THE HANGOVER REPORT – A propulsive LA TRAVIATA at the Met, led by a vocally resplendent Aleksandra Kurzak

I recently had a chance to revisit Michael Mayer’s production of Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata at the Metropolitan Opera. Upon reassessment, I remain lukewarm to the year-old production and still do miss Willy … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Susan Graham returns to New York in a stirring evening-length concert inspired by Schumann’s FRAUENLIEBE UND -LEBEN

Along with millions of other Americans, I have long had a soft spot in my heart for star mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, who this week returned to New York (she now … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Duncan Sheik’s musical adaptation of BOB & CAROL & TED & ALICE is a dreamy tone poem that resuscitates an era

Last night, Duncan Sheik, Jonathan Marc Sherman, and Amanda Green’s Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice opened Off-Broadway at the Pershing Square Signature Center via the New Group. If you haven’t … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A muscular staging of A SOLDIER’S PLAY starring David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood makes for gripping, relevant entertainment

I recently had the opportunity to catch A Soldier’s Play by Charles Fuller at the American Airlines Theatre, courtesy of Roundabout Theatre Company. Mr. Fuller’s play won the Pulitzer Prize for … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The spirited ROMEO & BERNADETTE is a guilty musical pleasure despite a barebones production

This past weekend at the Mezzanine Theatre at A.R.T./New York Theatres, I caught Amas Musical Theatre’s Off-Broadway premiere of Romeo & Bernadette: A Musical Tale of Verona and Brooklyn (the piece was … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In Simon Stone’s new adaptation, Rose Byrne is a MEDEA for our time, co-starring a vulnerable Bobby Cannavele

Last night at the Harvey Theater at BAM Strong, I caught Simon Stone’s loose adaptation of Medea. Mr. Stone is emerging as one of the can’t miss auteurs of the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The New York Philharmonic responds radiantly to Simone Young, who conducts Britten, Elgar, and Dean

This week saw Simone Young return to lead the New York Philharmonic for the first time in more than two decades. The talented Australian conductor, who was recently named Music … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The singular Kathryn Hunter captivates as a re-gendered TIMON OF ATHENS

Earlier this week, I caught Shakespeare’s Timon of Athens courtesy of Theatre for a New Audience – in a co-production with the Royal Shakespeare Company and Washington, DC’s Shakespeare Theatre Company … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Four tough broads: Michelle Dooley Mahon’s THE SCOURGE & Richard Maxwell’s QUEENS ROW

Over the last week, I caught two productions that featured women toughing out exceedingly difficult situations. One involves the true story of a woman who all but dedicates her life … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The talent-filled EMOJILAND is lots of fun but as two-dimensional as its namesake

Over at the Duke on 42 Street, we have the new Off-Broadway musical Emojiland: The Musical by the writing duo of Keith Harrison and Laura Schein (together, they wrote the show’s score and … Continue Reading →