David Strathairn by Eugene Paul If you are fortunate enough to have attended The Story of Jan Karski in its too brief run as a staged reading in the marvelous Museum of Jewish Heritage premises, you are already marked as hopelessly empathic to any endeavor to tell the all but incomprehensible story of the…
by Eugene Paul Actor Clifford Odets was in his twenties when Harold Clurman asked the young member of their Group Theatre to try writing a play for the Group. The result was the ground breaking Awake and Sing! which tore through the American theatrical scene putting central on the stage a family of desperate Jewish immigrants living in…
Photos by John Vecchiolla. By Ed Lieberman A nostalgic look at religion and morality from the flower-power generation In an era of irreverent, cynical and even snarky shows using religion and religious groups as their theme or backdrop (i.e. Book of Mormon, An Act of God, Hand to God), Westchester BroadwayTheatre takes us…
Patti LuPone and Michael Urie in a scene from “Shows for Days” (Photo credit: Joan Marcus) By David Schultz Playwright Douglas Carter Beane has his heart on his sleeve. His newest play is his romantic recollection of being bitten by the thrill of acting and being in the theater surrounded by eccentric showbiz folk….
Pictured (L-R): Jennifer Mudge, Heather Lind, Alicia Silverstone photos by © Joan Marcus 2015 by Eugene Paul Lynne Meadow has been the artistic director of the Manhattan Theatre Club for forty-three years, during which time MTC has grown into one of New York City’s premier ornaments, presenting splendidly produced efforts no matter the material and…
–L to R: TORI MURRAY as Tina Denmark and KIM MARESCA as her mother photos Carol Rosegg by Glenn Giron Ruthless! spends 90 minutes poking fun at the structure and ideals of American musical comedies and movie musicals. Writer and director Joel Paley, who helmed the original 92′ Off-Broadway production, hasn’t written a single…
By Julia Polinsky Beverly Coyle’s theater project, In Our Own Voice,” is subtitled “Women Veterans Tell Their Story.” Even though the program notes state that each cast member portrays numerous military women, we get one multi-faceted story, told in fragments, in words used by military women who were interviewed for this project. While researching this work,…
Lindsay Mendez and Gideon Glick photos by Joan Marcus By David Schultz Jordan Berman (Gideon Glick) is stuck in a rut. In his late 20’s, this gay gent is filled with inherent emotional longings, almost operatic in their intensity. He wants a true romance, a boy friend, not just a hook-up. His complete and utter failure…
Jonathan Groff & Aaron Lazar photos by Joan Marcus by Julia Polonsky Bravo to all the artists involved in re-imagining and updating William Finn’s A New Brain for Encores! Off-Center. The endlessly talented James Lapine not only co-authored A New Brain, but directs this production, with gusto and brio and smashing style. Encores! Off Center productions, which are effectively staged…
Jesse Eisenberg, Kunal Nayyar, Annapurna Sriram, Erin Darke and Michael Zegen Photo credit: Monique Carboni By David Schultz Actor Jesse Eisenberg makes it easy to detest his character onstage in his latest play at The New Group. This talented, intense actor seems to be drawn to essay unsavory people that in real life you would…