For some, as the lyric goes, the seaweed is always greener in somebody else’s lake. But for actor Kyle Taylor Parker, it’s all about relishing in your own path, and taking pride in “authentically being yourself.” His personal path has taken him to Br …Read more
It’s December 17, 1957, and we are in the audience for the taping of the last Nat King Cole show. Cole was the first African-American to host a variety show and it was groundbreaking. Although the show had some local sponsors like Rheingold Beer, it …Read more
Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of “food, glorious food” at one point or another. After all, it’s been said that food is the great …Read more
“Old Friends” is the perfect musical for lovers of Stephen Sondheim music. The show is a tribute to Sondheim who died in 2021, leaving behind an unparalleled musical legacy. There are more than 40 numbers in the show and even if you aren’t already of …Read more
Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of “food, glorious food” at one point or another. After all, it’s been said that food is the great …Read more
Sometimes I attend a show with preconceived ideas, having heard or read about it. However, I knew nothing about “Real Women Have Curves,” never having read Josefina Lopez ‘ novel or seen the 2002 movie. What a pleasant experience! Despite a few serio …Read more
Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman I am unabashedly a Jonathan Groff fan and enjoyed his work in “Spring Awakening,” “Merrily We Roll Along,” “Little Shop of Horrors,” and “Hamilton.” I even watched him in a straight role as an FBI agent, pro …Read more
The spirited Pirates! player picks her favorite food spots for before or after a show. Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of “food, g …Read more
John Proctor is the Villain At the end of Arthur Miller’s classic play, “The Crucible,” protagonist John Proctor refuses to lie, even to save his own life. Overwhelmed by what he is being asked to do, he exclaims, “I have given you my soul; leave me …Read more
In 1890, Oscar Wilde wrote a story about a young handsome man who has his portrait painted. He then makes a Faustian bargain, trading his soul for the picture to age, wrinkle and grow ugly instead of his body. This allows the youth to live a dissolut …Read more
Set in a struggling barbershop in Harlem,in the 1950’s, “Ceremonies in Dark Old Men” by Lonnie Elder III focuses on the family of Russell B. Parker (a fine Norm Lewis) and his adult children. Parker’s business was unsuccessful so his wife worked to s …Read more
Floyd Collins “Truth is stranger than fiction” goes the old expression, and some of the most intriguing stories come directly from the headlines. In the early 1920’s many men explored the Kentucky caves, hoping to attract tourists to pay to visit the …Read more
If you are expecting one of your favorite TV shows, complete with its competitive divas and love stories in the new version of SMASH at the Imperial Theatre, you might be disappointed since the Broadway version is very different. The 2012 TV show whi …Read more
Broadway is always looking for a family friendly musical, one with kid and tourist appeal, and this season the musical is “Boop! The Musical.” Few young people know Betty Boop, the animated character from the 1930’s. Her look is distinctive: she’s a …Read more
If producers ever had any doubt of a celebrity’s effect on the box office, they need only look at this current theater season to see ticket prices. Popular movie star George Clooney is packing the Winter Garden Theatre and premium tickets are going f …Read more
If you’ve seen the original David Mamet play or the movie version of “GlenGarry Glen Ross,” forget it and approach this revival with a fresh mind. Don’t compare the present cast to Al Pacino, Jonathan Pryce and Jack Lemmon or consider what makes it d …Read more
The phrase “the sins of the father are visited upon the son” suggests that parents’ actions can severely impact their children. In the new adaptation by Mark O’Rowe of Henrik Ibsen’s “Ghosts” at Lincoln Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater, parents’ choic …Read more
Composer-lyricist Jonathan Larson died before achieving success. He posthumously received three Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for his groundbreaking musical “Rent”. The musical began Off- Broadway in 1996, but tragically, Larson died f …Read more
What a delight it was to be an audience member for the NYC’s Children’s Theater production of “Pocket Park Kids.” Playwrights Anika Larsen and Orlando Bishop bring an interactive show, targeted for children ages 5-10, developed from themes inspired b …Read more
The “beheaded” Six the Musical standout details her fave food spots for before or after a show. Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit different, like Oliver and his clan of orphan boys, we’ve all fallen into a daze dreaming of …Read more
“It’s really hard to do anything when you don’t have much to look forward to. Because then you’re just stuck in the present. There’s nothing to do in the present. It’s here and then it’s gone. The present can be so… empty. So random. Something to loo …Read more
How would you react after a terrible personal tragedy? Would you slip into a deep depression? In the new musical “Redwood” directed by Tina Landau at the Nederlander Theater, Idina Menzel’s Jesse rushes to get as far away as possible from her pain. I …Read more
It’s hard to imagine our mothers’ lives when they were young women. What were their plans, goals, dreams? Do they have regrets? This is the premise of Bess Wohl’s new play, Liberation, presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, as the playwright envisi …Read more
It’s not easy for an adult to learn a new language. If you ever tried, you will connect with the characters in “English” the 2023 Pulitzer Prize-winning play for Drama by playwright Sanaz Toossi now presented by Roundabout Theatre Company. Each of th …Read more
“I do. Now, I’m done!” Such is the sharp and straightforward tagline used for My First Ex-Husband, the raucous romp detailing marriages gone awry, from the fervent pen of The View host Joy Behar. Divulging tales that range from their man being in the …Read more
Some Broadway musicals are classics, revived over and over again. And then there are the divas, the performers who create the starring roles. If you are lucky enough to see them, you will witness unforgettable performances. This year’s outstanding re …Read more
The Board of Directors of Eureka Day school, a private school in upscale Berkeley, California, prizes inclusivity above all else. So no issues will be resolved without complete agreement. “We only make decisions by consensus,” says Meiko, a member of …Read more
The effervescent elves of the ensemble share their favorite spots to eat before or after a show, as well as must-see New York holiday hotspots in this special edition of our series. Though we understand their circumstances may have been a bit differ …Read more
Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice” is considered a ‘problem’ play with its ambiguous tone, shifting from humor to dark elements in the person of one of the central characters, the Jewish Shylock. No matter what Shylock does, he is teased and mock …Read more
It’s the weekend before Christmas and the airports are crowded with folks heading home for the holidays. But Not everyone is looking forward to getting together with the family. Despite the Christmas rituals and music, the grown up Dahl children in “ …Read more
