THE HANGOVER REPORT – The late Michael Friedman’s lovely, mature score is the highlight of UNKNOWN SOLDIER

Last night, Michael Friedman and Daniel Goldstein’s new musical Unknown Soldier opened Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. For those of you who don’t know, Michael Friedman – a musical theater composer and lyricist … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: “Mommy Dearest” in Hell’s Kitchen: Ma-Yi remounts Haruna Lee’s SUICIDE FOREST and MCC presents C.A. Johnson’s ALL THE NATALIE PORTMANS

Currently in Hell’s Kitchen, two Off-Broadway theater companies are putting on plays that respectively depict strained mother-daughter relationships, fiendishly calling to mind the infamous 1981 film Mommie Dearest. First up is Ma-Yi Theater Company’s … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jillian Walker’s unruly SKINFOLK excavates blackness, amorphously but with soul

This past weekend, I caught Jillian Walker’s SKiNFoLK at the Bushwick Starr in Brooklyn. The new, loosely autobiographical concept musical (for a lack of a better term) is being presented in collaboration with the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The incomparable NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER unveils three intriguing and eclectic U.S. premieres

This weekend, the internationally-revered Nederlands Dans Theater 1 concluded its weeklong run at New York City Center. Founded in 1959, the visionary and adventurous dance company has become iconic for … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – DANIIL TRIFONOV dazzles in a masterful all-Bach recital

This week, I had the great privilege of catching Russian pianist Daniil Trifonov perform an all-Bach program at Alice Tully Hall. The sold-out, one-night-only concert (presented in association with the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan’s GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY ravishes despite its unsparing bleakness

Last night, Conor McPherson and Bob Dylan’s musical Girl From the North Country landed on the Great White Way at the Belasco Theatre. The new musical arrives on Broadway after having … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – BALLET VLAANDEREN debuts at the Joyce with a savvily-programmed bill

This week, the Joyce Theater for the first time plays host to Ballet Vlaanderen, which began its residency at the Chelsea dance venue last night. It’s an important time for the Belgian dance company – also … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The music-soaked COAL COUNTRY is documentary theater of the highest order

This week saw the opening of yet another Off-Broadway show, the Public Theater’s production of Coal Country. The new play with music – written by Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen and … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Richard Greenberg’s new comedy THE PERPLEXED unfortunately lives up to its title

Last night, Richard Greenberg’s new drawing room comedy The Perplexed opened Off-Broadway at New York City Center in a production by Manhattan Theatre Club. The world premiere play by Mr. Greenberg – whose Tony-winning Take … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – For its new productions of Handel’s AGRIPPINA & Wagner’s DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER, the Met turns to a pair of tried-and-true directors

Over the last few weeks, the Metropolitan Opera unveiled two new productions. I’m happy to report that both are noteworthy and thought-provoking efforts, the result of two brilliant directors tastefully … Continue Reading →