Articles

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Friends as family: the cast of “Steve.” (Photo by Monique Carboni)

Gerrard's 'Steve' and Parnell's 'Dada Woof Papa Hot'

Two plays, four dads

Two heartfelt new plays explore the challenges of parenthood, fidelity, and aging in two-dad households.

Carol Rocamora

Articles 4 minute read
"He was a downed wire, sparking, fuming, spitting, ready to kill something." (Brad Pitt in 'Fight Club,'  © 1999 - 20th Century Fox)

On bar fights and the act of composing

De profundis

The piece was rooted deep and that allowed the music to move quickly and lightly. It’s strong now, but doesn’t bellow. The music won’t call attention to itself, and that’s just how I like it.
Kile Smith

Kile Smith

Articles 5 minute read
Not since the ’60s: Shaffer, Clooney, Murray, Cyrus. (Photo by Ali Goldstein/Netflix - © 2015 – Netflix)

'A Very Murray Christmas' on Netflix

A snark-free holiday celebration

Bill Murray grew up, as I did, watching holiday specials of the ubiquitous variety shows of the '50s and '60s, and he celebrates them in his Netflix special, A Very Murray Christmas. The title encapsulates the overall vibe of the show, which both recognizes the cheesiness of the genre he’s recreating and sincerely respects it.
Judy Weightman

Judy Weightman

Articles 5 minute read
The popcorn box is front and center in the musical. (Photo by Joe del Tufo, Mobius New Media)

'Diner: The Musical' by Levinson and Crow

'Diner,' a cupcake, and the male gaze

Who insisted the voices of six white, male baby boomers needed to be heard among Broadway’s groundbreaking new musical arrivals, all groundbreaking because they stepped away from Diner’s regressive model?
Wendy Rosenfield

Wendy Rosenfield

Articles 5 minute read
Four sides of life-transforming music. (Photo by the author)

Bruce Springsteen, 'The River'

Bruce Springsteen and the roadmap to adulthood

For many of us, The River served as a roadmap to adulthood and beyond, helping us become the people we would be for the rest of our lives. Isn’t that the definition of great art?
Craig Peters

Craig Peters

Articles 4 minute read
Ana Villafane and the cast of “On Your Feet!” (All photos by Matthew Murphy via broadway.com)

'On Your Feet,' 'The Color Purple,' 'School of Rock'

Deck the halls with Broadway musicals

Three irresistible new musicals are attracting new audiences to Broadway this holiday season.

Carol Rocamora

Articles 4 minute read
"A bald-headed old man with shaky hands and a cataract in his eye."

Reconsidering Sibelius

One of the 20th century’s greatest composers is saluted on his 150th birthday, while some critics are questioning his reputation.
Steve Cohen

Steve Cohen

Articles 4 minute read
The soft glow of electric sex. (Photo by the author)

Jean Shepherd: An appreciation

The Great American Christmas Story

As an American humorist and storyteller, Jean Shepherd is right up there with Will Rogers and Garrison Keillor. Jerry Seinfeld has said that Shep “really formed my entire comedic sensibility.” Jerry probably grew up like me, listening to Shep dispense nightly wisdom on WOR radio in New York.
Craig Peters

Craig Peters

Articles 5 minute read
Keeping the melodrama from getting melodramatic: Laurel Tree Theatre’s “Hedda Gabler” cast. (Photo by Kyle Cassidy)

Laurel Tree's 'Hedda Gabler' at the Physick House

Hedda Gabler rules the Physick House

A new theater company tackles Ibsen’s dark drama, making an old play in an historic home feel new and exciting.
Mark Cofta

Mark Cofta

Articles 3 minute read
"Ambassadors of good feeling and good old-fashioned elbow grease." (Photo by Lindsay Browning Photography)

Pig Iron's 'Gentlemen Volunteers'

A World War I story for today

Pig Iron Theatre Company re-mounts Gentlemen Volunteers, a cleverly staged war romance.
Mark Cofta

Mark Cofta

Articles 3 minute read