VIEWPOINTS – Star-driven plays, Off-Broadway: Robert O’Hara’s SHIT. MEET. FAN. and Kenneth Lonergan’s HOLD ON TO ME DARLING

This fall/winter season, theatergoers clamored for tickets to two star-driven plays Off-Broadway, both of which commanded top dollar for admission. As per usual, read on for my thoughts on these … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Making their mark, again: TEETH is more biting than ever and ELF THE MUSICAL returns with an extra spring in its step

This fall/winter theater season, a pair of musicals based on movies have returned to New York in productions that improve upon their previous incarnation(s). As usual, read on below for … Continue Reading →

"Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy" at The Shed (photo by Brian Ferry).

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Seemingly from the ashes, LUNA LUNA once again brings art’s fun and whimsy side to the masses

This past weekend at The Shed in Hudson Yards, I basked in the wonders of Luna Luna: Forgotten Fantasy. Having proven to be a big hit in Los Angeles earlier this … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Family matters, exposed: Assessing Katori Hall’s THE BLOOD QUILT and Dominique Morisseau’s BAD KREYÒL

This New York fall theater season has brought onto the boards a pair of anticipated new plays by two of our more accomplished playwrights — Katori Hall’s The Blood Quilt … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – A painful progress: Jessica Goldberg’s BABE explores generational friction in the music industry

This week at the Pershing Square Signature Center, I also had the opportunity to catch up with Jessica Goldberg’s Babe starring Oscar-winning television and film star Marisa Tomei. The Off-Broadway … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – On the fast track to unsustainability: Pony Cam’s crowd-pleasing BURNOUT PARADISE holds a mirror to audiences

Sometimes all one needs during this time of heightened turmoil and uncertainty is a night of pure escapism to make things right again — even if only for a little … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – ROBOTS, SEX VARIANTS, and a FAVORITE SONG: Ethan Lipton, The Civilians, and Francesca D’Uva play with the musical theater form

This weekend, I encountered a trio of one act Off-Broadway musicals that experiment with the musical theater form, pushing the boundaries of the popular genre in disarming ways. As per … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Ravishing country music infiltrates musical theater: J.T. Harding’s MUSIC CITY and the Avett Brothers’ SWEPT AWAY

This fall, a pair of new serious-minded musicals — one under the bright lights of the Great White Way, the other secretively tucked away Off-Broadway in the upstairs performance space … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Third Rail Projects unveils its latest immersive creation TRUE LOVE FOREVER, a soulful ode to modern love

It’s been a while since Third Rail Projects has disarmed New York theatergoers with one of their immersive theatrical experiences. Over a decade ago, the visionary company stunned audiences with … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – The peppy musical adaptation of DEATH BECOMES HER is elevated by leading ladies Megan Hilty and Jennifer Simard

Last night, the new musical Death Becomes Her opened on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Of course, the show is the musical adaptation of the Robert Zemeckis’s 1992 film of … Continue Reading →