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Ayana George

Midnight

October 15, 2026

The verdict: "Midnight" is memorable for its thoughtful theme, unusually powerful vocal ensemble, its engaging (if repetitious) score, imaginative staging, and visual delights. However, its length is excessive, its lyrics unmemorable, its historicity unreliable, its characters pasteboard, and its situations implausible. If it moves, it will definitely need tightening and maybe some additional help from creatives not named Todrick Hall. [more]

MJ

February 10, 2022

Wheeldon and Pulitzer Award-winning playwright Lynn Nottage make every effort to hide the fact that MJ is a jukebox musical, despite the fact that the first notes of every song elicited loud shouts and applause (part of the reason the show runs two and a half hours). Nottage has invented a plodding framework for the show.  It is 1992 in Los Angeles. TV reporter, Rachel (a down-to-earth Whitney Bashor who acts as the play’s Greek chorus) and her hyperactive assistant, Alejandro (a charming Gabriel Ruiz) corral a reluctant Jackson to have his rehearsals for his huge upcoming 'Dangerous" tour documented. [more]