VIEWPOINTS – Cunning deviousness at the heart of artistic and political success: Examining the moral corruptness that fuel KYOTO and PRACTICE

This fall, Off-Broadway has delved into the heart of darkness, particularly in two new works that investigate the cunning deviousness that often fuels success and so-called progress. These would be … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jack Thorne’s deeply humanistic A CHRISTMAS CAROL returns, this time starring Michael Cerveris as Scrooge

No holiday season in the city would be complete without at least a handful of stage iterations of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol on tap. Over the last decade or … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – GOTTA DANCE! takes a nostalgic choreographic trip down memory lane through the various eras of the American musical

This week, The York Theatre and American Dance Machine’s co-production — in association with producer Riki Kane Larimer — of Gotta Dance! opened Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Jean’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Sometimes less is more: Semi-staged presentations of Jeanine Tesori’s BLUE and Marvin Hamlisch’s SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS hit the mark

In recent weeks, I attended semi-staged presentations of Jeanine Tesori’s 2019 opera Blue and Marvin Hamlisch’s underrated 2002 musical adaptation of Sweet Smell of Success. With the focus squarely on … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – From the tastefully refined to the hilariously crass: Assessing the new commercial Off-Broadway musicals REUNIONS and VAPE!

Currently on the boards of this busy fall theater season, you’ll find a pair of new musicals taking a shot at commercial success Off-Broadway. As always, read on below for … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Navigating modern masculinity: Ari’el Stachel’s OTHER, Jesse Eisenberg’s THE ZIEGFELD FILES (and new material by Daniel Sloss)

In recent weeks, I came across a trio of solo shows by Ari’el Stachel, Jess Eisenberg, and Daniel Sloss. Although each on their own failed to completely captivate — for … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Else Went’s sprawling five hour INITIATIVE is messy and excessive, just like the high school experience it painstakingly depicts

Also last night was the Off-Broadway opening of The Public Theater’s world premiere production of Initiative by Else Went (an alumnus of The Public’s Emerging Writers Group). Set in “Costal … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Who doesn’t like a rom-com?: The flawed but immensely likable two-hander musical TWO STRANGERS arrives on Broadway

Last night, the Broadway transfer of Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York) officially opened at the Longacre Theatre. Arriving on our shores on a wave of strong word … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Irish Arts Center presents Garry Hynes’ muscular, incisively-acted production of Beckett’s ENDGAME

It’s been quite the fall for Samuel Beckett, whose plays have received a number of notable New York productions over the last month or so. Given these fraught post-pandemic times … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Tom Hanks and Kelli O’Hara charm in THIS WORLD OF TOMORROW, a decidedly old fashioned time traveling romance

Last night, Tom Hanks and James Glossman’s new play This World of Tomorrow opened at The Shed in Hudson Yards. Starring Hanks and Tony-winner Kelli O’Hara, the play tells the … Continue Reading →