In “Private Peaceful”, Irish actor Shane O’Regan makes a smashing New York debut playing 24 characters in a one-man World War I story. A dispatch from the trenches of war told from the perspective of a young solider, this simple but arresting play is a haunting reminder of the savage cost of war and the terrific sacrifices made for democracy by those who came before us. I recommend you catch this crisp and brilliant production before it goes on tour.
Roundabout announces a starry revival of "All My Sons"; plans announced for the Times Square Theatre and the Palace Theatre; Brandon Uranowitz joining "The Band's Visit"; Judy Kaye joining "Anastasia"; New Victory Theatre will produce a stage play adaptation of "Where the Wild Things Are"; "Hundred Days" and "Pretty Woman" cast albums released; features on the puppetry behind "King Kong", costume designers, and the top produced plays and playwrights; trailblazing African American dancer and founder of the Dance Theater of Harlem Arthur Mitchell is dead at 84
In “The True”, playwright Sharr White dramatizes the 1977 Albany Mayoral primary election from a domestic, interpersonal perspective. Edie Falco is fiercely magnetic as real life, foul-mouthed political operative Polly Noonan, but the play itself is rarely compelling and suffers from sedentary staging and unrealistic expository conversations that explain complex—and fundamentally uninteresting—political dynamics.
“The Revolving Cycles Truly and Steadily Roll’d” makes its imprint in explicitly displaying the tragedy of its titular “revolving cycles” of racism and indifference, and by viscerally depriving the audience of any disconnection between the world of the stage and the world of our lives. With terrific performances throughout, and trenchant treatment of a devastating story and situation, metatheatrical devices cloud its impact, which can be too clinical, but is nevertheless striking.
I am thrilled to join with theatre stalwart Jamie Du Mont, Lucille Lortel Award winner Leslie Kritzer, and Tony Award nominee Jennifer Simard in announcing our new theatre podcast: “The Fabulous Invalid”! First episode drops tomorrow, September 19th.
"Network" will play the Belasco; Taylor Mac’s "Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus", starring Nathan Lane and Andrea Martin, will play the Booth; Glenda Jackson-helmed "King Lear" cast announced; "Titanic" and “Pal Joey” revivals in the works; “The Rivals” and “Marie” are Broadway-aimed; Tony Awards to remain on CBS; 2018 Theatre Hall of Fame inductees announced; profile of Jennifer Simard; 72 plays and musicals to see; "Theater Talk" ends after 25 seasons; RIP Marin Mazzie
Jen Silverman’s “Collective Rage: A Play In 5 Betties” at MCC Theater is a blazingly brilliant and uproariously funny new comedy that serves up a giant entrée of pure feminist, queer, intersectional theatre. Smart direction and design, and a stellar cast, make this fresh, original, and urgently-now play a must see of the fall season.
“THE AЯTS” at La MaMa is a stirring world-premiere collage-like piece of multimedia docu-drama recounting the contentious history and debate over public funding for the arts and humanities in the United States. Rousing, informative, and depressing, this is an important piece of argumentative, documentary theatre for these weary times.
The Pond Theatre Company, dedicated to world premieres of plays by Irish and British writers, presents “The Naturalists” anew play by Irish playwright Jaki McCarrick. Even though the pace and tone of the piece varies widely from act one to act two, you won’t find a better acted suite of scenes on any New York stage than the ones here. The Pond is a new theatre company worth keeping your eyes on.
“Show Time! The First 100 Years of the American Musical”, a one-man presentation of the history of the American Musical, has the feel of a slick TedTalk with the added benefit of songs. Serious musical theatre history buffs and those genuinely seeking a lively academic instruction on the roots and evolution of the art form should definitely not miss this show.
"Be More Chill" books the Lyceum and "Beetlejuice" books the Winter Garden; "The Band's Visit" recoups; Al Roker will make his Broadway debut in "Waitress"; Hailey Kilgore returns to "Once on This Island"; Andrew Lloyd Webber, Tim Rice, and John Legend EGOT with "Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert" Emmy wins; trailer for Gwen Verdon doc "Merely Marvelous"; profile of Cher
Gingold Theatrical Group presents a new adaptation of Shaw’s “Heartbreak House”. Despite an impressive roster of actors, and a slew of standout performances, a new framing device for the play results in a muddled tone and lack of setting central to communicating the play’s anti-war allegory.
