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Here We Are makes me wish Sondheim was still alive (specifically so he could finish this)
I’ve been following the progress of what is now Here We Are, Stephen Sondheim’s final musical, for years, and I naively presumed it would never happen. So when I found out that my planned November trip to Broadway overlapped with the world premiere of Here We Are, I knew we needed to make it happen.…
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Merrily We Roll Along is perfect-ish (review)
In 2016, I was invited to a production of Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along at the Wallis in Beverly Hills, directed by Michael Arden. I fell in love with it. It was my gateway into the world of Sondheim fandom. So I was equally excited and nervous about the latest Merrily revival. Will it…
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I saw Love All, the Billie Jean King play (review)
Not long ago, I enjoyed the revival of the Tony Award nominated Twilight : Los Angeles 1992, a play written by Anna Deveare Smith. Maybe I should say “composed”, because the words were taken directly from interviews with real people about the Los Angeles riots. A technique referred to as verbatim theater. Smith’s latest play,…
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I saw A Transparent Musical (review)
Last night, I attended the World Premier of A Transparent Musical. Joey Soloway (book, with MJ Kaufman) and Faith Soloway (music) were actually part of the creative team on the tv show Transparent, which is the source material for the musical. A big draw for me was Rupaul’s Drag Race contestant and Broadway performer, Peppermint. …
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I saw Lincoln Center’s Camelot (review)
In 2015, still new to visiting Broadway, I was in town to see Hamilton, Fun Home and a few other new shows. I was shocked that my friend chose to see The King and I at Lincoln Center over Hamilton. Later it was pointed out to me that when something plays at Lincoln Center, it’s…
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I saw Parade (review)
The creative team behind the latest revival of Parade is a holy trinity of sorts. This is Broadway composer Jason Robert Brown’s most well-known work. He also wrote the score to one of my favorite musicals of all time, the masterpiece The Bridges of Madison County. This production stars Broadway superstar Ben Platt (Dear Evan…
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I saw Shucked (review)
In the months leading up to my recent New York trip, not really knowing much about Shucked beyond its delightful advertising campaign, I tracked down as many songs, and did as much research on the show, as I could. Until I was in my seat and the show began, it still felt like a gamble. …
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Still obsessed with Shucked
I was happy to see that Shucked, a new comedy musical with all original music, is actually doing well. Apparently, one thing that has helped so far has been low ticket prices. “$69 (and capped at $149) and mezzanine seats as low as $29” per deadline.com. Maybe this will be a trend. If a goal…
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The Outsiders World Premier at La Jolla Playhouse
Within the first few minutes of La Jolla Playhouse’s production of The Outsiders a New Musical, I knew I was about to experience something special. The Outsiders, based on the 1983 Francis Ford Coppola film, tells the story of two teenagers trying to live their lives and follow their dreams in the middle of a…
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Remembering Rocky the Musical
Did you catch Rocky the Musical at the Winter Garden, back in 2014? I know it sounds like a silly concept for a musical, but it’s one of my favorites. The love songs between Rocky and Adrian, specifically “The Flip Side” and “Happiness”, are so sweet. All of this time,Having no clue,There could be someone…