Fiddler on the Roof

The peanut gallery was up in arms about one minute of added material to Fiddler on the Roof -- respectful, silent material! Can you imagine if some truly radical director took a stab at it? Whatever: I loved the respectful new revival. My review's here.

My chat with Mary Berry

If you're as in love with The Great British Baking Show — and even its spinoff, The Great Holiday Baking Show — as I am, you'll get a kick out of my chat with Mary Berry.

The year's best theater flops

Some were atrocious, other simply dull dull dull. Have a look to my top 5 list of theater's worst moments in 2015.

K-pop group Oh My Girl was detained at LAX because...

...well, let's just say this may have been a case of mistaken identity, at least according to the band's management company. Less charitable spirits say it was a stupid lack of visa. Click here for some K-pop fun.

2015's top ten

My favorite shows of 2015 are the ones that surprised me, that made me reconsider what I thought I knew about a play, its characters, their and my emotions, the story -- and storytelling itself. Maybe that's why Hamilton isn't included: It's a very good show, but it never caught me by surprise or made me question things. Here are the finalists.

What to see and skip this week

This week's picks are the Shakespeare-Beatles hybrid These Paper Bullets! along with the revival of Once Upon a Mattress and Staceyann Chin's new solo, MotherStruck!
I was less impressed by Marjorie Prime than my colleagues, though any show with Lois Smith has something going for it. Click here for more details.

review of Luther

I used to love Luther but the show's sick fascination with perverted serial killers is getting old. Still: Idris Elba! My review's of the fourth installment is here.

I tried broomball and lived to tell the tale

The only disappointment is that no spell-casting is involved in broomball. Click here for my exploits on the Prospect Park ice.

This week's picks and pans

This week I recommend Nick Kroll and John Mulaney's Oh, Hello, as well as School of Rock. You can skip Lazarus, unless you're a huge David Bowie fan.

The Color Purple

Jennifer Hudson sings great but has little presence as an actress. Still, the show works as a massager of tear ducts. My review's here.

Is The Good Wife doomed?

I've been a huge fan of The Good Wife from day one, but this season has been trying. Not bad so much as not exciting -- sorry, show, you've trained us to expect a lot! Here's my take on the first half of season 7 before this Sunday's winter finale.

Skiing at Portes du Soleil

My ski trip to the French Alps in January coincided with the non-blizzard that cancelled all the flights in and out of NYC. I'm not complaining: I got extra days in Savoie, which, frankly, I'll take anytime. You can read about my adventures at Portes du Soleil here. This is a follow-up to my adventures at Paradiski.

Lazarus

Statistically you don't have a ticket for Lazarus, which sold out in hours. If you do, chances are you're a huge David Bowie fan and you'll get a kick out of it. Somehow. My review's here.

School of Rock

Great big return to form for Andrew Lloyd Webber, whose School of Rock is a delight. I have some quibbles, sure, but overall I'd recommend this one. My review's here.

The Walking Dead Experience

What's better than watching The Walking Dead? Experiencing its zombie-apocalypse world — for a little while. Also, without getting bitten. Click here for my preview of this immersive new show.

The Great Holiday Baking Show

The first episode of ABC's remake of The Great British Baking Show was surprisingly enjoyable — you could see them trying very hard to capture the original's unique tone. Too bad local baker Grace Langan didn't make the cut. At least she gave us a recipe.

Meet Broadway's latest hunks

I love all four of them! Don't make me choose! Click here for the goods.

This week's picks and pans

This week I recommend Gigantic and Important Hats of the 20th Century (at least the latter's first act). You can skip Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games, Invisible Thread and New York Animals -- though the last boasts some gorgeous Burt Bacharach melodies. More details here.

The Wiz Live!

NBC got it largely right with its live telecast of The Wiz. The solution was simple: get people who can sing! Still, I wish the network would just shoot its next musical in front of a live audience. It'll do wonder for the energy. My review's here.

China Doll

Will the debacle known as China Doll mark the end of David Mamet's teflon years? Because I'm not sure how his already damaged reputation could recover. My review's here.

Lin-Manuel Miranda scores the new cantina

Lin-Manuel Miranda's turf has just expanded to a galaxy far, far away: He scored the cantina scene in the new Star Wars movie. Miranda for President 2030!

