VIEWPOINTS – PROTOTYPE shocks and awes its way to a triumphant 2016 edition

Since the demise of Dicapo Opera Theatre and New York City Opera (33 years and 70 years in operation, respectively!), it seemed that the hulking Met would have to shoulder … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A look back at some of the performing arts festivals that never failed to challenge, enrich (and frustrate) me

For me, one of the most exciting aspects of attending live performance is the prospect of being exposed to new forms of expression, combinations, and perspectives. In the city, no … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Opera is thriving in the unlikeliest of places

The common perception of opera is that it is a static art form, mostly stuck in the past in largely museum-piece productions. However, four productions I caught recently have put … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Two Off-Broadway musicals push the limits of the form

After recently sitting through the backward-looking musicals Trip of Love and Rothschild & Sons, I am happy to report the opening of two new Off-Broadway tuners that are pushing the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The rechristened MasterVoices produces a sparkling PIRATES

Last night I was treated to a sparkling concert performance of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance (or the Slave of Duty) at City Center, courtesy of the recently … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met unleashes a sublime TANNHÄUSER

Last night, I caught what is surely one of the highlights of the current Met season – this fall’s revival of Otto Schenk’s ultra traditional 1977 staging of Wagner’s Tannhäuser, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The Met’s new OTELLO delivers when it counts

Last night I caught Bartlett Sher’s brooding if uneven new production of Verdi’s powerful Otello at the Met. Sher’s production worked best on a bare stage with his singers, along … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – My 20 Pet Peeves When Attending Live Performances (reblog)

[In light of the recent events concerning theater etiquette, or the lack thereof (most notably Patti LuPone’s remarkable and much warranted flip-out over cell phone use at a recent performance … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – 2015 London Theater Trip: A Recap

As some of you may know, I recently returned from a London theater trip. As a devout theater and performing arts fan, I was in heaven. London rivals my hometown … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – April 1, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Putting the play back into play. The folks at Bedlam are back to their high jinxing with their delightful repertory productions of Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. That’s … Continue Reading →