VIEWPOINTS – A vibrant slate of offerings enliven the New York performing arts scene during these steamy dog days of summer

Who says that cultural activity dissipates in New York during the dog days of summer? To counteract this myth, I’ve come armed with a slate of happenings — most of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – For musicals, coming-of-age stories is the topic du jour this summer: The return of HEATHERS and BEAU capture theatergoers’ imagination

This summer, you’ll find a pair of traumatic coming-of-age musicals gracing the boards of Off-Broadway’s theaters — namely, the return of the musical adaptation of the cult film Heathers at … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The penetrating gaze of Molière: Assessing the Off-Broadway productions of THE IMAGINARY INVALID and PROSPEROUS FOOLS

Last weekend, a pair of Off-Broadway plays inspired by the works of French playwright Molière closed up shop. Here is my assessment of them in hindsight. THE IMAGINARY INVALIDNew World … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Playing with immersive theatrical forms: Punchdrunk’s VIOLA’S ROOM at The Shed and Hermès’ MYSTERY AT THE GROOMS’

A few weeks ago, I had the chance to dive into the world of The Death of Rasputin, an immersive theatrical happening that recreated the Bolshevik Revolution on Governors Island … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Boys misbehaving: Emmanuelle Mattana’s TROPHY BOYS and Abby Rosebrock’s LOWCOUNTRY

Currently on the boards in the city, you’ll be able to catch a pair of Off-Broadway plays that dissect male misbehavior from disparate perspectives. As always, read on for my … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Solo shows as group therapy sessions: NSangou Njikam in A FREEKY INTRODUCTION and Julia Masli in HA HA HA HA HA HA HA

Over the past week or so, I encountered two solo shows that doubled as group therapy sessions. In A Freeky Introduction and Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha, both … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Recalibrated Off-Broadway revivals of classic plays: August Strindberg’s CREDITORS and Sophie Treadwell’s MACHINAL

Over the past week or so, I was able to catch a pair of Off-Broadway revivals of classic plays that have been thoughtfully recalibrated for contemporary audiences. As always, read … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Queers past, present, and future: BLOOD, SWEAT & QUEERS; MY SON’S A QUEER (BUT WHAT CAN YOU DO?); and PRINCE FAGGOT

Now that we’re well into Pride Month, it’s about time that I start assessing the wide spectrum of LGBTQ+ themed plays that are currently gracing ours stages. Three of these … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Join the uprising: Revolutionary vibes fuel the immersive DEATH OF RASPUTIN and the freewheeling COUNTERFEIT OPERA

Now with the 2024/2025 Broadway season firmly behind us, the focus has officially turned to this year’s crop of early summer theater offerings, of which two productions have been capturing … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jean Smart cuts deep as an aspiring writer in Jamie Wax’s otherwise pedestrian solo show CALL ME IZZY

Last night, Jean Smart (perhaps most recognizable to audiences as Deborah Vance in Hacks or Charlene Frazier in Designing Women) consummated her return to the boards of the Great White … Continue Reading →