How far would you go to retain your youth? Theater and film are replete with tales of women attempting to stay young. If the woman is Maddy Ashton, an egotistical narcissistic performer, one of the two main characters in the new musical “Death Become …Read more

With his raspy gravelly voice and broad smile, trumpet-player Louis Armstrong has become an iconic figure. Yet his story is much more complex than that. The new Broadway bio-musical, “It’s A Wonderful World: The Louis Armstrong Musical,” with the boo …Read more

When people need to recharge, they take a nap or have a cup of coffee or a piece of chocolate. When the charming Helper Bots in the different quirky new musical, “Maybe Happy Ending” need a recharge, they plug their batteries into the wall. Oliver (D …Read more

In “Gypsy” three strippers explain the key to success by singing “You Gotta Get a Gimmick.” Lately that seems to be the theme of Broadway revivals. The goal is to differentiate the show from the original. And true to form the recent revival of “Sunse …Read more

They say you never forget your first time and one of the first shows I ever saw was “Once Upon a Mattress” starring comedienne Carol Burnett. It was unforgettable! Incomparable! For me, it was a wonderful introduction and the beginning of a lifelong …Read more

One problem with revivals is that creatives often feel a need to change things up. So they might use a different time, setting, storyline and sometimes even remove music. The recent revival of “Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club” starring Eddie Redmayne as …Read more

In 2002, Long Island Reads initiated a program designed to bring together readers in Nassau and Suffolk Counties to discuss a Long Island-related book. Unsurprisingly, the first book was the classic novel, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. Now …Read more

Adaptations are common in theater and often popular shows are revised and modified to reach different audiences. Shakespeare is a favorite source of material.“Hamlet” inspired “Fat Ham” and “Romeo and Juliet led to “ West Side Story” and later “& Jul …Read more

I was 14 years old when i went to the circus for the first time. I don’t recollect any of the acts, but I can remember the sideshow and even bought a souvenir ‘giant’ size ring. Overall, I recall an air of sadness that pervaded the entire day. The ne …Read more