THE STATE OF THE ARTS – March 25, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Not Just a Wagnerian Warm-Up. In preparation for next season’s highly anticipated Ring Cycle, the Washington National Opera recently flexed its considerable Wagnerian muscles at the … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – March 18, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS A Second Life for One of the Season’s Best. Stephen Adly Guirgis’s magnificent Between Riverside and Crazy, which was first staged earlier this season by the … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – March 11, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS However frustrated I was while watching the Canadian Opera Company’s production of Handel’s Semele at BAM, I still cannot get this Zhang Huan-directed and designed production … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – March 4, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The resourceful Mint Theater Company has long excelled at respectfully if dutifully dusting off forgotten classics on a dime. With Ferenc Molnar’s delightful Fashions for Men, … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – February 25, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Scott Ellis’s joyous Broadway revival of the George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart classic You Can’t Take It With You ended its limited run last weekend. … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – February 19, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The Civilians’ niche brand of the “documentary musical” is alive and well in the swell little show about the porn industry entitled Pretty Filthy playing at … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – February 11, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The New York City Ballet’s winter season continued its winning streak with last week’s one-night-only program, entitled Classic NYCB. The evening was unique in that it … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – February 6, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS The mighty Chicago Symphony Orchestra, under the confident baton of Riccardo Muti, played Carnegie Hall last weekend and showed why they’re one of the best with … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – January 28, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS I revisited Sting’s The Last Ship before it sailed off into the sunset and was left floored by the performance (the show left me cold the … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – January 21, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS Fiasco Theater’s smashing, stripped-down Off-Broadway production of Into the Woods (courtesy of Roundabout) cannot be missed. The much-loved Sondheim tuner benefits tremendously from the sheer joy … Continue Reading →