A Very Murray Christmas

I'm not that into Christmas but I do love variety specials, and Netflix's new A Very Murray Christmas hits the sweet spot. Click here for my review.

Evaluating The Walking Dead midseason finale

Except for the handling of Glenn, I've been loving season 6 of The Walking Dead. But all good things must come to an end, and so they did with an utterly mediocre midseason finale. My take's here.

City on Fire take-down

It's rare that a novel makes me angry but City on Fire did just that. I only refrained from throwing it across the room because 1. it's huge and I didn't want to break something or hurt someone and 2. it was a library copy. So instead, I vented about it here.

The Walking Dead blew it with Glenn

Basically The Walking Dead set itself up for a fail no matter what happened to Glenn. What makes it even worse is that the season's been otherwise stellar. Click here for my take.

My weekend with Andrew Rannells

OK, so it's not literally my weekend with Andrew Rannells -- more like my chatting with Andrew Rannells about his weekend. Click here to see where his favorite spots are so you can happen to run into him.

Mudd Club rummage sale

The Mudd Club is using its iconic name for a good cause with a rummage sale to benefit the Bowery Mission Women's Project. More details here.

Misery

Broadway needs more fun genre exercises like Misery and less hand-wringing couch plays. Click here for my review.

Picks of the week: A View from the Bridge, Henry IV

It was a great week for British imports: A View from the Bridge on Broadway, Henry IV off. Now that's how you do the classics!

On the other hand, I recommend you skip the clunkily earnest Allegiance, as well as Dada Woof Papa Hot and Taylor Mac's surprisingly muddled and bitter Hir. Details here.

Why Walking Dead fans need to stop whining

The series is better than never -- yes, I'm going there -- and yet fans are whining. Too much philosophizing, not enough gore? And Glenn? What happened to Glenn?!? I address these pressing issues and more here.

Theater's having a senior moment

I couldn't be happier than theater is having a senior moment -- who'd complain to see a show where the stars are Marylouise Burke and Holland Taylor? (Yeah, I loved Ripcord.) More here.

On Your Feet!

Now this is a musical that earns its exclamation mark -- and then some. Just when I was thinking this Broadway season couldn't get any grimmer, the show perked me up. My review's here.

Shonda Rhimes must do something right

In her new book, Year of Yes, super-producer Shonda Rhimes has plenty of advice based on her experience saying yes for a year. Admitted, few of us will have her problems: Should I accept Dartmouth's invitation to speak at its commencement? Should I guest-star on Mindy Kaling's show? (I have to say yes to my wife asking me to bring back more milk.) Anyway, the book should be especially fun to fans of Grey's Anatomy because it reads like one of Meredith's monologues. More here.

The British royals: off with their heads!

Of course I'd think that -- any French person would! But my colleague Johnny Oleksinski disagrees, and King Charles III sent us into a spirited debate.

The Great British Baking Show

Why did PBS change the title of The Great British Bake Off to The Great British Baking Show? No idea, but it doesn't matter: This is the only reality-TV series I watch, and here's why.

Which movie stars have fared best on Broadway

Some of them tank, others navigate the stage with ease. Some will never back, others I can't wait to see again. Click here to see who's who.

Go see The Humans and Thérèse Raquin

The Roundabout has two very different versions of drama on offer, and they're both worthy in their own ways. Click here for my critic's picks.

Matthew Broderick: why?

Matthew Broderick's in Sylvia and I wondered why he keeps getting cast in comedies when he flounders in them. Might a drama suit him better? My reasoning's here.

The Walking Dead's Thank You

The Walking Dead's sixth season is up to a fantastic start with three terrific episodes in a row. My thoughts on "Thank You," in which a character died -- really, really died.

Interview with Peaches

What's in the teaches of Peaches? Still plenty, as it turns out. Click here for more.

A short intro to Mark Rylance

Hollywood is discovering Mark Rylance thanks to his scene-stealing turn in Bridge of Spies, but theater fans have known about him for a long time. Click here for my brief intro.

The Gin Game

Man, The Gin Game is a mean-spirited play! Not that you'd know from the Broadway revival I reviewed here.

Eclipsed

Lupita Nyong'o makes a convincing NY stage debut in Danai Gurira's Eclipsed. Click here for the full review.

Stop hating on Mamie Gummer!

