VIEWPOINTS – 2018’s Best in Theater (Musicals)

  2018 was a good but not great year for musicals. A refreshing trend that I hope will continue is the seeming newfound desire to write completely new musicals (e.g., not based … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – 2018’s Best in Theater (Plays)

It’s that time of year again. As much as I find putting these types of “best of” lists together a challenging task, I find that it encourages me to take a … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Aaron Sorkin’s highly anticipated new stage adaptation of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD is solid but not revelatory

Last week, Aaron Sorkin’s highly anticipated – and controversial – world premiere stage adaptation of To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Lee’s seminal American novel about race relations in this country, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – On Broadway, RUBEN & CLAY’S Christmas modestly-scaled show is a surprisingly sweet, endearing affair

This week, Ruben & Clay’s First Annual Christmas Carol Family Fun Pageant Spectacular Reunion Show opened its holiday run at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre. As far as this type of entertainment goes, this one’s … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ivo van Hove’s breathtaking and prescient production of NETWORK roars open on Broadway, starring a sensational Bryan Cranston

Last night, Belgian auteur theater director Ivo van Hove’s bold, brash, and altogether stunning stage adaptation of Paddy Chayefsky’s 1976 film Network roared opened on Broadway at the Belasco Theatre. The … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The entertaining THE CHER SHOW is self-effacing, and the better for it

This week, the Broadway season’s second jukebox musical opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, the anticipated The Cher Show (the first to open was the under-appreciated Go-Go’s musical Head Over Heels, which … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Kerry Washington and Steven Pasquale combust in AMERICAN SON, Christopher Demos-Brown’s timely and agenda-driven new play

There’s no denying the intensity that drives American Son, the timely and agenda-driven new play by Christopher Demos-Brown which recently opened on Broadway at the Booth Theatre. Set in the middle of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Two hugely entertaining productions return for encore runs: Mike Birbiglia’s THE NEW ONE and Jocelyn Bioh’s SCHOOL GIRLS

This fall, two hugely entertaining and rewarding productions returned to New York for encore runs – Mike Birbiglia’s The New One and Jocelyn Bioh’s School Girls; Or, the African Mean Girls Play. Mr. Birbiglia’s The New … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jez Butterworth’s magnificent THE FERRYMAN has arrived on Broadway, and it’s a meaty masterpiece

I recently caught Jez Butterworth’s meaty new play The Ferryman, which has crossed the pond and arrived in New York, where it has docked at Broadway’s Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The play … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The big-hearted THE PROM is the Broadway season’s first real musical contender

Last night, the supremely cheery new Broadway musical The Prom opened at the Longacre Theatre, and I’m happy to report that it’s a total hoot. The musical, with a score by … Continue Reading →