Public Theater's Under the Radar Festival

Four flights under the radar

The 11th annual international Under the Radar Festival (UTR) has returned with an array of energetic new offerings. The four that I saw (among numerous entries from seven countries) distinguished themselves with their bold experimentation in theatrical form.

Carol Rocamora

Jan 13, 2015 · Articles · 6 minute read

'Motown the Musical'

A musical buffet

Motown the Musical is like a giant smorgasbord of the music that has become the soundtrack of our lives. But as with any buffet, you leave full but not quite satisfied.

Naomi Orwin

Jan 13, 2015 · Articles · 3 minute read

Jonny Donahoe in 'Every Brilliant Thing'

Theater as therapy

Jonny Donahoe, a young British comedian and the solo actor/host/narrator of the evening, engages us instantly, which is in his best interest, since he’ll be asking many of us to participate in the telling of his story, playing various parts and serving various functions.

Carol Rocamora

Jan 10, 2015 · Articles · 4 minute read

'Elephant Man' and 'Side Show'

God's mistakes

Two current Broadway productions, The Elephant Man and Side Show, challenge the cruelty of the term “freak.”

Carol Rocamora

Dec 23, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

'Irving Berlin’s Holiday Inn' in Connecticut

Through the year(s) with Irving Berlin

A classic movie with songs by Irving Berlin provides engaging fun in its belated transfer to the stage.

Steve Cohen

Dec 23, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

Two versions of ‘Outside Mullingar’ (2nd review)

Can a hardened pragmatist find romance?

John Patrick Shanley’s sensitive play about Irish families, Outside Mullingar, packs so much depth that it’s effective in two disparate productions.

Steve Cohen

Dec 22, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

Looking back at 2014 in New York theater

Eighteen reasons (and more) to celebrate 2014

Four King Lears, six directorial coups, eight new plays, and the real stars of the 2014 stages.

Carol Rocamora

Dec 16, 2014 · Articles · 5 minute read

'Beauty and the Beast' at the Arden

For love or money?

A play about overcoming fears shows that true love can overcome even a witch’s spell. Why then is everyone in the play so concerned about money and success?

Naomi Orwin

Dec 16, 2014 · Articles · 4 minute read

Team Sunshine's 'Sincerity Project'

The thin line between sincerity and artifice

The Sincerity Project takes the notion of sincerity as timeless, self-evident, decidedly apolitical, and fully accessible via performance, which makes the show feel a lot like a game of Truth or Dare at a sleepover: Amusing to an extent, if not slightly phony, and occasionally revealing of a juicy tidbit, but overall limited to the provided guidelines.

Samantha Maldonado

Dec 16, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s 'Cinderella'

A 21st-century fairy tale

The script of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella is barely recognizable in this new production, but the 1957 music is wonderful and augmented with other gems from those prolific songwriters.

Steve Cohen

Dec 12, 2014 · Articles · 3 minute read