In a world awash in children of celebrities, Mamie Gummer is easy to like. Just don't try to make her a star. Click here for my paean to this hard-working thespian.

Old Times

I never thought I'd say that about a Pinter play, but Old Times is hot. Hot as in smoldering and pent-up, not explicit. I still can't tell what's going on in the show, but watching Clive Owen, Eve Best and Kelly Reilly undress each other with their eyes is enough, thank you very much. My review's here.

Fear the Walking Dead post-mortem

After last night's finale, I look back at Fear the Walking Dead. In short: It wasn't that great but I'll keep on watching because zombies.

Philippe Petit's dream weekend

Philippe Petit lives near Woodstock, but here we chatted about his ideal NYC weekend.

Interview with Cush Jumbo

I chatted with the lovely Cush Jumbo about her signing on as a regular on The Good Wife.

Spring Awakening

The Deaf West revival is perfectly well crafted, almost to a fault — a show can certainly be overly polished. My review's here.

Josh Groban

Another fun interview in today's paper, this time with Josh Groban.

Adrienne Truscott's Asking for It

If you only know Adrienne Truscott from the Wau Wau Sisters or her work as a choreographer, you'll learn a lot more going to her standup show. Click here for my chat with the delightful Ms. Truscott.

Fulfillment

Thomas Bradshaw's latest is fairly tame -- but only by his standards. My review's here.

How to Live on Earth

Colt Coeur strikes again with this delightful, low-key show about interstellar exploration. Or rather, those who are left behind. My review's here.

Women owned the 2015 Emmys

And how! Maybe they should be renamed the Femmys. More of my postmortem here.

Iphigenia in Aulis

I'm a huge fan of Anne Washburn and Rachel Chavkin but their adaptation of Iphigenia in Aulis is disjointed, to say the least. My review's here.

The Christians

Lucas Hnath confirms the hopes put onto him with his Disney play at Soho Rep: The Christians is thoughtful, smart, cleverly plotted. My review's here.

Judy

My take on Max Posner's play Judy is a lot more nuanced than what the headline suggests. Click here for the full review.

It's time for Dancing with the Stars to go

I've loved that show but the relationship is over: As Dan Savage would put it, DTMFA! Click here for more.

Isolde

Richard Maxwell's latest is about a love triangle. Well, sort of. My review's here.

Desire

Six playwrights adapt short stories by Tennessee Williams for the stage. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't -- big surprise, right? My review's here.

The Legend of Georgia McBride

This show is what happens when a meh play lands a great production -- it's one of the most fun plays in town right now. My review's here.

Farewell, Mamma Mia!

I couldn't love ABBA more but I'm very happy Mamma Mia! is finally closing on Broadway. Find out why here.

Music roundup

Ghost, Carly Rae Jepsen, Jordin Sparks, Grace Mitchell: last week I did a fill-in new-music roundup — just like old times! Click here for the goods.

Guide to the US Open

What, you've never been? Here are some reasons why this year a good one for a visit.

A Delicate Ship

Technically speaking A Delicate Ship isn't bad but it also represents a lot of what I dislike about current American drama: it's over-workshopped, safe, overly planned. My review's here.

Whorl Inside a Loop

Don't miss Sherie Rene Scott and Dick Scanlan's new show, if only for its fantastic cast. My review's here.

Sense of an Ending

Not much to say about this show, other than the writing is too dull to rise to the story's challenges. My review's here.

Love & Money

A.R. Gurney kinda phoned in his new show -- feels like he rotary-dialed it, too. My review's here.

More Fear the Walking Dead

The cast of Fear the Walking Dead may be new, but the characters will be familiar to Walking Dead fans. Read on.

Beautiful redux

Chilina Kennedy fares better in Beautiful than Taye Diggs does in Hedwig. The shows are very different beasts in terms of what sells them, though. My re-review is here.

Interview with Alycia Debnam-Carey

I chatted with the young Aussie star about her role on Fear the Walking Dead, with a little extra on The 100. Click here for the goods.

Mercury Fur

I wasn't overly impressed by Philip Ridley's play, which is just empty pose. And the production isn't well acted, either. My review's here.

Fear the Walking Dead

The Walking Dead prequel is here, and I like it! My review of the first two episodes is here.

Informed Consent

A good play that's thoughtful without being didactic. Click here for my review.

