Sarah Caldwell Smith in the role of Rose Maybud and Daniel Greenwood in the role of Richard Dauntless — sing “Happily coupled are we” backed by the Bridesmaids Chorus – RuddigoreAct 2 by Deirdre Donovan The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players (NYGASP) resurrects Ruddigore, for a rousing 40th year celebration at NYU Skirball Center. …
By R. Pikser Bobby McFerrin, extraordinary musician and improviser, opened the 60th season at Brooklyn College’s Brooklyn Performing Arts Center. Mr. McFerrin, son of Robert McFerrin, Sr., the first African American to become a member of the Metropolitan Opera, and singer, music teacher and accompanist Sara McFerrin, is a seeker and appreciator of music…
Rosemary Harris and Bhavesh Patel photos by Joan Marcus By Gene Paul Set designer Neil Patel’s elaborate Indian frame around the entire proscenium captures a certain exotic aura which enhances the tranquil, pale blue house – or is it a hotel? – within, its intricately arched windows saying this is India, 1930. A travel…
Photographs by: Joan Marcus By Eugene Paul With a vast, overpoweringly produced, literally awesome demonstration of theatrical brawn, the Sting machine has taken on Broadway, no holds barred. When was the last time you saw crowds outside the theatre dazzled by musicians from the show playing live under the marquee, the star, 63…
Blythe Danner Photos By Joan Marcus By David Schultz Chekhov Lite in the Berkshires Everyone seems to be jumping on the Chekhov bandwagon of late. Christopher Durang (“Vanya, Sonya, Masha & Spike”) last case in point. His riff on the master was clever, pithy, and wise. It garnered a few well-deserved Tony Awards last…
Jay Armstrong Johnson, Tony Yazbeck and Clyde Alves photos by Joan Marcus by Eugene Paul The Lyric Theatre, once again the Lyric Theatre after having been through several other incarnations since it grew bigger and more beautiful, is launching its now British ownership with the best, sweetest version of that very American delight, On…
by Deirdre Donovan This rock star pianist was a guest performer of New York’s recent event. “Clear, beautiful, and musical.” That winking weather forecast in the October 20th program for the Lyric Chamber Music Society of New York breathed with brilliance as virtuoso pianist Konstantin Soukovetski took the stage with his personal arrangements of…
Alex Sharp with (from l.) Mercedes Herrero, Richard Hollis and Jocelyn Bioh. Photos by Joan Marcus By Eugene Paul The play has not begun and already you are uneasy; the stage is a huge black box, even the raked floor is black, all walls and floor overlaid with a precise, white grid. Lighted bench…
by Deirdre Donovan Years before Mario Fratti and Maury Yeston’s collaborated on the Broadway musical Nine, Fratti had already done its theatrical spadework with his Six Passionate Women, written in 1977. Like Nine, this earlier venture is a thinly-veiled study of Italian film maker Federico Fellini. And though it doesn’t have the gorgeous music…
Phoebe Leonard, Larry Phillips, Peter Buck Dettman, Ryan Dusek by Eugene Paul Stephen Dowd, yes, THE famous Stephen Dowd, has just finished hanging his famous #28 shirt, expensively framed, on the wall of the shitty little apartment he is sharing with his two brothers, Paul the Grouch and Kevin the idiot. After all, he…