In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot

On the one hand, I love seeing any attempt at a science-fiction setting on stage. On the other, I wish Sarah Mantell's play was better. My review is here.

Sci-fi movies keep coming

This list of five sci-fi movies to stream came out in October but I'm posting it the day after the presidential election. I've got to say, it's going to be tough to keep watching all these movies about a dystopian future when we're about to enter a dystopian present. Click here for the list.

Jump scares

I love when the New York Times goes all out with the multimedia stuff, and I love being part of a team effort. Check out this ranked list of some of the best jump scares in movies.

We Live in Cairo

It is possible to do a dull show about fiery revolutionaries: welcome to We Live in Cairo, a new musical at New York Theater Workshop. Click here for my review.

Showgirl

Showgirl singular is Marlène Saldana and Jonathan Drillet's take on Showgirls but also cinema, art and morality. It's a lot more fun that this makes it sound! Read my preview for more, including a reminder than Paul Verhoeven's movie is now a lot talked about than the two prestige Las Vegas movies that came out in 1995. Click here to be reminded what they were. 

The Big Gay Jamboree

I enjoyed Titanique when I saw it, and reviewed it (and had not expected what it would become). I was less keen on Marla Mindelle's new vehicle, The Big Gay Jamboree. Thataway for my review.

Daaaaaalí!

Quentin Dupieux is back! Daaaaaalí! isn't among my favorites by him but I can rest easy knowing he'll have a new movie out in the US soon enough. Click here for my review.

Norman Reedus's culture 10

As an early adopter of The Walking Dead, talking to Norman "Daryl" Reedus was definitely exciting. Cool dude. Click here for his culture picks.

A new batch of sci-fi movies for September

Five new under-the-radar sci-movies to stream this month! Thataway for my selection.

Gabriel Kahane and Todd Almond

Some interesting song cycles happened to open at around the same time Off Broadway: two by Gabriel Kahane and one by Todd Almond. Read on to know which I liked best.

KS6, Medea Re-Versed, The Voices in Your Head, The Ask

Last month I dropped by a few smaller stages to see what was going on. I'm pleased to report that La MaMa is still going strong, hosting Belarus Free Theater once again, that the site-specific The Voices in Your Head is as lovely as it was back in January, and that The Ask definitely was thought-provoking. A bit less enthusiastic about the hip-hop Medea at Sheen but it had some strengths. Click here for my critic's notebook.

Ian McKellen talks about critics and ghosts

Ian McKellen is the living memory of decades of theater and talking to him is just endlessly fascinating. That was one for the bucket list. Click here for my interview.

Counting and Cracking

I recommended this show to soooo many friends, and not a single person who saw it disliked it. Consensus! You can read my review here.

James Earl Jones on stage

A belated link to my look at five important stage turns in James Earl Jones's career. Click here for my contribution to the Times's coverage after his death.

A chat with Norman Reedus

Three rockers with deep gothic roots who came up in my conversation with Norman Reedus: Nick Cave, Gavin Friday and Ian Astbury. Click here for Reedus's 10 cultural picks.

Afraid

The title of this techno-thriller actually is AfrAId, but the NY Times doesn't play typographical games. The movie has some of the worst acting I've ever seen in a supposedly legit production, and it's all downhill from there. Click here for my review.

Ending August with some science fiction

Anchoring my latest sci-fi column, which came out at the end of August, is the South Indian epic Kalki 2898 AD. It is as much of a spectacle as you would expect it to be. Click here for the details.

Profile of Zoe Sarnak

Galileo, The Lonely Few, Empire Records in 2024, and at least four more shows in development: I don't know if Zoe Sarnak is the single busiest musical-theater composer-lyricist right now, but she must be up there. Thataway for the profile.

10 Alain Delon movies

I had to make sure the movies were streaming in the US so there are a couple that I couldn't include, but overall this list is very much what I'd recommend to someone who's never seen any of Alain Delon's work. And people who have seen the biggies will discover some gems, like Once a Thief. The list is here.

Looking back at the Alien franchise

To celebrate the release of Alien: Romulus, I watched all the movies in the franchise and wrote about it for the Times. There's an audio version, too!

Caligula: The Ultimate Cut

If you search this blog, you'll find a couple of entries about the 1980 movie Caligula. I'm back into the fray for this "Ultimate Cut": review thataway.

Ivo van Hove interview

Ivo van Hove has taken the reins of the Ruhrtrienniale for three years. We talked about the programming for his inaugural edition, putting on shows and whether we'll see him originate a show on Broadway again. Thataway for the interview.

Once Upon a Mattress on Broadway

The Encores! production of Once Upon a Mattress is now on Broadway, and the chemistry between Michael Urie and Sutton Foster is even better than it was in January. You can read my review in the New York Times here.

A trip to Wisconsin

Before my weekend in Chicago I'd spent a few days discovering American Players Theater in Spring Green, Wisconsin — and the resulting article is here. I'm already making plans to return on vacation next year, possibly in August when they have more shows in rep and I can really binge!

A trip to Chicago

On a recent whirlwind weekend in Chicago, I saw musical adaptations of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and Lord of the Rings, as well as the latest Samuel D. Hunter play, Little Bear Ridge Road. You can find my critic's notebook here.

Science fiction for early August

The well of science fiction never runs dry! Here are five more movies to stream when it's too hot outside.

Introducing team handball

For the New York Times Audio, I spoke about team handball. Hint: it's not played against a wall and there are teams and goalies. Click here then put on your headphones.

Pre-Existing Condition

I spoke to all the actresses — Tatiana Maslany, Maria Dizzia, Julia Chan, Deirdre O'Connell, Tavi Gevinson and Edie Falco — who have or are playing the character A in the play Pre-Existing Condition, as well as the author, Marin Ireland. Quite a feat, if I may say so myself, to manage to quote everybody in such a relatively short piece. Click here for the story.