THE HANGOVER REPORT – Nancy Harris’s heated new play THE BEACON attempts to balance juicy family drama and tense psychological thriller

This week, I finally had the opportunity to catch up with Irish Repertory Theater’s fall offering — Nancy Harris’s heated new play The Beacon, which is enjoying its North American … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In 300 PAINTINGS, Sam Kissajukian intersects mental health and the arts in a wildly imaginative act of introspection

Last night, Australian comedian Sam Kissajukian’s 300 Paintings opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. The autobiographical solo show arrives in New York after having proved to be a hit at … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Distilled Chekhov in Spanish: Guillermo Cacace’s intimate GAVIOTA gets to the heart of “The Seagull”

Last night at the flexible BAM Fisher space, I attended Gaviota, one of the offerings of this fall’s Next Wave Festival, courtesy of the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Conceived and … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Musing the legacy and enduring popularity of Elevator Repair Service’s legendary production of GATZ

This fall at the Public Theater, Elevator Repair Service has remounted its storied staging of Gatz — allegedly for the final time before retiring the legendary production. I had seen the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Kenneth Branagh leads a lucid, traditional production of Shakespeare’s newly relevant KING LEAR

This past week saw another high profile opening — the much anticipated production of William Shakespeare’s King Lear headlined by stage and film star Kenneth Branagh at The Shed. Rob … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Finding musical escapism Off-Broadway: MAMA I’M A BIG GIRL NOW and KAFKAESQUE!

To further get my mind off of recent events, I’ve turned to musical theater (among other things) to find escape. In this pursuit, I came across two Off-Broadway offerings that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Next Wave 2024 continues with Tiago Rodrigues’s provocative CATARINA AND THE BEAUTY OF KILLING FASCISTS

Last night at BAM Harvey Theater, I attended the opening performance of Catarina and the Beauty of Killing Fascists, the latest offering of Brooklyn Academy of Music’s 2024 edition of its … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Heléne Yorke and Michael Zegen navigate the spiky terrain of modern dating in STRATEGIC LOVE PLAY

Also last night, Strategic Love Play by Miriam Battye (perhaps best known for lending her writing talents to hit television shows like Succession) opened Off-Broadway at the Minetta Lane Theater, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Strong women at the helm: Amy Berryman’s WALDEN and Jenny Lyn Bader’s MRS. STERN WANDERS THE PRUSSIAN STATE LIBRARY

This week, I encountered a pair of Off-Broadway plays by women playwrights that feature strong women characters at the helm. Read on for my thoughts. WALDENSecond Stage TheaterThrough November 24 … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Assessing two deep cuts: Mint’s rare revival of SUMP’N LIKE WINGS and Gingold Theatrical Group’s revamp of THE DEVIL’S DISCIPLE

Over the years, two Off-Broadway theater companies — Mint Theater Company and Gingold Theatrical Group — have made it their mission to dust off plays on the brink of falling … Continue Reading →