Friday, April 29, 2016

Shuffle Along

I'd always admired more than loved Audra McDonald, but after seeing Shuffle Along I'm fully converted. My review's here.

Interview with Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone rocker her guest spot on Penny Dreadful last year, and now she's back for a full season — in a different role! Naturally I talked to the feisty star about skinning rabbits with Eva Green. Click here for more.

Thursday, April 28, 2016

Long Day's Journey Into Night

Jessica Lange, Michael Shannon and Gabriel Byrne star in the latest revival of O'Neill's drama -- and I liked it a lot more than I expected. My review's here.

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Tuck Everlasting

This is a sad state of affair when I, who can't be accused of anglophilia, keep wishing that Brits would handle all family shows. The Brits seem to be repelled by sugary sentimentality, and the new Tuck Everlasting could have used a touch of dakrness. My review's here.

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Fully Committed

Bland and underseasoned, Jesse Tyler Ferguson's solo show lands flat. My review's here.

Monday, April 25, 2016

Waitress

Much to my surprise (because I'm not all that crazy about the movie), I absolutely loved Waitress as a Broadway musical. My review's here.

Friday, April 22, 2016

American Psycho

American Psycho: The Musical went the only way it could -- satire. There's just no way the violence could have made it to the stage. At least not the Broadway stage. My review's here.

Wednesday, April 20, 2016

Rihanna's "Needed Me"

My take on how Rihanna boldly goes where she's gone many times before in her new video for "Needed Me."

Monday, April 18, 2016

The Night Manager

This new Le Carré adaptation is seriously good. If you prefer your espionage with less explosions and more brains than a Bourne/Bond/Mission: Impossible franchise, get onto this pronto. My review's here.

Friday, April 15, 2016

The Father

His performance in The Americans has made me fall in love with Frank Langella all over again. Too bad The Father is such a slick vehicle, trying so hard to impress. My review's here.

Thursday, April 14, 2016

This week's picks are Les Fetes Venitiennes and Exit Strategy

Go see Les Arts Florissants' Les Fêtes Vénitiennes at BAM and Primary Stage's Exit Strategy at the Cherry Lane. But don't feel like you have to rush over to Nathan the Wise at Classic Stage Company. This week's critic's picks are here.

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

Dancing with the Stars is watchable again

Season 22 (how time flies!) is a lot of fun, and I listed the reasons why here. Hint: good contestants and no Houghs.

Monday, April 11, 2016

Why hasn't anybody on Fear the Walking Dead heard of zombies?

Answer: They live in a world where nobody has ever seen a George Romero movie. At least that's was showrunner Dave Erickson's theory when I talked to him. More here.

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Colman Domingo talks Fear the Walking Dead

I've seen Colman Domingo in many shows, from musicals to Fugard, so it was quite a shock when he turned up in Fear the Walking Dead last year. I chatted with him about getting a gig with a popular TV franchise.

Friday, April 08, 2016

Theater's biggest stars don't have any lines

Just look at those hardworking couches! This one was a hoot to research.

Pick of the week: Richard II

I was very impressed by David Tennant in Richard II (like everybody else, it seems). I only saw one of the other shows in the Lancaster cycle at BAM, Henry IV Pt. 1, but it left me cold. Antony Sher's Falstaff, in particular, felt by-the-numbers -- Sophie Stanton's portrayal in the Phyllida Lloyd staging at St. Ann's was a million times more inventive, and not just because she was a woman playing a man.

Fun facts you didn't know about Hamilton

Despite the media onslaught accompanying a certain musical, a new companion book managed to uncover new tidbits. I picked a few of them.

Andrew Dice Clay

Yes, I interviewed Andrew Dice Clay -- and it was awesome! Click here to see why it's clear this guy hasn't had media training.

Thursday, April 07, 2016

Monday, April 04, 2016

Interview with Jeffrey Dean Morgan

I have issues with the way the Walking Dead season finale was handled, but none with the way Jeffrey Dean Morgan portrayed Negan. My interview with him is here.

P.S. Denny Duquette is still dead!

Friday, April 01, 2016

Interview with Lukas Graham

The Danish popster answered some questions. I really want to visit Christiania now! The chat is here.

Picks of the week: 1776 and Head of Passes

I'd never seen 1776 and thoroughly enjoyed the Encores! production that's running until Sunday. My other recommendation this week is Head of Passes at the Public Theater. More here.

The Crucible

Ivo van Hove is usually very good at drawing out a play's deepest meaning but his reading of The Crucible is a little perplexing. Still, I enjoyed the show.