THE HANGOVER REPORT – The songs of WONDERFUL TOWN are effervescently showcased in the musical’s 70th anniversary concert at 54 Below

Earlier this week, I found myself at 54 Below celebrating the 70th anniversary of the 1953 musical Wonderful Town. Although arguably the least known of composer Leonard Bernstein’s trilogy of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jillian Walker’s THE WHITNEY ALBUM attempts to free the troubled pop star through ritual and the act of theater-making

This past weekend down at Off-Broadway’s Soho Rep, I caught Jillian Walker’s play The Whitney Album (Ms. Walker also stars in the piece). If you haven’t already surmised, the new … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ stealthy THE COMEUPPANCE keenly dissects mortality and human fragility via friendship

Something must be in the water these days. In recent weeks in my Off-Broadway theatergoing, I’ve encountering an uncommon plethora of new top-notch plays (catch them while you can!) that … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Paper Mill Playhouse’s tepid new production of RENT recasts the iconic musical as memory play

Down at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, NJ, you’ll currently find on the boards — just in time for Pride month — a new production of Jonathan Larson’s Rent. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Under the baton of maestro Nézet-Séguin, the mighty MET ORCHESTRA performs a glorious rendition of Brahms’ “German Requiem”

Last week for one night only, the mighty Met Orchestra performed the first of its two season-capping concerts at Carnegie Hall. Vividly led by the Metropolitan Opera’s beloved music director … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – William Jackson Harper gives a quietly stunning performance in Eboni Booth’s compelling PRIMARY TRUST

Earlier this week, I had the chance to catch up with Roundabout Theatre Company’s Off-Broadway production of Eboni Booth’s Primary Trust at the Laura Pels Theatre (the playwright was last … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In the quirky new dark comedy WET BRAIN, John J. Caswell, Jr. pungently depicts a family woefully riddled with addiction

Earlier this week, John J. Caswell, Jr.’s Wet Brain opened at Playwrights Horizons (the production is being co-produced by MCC Theater). In the same vein as Caswell’s earlier play Man … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At BAM, ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATER’s “Brooklyn Bonds” program coolly, elegantly triumphs

Last night, I attended the opening night of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s weeklong run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music’s Howard Gilman Opera House. In celebration of the company’s … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Tori Sampson’s impassioned THIS LAND WAS MADE speculatively looks back at the genesis of the Black Panther Party

Earlier this week, Tori Sampson’s This Land Was Made opened Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre. Set in Oakland in 1967, the impassioned new play in essence looks back at the genesis and … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – François Girard’s grim “new” production of DER FLIEGENDE HOLLÄNDER returns to the Met, magnificently performed

The pandemic may have been the best thing that could have happened to François Girard’s production of Der fliegende Holländer by Richard Wagner. The Metropolitan Opera’s staging – co-production with … Continue Reading →