VIEWPOINTS – Propelling drama through movement: Luke Murphy’s SCORCHED EARTH at St. Ann’s Warehouse and YOAH at New Victory

When it comes to theater, many of us often times underestimate how integral of a role movement can play in conveying story and character. In two shows I recently caught … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Women as tough as nails in John Patrick Shanley’s THE PUSHOVER and Libby Carr’s CALF SCRAMBLE

Then currently Off-Broadway, you’ll find a pair of uncompromising — albeit uneven — new dramas by John Patrick Shanley and Libby Carr, respectively, that depict women across a spectrum of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Nightlife roundup: The great KURT ELLING at Birdland and a madcap evening of MICHAEL SHAW FISHER songs make for rousing nightcaps

Over the past week or so, I’ve had the opportunity of capping off a few of my nights with rousing late night shows at some of the city’s beloved cabaret … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Commercial gleam on 42nd Street: GOTTA DANCE! at Stage 42 and BLOOD/LOVE at Theater 555

For those seeking opulence in their Off-Broadway theater outings, there are a pair of shows on 42nd Street that may fit the bill. Read on below for my thoughts on … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Off-Off-Broadway, intimate solo shows of note: Anthony Rapp in TOUCH and John Kevin Jones in KILLING AN EVENING

More often than not, I find that the intimate settings bring out the best in one person shows, giving viewers close up vantage points from which to access the storytelling … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Off-Broadway musicals that think outside the box: The return of MEXODUS, Milo Cramer’s NO SINGING IN THE NAVY

This spring, you’ll find a pair of unconventional Off-Broadway musicals that have caught theatergoers’ imaginations precisely because of their willingness to think outside the box. Read on for my thoughts … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Marin Alsop leads yet another satisfying outing by the PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA at Carnegie Hall

Last week, the terrific Philadelphia Orchestra, led by conductor Marin Alsop, returned to Carnegie Hall for one night only. The focal point of Alsop’s 2025–2026 Perspectives series and the United … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Using music to clarify and comment on the drama at hand: HEARTBREAK HOTEL and COLD WAR CHOIR PRACTICE

In theater, music can be a powerfully expressive tool, as evidenced by two Off-Broadway plays whose central utilization of songs to heighten and comment on the drama at hand are … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Chekhov, boldly remixed: Dmitry Krymov’s UNCLE VANYA, SCENES FROM COUNTRY LIFE and Alexander Molochnikov’s SEAGULL: TRUE STORY

Earlier this week, I enjoyed a deliciously improbable doubleheader of Chekhov riffing that included spending the afternoon with Dmitry Krymov’s refocused Uncle Vanya, scenes from country life at La MaMa, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – New musicals that are throwbacks: York Theatre’s MONTE CRISTO and Maltby & Shire’s trilogy capping revue ABOUT TIME

This spring, theatergoers can essentially travel back in time by attending two new musicals whose respective craft harkens back to musicals of the 1990s and the aughts. As per usual, … Continue Reading →