THE HANGOVER REPORT – Dudamel returns, incisively leading the NY PHILHARMONIC in an homage to the symphonic form

To the delight of many music fans, the New York Philharmonic’s incoming music director Gustavo Dudamel has returned to close out the orchestra’s 2024/2025 season. The first of these Dudamel-led … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Heartbeat Opera brings intimacy, contemporary flourish, and stylish noir to Gounod’s FAUST

As one of the grandest of grand operas, it would seem that Charles Gounod’s Faust — based on the well-trodden legend about a man who sells his soul to the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Hallucinatory musical journeys: LIGHTS OUT: NAT “KING” COLE at New York Theatre Workshop and BOWL EP at the Vineyard

This past week, a pair of what can be best described as hallucinatory musical journeys opened Off-Broadway. Although seemingly disparate by categorization — one is a jukebox musical based on … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Alexander Molochnikov’s pointed production of SEAGULL: TRUE STORY works marvelously on multiple levels

On Monday night, Russian theater and film director Alexander Molochnikov’s pointed production of Seagull: True Story opened at La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club in the East Village. The piece is both adapted … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Dance roundup: CITY BALLET mostly beguiles in its contemporary choreography bill and PARSONS DANCE returns to The Joyce

Last week, I had the chance to attend a pair of dance performances that together indicated a spring dance season in full swing. As always, read on for my thoughts. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nonbinary cabaret artists come out to heal: JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND swells in “Well, Well” and JOHN JARBOE conducts a sing-along

This month’s nightlife adventures have led me to a pair of cabaret shows by uncompromising nonbinary talents, both of whom sought to provide solace in these unsettled times. As always, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Breslin and Foley’s THE LAST BIMBO OF THE APOCALYPSE giddily dissects celebrity culture by way of the internet

Last night, The New Group’s production of The Last Bimbo of the Apocalypse opened Off-Broadway at the Pershing Square Signature Center. Created by Michael Breslin and Patrick Foley — the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Women on the verge: Caitlin Saylor Stephens’ FIVE MODELS IN RUINS, 1981 and Natalie Margolin’s ALL NIGHTER

The young women in Kimberly Belflower’s terrific John Proctor Is the Villain aren’t the only women going through onstage breakdowns. This week, I was able to catch two Off-Broadway plays … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Norm Lewis digs deep in the hard-hitting revival of Lonne Elder III’s rarely performed CEREMONIES IN DARK OLD MEN

This past weekend at the Theatre at St. Clement’s, I had the opportunity to attend a performance of Peccadillo Theater Company’s revival of Lonne Elder III’s rarely performed Ceremonies in … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Revisiting classic musicals: Encores! revival of WONDERFUL TOWN and Roundabout’s rejiggered PIRATES! THE PENZANCE MUSICAL

This spring, two productions of well known musicals attempt to make a case for arguably creaky material, thereby exhibiting just how much leeway there is in the act of reviving … Continue Reading →