The music and the mirror The music and the mirror

Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be.

on October 01, 2024 at 9:00 AM
Harmonic minor Harmonic minor

It took more than 25 years for Harmony, the passion project of singer-songwriter Barry Manilow, to reach Broadway, where it opened recently at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.

on November 22, 2023 at 9:00 AM
Unfit to print Unfit to print

You might wonder how this slimly plotted show, which had a brief Off-Broadway run in 2007 before fading into relative obscurity, ended up occupying a piece of prime Main Stem real estate nearly two decades later. To that end, I have four words: Josh Gad. Andrew Rannells.

on October 20, 2023 at 9:00 AM
The fuzzy end of the lollipop The fuzzy end of the lollipop

That Some Like It Hot—this season’s high budget and high-profile Broadway musical—fizzles rather than sizzles is not only a disappointment, but also a bit of surprise.

on December 16, 2022 at 1:57 PM
A faint impression of the genuine article A faint impression of the genuine article

Can we start by not using Barbra Streisand as a polestar here?

on May 31, 2022 at 9:00 AM
Trouble in River City Trouble in River City

Jerry Zaks’ high-gloss production, which trades heavily on a bland Americana at odds with the sharp satire of Meredith Willson’s libretto and timeless score, operates on all cylinders but fires on hardly any.

on February 19, 2022 at 8:00 AM
Moving on Moving on

The Kennedy Center’s Opera House was a white-hot crucible of theatre kid energy on Friday evening for a luxurious 50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center gala.

on February 17, 2022 at 8:58 AM
Lehman’s terms Lehman’s terms

The Lehman Trilogy had me in its thrall from the moment the lights went up. It’s absolutely spellbinding. That’s not to say I endorse it wholeheartedly, though.

on October 14, 2021 at 9:45 PM
Constant surveillance Constant surveillance

It’s 2020, Ivo’s the new Ethel Merman, and I caught a preview of his fourth Broadway show and first Broadway musical, West Side Story.

on February 08, 2020 at 9:28 AM
“Jagged” —  with sophistication “Jagged” —  with sophistication

Jagged Little Pill is as manicured as the kind of Stepfordian society the material supposedly rails against.

on December 14, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Howards, endless Howards, endless

It’s not difficult to make an audience weep uncontrollably. But because it’s so easy, I think artists have a responsibility to not overuse that power.

on December 04, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Pink flamingos Pink flamingos

Like any good gay theatergoers, we seek out Tennessee Williams revivals with the fervor of truffle-sniffing pigs.

on October 24, 2019 at 3:05 PM
We’ve been through the mill We’ve been through the mill

We’re two gay men, with 30-plus years between us, who went together to see the Broadway adaptation of Buz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!

on August 01, 2019 at 1:59 PM
Sweeping down the plains Sweeping down the plains

Within minutes, something wonderful happened. None of my reservations mattered.

on July 26, 2019 at 9:00 AM
Sophisticated Hades Sophisticated Hades

The sexiest moment on Broadway this season features a 73-year-old man and a single button.

on April 21, 2019 at 4:30 PM
One more ‘Kiss’ One more ‘Kiss’

Kiss Me Kate is a sophisticated soufflé of a show: a comedy of manners, requiring effortless verve and elegance in the playing.

on March 22, 2019 at 12:40 PM
Cult of personality Cult of personality

She makes it into a mash-up of Cours-la-Reine and “A Great Lady Has An Interview.”

on February 06, 2019 at 2:52 PM
Heaven is a place on Broadway Heaven is a place on Broadway

Broadway’s new Head Over Heels is anything but under committed; it’s a show with an irresistibly fun spirit and an infallibly good heart.

on August 01, 2018 at 10:12 AM
Chenez turn Chenez turn

Dapper countertenor Ray Chenez is temporarily putting aside the turbans of his operatic career for, well, the turbans of a Broadway diva as he appeals via Indiegogo for funding to record a CD of show tunes.

on July 23, 2018 at 3:23 PM
Filling in Filling in

While America’s Diva is off singing gala concerts from Mobile to East Lansing, who will take over the role of Nettie Fowler?

on July 11, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Painful progress Painful progress

Many lessons surface in Tony Kushner’s epic Angels In America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes.

on June 08, 2018 at 9:13 AM
The perfect use of an imperfect medium The perfect use of an imperfect medium

Carousel is receiving a Broadway revival in a simple, cautious production that still manages to pack an emotional wallop.

on April 19, 2018 at 2:43 PM
Everything will be as right as right can be Everything will be as right as right can be

On this day in 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Carousel opened at the Majestic Theatre, to run 890 performances.

on April 19, 2018 at 8:51 AM
King song King song

While Farinelli and the King isn’t the only Broadway play to have explored castration (Sweet Bird of Youth, anyone?) it’s likely the first to concern a legendary 18th century opera star.

on February 02, 2018 at 10:34 AM