When we say our region is one of the busiest theatre hubs in America, what does that really mean? We dove into our own records for 2016 to find out. We were amazed with the results, and present them here.
Archives for December 2016
Natasha, Pierre … leads top 10 favorite 2016 shows from Broadway, Off-Broadway and NY Fringe
My list of ten favorite shows on New York stages in 2016 reflect two unmistakable trends – the use of the stage to present important current issues facing the country, and shows that innovate in artistic form. If these seem like very different trends, an argument can be made that they are both in reaction […]
An Irish Carol, a lovely spin on its British cousin, at Keegan (review)
Like its English cousin, An Irish Carol is a dramatic look at life on a day when it should be most celebrated and filled with peace, hope, and love. Unlike its cousin, there are no actual ghosts, but plenty of past, present, and potentially future sorrows turn-up. As they are wont to do when the […]
Wicked. Pop-u-lar and deservedly so. At the Kennedy Center (review)
Wicked is one of the most loved musicals in history, regularly selling out Broadway’s largest theatre since 2003 and spawning several national tours, the most recent now in an outstanding production at The Kennedy Center.
Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas – The Musical. A Seuss-like review
In the spirit of whimsy, my small gift to you, I have wrapped up my thoughts in a Seuss-like review. I arrived at the National in a whirlwind of traffic And was greeted forthwith by a colorful graphic: The playhouse was there, with marquee a-glow Heralding a furred one, the star of the show. The […]
Second City’s Twist Your Dickens at The Kennedy Center (review)
Dickens—that stuffy purveyor of eternally drab tales—gets a refreshing and quirky upgrade in The Second City’s Twist Your Dickens, the Kennedy Center’s merry holiday fare that will help you end this disturbing year with levity.
Othello Review with David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig
While the Othello at the New York Theatre Workshop can be uncomfortable and even annoying, it is impossible for me to dismiss Sam Gold’s often startlingly effective production, even when David Oyelowo and Daniel Craig’s ultimately thrilling performances are initially in danger of being upstaged by the lighting and the seats.
How producer Stacey Mindich and Arena audiences helped guide Dear Evan Hansen to Broadway
A caring, open-minded producer and perceptive, engaged audience members played crucial roles in the success story of the original new Broadway musical Dear Evan Hansen’s journey from page to stage. That is what a group of theater critics learned recently during this year’s American Theatre Critics Association’s mini conference in New York City.
Titanic sails in to Signature on its soaring orchestral score: James Moore and Joshua Clayton with ‘Titanic’ video
In an adventurous production, Signature Theatre brings the musical Titanic to life in its Max theatre with a robust orchestra, new orchestrations, and exciting staging.
Synetic’s silent Sleeping Beauty (review)
Arlington’s Synetic Theater transports audiences to the fairy tale realm of enchanted forests and love at first sight in its latest wordless adaptation.
The family friendly Goyesquitas from In Series (review)
Goyescas is a term used to represent the revival and preservation of Spanish nationalism in music, a movement popular in the early 1900’s and the title of the opera now being staged by In Series. Goyesquitas in an interactive family show that helps kids understand this movement, with emphasis on the game-playing, joyous traditions unique to the Spanish […]
Goyescas from The In Series (review)
Hats in the air and “Olé!” for the In Series team that has delivered an inspired staging of an extremely challenging one-act opera, Goyescas. Written in 1915 by Enrique Granados, it that will confront you with its energetic vitality, its celebration of life and at the same time, set you back on your heels with its […]