DC Theatre Scene . Washington’s liveliest theatre web site

Buffalo Gal and a look at Broadway producers
By Richard Seff

It’s always a pleasure to watch a master craftsman at work. A.R. Gurney is such an artist and for over 50 years he has been offering us well crafted plays at the rate of one every year or two. His latest, Buffalo Gal, is a reworking of one he wrote in 2001 for the Williamstown Theatre Festival. He saw it staged again in 2002 in Buffalo which is the play’s setting at the Studio Arena. Now, reshaped for 2008, it finally arrived in New York on August 5^th, via Primary Stages. Why did it take eight years and three versions? (more…)

• 
• A Talk with Charles Strouse
• By Richard Seff

Charles Strouse is not a household name, but it should be. In another culture it would be. The composer of Bye Bye Birdie, Golden Boy, Applause, and the megahit Annie as well as almost two dozen other Broadway musicals of varying success (more…)

• The Marriage of Bette and Boo, Bash’d, Damn Yankees and Broadway’s Rising Stars
• by Richard Seff

 Two Chris Durang plays in a week! Mr. Durang is raking it in from these two early plays alone.   Proof that one’s children can be of help in one’s older age. (more…)

• 
• Summer Therapy
• Beyond Therapy, Couple of the Century, Rafta, Rafta and Reasons to Be Pretty
• By Richard Seff

There’s not a lot going on in New York right now. No, that’s not true; this is the city that never sleeps, and there are plays, cafés, musicals opening all the time, even during the July-August off/season.  (more…)

• Wrapping Up the Season
• Macbeth, Boeing Boeing, Top Girls, Cry-Baby, Hot ‘n Cole
• and the Awards: Richard Seff, Theatre World, and the Tonys
• By Richard Seff

The 2007-08 season in New York is now history and considering the deplorable condition in which the world outside finds itself, it was a remarkably healthy one. The numbers were good, the number of new plays was outstanding, the quality of musical revivals was remarkable, the quality of new musicals not so hot. But all of the entries offered roles to the multi-talented folk who perform and do other creative things to make audiences happy. (more…)

• The Happy Time and The Visit
• By NY Theatre Buzz columnist Richard Seff

I pop out from New York  every so often. This time I came to Washington, and, though I’m certain you’ve already read a lot about the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA here is my take on it.

I start with what I call an Event. Over the last weekend in May, I toured the Signature complex, recorded a podcast with Chita Rivera, (more…)

• 
• Love and Love Alone: A Conversation with Chita Rivera and her long-time friend Richard Seff
• Recorded by Joel Markowitz

As wistful and winning as the best Kander and Ebb songs themselves, this two part look at Chita Rivera and her latest show, Kander and Ebb’s The Visit, is all about the love she and Richard Seff hold for the theatre world, for each other and especially for Kander and Ebb. (more…)

 

 Richard Seff on Chita Rivera: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1717)

 

 Chita Rivera: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2063)

• 
  A well loved family affair
• By NY Theatre Buzz columnist Richard Seff

The social event of the season in theatre is the Drama League Luncheon, which celebrates the best of the ending season’s performances on and Off-Broadway, and presents the Drama League Awards. For those working onstage during the season, this luncheon is the event they truly most enjoy attending, for it’s all about them. And they get a chance to meet and greet their colleagues, all of whom are employed in their season. You can feel the camaraderie in the air, and for a time, all is harmonious and lovely in the world of the fabulous invalid, where 100% employment is rare indeed, but all on this dais are currently nightly plying their trade. (more…)

• 
• on Adding Machine, No No Nanette!, and a Master Class with Harold Prince
• By NY Theatre Buzz columnist Richard Seff

(more…)

• Politics, Sexual Intrigue and Lost Souls
• November, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Port Authority

By Richard Seff

(more…)