Hedwig and the Angry Inch redux

I went back to Hedwig and the Angry Inch, now starring Taye Diggs. My re-review is here.

My favorite Max Martin No. 1 hits

How to just pick five? Answer here.

Walks off the beaten path

I put together a small selection of offbeat walks in the city. First and foremost: Erin Markey's Annie tour. More here.

John

I'd had my doubts about the scope of Annie Baker's talent -- so far her plays have struck me as well-crafted but minor. John finally convinced me. Read my review here.

Cymbeline

Cymbeline is a decent offering from Shakespeare in the Park but it'd be great if we could get new casts and creatives next year. My review's here.

Hamilton redux

Broadway suits Hamilton: the show looks very spiffy under brighter lights. I still have problems with it, but since I'm the only one... My review's here.

Meryl Streep's best singing performances

I ranked Meryl Streep's best singing performances, all of which are probably better than Ricki and the Flash. Click here for the goods.

Odd Birdz

Israeli company Tziporela brings its brand of whimsical sketch comedy to NY. My review's here.

Meet Ina Wroldsen

Ina Wroldsen is the uncredited voice on Calvin Harris' new hit. I couldn't let that pass! More here.

King Liz

The Knicks references are a howler in this new play. My review's here.

Miss Julie

Thomas Ostermeier doesn't disappoint with his harrowing Miss Julie. My review's here.

Stop dressing like slobs, people!

Why do adults dress like 12-year-olds? Bring back dress codes, I say here!

The Absolute Brightness of Leonard Pelkey

James Lecesne's sweet solo play is minor-key affecting. My review's here.

Colin Quinn The New York Story

The New York Story is my favorite Colin Quinn show so far. Is he getting better or have I have just softened up? More here.

Kafka on the Shore

Ninagawa Company adaptation of Murakami's novel starts off great before running aground. My review's here.

Let Wayward Pines die a natural death

My plea to Fox: Wayward Pines was really good — don't renew it! Click here for more.

Ubu Roi

Merdre! How could I resist? My review of Declan Donnellan's Ubu Roi at Lincoln Center is here.

What we know about Fear the Walking Dead so far

A handy summary of what we know about the Walking Dead prequel.

Mrs Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular

Ah, old-school drag: how good it feels! My review of the silly romp is here.

Scenes from an Execution

Jan Maxwell said this would be her last show. Maybe it will, maybe it won't. In the meantime, my review's here.

Amazing Grace

A different kind of bio-musical: this one is about a song — but it's still about a guy. My review's here.

The Wild Party

Encores! briefly revives Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party. Not quite the right part for Sutton Foster but others in the cast are simply fantastic so yeah, go if you can. My review's here.

Ruthless!

Ruthless! is exactly the kind of musical I'm usually a sucker for, but this production doesn't stick. My review's here.

DruidShakespeare

Let's just come out and say it: Some of the acting in DruidShakespeare falls short. My review of the epic undertaking at Lincoln Center Festival is here.

HBO's missed the latest TV train

HBO used to lead when it comes to creativity on television, now it follows at best. My column on the subject is here.

Penn & Teller on Broadway

Have we become resistant to non-Harry Potter magic or is it just harder for Penn & Teller to find their mark in their latest Broadway show? My review's here.

Skippyjon Jones Snow What

If I had kids, I'd take them to this new musical from Theatreworks USA. My review's here.

Bebe Rexha

My interview with Bebe Rexha, among my fave new pop stars, is here.

Little Shop of Horrors

In decades of seeing theater, I don't recall many ovations like that one that welcomed Ellen Greene at this Encores production. Unbelievable. My review's here.

Of Good Stock

What happened to Melissa Ross? Nice Girl was so good, and Of Good Stock is so blah! Was she Manhattan Theatre Club-ized? My review is here.

Shows for Days

What can I say? I loved it! Click here for my review of Douglas Carter's Beane's vehicle for Patti LuPone.

The Decline of Western Civilization

At last, all three of Penelope Spheeris' Decline of Western Civilization docs are on DVD! My take on this long-overdue release is here.

Larry Kramer in Love and Anger

Timely! My review of the new HBO doc about Larry Kramer's here.

A New Brain

I adored A New Brain when I saw it in 1998, but I'm not sure it's aged that well. My take on the Encores! revival is here.

