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

“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

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

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