THE STATE OF THE ARTS – October 22, 2014

RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER – One of the small gems of the fall theater season and a complete surprise from left field. “January” is an uneven play, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – We’re All In This Together: The Centrality of the Audience in Performance

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been deeply moved by a number of performances that, when considering only the text, have very little to do with one another. Indeed, what … 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 →

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 →

VIEWPOINTS – My 20 Pet Peeves When Attending Live Performances

We’ve all experienced it. You treat yourself to a Broadway show at $150 a pop. And then. The annoying cellophane candy wrappers. The theater patrons who chat amongst themselves as … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/18/14): Bronfman rehearses Beethoven; Revisiting La McDonald in “Lady Day”; Alvin Ailey (Program A)

Bronfman rehearses Beethoven I started off my day at the Avery Fisher Hall for my weekly visit to the NY Philharmonic‘s open rehearsal session. For only $20, it’s a great … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A Recap of My London Performing Arts Adventures

Over the past week-and-a-half, I had the great privilege of re-immersing myself in the rich, varied performing arts scene in London and beyond. What still strikes me about the scene … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: A Look-Back at the 2013-2014 Metropolitan Opera Season

As the 2013-214 Met season accelerates towards its conclusion next week, now would seem to be a fitting time to look back and recount the good and the bad that … Continue Reading →

REPORT CARD: Catching up with the Great Dames of the Chicago Performing Arts Scene

This past holiday weekend, I had the privilege of spending some time in Chicago, a city in which I had spent more than a decade of my adult life. Of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: The Frugal New York Theatergoer

After getting a sense of how many performances I attend, most people tend to ask: “How are you able to afford it all?” For the record, I am (currently) NOT … Continue Reading →