cope. When it appeared on Broadway it featured the first time on The Great White Way that a woman had written the music and … Continue reading Review – Don’t Bother Me, I Can’t Cope
Theatre
Review – Head Over Heels
Jukebox musicals can take many forms. Maybe you just play through the catalogue with no commentary (like Smokey Joe's Cafe currently revived at Stage 42 - highly recommended). Or marry it to a plot crafted to explain the sequence of songs (like Mamma Mia!, something I still unbelievably have not seen). Maybe you put it … Continue reading Review – Head Over Heels
Review – Paradise Blue
Been busy, sorry to review this show after it has closed. Dominique Morisseau has written a play with a fascinating premise, strong period detail and dialogue, but left me still wanting further development of the script. The two primary characters, J. Alphonse Nicholson as Blue and Simone Missick as Silver are rich and interesting to … Continue reading Review – Paradise Blue
Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
Lately I've seen a number of one night only events that I am unable to review in time for you to decide to see or avoid. I'll be trying to catch up a few of those in the coming weeks, for your reference. Jack Shamblin has conceived, written, starred in and performs in Slumming It … Continue reading Review – Slumming It at Dixon Place
Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
A bit more than 20 years ago I saw the Broadway tour of Smokey Joe's Cafe and fell in love with it instantly. The incredible song catalogue of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller makes it one of the few jukebox musicals I admire. They don't try to twist themselves in knots with a framework and … Continue reading Review – Smokey Joe’s Cafe
Review – Girls & Boys
Carey Mulligan is featured in an engrossing one woman play written by Dennis Kelly at the Minetta Lane Theatre. Ms.Mulligan does an incredible job with a very difficult subject. I don't wish to spoil it but the script takes a very dark and difficult turn two thirds of the way through. It will be difficult … Continue reading Review – Girls & Boys
My First Ryde with the Long Reach Long Riders
I had a great time with the Long Reach Long Riders this weekend. While I was only on a day and a half of their seven day ride they greeted me warmly and let me slip into their formation. We hit some great roads through forests, farmland and villages around New England. I hope to … Continue reading My First Ryde with the Long Reach Long Riders
New York Theatre Spotlight
Several Big Apple Theatre notes to catch up on. First two shows ending at the end of the month: "A Blanket of Dust" is a show I reviewed here on June 18. I had several disagreements with the script but found the performances riveting. Always be open to seeing points of view different from your own … Continue reading New York Theatre Spotlight
TAKE WING wins audience choice award!
Each week of the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival an Audience Choice Award is presented. I am happy to announce that the winner of week 2 is my play Take Wing. We had some amazing friends turn out to support us but had less than most of the other shows. To prevent friend … Continue reading TAKE WING wins audience choice award!
Review – A Blanket of Dust
"A Blanket of Dust" is a new play by Richard Squires. I am not a theatre goer that seeks out only validation for my beliefs and world view. I like to be challenged by alternate points of view and opinions. That said, I did not agree with this plays approach. It starts out with a … Continue reading Review – A Blanket of Dust
Last Chance to catch TAKE WING!
The last performance of week 2 of the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival is today at 3 PM. Don't miss this and don't be late. Use the discount code CAST to save $10 off the ticket price. Can't wait to see you. https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/992710/prm/CAST As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on … Continue reading Last Chance to catch TAKE WING!
Exquisite TAKE WING
There are literally thousands of ways to spend your evenings in New York City, from night clubs to sporting events to many hundreds of theatre options each and every night. So we are thrilled by the many friends who have joined us to see my award winning TAKE WING in the Players Theatre Short Play … Continue reading Exquisite TAKE WING
Take Wing rides again tonight
Last night's production of TAKE WING in the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival went extremely well. That is largely because of the amazing efforts of director Pamela Wilson and extraordinary cast members Eric Diamond, Michael Giorgio and Carly Ruda. You really must use the below direct link to get $20 discount tickets and … Continue reading Take Wing rides again tonight
Opening Night for TAKE WING!
