THE HANGOVER REPORT – The devastating THE JUNGLE returns to St. Ann’s Warehouse, and it remains tremendous, essential theater

One of the most vivid and powerful nights of theater that I’ve encountered over the past few years was St. Ann’s Warehouse 2018 presentation of The Jungle. Written by Joe … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Uncovering lost plays (and a lost New York): Lorraine Hansberry’s THE SIGN IN SIDNEY BRUSTEIN’S WINDOW and Betty Smith’s BECOMES A WOMAN

Last night, a pair of flawed but intriguing plays that have been tossed to the wind have been recovered and given important productions. Coincidentally, both works also conjure a New … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Views of the American immigrant experience: Deepa Purohit’s ELYRIA and Ronán Noone’s THE SMUGGLER

Currently on the boards are a pair of Off-Broadway plays that together constitute an interesting examination of the American immigrant experience. Read on for my thoughts. ELYRIAAtlantic Theater Company at … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At CSC, Marcus Gardley’s ambitious, spiritual BLACK ODYSSEY mines the past as a means of journeying forward

Last night, Classic Stage Company’s production of black odyssey by Marcus Gardley opened Off-Broadway. If you haven’t already surmised, the ambitious play — which was originally developed and produced by … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At the Rattlestick, a.k. payne’s empowering new play AMANI brings “sci-fi realism” to a cathartic coming-of-age story

Earlier this week at the Rattlestick Theatre in Greenwich Village, I caught Amani by a.k. payne. The world premiere play — which is co-produced by National Black Theatre and has … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Crises of faith and family: Samuel D. Hunter’s A BRIGHT NEW BOISE and Anna Ziegler’s THE WANDERERS

Currently Off-Broadway, you can find a pair of plays that examine cases of simultaneous crises of faith and family. Here are my thoughts, per usual. A BRIGHT NEW BOISESignature Theatre … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A mini British invasion at Greenwich House: Eddie Izzard in GREAT EXPECTATIONS and Leo Reich in LITERALLY WHO CARES?!

Recently at the Greenwich House Theater, I encountered a pair of British comedians with a penchant for the alternative. Here are my thoughts on this mini British invasion at the … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Bill Irwin and John Douglas Thompson give masterful performances in Irish Rep’s top-notch revival of ENDGAME

This past holiday weekend, I was able to catch up with Irish Repertory Theatre’s Off-Broadway production of Endgame by Samuel Beckett. Although Beckett’s 1957 play is considered an undisputed classic, … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – At SoHo Playhouse, Gabe Mollica’s SOLO dissects male friendship with sneaky rigor and unassuming charm

Last night, I attended Gabe Mollica’s Off-Broadway one-man show Solo, which is currently enjoying an extended run at the charmingly vintage SoHo Playhouse. In essence, the show — which has … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Simon Stephens and Mark Eitzel’s dreary new musical CORNELIA STREET is tonally off, despite a few genuinely affecting moments

Last night, the anticipated new musical Cornelia Street opened Off-Broadway at Atlantic Stage 2, Atlantic Stage Company’s snug subterranean space on 16th Street. With a book by acclaimed playwright Simon … Continue Reading →