Noche Flamenca, Taimane, and Taiko Masala
We felt like we toured the world this past weekend without ever leaving New York. It was a [more]
Blogs
The Return of Bina Sharif
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I’m not a real dancer but in this play, I celebrate my health.” Bina [more]
A 2018 Ten Best List
Darryl Reilly, Critic There were so many exceptional original plays among the 144 productions that [more]
Sleeping Beauty Dreams
The multimedia performance art event “Sleeping Beauty Dreams” opened its two-night run at the [more]
If Loving Yule is Wrong, I Don’t Want to be Right
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Nothing brings you closer than almost breaking a hip together!” cracks [more]
Passion Nation
Passion Nation is billed as immersive entertainment with integrated food and drink that tells an inspiring tale of American optimism and accomplishments. The experience follows a reverse chronological timeline from 1969 to the 1700s, highlighting different aspects of American history through live acting, recorded music, and 360-degree projected imagery. The four-course meal is intended to align with different eras. [more]
Not Your Childhood Puppets! A Magical Evening at the 8th Annual La MaMa Puppet Festival
Throughout the evening, different marionettes emerged from various objects like small suitcases, inlaid wooden boxes, clear containers of water, and a translucent cradle-like vessel. [more]
“Don’t Call Me Shirley!: John Burns sings Shirley Bassey”
Darryl Reilly, Critic John Burns and William Demaniow at The Duplex. “At first glance, we don’t [more]
Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn’s Cultural Medallion Dedication
Darryl Reilly, Critic Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy. “The Fourposter transformed our lives [more]
A Portrait of Maureen Stapleton
Darryl Reilly, Critic Maureen Stapleton by Raphael Soyer (1968) This striking portrait of Maureen [more]
Harold Pinter and Nicholas Hytner: Balancing Acts
Nicholas Hytner’s vivid accounts of two striking interactions with Harold Pinter are the standout highlights from his memoir, "Balancing Acts: Behind the Scenes at London's National Theatre." These revealing episodes will thrill devotees of the great and temperamental playwright. [more]
Doric Wilson: An Eminent Outlaw
Darryl Reilly, Critic Doric Wilson circa 2011. “Making magic out of nothing,” is how Doric [more]
Frank Langella is 80: A Stream of Consciousness Tribute
Darryl Reilly, Critic It is not widely known that among Frank Langella’s many accolades, [more]
A 2017 10 Best List
Darryl Reilly, Critic Looking back at the 128 performance reviews I wrote for Theaterscene.net in [more]
Book review: “The Last Word” by Quentin Crisp
The only thing in my life I have wanted and didn’t get was to be a woman. It will be my life’s biggest regret. If the operation had been available and cheap when I was young, say when I was twenty-five or twenty-26, I would have jumped at the chance. My life would have been simpler as a result. I would have told nobody. Instead, I would have gone to live in a distant town and run a knitting wool shop and on one would ever have known my secret. I would have joined the real world and it would have been wonderful. [more]
William Hickey: Reminiscences
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I have to go to L.A., to lose the Oscar to Don Ameche,” was William [more]
Steven Berkoff is 80: An Appreciation
Darryl Reilly, Critic There were so many brave young actors and actresses whom one felt were [more]
Spotlight Cabaret: Ella At 100
It's Ella Fitgerald's centennial. She influenced more than a generation of singers and musicians. The lady called the “Queen of Jazz” or “The First Lady of Song” would have turned 100 this year. Her bounty is unmatched. Among her musical gifts, Ella was an exceptionally well-rounded musician, a pristine vocalist and impeccable improviser. She was jazz. There have been many first ladies of this or that but Ella was an original, clarion-voiced swing singer in a league of her own. [more]
Laurie Lawrence (1959-2017)
Darryl Reilly, Critic “She was very clear that she wanted her life to be celebrated, not [more]
John Simon is 92 today
Darryl Reilly, Critic “For Darryl who isn’t Wally Shawn,” meticulously inscribed John [more]
Miriam Colón 1936-2017
Darryl Reilly, Critic Miriam Colón died recently at the age of 80. She was a great actress who had [more]
William Daniels: There I Go Again
Darryl Reilly, Critic You need to somehow get into a play, be seen in it, remembered for your [more]
Cabaret Spotlight: Hey There, Good Times
The measure of a singer's worth is in the ear of the beholder. What is one person's Piaf is another person's Barbra. There's no magic formula to being one of the great ones. All one can do is be dedicated to the art and have a willingness to experiment and keep at it come rain or shine. The rest is a matter of luck and timing, talent and tenacity. For some, the call might come late. But when answered, there's no turning back. [more]
Star Dust: A Ballet Tribute to David Bowie
Darryl Reilly, Critic Dazzling visualizations of nine, iconic songs are superbly choreographed by [more]
Joe Franklin and Me
Darryl Reilly, Critic SUNDAY With the countenance of a vintage stuffed owl and that of a [more]
Frank Langella’s EAG Memorial Address
Darryl Reilly, Critic “I’m profoundly grateful I’m not on it,” said Frank Langella during [more]
Anna Deavere Smith: My teacher in the 1980’s
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Hookers and drug addicts are all my agent sends me out for,” said Anna [more]
Hedda Lettuce and All About Eve
Darryl Reilly, Critic “She creeps me out!” quipped Hedda Lettuce upon the appearance of [more]
Aaron Frankel: A great acting teacher
Darryl Reilly, Critic “Speak up! Don’t look at the floor! When you’re onstage I want to see [more]
Cabaret Spotlight: Two Good To Be True
If you're stuck in the city in the hot summer, there's good reason to come to the cabaret. All the Manhattan clubs have impressive lineups for the summer months. Some of the most entertaining and musically refined engagements can be found at Feinstein's/54 Below as they offer rosters that are hard to top. Two recent engagements stand out. [more]
Woman in the Auditorium
So, throughout the rest of the tour when we were waiting for and riding on subway trains, the vibrant and spry Ms. Wallace recounted the story of how she made her Broadway debut at the age of 72. [more]
Cabaret journalist/actor Andrew Martin found dead in his home on June 7, 2016
A chatty, openly gay bon vivant over the years, Andrew Martin had his feet in many waters; all of them related to show business. He was proud of his long-winded stories and exceptional knowledge of trivia about the famous and infamous. He had many followers on Facebook where he shared sometimes painful stories of his family and personal angst. He wrote openly about being troubled by strained relations within a divided family at times. [more]
Saloons: Some Enchanted Evenings
Cabaret has always been a mixed bag. The golden age is gone. However, in today's schizo world of nightclubs, things are looking pretty good. It is a milieu unique in the entertainment industry. And, it continues to reinvent itself. The late cabaret critic Martin Schaeffer wrote in Back Stage in 1993,“There cannot be a better night of classic American music than a Bobby Short gig at The Carlyle.” He was right; especially if you're a purist of the Great American Songbook. [more]