VIEWPOINTS – Chekhov and art: Theater-makers’ endless fascination with THE SEAGULL

During the last month, New Yorkers were privy to a rare occurrence. Concurrently in the city, theatergoers were able to take in two adventurous riffs on Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Encores! powerful modern dress, color-blind 1776 makes a strong case for the musical’s relevance

Last night, I caught a very fine revival of Sherman Edwards’ Tony-winning 1776 via New York City Center’s indispensable Encores! series. The musical, which had its Broadway premiere in 1969, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Three auteurs grab hold of New York theater and opera goers’ imaginations

Cinema has long had the concept of the auteur in its vocabulary, which is defined as “a filmmaker whose personal influence and artistic control over a movie are so great … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Excellent performances lift Deirdre Kinahan’s MOMENT at Studio

Studio Theatre has long been one of the bedrocks of the Washington, DC theater scene, as well as the Logan Circle neighborhood. They continue to be just that with productions … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Roundabout’s riotous revival of THE ROBBER BRIDEGROOM is a total hoot

An unadulterated good time is to be had at the Laura Pels Theatre, where the Roundabout’s revival of Alfred Uhry and Robert Waldman’s infectious The Robber Bridegroom is now bringing … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – It’s lonely up at the top: The price of success in America

An Olympic hopeful swimmer, a country music superstar, and couple of high-powered private equity deal-makers. Currently on the boards of three celebrated Off-Broadway theater companies are a trio of compelling … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – More of the same from Mark Rylance in NICE FISH, and that’s fine by me

Over at St. Ann’s Warehouse, the odd and surreal new play Nice Fish by Mark Rylance – who also stars in the show – and Louis Jenkins is concluding its … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Two highly-anticipated shows fail to shed sufficient light on the transgender experience

Currently in New York theater, two highly-anticipated shows are valiantly attempting to articulate the transgender experience. Unfortunately, both fall short of painting wholly convincing, nuanced portraits of or sufficiently exploring … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Mint resuscitates Hazel Ellis’s juicy period drama WOMEN WITHOUT MEN

Last night, I caught Mint Theater Company’s resuscitation of Hazel Ellis’s 1938 boarding school drama (but really, a comedy of manners), Women Without Men. No, it’s not told from the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Playwriting in the first person: Dan O’Brien’s THE BODY OF AN AMERICAN and Clare Barron’s I’LL NEVER LOVE AGAIN

One of the prevailing tips given to writers of fiction is to “write what you know”. This winter, I came across two new plays that took this piece of advice … Continue Reading →