THE HANGOVER REPORT – Jonathan Spector’s EUREKA DAY arrives on Broadway more relevant and pointed than when it first premiered

For my final performance of 2024, I chose to attend Manhattan Theatre Club’s Broadway mounting of Eureka Day by Jonathan Spector at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. The play has … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Ravishing music-making permeates the Met’s triumphant revival of DIE FRAU OHNE SCHATTEN

Any chance to catch the rarely-performed opera Die Frau ohne Schatten is an opportunity well worth taking. The fourth of the stories collaborations between composer Richard Strauss and poet/librettist Hugo … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – An all-star cast animates CULT OF LOVE, Leslye Headland‘s deliciously caustic family comedy-drama

Last night, I had the opportunity to catch up with Second Stage Theater’s Broadway mounting of Cult of Love by Leslye Headland at the intimate Helen Hayes Theater. Known for … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Dance recap: AILEY unveils new works by Hope Boykin and Lar Lubavitch and THE TROCKS celebrate 50 years at The Joyce

This week, I caught up with a pair of crowd-pleasing dance companies. As per usual, read on below for my thoughts on these year-capping performances. ALVIN AILEY AMERICAN DANCE THEATERNew … Continue Reading →

THE HANGOVER REPORT – Richard Foreman makes a welcome return to experimental theater-making with SUPPOSE BEAUTIFUL MADELINE HARVEY

Over the years, Richard Foreman has become almost synonymous with New York’s avant-garde theater scene both in terms of aesthetic and content. Largely through his Ontological-Hysteric Theater — which he … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A pair of comics, JANINE HAROUNI and JOSH GLANC, idiosyncratically take the SoHo Playhouse stage

This past weekend, I ventured downtown to catch a pair of London-based comics — both of whom had hits at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe — take on the SoHo Playhouse … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Holiday cheer for adults only: JOE ICONIS and JACKIE BEAT craft Christmastime entertainments that are more naughty than nice

Over the course of the past week or so, I had the chance to take in a pair of Christmastime entertainments for adults, and are by design definitely more naughty … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – HANDEL’S MESSIAH, two-ways: Assessing New York Philharmonic’s spirited rendition beside Trinity Church’s urgent take on the beloved oratorio

This past weekend, I had the opportunity to compare, side-by-side, arguably two of New York’s premiere presentations of Handel’s Messiah. As always, read on below for my thoughts on these … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Cozying up to a pair of Off-Broadway musicals: York’s WELCOME TO THE BIG DIPPER and Irish Rep’s A CHILD’S CHRISTMAS IN WALES

For musical theater fans looking to stay clear of the New York holiday madness (including seeing a show on the Great White Way), I can recommend cozying up to two … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Following THE NUTCRACKER into abstraction via New York City Ballet, Mark Morris Dance Group, and Nature Theater of Oklahoma

This holiday season, I had the opportunity to attend a trio of extremely different dance presentations inspired by the classic holiday ballet The Nutcracker. Read on for my thoughts on … Continue Reading →