VIEWPOINTS – He said, she said: Examining the nature of abuse in the return engagements of PRE-EXISTING CONDITION and THE FORD/HILL PROJECT

Abuse is a slippery topic, especially when you aren’t in the room when it occurs. When “he said, she said” hearsay testimonials become the primary evidence for determining the truth, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Solo shows with something extra to give: Roger Guenveur Smith in IN HONOR OF JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT, Helder Guimarães in THE HOPE THEORY

These days, solo shows seem almost like a dime a dozen. With so many to choose from and the perceived limitations in how to stage them, they frequently can seem … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Dabbling in participatory theater: Audience agency drives Off-Broadway’s BECOMING HAMLET and GARRY STARR CLASSIC PENGUINS

This September, you’ll find a pair of participatory Off-Broadway shows that respectively endear audiences to play a meaningful role in determining how the theatrical experience unfolds. Here are my thoughts … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A tale of two LES MIZes: The popular mega-musical gets makeovers courtesy of an arena world tour and a revitalized regional Shakespeare festival

This summer, Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s 1980s British mega-musical Les Misérables — based on Victor Hugo’s sprawling French novel of the same name — proved its continued immense popularity … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Ensconced in its stunning new permanent home, HUDSON VALEY SHAKESPEARE most satisfyingly continues to make the play the thing

This summer, I was also able to make the trek upstate to picturesque Garrison, NY to take in the theatrical offerings of Hudson Valley Shakespeare, which is in the process … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Gutsy acting more than buoys SAFE HOUSE, L.B. Browne’s contemporary riff on “Death of a Salesman”

Also during these waning days of summer, theatergoers have been privy to another grim, claustrophobic drama exploring notions of family and home. The piece in question is Safe House, L.B. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Filling in the void: Looking back at 59E59 THEATER’s eclectic summer programming

One of the things that struck me when watching The House of the Negro Insane earlier this week (my review of Terence Anthony’s pungent drama is forthcoming) is the extent to … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Laura Strausfeld’s THE REAL IVANOV truncates and puts a farcical spin on Chekhov’s early-career play, to mixed results

Anton Chekhov’s rarely-performed play Ivanov has been receiving notable attention as of late. Earlier this year, the newly-formed New American Ensemble presented a fabulously maximalist Off-Broadway revival of the play. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The stage version of PARANORMAL ACTIVITY seriously attempts to bring horror to Broadway, and it largely succeeds

Travis A. Knight and Cher Álvarez in “Paranormal Activity” at the August Wilson Theatre (photo by Matthew Murphy). And just like that, we’ve officially commenced the 2026-2027 Broadway theater season … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In the deceptively lightweight TO HAVE AND TO HOLD, Laura Lapidus dissects “Shrew” with surprising nuance for contemporary audiences

Earlier this week, Laura Lapidus’s new play To Have and to Hold opened at Theatre 154 in the West Village. As a spin on Shakespeare’s notoriously problematic The Taming of the Shrew, the … Continue Reading →