VIEWPOINTS – Working through grief through song: Taking a look at Ruthie Ann Miles’ PERFECT IMPERFECT and the Bengsons’ MY JOY IS HEAVY

For practitioners of music theater, arguably the best way to process emotional trauma is through their craft, particularly through song and the act of storytelling. This therapeutic exercise was exemplified … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Led by a jaw-dropping Jasmine Amy Rogers, the Encores! revival of LaChiusa’s THE WILD PARTY is drop dead thrilling

Currently over at New York City Center, you’ll find an absolutely drop dead thrilling Encores! revival of The Wild Party. Here’s some background. Somehow way back during the 1999-2000 theater … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE concludes a somewhat truncated spring season anchored by a pair of story ballets

Anchored by a pair of story ballets, American Ballet concluded its somewhat truncated spring season this past weekend at the David H. Koch Theater. I was able to attend two … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Solo play revivals powered by masterful performances: Jesse Tyler Ferguson in TRU, Daniel Radcliffe in EVERY BRILLIANT THING

This past week, I had the privilege of basking in the masterful performances of two A-list actors of stage and screen — both Tony-winners — who have taken existing vehicles … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Downtown stalwarts still at it: Wallace Shawn & André Gregory’s MOTH DAYS, and Martha Clarke & John Kelly’s BUGHOUSE

Currently Off-Broadway, you’ll find a pair of productions that find stalwart downtown theater-makers — namely Wallace Shawn, André Gregory, Martha Clarke, and John Kelly — still at it. Here are … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jesús I. Valles’s SPREAD is a achingly candid glimpse into the fragile psyches of adolescent high school boys

One of the things I value most about going to the theater is the opportunity to be among the first to be exposed to works by up-and-coming playwrights, as well … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A night at the opera for the ages: The Met’s new production of TRISTAN UND ISOLDE hits mystical heights

Earlier this week, I caught up with the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Tristan und Isolde, one of Richard Wagner’s defining works and a reason for swooning for many an … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Fiercely feminist plays with a focus on reclaiming women’s bodies: Anna Ziegler’s take on ANTIGONE and Aya Ogawa’s MEAT SUIT

In recents weeks of my Off-Broadway theater going, I encountered a pair of fiercely feminist plays that centered on the reclamation of women’s bodies from a world that seems determined … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Classical music roundup: Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla conducts the NY PHILHARMONIC, the PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA conjures a mighty Mahler “Resurrection”

Over the past week or so, I took in a pair of notable concerts performed by the New York Philharmonic and the Philadelphia Orchestra at, respectively, David Geffen Hall at … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nightlife roundup: JOHN PIZZARELLI pays homage to Tony Bennett, PAULO SZOT dazzles with his baritone and charisma

In recent days, I found myself drawn to the nightclub performances of a pair of utter professionals — both in possession of innate leading men vibes — at two of … Continue Reading →