VIEWPOINTS – St. Ann’s Warehouse digs into its archives to shed light on Lou Reed’s legacy: SONGS FOR DRELLA & BERLIN

For two consecutive weeks, St. Ann’s Warehouse has dug into its archives to shed light on the late Lou Reed – whose storied career spanned decades and included fronting the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Daniel Kitson (DOT. DOT. DOT.), Dael Olandersmith (UNTIL THE FLOOD), and Bill Irwin (ON BECKETT / IN SCREEN) shine considerably in their timely solo shows

This past week, I streamed an uncommonly strong trio of solo performances, all of them timely to our current predicament. Here are my thoughts. DOT. DOT. DOT.Daniel KitsonLawrence Batley Theatre … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A roundup of recent in-person performances: Derek Fordjour’s FLY AWAY, Brookfield Place’s ENCOUNTERS, and ELLEN’S STARDUST DINER

When it comes to live, in-person performances, New York continues to exhibit — albeit minimally — signs of life. Here’s a roundup of my thoughts on some recent, pandemic-friendly experiences. … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Catching up with some marquee dance companies: New works by the Royal Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, and Mark Morris Dance Group

This week, I streamed a couple of relatively new works from a trio of marquee dance companies. Here are my thoughts. THE ROYAL BALLET One of the dance-makers I’ve gradually … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – This fall, Joshua William Gelb’s THEATER IN QUARANTINE continues to churn out nuggets of wonderment

One of the most distinctive products of pandemic-era theater has been Joshua William Gelb’s Theater in Quarantine series. Shot almost entirely from the performance artist’s 2′ x 4′ x 8’ … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Remote immersive theater, a roundup: X (Part One: The Insidious), A THOUSAND WAYS (Part One: A Phone Call), and ESCHATON

Immersive theater need not involve physical contact with fellow human beings. Since the pandemic severely restricted in-person theater, proprietors of interactive entertainment have ingeniously adapted to the new normal, as … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Mentalist Jason Suran’s RECONNECTED focuses squarely on astonishment and the performer-audience connection

Last night, Jason Suran’s new virtual show Reconnected opened. Those of you who have been exposed to the mentalist experience probably know what to expect. Shows like Derren Brown’s Secret … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Joe’s Pub’s thoughtfully curated fall programming includes memorable performances by Kiki & Herb, Toshi Reagon, and Samora Pinderhughes

I miss Joe’s Pub. With its long and impressive track record of presenting the cutting edge in cabaret, the atmospheric supper club has established itself as one of the indisputable … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: Re-engaging with Chicago theater via Steppenwolf’s WHAT IS LEFT, BURNS and the Roustabouts’ PUT YOUR HOUSE IN ORDER

One of the silver linings of the pandemic is that it has made theatergoing more democratic. Indeed, the lockdown has allowed many theater fans the opportunity to sample – mostly … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Streaming Diary: RUSSIAN TROLL FARM and a pair of past West End shows (FROM HERE TO ETERNITY & BEING SHAKESPEARE)

Here are my thoughts on recently-streamed theater content. RUSSIAN TROLL FARM: A WORKPLACE COMEDYTheaterWorks Hartford / TheatreSquared / The Civilians Just in time for last week’s U.S. presidential election was … Continue Reading →