Wayward Pines

After reviewing the early episodes, I checked back on Wayward Pines. And it's still good! Click here for what makes the show work.

My favorite French Touch tracks

OK, so this is far from exhaustive but it's a good sampler. And sure, I include Stardust -- it's still great! Click here for the fun house.

Significant Other

Joshua Harmon's new play is a lot of fun but so conventional under its contemporary trappings. My review's here.

Doctor Faustus

Chris Noth and Zach Grenier star in a brave attempt that doesn't land. My review of the CSC revival is here.

Gloria

Hell yeah, Gloria! Read my rave here.

The Tempest

It's Tempest in a teapot in Central Park. My review is here.

Deutschland 83

My review of the new German series, about Cold War spy games between East and West Germany.

Preludes

Dave Malloy's new one is maybe a little too diffuse for my taste but man, the guy can write songs! My review's here.

The Qualms

Bruce Norris' new dark comedy doesn't dig very deep but it's pretty entertaining. My review's here.

Guards at the Taj

Nope, didn't care for Rajiv Joseph's latest at the Atlantic.

10 Out of 12

Anne Washburn's latest is so typical of her approach: offbeat and smart, with a gimmick that's so much more than just a gimmick. My review's here.

Afghanistan, Zimbabwe, America, Kuwait

It's rare that the production values are better than the play itself in cash-starved off-Broadway theaters, but that's exactly what happens at this frustrating show. My review's here.

Cuddles

Cuddles is a strong contender for the year's top 10. I won't soon forget it. My review's here.

Interview with Blanca Li

I chatted with choreographer Blanca Li about some of the music videos and commercials she's worked on. Fun chat here!

Looking back at the 2015 Tonys

History is made at night, as they put it in Bombshell. And that's what happened at this year's Tonys. Click here for my wrap-up.

Steve Guttenberg is doing Shakespeare in a park!

Riverside Park, that is. Click here for the deets.

The Baloneys

Welcome to the first edition of the Baloneys, my awards to the worst Broadway ladled out this season! Click here for the fun.

Heisenberg

Mary-Louise Parker's mannerisms are not to everyone's taste but if you enjoy her, Heisenberg is a vehicle worth hopping on. My review's here.

Alan Cumming Sings Sappy Songs

Thank god the title of Alan Cumming's cabaret show is deceiving and the setlist isn't all tearjerkers. My review is here.

The Spoils

Jesse Eisenberg finally took the familiar character he always plays to his logical extreme and came up with a fine indictment of the contemporary entitled, narcissistic man-child — and his best play  yet. My review's here.

A Human Being Died That Night

Good vs. evil: It just doesn't get old, does it? My review of the new Apartheid-themed play is here.

Geneva Carr

Click here for my short piece on Geneva Carr, who is making quite the Broadway debut in Hand to God.

Cagney

I'm not the biggest fan of biopics, bioplays, biomusicals, biotech, but Cagney goes down easy. My review's here.

An Act of God

Playing God is actually below Jim Parsons' skill set. My review of his latest Broadway show is here.

Nice Girl

Melissa Ross' Nice Girl embodies what Labyrinth does best. My review's here.

The best and worst of Eurovision 2015

As Eurovision fans know, the best and worst are often the same thing at the contest. This year didn't disappoint. Click here for my selection.

The Other Thing

The Other Thing is what happens when you won't commit to your topic. My review of this dull show is here.

The Sound and the Fury

The bad news is that The Sound and the Fury is confusing. The good news is that it doesn't matter. My review of Elevator Repair Service's Faulkner staging is here.

Tuesdays at Tesco's

The play itself isn't all that great but Simon Callow is well worth a trip to 59E59. My review's here.

Permission

Hand to God and now Permission: Robert Askins is my favorite bard of American repression! My review of his new show is here.

The Way We Get By

I've become a Neil LaBute fan but this new one feels not quite finished. My review's here.

Six key David Guetta team-ups

I picked six key David Guetta team-ups that have appeared on his own records, not other artists'. Click here for some big beats.

What I Did Last Summer

A.R. Gurney's What I Did Last Summer isn't that great of a play, but it got a very nice production at Signature. My review's here.

The Painted Rocks at Revolver Creek

Athol Fugard's latest opens at Signature. My review's here.

