VIEWPOINTS – HAMLET/HAMNET: Britain’s National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Company tote their productions stateside

Over the past month or so, two of Britain’s most prominent theater companies — the National Theatre (based in London) and the Royal Shakespeare Company (based in Stratford-upon-Avon) — have … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The Chicago report: New works at STEPPENWOLF, GOODMAN, CHICAGO SHAKES, and COURT enliven the spring theater season

This past week, I found myself in the Windy City, where I was able to bask myself in Chicago’s storied theater scene. This spring season, diverse new works were the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Debbie Allen helms an unfussy and sturdily-acted Broadway revival of August Wilson’s JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE

My 2025/2026 Broadway theatergoing season officially came to a close when I recently attended the highly anticipated revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone at the Ethel Barrymore … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Robert Wilson’s avant-garde production of MOBY DICK cracks open the Melville classic, dropping viewers into another dimension

When the legendary Robert Wilson passed away last year, the art world lost one of the indisputable giants of avant-garde theater. An uncompromising auteur who spanned and was equally at … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At 54 Below, HUGH PANARO, in spectacular voice, reflects on his fascinating career on the Broadway stage

Hugh Panaro and I go way back. When I saw the original production of The Phantom of the Opera at the Majestic Theatre for the first time way back in … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Lindsay-Abaire’s THE BALUSTERS is as illuminating in its truth-saying as it is hilarious in its shade-throwing

Earlier this week, I had the great opportunity to catch up with David Lindsay-Abaire’s The Balusters, the final new play to open during the 2025-2026 season. Essentially, Lindsay-Abaire’s latest is … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Potent American origin stories in theatrically unassuming packages: MIRACLE ON SOUTH DIVISION STREET and HOW MY GRANDPARENTS FELL IN LOVE

This spring, I encountered a pair of Off-Broadway shows that have landed in New York after successful runs at regional theaters just outside the city. Despite the unassuming, decidedly old … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – New opera is alive and well: Gregory Spears’ SLEEPERS AWAKE at Opera Philadelphia and Kaija Saariaho’s INNOCENCE at the Met

And just like that, contemporary opera is alive and well — In an unexpected one-two punch this past weekend, I was able to take in a pair of new opera … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – THE LOST BOYS and BEACHES: The requisite film-to-stage adaptations arrive on Broadway, and they’re better than you’d think

The last week or so saw the arrival of two film-to-stage adaptations to this relatively timid Broadway season. Despite some wide-ranging word of mouth, they’re actually better than you’d think. … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – David Auburn’s PROOF returns to Broadway in a sensitively-acted production starring a beguiling Ayo Edebiri

Last week, I had the great opportunity to catch up with Thomas Kail’s sensitively-acted revival of David Auburn’s Proof starring Ayo Edebiri and Don Cheadle in their Broadway debuts, alongside … Continue Reading →