With the concept of “winter” an increasing memory, here is overview of all that’s coming to New York stages this spring!
PODCAST: "The Fabulous Invalid" - Episode 63: Ben Brantley: Tell Me A Story
On this week’s episode, Jamie and Rob are joined by Ben Brantley, co-chief theater critic for The New York Times. A consummate journalist and celebrated writer, Ben talks about how he came to the Times, his tenure there since 1993, his writing process, what theater criticism means to him, and why he loves the theater.
PODCAST: "Stage Left: The Podcast" Episode 3: My Name Is Lucy Barton, Is This A Room, and A Soldier's Play
On this episode of “Stage Left: The Podcast”, anchor Rob Russo is joined by David Gordon, theatre critic, senior features reporter, and principal photographer at Theatermania.com, and Casey Mink, senior staff writer at Backstage, for a roundtable conversation about three top shows on Broadway: “My Name Is Lucy Barton”, “Is This A Room”, and “A Soldier’s Play”.
PODCAST: "The Fabulous Invalid" - Episode 62: Hadestown: Live from BroadwayCon
This week’s episode is a special live taping from the mainstage at BroadwayCon! Jamie, Rob, and Jennifer are joined by stars of the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-winning best musical “Hadestown”: Reeve Carney, Eva Noblezada, Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Nacer Gonzalaz, and Kay Trinidad.
Phylicia Rashad to direct Charles Randolph-Wright's "Blue" at the Apollo Theater; Shakespeare in the Park season will be “Richard II” and “As You Like It”; "The Notebook" to premiere in Chicago; reimagined “Aida" will premiere at Paper Mill Playhouse in 2021; "Hairspray" national tour launches in the fall; "The Karate Kid" musical in development; "Almost Famous" headed to Broadway? "The Phantom of the Opera" turns 32; RIP: Margo Lion, Joseph P. Patria Jr., and Peter Larkin
REVIEW: A sterling revival of “A Soldier’s Play” at Roundabout Theatre Company
Roundabout Theatre Company presents a sterling revival and Broadway debut of Charles Fuller’s 1982 Pulitzer Prize-winning “A Soldier’s Play”, a thrilling and tautly constructed military murder mystery set among the segregated barracks of an Army base in 1944 Central Louisiana. Kenny Leon directs a terrific ensemble, led by David Alan Grier and Blair Underwood, in one of the best productions Roundabout has presented in recent memory.
PODCAST: "The Fabulous Invalid" - Episode 61: Peter Lawrence: Production Stage Manager
On this week’s show, Jamie and Rob speak with Peter Lawrence, the man who literally wrote the book on stage management. With a career spanning four decades, Peter has worked as a production stage manager on over thirty Broadway shows, including “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, “Sunset Boulevard”, and “Spamalot”— often collaborating with legendary greats like Mike Nichols, Neil Simon, Gene Saks, and Manny Azenburg.
REVIEW: Laura Linney in “My Name is Lucy Barton”
Laura Linney stars in an unnecessary and poorly adapted stage version of Elizabeth Stout’s acclaimed 2016 novel, “My Name is Lucy Barton”. Despite a grounded and forthright performance from one of the greatest actors of her generation, the play never satisfactorily justifies its existence.
NOTES: The New York Pops celebrate Rodgers and Hammerstein
On Friday night at Carnegie Hall, The New York Pops orchestra performed a top-notch program celebrating the revolutionary musical partnership of composer Richard Rodgers and lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II with guest vocalists Max von Essen and Laura Michelle Kelly, and the Essential Voices USA chorus.
PODCAST: "Stage Left: The Podcast" Episode 2: Tina: The Tina Turner Musical, American Utopia, and The Inheritance
On this episode of “Stage Left: The Podcast”, anchor Rob Russo is joined by Jose Solís, freelance theatre critic, writer, and podcaster, and Louis Peitzman, freelance culture writer, for a roundtable conversation about three top shows on Broadway: “Tina: The Tina Turner Musical”, “American Utopia”, and “The Inheritance”.
PODCAST: "The Fabulous Invalid" - Episode 60: Everyone Is A Critic
On this week’s special in-depth package show, Rob and Jamie sit down with a cross section of theatre critics to talk about who they are, what they do, why they do it, and how they do it, in addition to their thoughts on the state of theatre criticism and the future of the form. You’ll hear from Ben Brantley, Helen Shaw, Jose Solís, Nicole Serratore, and Christian Lewis. Tune in and find out why “everyone is a critic”.
"Sing Street" will transfer to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre; "What to Send Up When it Goes Down" will return off-Broadway; "Trevor: The Musical" will play Stage 42; ABC will present "Young Frankenstein" live; the New York Musical Festival has shut down; Ciara Renée and McKenzie Kurtz will be the next Elsa and Anna in "Frozen"; Ben Cook departs "West Side Story"; Jake Gyllenhaal to produce and star in “Fun Home” movie; Laura Linney to record a "My Name is Lucy Barton" audiobook