Wayward Pines

M. Night Shyamalan makes his TV debut with a promisingly spooky thriller. My review's here.

Thoughts on The Good Wife's season finale

Of course there was no way The Good Wife could top its stellar season 5, but the show did flounder this past year. My thoughts on the season finale are here.

Cool Hand Luke

I'm on board with what the Godlight company is doing (stage adaptations of iconic novels), but Cool Hand Luke is just half a success. My review's here.

Zorba!

Zoe Wanamaker and John Turturro can't really sing but they can zorba! My review's here.

Dinner with the Boys

Fans of flaming turkeys may want to check out Dinner with the Boys just to see what an excruciatingly bad show looks like. My review's here.

Forever

It's not taking anything away from Dael Orlandersmith's experience to say that the exploration of her childhood in her new show is harrowing but also strangely banal. Click here for my review.

Why success is killing Veep and House of Cards

As soon as their main protagonists got what they wanted — ie they became president — House of Cards and Veep went down the drain. Click here for my column about it.

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

I've had issues with Fiasco's previous shows but the company's approach works really well with this Shakespeare comedy. My review's here.

What happened to Kalinda on last night's Good Wife?

We need closure, people, closure! Also, Lana. Click here for more.

Tis Pity She's a Whore

Seeing John Ford's Tis Pity She's a Whore on the Deuce is fitting. If only the show were better. My review's here.

Grounded

Julie Taymor and Anne Hathaway: yep, it's worth going. My review is here.

Happyish

My review of the new Showtime series Happyish, or at least its first three episodes, is here.

The Visit

If only for Chita Rivera, go go go to The Visit. My review's here.

Airline Highway

What a letdown Lisa D'Amour's new show is after the excellent Detroit. Click here for the full account.

Something Rotten!

Sitting at Something Rotten, it felt glaringly obvious: This is a big fat hit. Click here for my review.

Doctor Zhivago

Oof, what a boring show! My review's of the misfire is here.

My favorite meat and potatoes TV shows

Just that: TV's answer to comfort food from someone who watched all 10 episodes of The Last Ship this weekend. Click here for the list.

Living on Love

Renée Fleming and Douglas Sills are well matched in this new boulevard comedy. My review's here.

Fun Home redux

I'm very happy Fun Home is out there on Broadway, even if I don't share the delirious love many of my colleagues have for the show. My review's here.

Orphan Black

As a promising show ever deteriorated as rapidly as Orphan Black? It seems as if its creators just don't realize why we all got hooked in the first place. My review of S3's first two eps is here.

The King and I

What a gorgeous treat this revival is! Except for, you know, half of the title. More in my review here.

Finding Neverland

After much advance publicity Harvey Weinstein's debut theatrical production has finally opened on Broadway. My unimpressed review is here.

Hamlet

I didn't care all that much for Peter Sarsgaard's previous stage outings at CSC but I was impressed with his take on Hamlet. Too bad the rest of the production wasn't as good as his performance. My review's here.

It Shoulda Been You

Tough to see such a good cast wasted in such a non-starter of a show. My review's here.

Ghosts

Nothing can top Ingmar Bergman's Ghosts, seen at BAM in 2003, but Lesley Manville is pretty damn good in Richard Eyre's production. My review's here.

An American in Paris

An American in Paris aims for something elusive on Broadway: beauty. A little bit of brawn would have helped, too. My review's here.

interview with Anna Chlumsky

I'd been familiar with Anna Chlumsky's career, of course, but I gained a new appreciation for her after seeing her in David Adjmi's 3C. Click here for my brief chat with Chlumsky, as Veep starts again.

Clinton The Musical

Thank god for Kenneth Starr, who tried to sink Clinton -- The Administration but almost saves Clinton -- The Musical. Click here for my review.

Wolf Hall

Wolf Hall is long and feels longer. There's a limit to my taste for British period drama, and this show is pushing at it. My review's here.

Buzzer

Gentrification comes to the Public Theater in the new play Buzzer. My lukewarm review's here.

Gigi

I have a feeling I'm going to be an outlier for not hating Gigi. Click here for my guardedly positive review.

Hand to God redux

I preferred Hand to God off-Broadway, the way I prefer seeing a band in a small club rather than an arena. Still, it's a fab show that deserves to be where it is now. My rave is here.

The Undeniable Sound of Right Now

The sound in Laura Eason's play is neither undeniable nor right now (the action takes place in 1992). My review's here.

