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.