THE HANGOVER REPORT – The sensational Adrienne Warren dazzles in the otherwise merely mediocre TINA: THE TINA TURNER MUSICAL

Last night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, the latest in the seemingly endless parade of jukebox bio-musicals opened on Broadway. That would be Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, the British import that’s … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – “The Scottish Play” two-ways (or maybe three or four): CSC’s MACBETH, Roundabout’s SCOTLAND, PA, etc.

This fall in New York, “The Scottish Play” is all the rage, as evidenced by two high profile productions of and inspired by the Shakespeare tragedy that recently opened Off-Broadway. At … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Liza Birkenmeier’s DR. RIDE’S AMERICAN BEACH HOUSE endearingly depicts women fumbling their way into their own

Last night, Liza Birkenmeier’s Dr. Ride’s American Beach House opened Off-Broadway at the Greenwich House Theater, courtesy of the always adventurous folks at Ars Nova. Set in June 1983 in Missouri, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Two Irish playwrights remind us why they are masters: Conor McPherson’s DUBLIN CAROL & Brian Friel’s MOLLY SWEENEY

Over the past month or so, New Yorkers have been privy to two very fine Off-Broadway revivals of semi-forgotten plays from the 1990s by two well regarded Irish playwrights, Conor … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Hurricane Esparza strikes again in SEARED, Theresa Rebeck’s rock solid comedy about the restaurant industry

Over the years, playwright Theresa Rebeck has become one of the most reliable and steadfast writers currently working in theater. For nearly three decades now, it seems that not a … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – BAM’s Next Wave continues with a barrage of ninja-like, boundary-pushing offerings (and not all of them involve live performance)

Last week saw BAM’s 2019 Next Wave — so far — at its most daringly eclectic via a barrage of short, ninja-like productions. Collectively (if not individually), they pushed the boundaries of … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Byrne’s AMERICAN UTOPIA on Broadway is the jolt of euphoric optimism we all need

What’s the unlikeliest musical theater success story so far of this relatively young Broadway season? My pick would be David Byrne’s American Utopia, which is currently playing at the Hudson Theatre. Mr. Byrne … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – POWER STRIP & ZAUBERLAND: Lincoln Center mounts a pair of nightmarish productions documenting the Syrian refugee experience

Perhaps unintentionally, Lincoln Center has mounted a pair of strikingly compatible productions – one a play, the other essentially a “concept opera” – that bleakly convey the Syrian refugee experience, notably from … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Zawe Ashton’s FOR ALL THE WOMEN WHO THOUGHT THEY WERE MAD is an observant, harrowing immigration play that’s also a bit overwrought

This past weekend, Zawe Ashton’s new play for all the women who thought they were Mad opened Off-Broadway at Soho Rep. Apart from her work here as a playwright, the multi-talented Ms. Ashton … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Richard Nelson’s THE MICHAELS quietly stuns, continuing the excellence established by his previous “family” plays

Yesterday, the latest of Richard Nelson’s intimate family portraits opened Off-Broadway at the Public Theater. Having quietly stunned audiences over the last decade with his stealthy “state of the nation … Continue Reading →