Skylight

Bill Nighy and Carey Mulligan as a former couple? Sorry, don't buy it. My review of the West End import is here.

Music Hall

We don't often see plays by Jean-Luc Lagarce in New York, so this Music Hall at 59E59 is welcome. Especially since the production is quite good. My review's here.

Dinner and a show for $50

Theater tickets are expensive, you say? And yet I found five theaters where you can see a show — a good one at that — and get dinner for $50! Click here for more info.

New York Spring Spectacular

What annoys me most about the new Radio City Spectacular is that it wastes the Rockettes. The Rockettes! Click here for my review.

Which star is going to be born again?

So now it's Bradley Cooper who's supposed to direct the new remake of A Star Is Born. Here are some of my suggestions for the female lead. Or maybe it's not a woman.

Lord of the Rings on the subway

How cool is that Lord of the Rings-themed mock signage in the subway? I asked the man behind it a few questions here.

Small Mouth Sounds

I can't recommend enough Bess Wohl and Rachel Chavkin's new show at Ars Nova. My review's here.

The Heidi Chronicles

Maybe it was just too perfect to actually work: Turns out the pairing of Elisabeth Moss and The Heidi Chronicles doesn't pan out. My review's here.

Posterity

Tough luck for Posterity, an old-fashioned period drama that comes out at a time when the genre is being dynamited by the likes of An Octoroon and Hamilton. My review's here.

Josephine and I + Cabaret redux

Cush Jumbo's tribute to Josephine Baker, Josephine and I, makes for a wonderful evening of performance (my review's here). What I would give to see what Jumbo's take as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, because Sienna Miller doesn't quite cut it as the latest Kit Kat Club chanteuse (click here for my third review of the re-revival).

The Liquid Plain

Naomi Wallace's latest at Signature is ambitious — not a couch play! — but so frustrating. My review's here.

The Audience

Anglophiles will eat up The Audience, and so will admirers of Helen Mirren (I'm in the second camp only). My review's here.

The Returned

The American remake of The Returned (Les Revenants) has landed. My question is: why? Click here for my review.

Jessie Mueller leaves 'Beautiful'

It's been a long, great ride for Jessie Mueller. My piece on her pre-departure thoughts is here while the one on the new Carole King, Chilina Kennedy, is here.

Fish in the Dark

Can't do better than the Post's headline aces here: Larry David delivers Larry David-ness. Click here for my review.

Paradiski feature

It was a pleasure exploring the Paradiski resorts in January — although a couple of days for La Plagne and Les Arcs isn't nearly enough. Click here for all the ski goodness.

The Mystery of Love and Sex

I was really happy to see Diane Lane onstage, but why didn't we get Sweet Bird of Youth?  My review of The Mystery of Love and Sex is here.

Bright Half Life

It's not often that I think, "Jeez, this show should have been longer," but that's exactly what happened with Tanya Barfield's latest, at Women's Project. My review's here.

An Octoroon

I revisited Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' play at Theater for a New Audience and this time I was able to focus more on what it says, rather than be merely astounded by its staging. Don't miss it. My review's here.

Brooklynite

I live in Brooklyn and even I was getting tired of the borough love in this new musical. Still, the show's goofy fun, especially if you're in that prize YA demo. Get your parents to pay for your ticket! My review's here.

Interview with Dylan Baker

Dylan Baker's Colin Sweeney is one of the most popular recurring guest characters on The Good Wife. And why not? The guy's such a charming sociopath! Click here for my interview with the delightful actor.

Lives of the Saints

David Ives' latest collection of one-act playlets is not up to his usual standards. My review's here.

The Nether

Jennifer Haley's play quietly gets under your skin. The presence of an actual child actress in a play about (among others) pedophilia will do that. My review's here.

Big Love

A revival of Charles Mee's Big Love hits Signature, and it's pretty good. My review's here.

7 lesser-known Nile Rodgers collaborations

"Get Lucky" is all well and good, but those seven Nile Rodgers collaborations are even better. Click here for the goodness.

Why banning pet stores from selling rabbits is a good idea

Bunnies are great pets, but you don't need to buy them in a store: there are plenty waiting to be adopted in shelters. Plus now it's illegal to sell them anyway. I wrote about the new city council ban here.

