THE HANGOVER REPORT – A completist’s dream, J2 Spotlight’s rare revival of THE GOODBYE GIRL charms as it highlights the musical’s flaws

This past weekend, J2 Spotlight Musical completed its 2023 season with a short run of The Goodbye Girl at Theatre Row. Premiering on Broadway three decades ago, the musical features … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Hansol Jung’s strangely playful ROMEO & JULIET both updates and stays in the play’s milieu

Last week at Off-Broadway’s Lynn F. Angelson Theater (most familiar to theatergoers as the home of Classic Stage Company), I attended a performance of Hansol Jung’s self-described “modern verse translation” … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – In its spring performances at The Joyce, GIBNEY COMPANY basks in both the shadows and the light

This week through Sunday, dance fans will be able to catch Gibney Company in its return engagement at The Joyce Theater. Assembled just about two years ago, the newly-formed contemporary … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Michael R. Jackson’s latest self-excavating musical concoction WHITE GIRL IN DANGER is overstuffed, chaotic, and altogether glorious

This week at Off-Broadway’s Tony Kiser Theatre, I had the opportunity to catch up with Michael R. Jackson’s White Girl in Danger. A co-production between Second Stage Theater and Vineyard … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Rajiv Joseph’s KING JAMES examines male friendship through the lens of LeBron James fandom (oh, and racial and socio-economic circumstances, too)

Last night, Rajiv Joseph’s latest play King James opened Off-Broadway at New York City Center. The production arrives in New York by way of Chicago and Los Angeles, where it was presented … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Wesley Du’s HONG KONG MISSISSIPPI leans in on stereotypes in telling a cross-cultural coming-of-age tale

This past weekend at La MaMa’s The Downstairs venue, I attended one of the closing performances of Hong Kong Mississippi. Written and performed by Wesley Du, the solo show chronicles … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At 59E59 Theaters, Alan Bennett’s THE HABIT OF ART humanizes Auden and Britten (and theater-making)

Currently over at 59E59 Theaters, you’ll be able to catch Original Theatre’s production of The Habit of Art by Alan Bennett (a playwright perhaps best known for penning the award-winning … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Extraordinary 19-year-old prodigy YUNCHAN LIM makes a smashing debut with the New York Philharmonic

Yesterday, I attended a memorable performance by the New York Philharmonic at David Geffen Hall. As helmed by the exciting young American conductor James Gaffigan, the orchestra has rarely sounded … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – When accessibility creates its own artistic impression: TBTB’s revival of GOD OF CARNAGE and Up Until Now Collective’s MIDAIR FOR SOME TIME

Over the past week or so, I encountered a pair of productions that have made artistic impressions by virtue of granting accessibility to theater patrons (the same feeling I came … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Elizabeth Swados’s intoxicating THE BEAUTIFUL LADY makes its long-awaited New York debut, courtesy of La MaMa

This week at the Ellen Stewart Theatre, composer/lyricist Elizabeth Swados’s The Beautiful Lady made its long-awaited New York debut courtesy of La MaMa (the 1984 work was previously seen in … Continue Reading →