VIEWPOINTS – High profile musicals inspired by unlikely source material: THE SEAT OF OUR PANTS and THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES

This past week saw the opening of a pair of high profile new musicals about troubled American families that are based on unlikely source material. These would be The Public … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The mysteries of Anne Washburn’s vaguely dystopian THE BURNING CAULDRON OF FIERY FIRE run deep

Also opening recently Off-Broadway this busy fall season was Vineyard Theatre and The Civilians’ co-production of The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire, playwright Anne Washburn and director Steve Cosson’s follow-up … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Michael Urie is ideally cast in a stylishly retro, fever dream staging of the Bard’s rarely staged RICHARD II

This week, Red Bull Theater’s anticipated Off-Broadway production of William Shakespeare’s Richard II opened at the Astor Place Theatre. In fact, the production is the inaugural show at the venue … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Pushing the envelope: Assessing the captivating and thought-provoking U.S. premieres of GOOD SEX and BURNT TOAST

Last week, I had the great opportunity to catch a pair of American premieres — both captivating and thought-provoking productions that push the envelope in terms of both theatrical form … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Off-Broadway musicals that aim to please by way of nostalgia: 44 THE MUSICAL and ROMY & MICHELE THE MUSICAL

This fall has seen the arrival of a handful of Off-Broadway musicals that aim to please audiences by way of nostalgia — to varying degrees of success. Two recent examples … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Martyna Majok’s reworked QUEENS returns Off-Broadway, streamlined and newly focused

Last week, a reworked version of Martyna Majok’s play Queens opened Off-Broadway at New York City Center courtesy of Manhattan Theatre Club (the play’s first New York outing was presented … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In MESSY WHITE GAYS, Drew Droege goes down the same gay rabbit hole, happily and giddily

This week at The Duke on 42nd Street, Drew Droege’s new gay romp Messy White Gays opened Off-Broadway. Best known for his comedic, gay-themed solo shows Happy Birthday Doug and Bright Colors … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Incisively sculpted portrayals that all but disappear into their subjects: RICHARD MOVE and JEN TULLOCK give performances that had me hooked

Over the past week or so, I had the great pleasure of catching incisively sculpted portrayals from two actors who all but disappeared into their respective roles. Although the plays … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Musical revivals to cherish: RAGTIME triumphantly returns to Broadway and BAT BOY tickles and prods at City Center

This fall, you’re unlikely to find two more satisfying musicals than the revivals of two works from the late 1990s — Lawrence O’Keefe’s cult musical Bat Boy: The Musical at … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Playful, fast-paced, and meta-theatrical revivals of classics: André De Shields in TARTUFFE and Gingold Group’s PYGMALION

This fall, theater-goers looking to indulge themselves in the classic Western dramatic oeuvre should pay heed to a pair of playful, fast-paced, and meta-theatrical revivals. As per usual, read on … Continue Reading →