VIEWPOINTS – Being Lin-Manuel Miranda: IN THE HEIGHTS: CHASING BROADWAY DREAMS & WE ARE FREESTYLE LOVE SUPREME

It seems that wherever you turn these days in the world of entertainment, there’s a good chance that you’ll come across the beaming face of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Make no mistake, I’m … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Joshua William Gelb’s altogether astonishing FOOTNOTE, John Adams’ distilled but potent EL NIÑO, and Robert Battle’s thoughtfully-rendered NO LONGER SILENT

This past week, I streamed three particularly fascinating works in the performing arts disciplines of theater, classical music, and dance. Each took artistic risks for which they were rewarded handsomely. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Thanks to Michelle Williams’ uncanny performance, the stylish FOSSE/VERDON makes for sensational, if uneven, television

Ever since Fosse/Verdon premiered on FX more than a year ago, the stylish “limited” television series has been high on my list of things to watch. Thankfully, over the last two … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Irish Rep’s devastating little COVID-19 play, Manual Cinema’s wildly inventive take on Mary Shelley’s classic, and Disney streams one of its most spirited stage musicals

Last week saw another week of eclectic “theatergoing”. Here are my reviews. THE GIFTS YOU GAVE TO THE DARK Irish Repertory Theatre Last week, I finally saw Irish Repertory Theatre’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Manual Cinema and Theater in Quarantine innovate, while Irish Rep firmly commits to nostalgia

Last week’s streamings saw two theater companies innovate, and one tightly embrace its theatrical heritage. Each of them shined. NO BLUE MEMORY: THE LIFE OF GWENDOLYN BROOKS Manual Cinema Over the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Assessing a pair of dance theater adaptations from across the pond: JEKYLL & HYDE and THE MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY

For me, one of the few perks of not having access to live theater is the opportunity to check out stage works that haven’t made it to New York (yet). … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – HOWARD is a moving documentary about the man behind LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, BEAUTY & THE BEAST, and more

Some of the most indelible memories of my childhood involve watching and re-watching, ad nauseam, a trio of Disney animated feature films from the late 1980s and early 1990s – The Little … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Week 2 of Manual Cinema’s retrospective, ROH’s Bryn Terfel-led “Dutchman”, and Robbie Fairchild beguiles in a short dance film

Here are my thoughts on the latest set of streaming adventures. Enjoy! THEATER Manual Cinema‘s 10th anniversary retrospective continued last week with The End of TV (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED), which tells the initially … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Free Stratford HD streamings conclude with an exceptionally astute TAMING OF THE SHREW

Last night, I tuned into the very last of the free streamings offered by the Stratford Festival (which has had to unfortunately cancel its highly anticipated 2020 season) during the paralyzing ongoing … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Manual Cinema kicks off its retrospective, and the Met and Royal Ballet stream classic productions of DER ROSENKAVALIER and THE SLEEPING BEAUTY, respectively

Last week, I streamed an eclectic bunch of performances. Here are my thoughts. THEATER First up was the streaming of the original 1957 broadcast of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s filmed-live-for-television version … Continue Reading →