THE STATE OF THE ARTS – November 5, 2014

LAST WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS BLACKOUT – After all the buzz, I finally did it. I’m still kind of shell-shocked by this “haunted house” experience. I can’t speak for the … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Mini Retrospectives on the Boards this Fall

I’ve often thought that the best way to appreciate an artist’s output is within the context of the their larger body of work. Fans of Shakespeare and classical music composers, … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – October 22, 2014

RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER – One of the small gems of the fall theater season and a complete surprise from left field. “January” is an uneven play, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Those Summer Nights: New York Performing Arts Festival-ing

Now that summer has officially come to a close, it is a good time to look back and recap the highs and lows of the numerous performing arts festivals that … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/24/14): NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven; Robert Wilson’s “The Old Woman” at BAM

NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven The NY Philharmonic’s open rehearsal yesterday morning was a bittersweet occasion in a number of ways. Firstly, it was the great orchestra’s final open rehearsal of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – My 20 Pet Peeves When Attending Live Performances

We’ve all experienced it. You treat yourself to a Broadway show at $150 a pop. And then. The annoying cellophane candy wrappers. The theater patrons who chat amongst themselves as … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/18/14): Bronfman rehearses Beethoven; Revisiting La McDonald in “Lady Day”; Alvin Ailey (Program A)

Bronfman rehearses Beethoven I started off my day at the Avery Fisher Hall for my weekly visit to the NY Philharmonic‘s open rehearsal session. For only $20, it’s a great … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A Recap of My London Performing Arts Adventures

Over the past week-and-a-half, I had the great privilege of re-immersing myself in the rich, varied performing arts scene in London and beyond. What still strikes me about the scene … Continue Reading →

REPORT CARD: Catching up with the Great Dames of the Chicago Performing Arts Scene

This past holiday weekend, I had the privilege of spending some time in Chicago, a city in which I had spent more than a decade of my adult life. Of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS: The Frugal New York Theatergoer

After getting a sense of how many performances I attend, most people tend to ask: “How are you able to afford it all?” For the record, I am (currently) NOT … Continue Reading →