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 →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – January 16, 2015

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS New York in January is a wonderland of cutting edge contemporary theater. The granddaddy of the experimental theater festivals currently running at a relentless pace is … Continue Reading →

2014’s Best in Music

Opera aside, 2014 was a very theatrical year for classical music. One of the trends that I’ve observed over the last couple of years is the growing interest to combine … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS: HOLIDAY EDITION – December 19, 2014

It’s that time of year again! New York City these days is awash in holiday shows. Given the sheer volume of options, it’s easy to see how one may feel … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – December 10, 2014

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS THE ELEPHANT MAN – The trio of Bradley Cooper, Alessandro Nivola, and Patricia Clarkson bring their A-game to the second Broadway revival of Bernard Pomerance’s popular … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – December 3, 2014

RECENT HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TAMBURLAINE, PARTS 1 & 2 – John Douglas Thompson is a force of nature in Marlowe’s relentless depiction of world domination. SIDE SHOW – Erin Davie … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – November 19, 2014

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TAMBURLAINE, PARTS I & II – John Douglas Thompson is giving a commanding, no-holds-barred performance in the titular role of both parts in Marlowe’s rarely-seen … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – November 12, 2014

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS LITTLE DANCER – Tiler Peck exceeds expectations and dances like a dream in Ahrens and Flaherty’s new musical (currently out-of-town at the Kennedy Center in … Continue Reading →