THE HANGOVER REPORT – Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz’s anticipated new musical THIS AIN’T NO DISCO is a tone deaf, unintentional parody

Last night, Stephen Trask and Peter Yanowitz’s anticipated new musical This Ain’t No Disco opened at the Linda Gross Theater, courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company. Set in 1979 New York City, it … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – I’m eating my hat: DESPERATE MEASURES has struck musical comedy gold

I had a different impression of the new musical Desperate Measures when I saw it last fall within the intimate confines of the York Theatre Company’s subterranean home underneath the Citicorp building. Then … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Andrus Nichols shines in a rare revival of THE SAINTLINESS OF MARGERY KEMPE by John Wulp

Over the weekend, I caught a performance of Austin Pendleton’s revival of John Wulp’s rarely-performed 1959 play The Saintliness of Margery Kempe Off-Broadway at The Duke on 42nd Street. The … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT The Leiber and Stoller jukebox musical SMOKEY JOE’S CAFE is revived by Joshua Bergasse, and it’s fast and furious

One of the forefathers of the jukebox musical returned to New York last night. That’s right, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, the 1995 musical featuring the immortal pop hits of the songwriting team … Continue Reading →

OUT AND ABOUT – THE LOST SUPPER, an immersive dining experience at the McKittrick Hotel, is extended through September 8th

The McKittrick Hotel is building a dynasty of immersive experiences that rely on sustained illusions. When Punchdrunk’s Sleep No More opened its doors, I never would have guessed that it would be … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The late Yukio Ninagawa’s legendary MACBETH is an emotionally-charged, gorgeous spectacle

Last night, I took in the late Yukio Ninagawa’s legendary Japanese adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, which was first staged nearly three decades ago in 1980. The remount that has made its way to … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – MUMMENSCHANZ’s puppetry and mime-fueled YOU & ME isn’t just pure enchantment, it’s high art

Last night, I had the opportunity to take in MUMMENSCHANZ’s latest production you & me, which has been running at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater since July 4th. At the performance I … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – David vs. Goliath: Revisiting WICKED and AVENUE Q 15 years on

I recently had a chance to relive one of the most exciting Broadway musical face-offs of the last two decades. That is, the unlikely but memorable race for the Tony … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Rinne Groff’s somewhat uneven FIRE IN DREAMLAND finds stability in its trio of fine performances

Last night, Rinne Groff’s somewhat uneven but enjoyable new play Fire in Dreamland opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater. It tells the story of a frustrated young woman who is compelled … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The stage adaptation of TRAINSPOTTING is an excessive gross-out fest that’s ultimately harrowing stuff

Last night, the stage adaptation of Transpotting – based on the novel by Irvine Welsh, which was also turned into a cult favorite film by director Danny Boyle in 1996 – opened Off-Broadway at … Continue Reading →