by Jonathan Mandell
Lavinia Draper would have reminded me of Carol Channing – an exaggerated show biz blonde with a theatrically raspy, half-spoken singing voice – if Channing had been a full-on floozy whose career highlight was understudying (but never getting to perform) in CATS. A character written and performed by New York-based solo artist Susan Companaro for more...
La MaMa is anything but retiring in its 65th year, an anniversary that will be celebrated with a free block party on East Fourth Street the afternoon of October 18th. The season promises: .A revival of Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge starring Sam Rockwell, Marin Ireland and Alfred Molina; an oratorio about the Epstein files, co-starring...
The casts from two Broadway and two Off-Broadway musicals performed in the final Broadway in Bryant Park concert of the summer. From Heated Rivalry, the Unofficial Parody Musical s Big Ass, Cold Heart From The Great Gatsby s Roaring On From Heather s Candy Store The convert began with a long jazz riff by Taiwanese Jazz musician Vincent...
Short videos below sample the puppet parade and red carpet that launched the fourth International Puppet Fringe Festival NYC today, as well as six of the 18 puppet shows for adults that are being presented through Sunday. Word Play Champagne Dreams Shterna and the Lost Voice, by Magid Ensemble Mujeres a cuatro manos by Teatro...
The new production of the 1997 play “An American Daughter” has so much going for it that it takes a while to realize how much of a clunker it is. Written by the late Wendy Wasserstein (her third Broadway comedy after The Heidi Chronicles and The Sisters Rosensweig), it focuses on one Lyssa Dent Hughes (portrayed by Jean Lichty), a...
Two of the plays that opened this past week dramatized the stories of two New York City architectural landmarks, one an imposing structure of granite, wrought iron and pine (the Brooklyn Bridge), the other an imposition of glass and steel (The Vessel) This same week, two recently built theater buildings that promote themselves as architectural...
The building of the Brooklyn Bridge is a remarkable story; in some ways a ghastly one. “Brooklyn’s Bridge,” an earnest and largely workmanlike musical, deserves respect for wanting to give some of the bridge s unsung heroes a chance to sing. Emily Roebling (portrayed by Sarah Joyce) is the central character, having wound up in effect in...
A dozen shows currently on Broadway were preceded by a movie with the same or similar name: They are either direct adaptations of the movies (Aladdin), or parodies of them (Titanique) or inspired by them (Harry Potter, Moulin Rouge), or share the same source material, such as a book. (Ragtime, The Outsiders.) At least three...
Three Broadway shows close this weekend. Two more close this month. I include details below links to the shows websites to get tickets, links to my reviews, number of Tony wins, and discount tickets (although it is probably too late for these) Cats: The Jellicle Ball BroadhurstOpened: April 7, 2026Closing: August 8, 2026Music by...
Below are video excerpts of the performances by the five Broadwaycasts who performed in the Broadway in Bryant Park midday concert today: MJ, The Outsiders, Operation Mincemeat, Two Strangers and Schmigadoon, as well as the long-running Off Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, now starring Ethan Slater and Betsy Wolfe. from MJ The Musical...