Verité

Like its title, which misses half of the required accents, Nick Jones' Verité only hits half its marks. Click here for my review.

Hamilton

I'm not entirely sold on Hamilton but liked large chunks of it. Too bad its zealot fans are so quick to attack any criticism. That's a bigger turnoff than anything in the show itself. Click here for my review.

The Events

It took me a little while to warm up to David Greig's fractured storytelling in The Events, but I got there. My review's here.

The Iceman Cometh

Nathan Lane isn't that counterintuitive a choice to play Hickey in Eugene O'Neill's ode to the bar at the end of the line. My review's here.

Between Riverside and Crazy redux

Stephen Adly Guirgis didn't revise his play since last year, but it's changed — the news cycle did that for him. Check here for my review.

Rasheeda Speaking

Cynthia Nixon directs Dianne Wiest and Tonya Pinkins, so right there is your reason to see this show. It's not as good as it could be, but you shouldn't pass an opportunity to see those two actors duke it out. My review's here.

Application Pending

Christina Bianco's talents are wasted in the middling new comedy Application Pending. My review's here.

Pretty Filthy

The Civilians look at the other side of Hollywood — the porn side — in the surprisingly sunny and upbeat (well, up to a point) Pretty Filthy. Click here for my review.

Texas in Paris

It's always a pleasure to watch Lillias White on stage, even in a show that doesn't give her much to chew on. My review's here.

Lady, Be Good

Encores! brings back a couple of classic chesnuts: the Gershwins' 1924 screwball musical and Tommy Tune. My review of this spry, loose, fun show is here.

Shesh Yak

You can take a hot-button subject like Syria and come up with a bland show, no matter how much brutality you throw at the stage. My review's here.

More US remakes of foreign TV shows

Most American remakes of non-American TV series suck. They suck and suck and suck. And yet they keep on coming, even though it's become easier than ever to watch the originals stateside. A quick look at what's coming down the pipeline.

It pays to open for Taylor Swift

Well usually it does. And then sometimes it doesn't. After Haim was announced to open on select dates for La Swift, I wondered if the sisters would end up like Ed Sheeran or like Kellie Pickler. Click here for the linkage.

Nevermore

Stylish, ghoulish biomusical about E. A. Poe. But boy, someone should have take editing scissors to that show! My review's here.

You Can't Take It With You redux

Anna Chlumsky (big up for 3C!) joined the cast of You Can't Take It With You so I went back to check out the show again — I know, twist my arm. My re-review is here.

Into the Woods

Catching up with some belated linkage (thanks, Blizzard of 2015, for leaving me stranded), starting with the Roundabout/Fiasco revival of Into the Woods.

I'm Gonna Pray for You So Hard

How I love watching Reed Birney play baddies! His milquetoast exterior makes it so much fun to watch. My review of Halley Feiffer's latest outing as a playwright is here.

Interview with Gillian Anderson

The best part about interviewing Gillian Anderson about The Fall is how alive she became when talking theater. Click here for the chat.

A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes

Kate Benson's A Beautiful Day in November on the Banks of the Greatest of the Great Lakes is a textbook example of a play eaten up and left for half-dead by its conceptual gambit. My review's here.

Honeymoon in Vegas

Honeymoon in Vegas is a typical you win some, you lose some musical, but the takeaway is overall pretty good. My review's here.

Constellations

Some very good actorly feats are happening at Constellations, courtesy of Jake Gyllenhaal and, especially, Ruth Wilson. My review's here.

In praise of Episodes

What's harder to Google, "girls" or "episodes"? Those two series have banal single-word titles, and one of them deserves more love than it's been getting. Hint: It's on Showtime, and my primer is here.

Kansas City Choir Boy

Todd Almond and Courtney Love's collaboration has drawn a lot of attention, and mostly I enjoyed it -- or should I say I enjoyed her? My review of this Prototype festival production is here.

Dying for It

It's the audience who's Dying for It -- "it" being escape from the theater -- as it suffers through a sluggish comedy at the Atlantic. My review's here.

Winners and Losers

Canadian import Winners and Losers has ups and downs, like the real-life conversation it so spookily emulates. My review of this latest Soho Rep production is here.

Under the Radar and Coil preview

Forget about January being a dead month for theater: Now it's action-packed, making it impossible to see all the cool stuff on offer. I previewed the two biggie fests on the block here.