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
Happy Birthday, Leonard in play festival!
The Player's Theater Short Play and Music Festival (with a focus on Sex!) has invited us to present my short play "Happy Birthday, Leonard" from February 22-26 in Greenwich Village. It will be directed by Pamela Wilson and feature Joan Shepard and Sophie Lauren. We are excited to be part of the Festival and have … Continue reading Happy Birthday, Leonard in play festival!
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
WBAB Cold Finger Run
Again this year I joined in on the WBAB Cold Finger Run on Long Island. Hundreds of motorcycles participate in a police escorted ride from the Cradle of Aviation Museum Center (Charles Lindbergh took off from the field on his historic flight across the Atlantic before being elected a Nazi friendly President in an alternative … Continue reading WBAB Cold Finger Run
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
Les Liaisons Dangereuses
Well it was bound to happen. With all the theater I get to see it would eventually occur again. I would leave at intermission. Very seldom do I consider doing such a thing (especially if I am paying for the tickets!). But on an exceptional evening, I am afraid it happens every decade or so. … Continue reading Les Liaisons Dangereuses
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
A Bronx Tale, the Musical
What a great show. Unlike most of the world I was not familiar with Chazz Palminteri's previous iterations of his childhood immersion in the mob world of The Bronx. He did a one man off Broadway show, a movie, a Broadway version of his one man show and has now turned it into a musical. … Continue reading A Bronx Tale, the Musical
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
Jersey Boys
Took me long enough. Finally made my way to see Jersey Boys on Broadway. One reason is that I am a Bargain Broadway Buyer. I use a couple of discount ticket sites to avoid paying full ticket prices. It means I miss a few sold out shows but I am able to see many more … Continue reading Jersey Boys
Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science on Broadway
I've fallen behind in reviewing shows I seen recently and will catch up as quickly as I can. But jumping ahead is a limited run show I saw yesterday at the Ethel Barrymore Theater in New York City - Alton Brown Live; Eat Your Science. His limited run takes him only through this weekend in … Continue reading Alton Brown Live: Eat Your Science on Broadway
New Bedford, MA (+the future of Freedom Training)
As previously noted my ten minute play "Freedom Training" was included in the 14th Annual Short Play Marathon for November 12 in New Bedford, Massachusetts. As I planned to attend I wanted to stay overnight because the event did not finish until 10:30 in the evening and it is a long drive back to NYC. I … Continue reading New Bedford, MA (+the future of Freedom Training)
“Freedom Training” in Culture*Park Marathon
Culture*Park presented a marathon reading of short plays on Saturday, November 12 at the New Bedford Whaling Museum in Massachusetts. One of the 26 selected plays was my very own "Freedom Training" which has received a workshop, a couple of readings but no productions as of yet. The event was broken up into four segments … Continue reading “Freedom Training” in Culture*Park Marathon
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
Spring Lake, New Jersey
While attending performances of my play "Your Turn to Watch Dad" by the South Street Players we stayed in the lovely little Jersey Shore town of Spring Lake. Just one night at the Hewitt Wellington Hotel. Very nice place on the shores of a nice little lake and just blocks from the beach. The surrounding … Continue reading Spring Lake, New Jersey
The 6th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival
Last weekend I attended the South Street Players' 6th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival in Spring Lake, New Jersey. My short play "Your Turn to Watch Dad" was one of nine plays presented. The Director was Dave McGrath and featured Jon Weinstein, Mary Sullivan and Kristin Mueller. They all worked hard to put on the play … Continue reading The 6th Annual Tri-State Theatre Festival
Kristen Chenoweth is Amazing!
What a terrific show, amazing voice and wonderful personality. No this has nothing to do with the coming election. This is praise for an evening well spent with Kristin Chenoweth in her show My Love Letter to Broadway. I can't remember the last time I had such a great time in the theater for a … Continue reading Kristen Chenoweth is Amazing!
Semi-Finalist in Rover Dramawerks Festival
I got word this morning that my short play "Meeting Without End" has been selected as a semi-finalist for the 2017 10-Minute Play Festival for Rover Dramawerks in Plano, Texas. It made the first cut of 37 plays from 308 submissions they received. I don't know the next steps but eventually they will probably cut … Continue reading Semi-Finalist in Rover Dramawerks Festival
Thin Mints Cereal
I am truly frightened. I have not eaten a bowl of cereal for decades. Once I figured out how to cook some bacon and a nice scrambled egg I left that reassuring milk filled bowl behind. I really haven't missed it. I have even eliminated most of my milk consumption (after building strong bones and … Continue reading Thin Mints Cereal
Plowing my south forty
Recently I purchased a Miracle-Gro AeroGarden, then I bought another. Currently in the largest, Bounty version, I have cherry tomato plants. For a while I also had lettuce, but they seeded out and the tomatoes took over. I love tomatoes and so am getting a real kick out of harvesting fresh cherry tomatoes straight into … Continue reading Plowing my south forty
Heisenberg
Amazing. If you have the opportunity you must see this play. As indicated in a previous post I was anxious to see how Simon Stephens would handle this. Had I not known he had also written The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time and Punk Rock, I would have thought they were … Continue reading Heisenberg
Walter Thinnes 
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