Manu Narayan, Emily Young, Brittany Bradford, and Ben Steinfeld photos by Joan Marcus Merrily We Roll Along By David Schultz Both loved and reviled in equal measure, this problematic musical is once again attempting the impossible. The original production (as every theater aficionado knows) shuttered in 1981, after a mere 16 performances…
By Arney Rosenblat Call Me Madam holds the unique status during City Center’s diamond jubilee year of being a revival of a beloved revival which highlighted the second season of Encores1 and “put the series on the map.” The 1950’s musical itself, Call Me Madam, also brings with it a unique history,…
Betty and the Belrays by Julia Polinsky William Electric Black’s Betty and the Belrays takes place in Detroit, in 1963. The Motown sound is hot and getting hotter – on black radio stations. Betty Belarosky, (Paulina Breeze), a perky blonde teen with a serious love for the music of black girl groups…
M. Martine Allard, Ron Lucas, Anita Welch, Tony Perry, Amy Jo Phillips photo by Pia Hasa Ain’t Misbehavin’ The Fats Waller Musical Show by Julia Polinsky Ain’t Misbehavin’: say those words, and Fats Waller’s oversize personality and terrific songs leap to mind. The African-American stride pianist, hamming it up in his derby hat,…
Jeff Kready (Ted), Hayley Podschun (Linda), Nicholas Rodriguez photos by Jerry Dalia By David Schultz This perfect holiday classic, recently on Broadway in 2016 is brought back to delight yet again. This snazzy show is based on the well-known Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire film shown on cable year after year. It’s a warm as a…
Sam Bolen, Jeremy Cohen Photo Credit: Carol Rosegg. Midnight at the Never Get by Deirdre Donovan Mark Sonnenblick’s new musical Midnight at the Never Get arrived at the York Theatre in early October with great expectations. It had attracted attention with successful runs at Don’t Tell Mama, the 2016 New York Music…
Matthew Billman photos Credit: John Vecchiolla By Edward Lieberman WBT’s 207th production is Phantom, by Maury Yeston and Arthur Kopit. At the outset it must be stated that this is NOT Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera, although it shares its provenance with that show, both having been sourced from Gaston Leroux’s 1910…
Photos by Danny Knaub By David Schultz Winding down from a yearlong tour this tantalizing sequel to the 30-year and still running Phantom of The Opera is not to be missed. But alas, it is for all the wrong reasons. Love Never Dies opened to a critically mixed reception in 2009, and closed…
Steven Skybell and ensemble. Photo: Victor Nechay / ProperPix By Fern Siegel One of the most beloved musicals, Fiddler on the Roof boasts a glorious score and a story that confronts profound themes, even as it breaks your heart. Director Joel Grey and the National Yiddish Theater Folksbiene have kicked up the stakes…
Kevin Zak and Jennifer Blood (center) Brennan Caldwell and Morgan Weed. Photo: Jenny Anderson By Fern Siegel Musicals geared to millennials, such as Dear Evan Hansen and Be More Chill — are becoming increasingly popular as that target audience puts theater on its to-do list. (Tony winner Avenue Q kicked…