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The Glass Cage, Oklahoma! and Equus
by Richard Seff

The tiny Mint Theater, ensconced on the third floor of an office building in a 96 seat black box with stadium seating, should win all the prizes for impeccable productions of little known gems from the past. You have no idea how delicious can be the savoring of the words and ideas of JB Priestley, (more…)

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…)

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• 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…)

• ROOMS
• Music and Lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman
  Book by Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon
  Directed by Scott Schwartz
  Music Direction by Jesse Vargas
• Presented and Co-Produced by MetroStage
• Reviewed by Steven McKnight

Rooms is the most emotionally real and authentic musical this reviewer has ever seen.  Imagine if Rent or Spring Awakening was condensed down to an intimate two person show and you’ll understand the appeal of this powerful rock romance. (more…)

From Meet John Doe, to Little Mermaid to [title of show].  (more…)

 

 Heidi Blickenstaff: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1795)

• 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…)

A Conversation with Broadway Actor Hugh Panaro

Part of our series that looks at the Philadelphia theatre scene

Interviewed by Joel Markowitz (more…)

 

 Hugh Panaro: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (2579)

• Mamma Mia!
• Music and lyrics by Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus and some songs with Stig Anderson
• Book by Catherine Johnson
• Directed by Phyllida Lloyd
• Produced by Judy Craymer, Richard East and Björn Ulvaeus for Littlestar, Universal at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

If we could harvest the energy on stage at the National Theatre, the nation’s dependence on fossil fuels would be a thing of the past. (more…)

• The Lion King
• Music & Lyrics by Elton John and Tim Rice . Additional Music & Lyrics by Lebo M, Mark Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor and Hans Zimmer
• Book by Roger Allers and Irene Mecchi
• Directed by Julie Taymor
• A Disney production presented by The Kennedy Center
• Reviewed by Ted Ying

When Disneyland first opened, guests had to purchase tickets for the rides and attractions.  Tickets ranged from “A” to “E” with the “E” tickets reserved for the best, most thrilling and amazing rides and attractions.  Well, in true Disney fashion, the current production of The Lion King is definitely an “E” ticket. (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…)