VIEWPOINTS – PROTOTYPE shocks and awes its way to a triumphant 2016 edition

Since the demise of Dicapo Opera Theatre and New York City Opera (33 years and 70 years in operation, respectively!), it seemed that the hulking Met would have to shoulder … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The Public’s UNDER THE RADAR Festival continues to push the boundaries of storytelling

It’s that time of year again. January in New York means an almost overwhelming plethora of experimental theater via a number of adventurous theater festivals. Under the Radar, the Public … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Roundabout’s NOISES OFF hilariously lives up to its reputation

Michael Frayn’s Noises Off has been famously touted the funniest play ever written. Now that’s quite a statement to live up to. Indeed, in the wrong hands, Mr. Frayn’s farce-within-a-farce … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Red Bull Theater’s visceral revival of THE CHANGELING doesn’t shy away from the dark stuff

For a number of years now, Red Bull Theater has been making a name for itself for mounting highly charged revivals of oft-overlooked dramas, particularly of the Jacobean ilk. Their … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Steve Martin and Edie Brickell’s BRIGHT STAR sounds great but struggles to tell its story

I recently had a chance to take a sneak peak at the Broadway-bound Bright Star, a new – but old fashioned – musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, at … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A look back at some of the performing arts festivals that never failed to challenge, enrich (and frustrate) me

For me, one of the most exciting aspects of attending live performance is the prospect of being exposed to new forms of expression, combinations, and perspectives. In the city, no … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A pair of closing performances displays the highs and lows of dance

Yesterday afternoon at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater, I was lucky enough to squeeze in the final performance of New York City Ballet’s much admired (and rightfully so) version … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The recent crop of new musicals proves the elusiveness of the art form

When developing a new musical, some sort of alchemy and luck are invariably involved. That’s because there really is no set formula when it comes to creating an artistically and/or … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – This fall, a trio of delicious adaptations were a hit with audiences (including myself)

Theater, like most art forms, is heavily influenced by what has come before. Some really iconic shows quickly come to mind: West Side Story (based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet), … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jordan Harrison’s MARJORIE PRIME quietly and compellingly picks up where OUR TOWN left off

There’s a wonderful scene in the third act of Thonton Wilder’s Our Town in which Emily, recently deceased, chooses to revisit a day in her childhood. She’s frustrated and saddened … Continue Reading →