Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater performs "The Holy Blues" at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (photo courtesy of the company).

THE HANGOVER REPORT – AILEY returns to BAM with a spirituality-fueled bill, including a world premiere by Jawole Willa Jo Zollar

This week, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has returned to the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House. For this relatively short late spring engagement (performances conclude this Sunday), … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A pair of Off-Broadway revivals dissect human yearning: William Inge’s BUS STOP at CSC and Sarah Ruhl’s EURYDICE at Signature

This past week, I was able to catch a pair of Off-Broadway revivals that seek to unpack and dissect the throbbing ache that is human yearning. As per usual, read … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – John Adams’ operatic adaptation of ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA faithfully channels Shakespeare but makes for unfocused opera

This week at the Metropolitan Opera, I finally caught up with John Adams’ operatic adaptation of Shakespeare’s Antony and Cleopatra. Adams’ new two act opera follows in the footsteps of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – CHIAROSCURO interrogates the correlation between beauty and skin tone in the Black community

Last night downtown at The Flea, I caught the world premiere play Chiaroscuro: A Light and Dark Skin Comedy by Black Arts Movement writer Aishah Rahman. Presented by National Black … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – June is bustin’ out all over: Ten shows to see this Pride Month

After a dreary, rainy lead-in, can you believe we’ve once again found ourselves in sunny June? That means Pride Month is upon us! In no particular order, here are my … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Dance roundup: Ayodele Casel reminisces on her roots in THE REMIX and Ballet Hispanico brings back CARMEN.MAQUIA

This week in dance, I was able to catch tap master Ayodele Casel reminisce on her roots at The Joyce Theater and Ballet Hispanico dance a full length story ballet … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Amber Iman shimmers in the enjoyable, by-the-numbers new musical GODDESS at The Public Theater

This spring, the long-in-gestation musical Goddess has arrived at The Public Theater’s storied Newman Theater. Featuring a score by theater veteran Michael Thurber and a book co-written by The Public’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The old and the new guard at 54 Below: UTE LEMPER sings Kurt Weill, ANNA ZAVELSON & HENRY PATTERSON epitomize youthful optimism

Over the past week or so, I’ve augmented my regularly scheduled performing arts programming to take in some wonderful cabaret entertainment at 54 Below. Read on for my thoughts on … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Off-Broadway roundup: Summerworks kicks off with BUSINESS IDEAS and THE UNITED STATES VS ULYSSES at Irish Arts Center

This past holiday weekend, I stayed in town and took in a pair of new Off-Broadway plays, both of which have been beautifully produced and provided rich food for thought. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Dance roundup: Bill T. Jones’s CURRICULUM III: PEOPLE, PLACES & THINGS and Kyle Abraham’s WHEN WE FELL for City Ballet

In the world of dance, two of this past week’s highlights included the latest Bill T. Jones dance theater piece, as well as the live in-person version of a streamed … Continue Reading →