Tonight (Thursday, June 14) is the Opening Night for Week 2 of the Players Theatre Short Play and Musical Festival in Greenwich Village. My award winning short play is one of five short pieces and we would love to see you there. Thursday nights are the lightest attended so what are you waiting for? Come … Continue reading Opening Night for TAKE WING!
Post Tony Shake Out
Producers do all they can with tickets, parties and swag to woo voters and then hold their breath for the entire program (if you saw any people in the audience of the Tony Awards with blue faces - they were producers). Because some shows need the Tony boost to stay open the awards presentations are … Continue reading Post Tony Shake Out
Review – Dan Cody’s Yacht
The Manhattan Theatre Club has mounted a new play by Anthony Giardina that is interesting but ultimately hollow. The title is a reference to a fleeting incident in The Great Gatsby about the desire to gain riches and the price sometimes necessary to succeed. What you are willing to do to reach success and help … Continue reading Review – Dan Cody’s Yacht
This, That, and The Other Thing
THIS: Last night we tried the St. Louis Ribs again, but this time I cooked them at higher temp and for more time in the sous vide. As I had hoped they were even better this time. More experimenting to come for the Franken-Ribs! THAT: Tonight we have the tech rehearsal for my short play … Continue reading This, That, and The Other Thing
Review – Our Lady of 121st Street
Stephen Adley Guirgis is an American playwright with a distinctive natural voice. I've seen his Between Riverside and Crazy and this year very much enjoyed the revival of his Jesus Hopped the "A" Train at Signature Theater. I have recent seen his early work Our Lady of 121st Street, also at Signature. The play has … Continue reading Review – Our Lady of 121st Street
Take Wing & A Blanket of Dust
Come to New York City to experience live theater this month! Unlike film or television, live performance by its nature is ethereal magic. No two live performances, even of the same work, are ever the same. The magic is a shared experience by the audience and performers. Most importantly, many events, especially theatre events that … Continue reading Take Wing & A Blanket of Dust
Review – A Letter to Harvey Milk
We've seen a number of shows recently and have at least half a dozen in the queue to post reviews for. But I must get word about about a touching, charming and yes, even funny, chamber musical at the Acorn Theatre at Theatre Row. A very personal tale of a kosher butcher in San Francisco … Continue reading Review – A Letter to Harvey Milk
Two decades in the Big Apple
On June 1, 1998 I started a new job in Manhattan and have stuck around ever since. I loved this city from my first visit in 1975 (during the bad old rough and glorious days of this place) but always held out hope to be invited here. That happened 20 years ago and I have … Continue reading Two decades in the Big Apple
Manhattanhenge, Manhattan Henge or Henge o’ Manhattan is back!
In January I alerted you to a sunrise Manhattanhenge and gave you advance notice of the next occurrence of the sunset version. The orientation of Manhattan is generally north-south and the Commissioners Plan of 1811 created a grid system of streets north of 14th Street. As the earth tilts to create our seasons, the sun … Continue reading Manhattanhenge, Manhattan Henge or Henge o’ Manhattan is back!
Review – In and Of Itself
In and Of Itself, ensconced at the Daryl Roth Theatre until mid-August is a very high concept magic show. It features Derek DelGaudio, directed by Frank Oz and produced by Neil Patrick Harris. The evening is long on meditation about identity and meaning and only fits about a half dozen illusions into the 75 minute … Continue reading Review – In and Of Itself
Review – Broadway by the Year 1956 & 1975
Broadway by the Year is essentially an show business cabaret in the 1500 seat Town Hall in midtown. Scott Siegel has put on nearly a score of these events but last night was the first time I had the chance to see one. It was terrific and I'll be looking to attend more going forward. … Continue reading Review – Broadway by the Year 1956 & 1975
Review – SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical
You may recall how distressed I am that as Broadway becomes more tourist dependent it also more closely resembles a theme park attraction where productions are geared to be flashy events that a city visitor must see on their vacation to the Big Apple. Indeed more than half the current Broadways venues are tied up … Continue reading Review – SpongeBob SquarePants the Broadway Musical
Walter Thinnes 
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