VIEWPOINTS – The Play’s Not the Only Thing: Theatergoing in 21st Century America

Last weekend, I finally had a chance to explore the game-changing Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. What struck me most about this breathtaking theater complex was its awesomely stubborn insistence that … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – New York City Ballet Dancers Take on Broadway

At the ballet in the upcoming months, you may find yourself wondering why you haven’t seen some of your favorite City Ballet principal dancers performing with their peers. It’s not … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Broadway at the Met

These days, it’s looking like the Metropolitan Opera, which opera fans refer to simply as “The Met” (not to be confused with the equally revered Metropolitan Museum of Art), is … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Gotta Dance!: Exploring Choreography in the Broadway Musical

It’s easy to overlook the importance of choreography in the Broadway musical. Good choreography should be seamlessly integrated into the overall directorial vision of the show and be a natural … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Those Summer Nights: New York Performing Arts Festival-ing

Now that summer has officially come to a close, it is a good time to look back and recap the highs and lows of the numerous performing arts festivals that … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The Top 10 Diva Moments at the Tonys

As a stage-struck kid living in upstate New York, I remember arming myself with a blank VHS videocassette prior to each of the annual Tony Awards broadcasts. Recording these broadcasts … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/28/14): Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble

Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble I spent all day this past Saturday with a series of inspired Alan Ayckbourn comedies under the umbrella the “Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble” at 59E59. The productions, which … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/26/14): A River to River Afternoon; “Fly by Night” at Playwrights Horizons

A River to River Afternoon I spent yesterday afternoon fully immersing myself in the LMCC’s River to River Festival, where I saw three performances over the course of four hours. … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/25/14): John Douglas Thompson in “Satchmo at the Waldorf”; “Tick, Tick… Boom!” courtesy of Encores! Off-Center

John Douglas Thompson in “Satchmo at the Waldorf” Better known as the theater critic for the Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout is also the author of a number of plays. … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/24/14): NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven; Robert Wilson’s “The Old Woman” at BAM

NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven The NY Philharmonic’s open rehearsal yesterday morning was a bittersweet occasion in a number of ways. Firstly, it was the great orchestra’s final open rehearsal of … Continue Reading →