Broad Street Review

Philly's home for arts, culture, and conversation

Armen Pandola

Contributor

BSR Contributor Since April 24, 2007

Armen Pandola ([email protected]) is a writer, playwright, actor, and director from Philadelphia.

Armen Pandola ([email protected]) is a writer, playwright, actor, and director. He won the Walnut Street Theatre’s Forrest Award for Forrest: A Riot of Dreams, which premiered there in 2006. His trilogy about post-9/11 America, Terror at the White House, Devils Also Believe, and Homeward Bound, has been produced in Philadelphia and New York.

His produced plays include Zelda & Scott: Boats Against the Current, Mrs. Warren’s e-Profession, The Gift of Giving, Hedda Without Walls, Friends for Life, The Prince (co-authored with Bill Van Horn), and Dino! An Evening with Dean Martin at the Latin Casino. His writings have appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, The Philadelphia Daily News, and numerous other publications.

Born and raised in South Philadelphia, Armen graduated from St. John Neumann High School and St. Joseph’s University, then received a Shubert Fellowship in Playwriting from the University of Miami (Florida).

A practicing trial attorney, Armen is on the board of several local arts organizations and is a founding member of Green Light Arts, which promotes women in the arts.

Armen is a proud member of the Dramatists Guild of America.

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Page 1

Krajewski: Flying like Rocky.

Philly Pops, reborn

Move over, Moe and Peter

For 35 years, the Philly Pops was synonymous with two names: Moe Septee and Peter Nero. Last weekend Michael Krajewski proved himself a worthy heir.

Apr 19, 2016 Articles 3 minute read

A bravura portrayal: Gooding as Simpson. (photos © 2015, FX Networks)

FX's 'The People v. O.J. Simpson'

Revisiting the O.J. case

O.J. Simpson was not treated like any other defendant arrested for a double homicide. The characters involved aren’t the suspects you expect in a domestic murder — they’re squares in the crazy quilt of American celebrity.

Feb 19, 2016 Articles 4 minute read

The media is complicit in Steven Avery’s ordeal. (© 2016 Netflix)

'Making a Murderer' on Netflix

When innocence isn't presumed

Making a Murderer is the compelling story of how our criminal justice system is broken; it describes a societal murder in which police, prosecutors, the media, and the public conspire to find “undesirables” guilty.

Jan 22, 2016 Articles 4 minute read

Who wants to find the truth? (Photo by Kerry Hayes)

Tom McCarthy's 'Spotlight' (first review)

Unlocking omerta

Spotlight shows how a group of reporters uncovered the Catholic Church’s decades-long omerta concerning priests sexually abusing children.

Nov 17, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Tom Hanks: A Henry Fonda for the 21st century. (Photo by Jaap Buitendijk - © DreamWorks II Distribution Co., LLC and Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation.)

Spielberg's 'Bridge of Spies' (second review)

Crashing stories

In spite of its problems — clunky plotting, two-dimensional characters — go see Bridge of Spies. Tom Hanks is just so good at playing these kinds of roles that you shouldn’t miss it.

Oct 20, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Publicity photo of Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra from “The Dean Martin Show.” (Creative Commons via Wikimedia)

Philly Pops celebrates Sinatra centennial

It's Friday with Frank again! and Saturday with Dino!

The Great American Songbook has become a lasting part of our cultural heritage because of the constantly evolving interpretations of these standards. Sinatra and Martin recorded many songs multiple times throughout their long careers, each performance changing as their lives had changed. It is little wonder that new performers keep on finding new ways to sing and new arrangers find unique ways to present these songs.

Oct 04, 2015 Articles 6 minute read

Kennedy and Johnson during the 1960 campaign. (Photo via jfklibrary.org)

Godfrey Hodgson's 'JFK and LBJ'

The last two great presidents?

Was John Kennedy's popularity deserved? Or should it have gone to his successor, Lyndon Baines Johnson?

Sep 08, 2015 Articles 6 minute read

Our last big party: the Bicentennial. (Photo by David King via Creative Commons/Flickr)

Pope Francis and the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia

The pope is coming! The pope is coming!

Philadelphia is a world-class city, and it is about time that the people running it started to act that way and prove that they are capable of planning a world event, such as the pope’s visit. So far, all they have done is complain, spread fear, and warn us that we had better take them seriously.

Jul 14, 2015 Essays 4 minute read

Sinatra, with Italian actress Alida Valli, on Armed Forces Radio in the 1940s.

Frank Sinatra: An appreciation

It was a very good life

This year, the world is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the birth of Frank Sinatra, who was born to make music using the latest media to bring his performances to the masses. Like all great artists, he was consumed by an ambition that knew no bounds — after mastering the media of his time, he went on to transform them into something no one could have imagined.

Jun 07, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

The lobby of the Boyd when it opened in 1928. (All photos via the Irvin R. Glazer Collection, Athenaeum of Philadelphia.)

An elegy for the Boyd Theater

A trip to the Boyd always reminded me of a different era when the movies sought to do more than give the people what they wanted — it gave them something they needed, a place to capture their imaginations and inspire them.

Mar 17, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Will history repeat?

Top ten reasons you should watch the Oscars Sunday night

In honor of David Letterman — the Worst Oscar Host Ever — Armen Pandola presents a Top Ten list of reasons to watch the Oscars.

Feb 17, 2015 Articles 5 minute read

President Obama presenting Stevie Wonder with the Gershwin Award in 2009.

All-Star Grammy Salute to Stevie Wonder

Songs in the key of life

The winner of 25 Grammys and countless other awards, Stevie Wonder is the American voice of our times.

Feb 03, 2015 Articles 4 minute read

Dude!: Rogen and Franco. (Photo by Ed Araquel - © 2014 CTMG, Inc.)

'The Interview' and the Sony hack (one)

'The Interview' will not be released: Good news or bad?

Sony is withdrawing The Interview not because it wants to censor the subject matter of the movie, but because a backward but violent minority has scared it into submission. By withdrawing The Interview from general circulation, though, Sony may have had a good case, but it is setting a very bad precedent.

Dec 19, 2014 Essays 5 minute read

Mike Nichols during the making of “The Birdcage” (© 1996 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc.)

Remembering Mike Nichols (one)

Who’s afraid to take a chance?

Mike Nichols never developed a style in the traditional sense. His style was the truth. Whether on the screen or on the stage, Nichols found that moment of truth in the story and the characters.

Nov 21, 2014 Essays 4 minute read

Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett: The only problem is when they are singing together. (Sony Music Entertainment)

Barbra Streisand, Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga

Tony and Barbra get a gimmick

Some popular singers cover the standards; others do unexpected partnerings. These albums, by two of the best singers in the last half century — Barbra Streisand and Tony Bennett — do both.

Sep 26, 2014 Articles 5 minute read

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