Bridget Jones Mad About the Boy

The new Bridget Jones movie is going to do really well: Not only is it better than it needed to be but it's landing in an anxiety-making context where people are craving a well-made comedy. My review is here.

Night Sings Its Songs

Jon Fosse plays are a rare occurrence in NYC so of course I had to check out a new production of Nights Sings Its Songs — and reviewed it for the NY Times. Unfortunately, it was underwhelming.

Urinetown is back

I didn't like Urinetown the first time around, but re-watching the original Broadway production at the Library for the Performing Arts then seeing the Encores! revival made me change my mind: This is a really good musical. You can read my review of the Encores! Urinetown here.

A week in Peter Mills Weiss's cultural life

Another culture diary, this time from one of my favorite NY theatermakers. Weird theater is alive! Thataway for the article — and its terrific photos!

Primero Sueño

To write this story about the new processional opera Primero Sueño, I watched part of a rehearsal at the Cloisters and was bowled over. Unfortunately I could not see the finished piece due to other commitments, but at least I got to write about it.

Vanya on Huron Street

Once upon a time, Uncle Vanya was on 42nd Street. Now it can be found near the Brooklyn-Queens border. Click here for my review of Matthew Gasda's surprisingly faithful Vanya on Huron Street.

There is theater in Las Vegas

Of course there is theater in Las Vegas, you might say. Well, yes, but probably not the kind you're thinking about. In November I flew to Sin County (you read that right) to report on its thriving Off Strip scene. And the resulting story is here.

Let's watch some sci-fi movies in January

Yes, I know, I'm late posting this and January is almost over — it's not too late! The latest installment of my sci-fi column for the NY Times can be found here. Of course, I'm now working on the next one.

Some Under the Radar shows

This year's Under the Radar festival is presenting 33 works. I wrote about five of them in this critic's notebook for the New York Times. Hint: Wakka Wakka strikes again!

Ad Vitam

Fast-and-furious French action movies may well be my favorite Netflix category, so you can imagine how psyched I was about Ad Vitam. But boy, did they muck it up. Click here for my review.

Palisades Tahoe

I came, I didn't see much and I got my ass kicked: My trip to Palisades Tahoe last season coincided with one of the snowstorms that periodically hit that famed California resort. But it was still great fun and yeah, I'd go back in a hot second! Here's the article that came out of that sojourn in the white room.

All In: Comedy About Love

It's hard not to mention the price of tickets on Broadway when dealing with a show like this one. Click here for my review of Simon Rich's non-play.

Skiing for $100 a day or less

Lift tickets now reach crazy heights in the US, but it's still possible to ski for under $100 a day at many places. Mind you, it's still expensive, but at least it's not $250 or so. Thataway for my roundup.

Theater moments of 2024

It was a great pleasure to join my NY Times colleagues in picking some of the best stage moments of 2024. Full disclosure: I keep an Excel spreadsheet of what I see so it's easier to remember that kind of stuff at the end of the year. Click here for the article.

Sci-fi movies to end the year

My last sci-fi column for the year came out a few days — ok, a couple of weeks — ago and you can find it here. I also joined the New York Times' other genre columnists and we all came up with our fave movie of 2024 in our respective field — click here to discover mine. Fun was has by all!

2024 holiday movies

They're baaaaaack! The roundup of new streaming holiday movies has become one of my favorite assignments. And this year, I even got to do a video supplement! The list is here and my NY Times video debut is here.

A week in Jay Wegman's cultural life

In November I shadowed Jay Wegman, artistic director at NYU Skirball, to monitor his cultural diet — which makes me green with envy, of course! Here's the result.

Holiday shows

I wrote a roundup of holiday shows for all ages and tastes. And they're not all in New York! Thataway for a little something that hopefully will give you ideas for the end of the year.

We Are Your Robots

I couldn't help myself and snuck in Devo and Daft Punk references in my review of the new Ethan Lipton musical. Click here for the article.

Five sci-fi movies to stream in November

Wrapping up November with my latest batch of streaming science fiction. The conclusion of Die Alone is one of my favoring endings of the year. Check out the roundup here.

Sabbath Queen

My review of the new doc Sabbath Queen is up at the Times. Thataway for the article.

Baby and Music City

Two reviews in one with a critic's notebook about the music-themed play Babe and the country tuner Music City. I liked one very much, the other less so — which is which? Read on here.

What's your Romeo and Juliet IQ?

My first quiz for the NY Times! To be clear, it's not about the play Romeo and Juliet but about its ubiquity in pop culture. The test was pegged to the revival currently on Broadway, starring Rachel Zegler and Kit Connor. I'm in the minority to have enjoyed Sam Gold's production, though I wasn't crazy about the often confusing double casting. Click here for the quiz.

Tammy Faye

My first visit to the refurbished Palace Theater was for the new musical Tammy Faye, which I reviewed for the Times. For my take on the show, you can click here. For the venue itself, I'll just say that I'm not a fan of theaters where you have to take an escalator to the auditorium (ie the Shed, Perelman, Marquis). It just feels like a fire trap.

Interview with Aldis Hodge

There's a new Alex Cross in town, and this time they got him right. I had the pleasure to talk to Aldis Hodge about taking on James Patterson's creation for Amazon's Cross. Click here for OK McCausland's amazing splash photo (and my article).