THE NOTEBOOK (6/19/14): Norm Lewis in “Phantom”; Farewell to “After Midnight”

Norm Lewis in “Phantom” Yesterday afternoon, I swung by the Majestic Theater to catch a matinee performance of the long-running “The Phantom of the Opera”, which I’ve seen more times … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/18/14): Bronfman rehearses Beethoven; Revisiting La McDonald in “Lady Day”; Alvin Ailey (Program A)

Bronfman rehearses Beethoven I started off my day at the Avery Fisher Hall for my weekly visit to the NY Philharmonic‘s open rehearsal session. For only $20, it’s a great … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – If These Walls Could Talk, and They Do

Setting aside Brecht, one of the key tenets of attending theater is the act of suspending disbelief. Indeed, the stereotypical theater is designed to accommodate this surrender to the world … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A Recap of My London Performing Arts Adventures

Over the past week-and-a-half, I had the great privilege of re-immersing myself in the rich, varied performing arts scene in London and beyond. What still strikes me about the scene … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – 2014 Tony Predictions

It’s that time of year again. That’s right, it’s Tony time! With less than two weeks to go until the 68th Annual Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall, it’a … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Impressions of Cirque du Soleil Over the Years

This past weekend, I caught a performance of “Amaluna”, the latest Cirque du Soleil tent show to grace the New York area. As I exited the big top set up … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The Collateral Damage of Getting Things Done (or the US Two-Party System)

Change is a bitch. This is especially true of American politics in the modern era. This season, two solidly-built new American plays effectively dramatize the painful swings of the pendulum … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: Hedwig, Superstar!

“Ladies and Gentlemen, whether you like it or not … HEDWIG!” So begins “Hedwig and the Angry Inch”, a show that has become one of the unlikeliest success stories in … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: Using Traditional Ballet Vocabulary to Inform Fresh Visions

Over the weekend, the New York City Ballet concluded its exploration of 21st century choreographers, which included the likes of Peter Martins, Alexei Ratmansky, William Forsythe, Angelin Preljocaj, Christopher Wheeldon, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: A Look-Back at the 2013-2014 Metropolitan Opera Season

As the 2013-214 Met season accelerates towards its conclusion next week, now would seem to be a fitting time to look back and recount the good and the bad that … Continue Reading →