White on White

Only a couple more days to see this terrific show at JACK in Brooklyn, a venue I'd love even if I wasn't able to walk to it from my apartment (and the Good Batch happens to be on the way). Click here for my Critic's Pick review.

July's science-fiction column

This month's batch of streaming sci-fi movies is all over the map — though come to think of, that's pretty much the case every month! The new column is out so dig in!

The Rise and Fall of Jean-Claude Van Damme

The subject line is only part of the (very long) title of Timothy Haskell's latest show, which I reviewed for the Times. Onward with the arts!

Titanique

Titanic is the gift that keeps on giving, and now it's back with more Celine Dion. I mean, back on stage, of course. Thataway for my review of the new musical.

Bodies They Ritual

I really liked Angela Hanks's new play, part of Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks series. It takes place at a Santa Fe resort and introduces a bunch of characters I'd like to know better. Well, maybe not Queen Harvest. Read my Critic's Pick review here.

Mabou Mines

Thrilled to continue my exploration of the East Village's legacy of experimental theater with a look at Mabou Mines, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary (actually 52nd — there was a pandemic-related delay) with a three-day celebration. Click here for the crazy story.

Scott Derrickson's mood board

I've done quite a few mood board for the Times by now, and this new one, with Scott Derrickson, has shot to the top of the heap. You know you want to read it.

The Big Mix

Tina Landau, James Alsop, Joshua Henry and Faith Prince chatted about The Big Mix on Little Island. Now I can't wait to go. Click here for the story.

Mia Yoo and La MaMa

I caught up with Mia Yoo 11 years into her tenure as artistic director at La MaMa. It was enlightening, to say the least. Click here for my story.

Tonys 2022 coverage

And it's a wrap for the 2022 Tonys! I contributed to the New York Times' live coverage (you can catch up with the blow-by-blow here) and to the Best and Worst compilation (which is here). 

June's science-fiction column

I'm proud of how diverse the selection in my science-fiction column has been, and the June installment continues that proud tradition. Click here for the latest batch of five films.

Mr. Parker

I trekked to Theater Row for Michael McKeever's latest, Mr. Parker. We are used to stories about women existing in the shadow of a famous husband; this show looks at a man who is emerging from the shadow a famous man. Click here for the review.

Irma Vep

I talked to Olivier Assayas and Alicia Vikander about their new HBO series, Irma Vep — another installment in a saga with roots in 1915. Read on then stream on! 

Arlekin Players

My latest feature in Arts & Leisure is about Arlekin Players, a small company out of Needham, Mass., that took the pandemic as a challenge to think out of the box — and it strived. Now it's presenting its most ambitious project yet, and I wrote about it.

After Blue (Dirty Paradise)

I am still reeling from Bertrand Mandico's wackadoo western/sci-fi hybrid, which is unlike anything else coming out these days. My review is here.

Fire Island

Summer's back, and with it rom-coms! I was happy to review Fire Island, in which Conrad Ricamora finally got the romantic lead he so richly deserved. Joel Kim Booster, who also wrote the screenplay, is delightful as well. Click here for the review.

California

My latest considers the first entry in Clubbed Thumb's Summerworks series. Click here for my puzzled review.

Golden Shield

I traveled to Manhattan Theater Club to review its new production, Golden Shield. Unfortunately I was not impressed.

Interview with Manuel Garcia-Rulfo

I worked on two stories when I went to Los Angeles earlier this month. One was about American Song Contest on NBC and the other just came out: an interview with Manuel Garcia Rulfo, the star of the new Netflix series The Lincoln Lawyer — as a Michael Connelly fan, I was excited. Click here for our chat.

Eurovision 2022

Once again I was part of the New York Times team covering Eurovision Song Contest live yesterday. It was action-packed, and if you haven't watched — what are you waiting for? You can relive the excitement in this thread.

May's streaming science-fiction movies

There's quite a bit of range in this month's selection, though make sure you don't mix Moonfall and Moonshot, or the Swan Song I talk about with the one starring Udo Kier! Click here for my latest column.

Which Way to the Stage

The characters in Ana Nogueira's play, at MCC, are pretty familiar types but the comedy flies for most of the show. But that landing… My review for the Times is here.

Backstage at American Song Contest

I recently spent a few days in Los Angeles working on a couple of stories. The first one just came out and it's about the NBC show American Song Contest. I am not, generally speaking, a fan of singing competitions but I genuinely love this one. Why? Because it's modeled after the Eurovision Song Contest, which of course I love! (And once again I'll be part of the Times' team covering the final on Saturday.) Watching how the sausage is made backstage was a thrill and you can read about it here.

My second (completely different) L.A. story will be out next week. Watch this space.

The Takedown

After Lupin, Omar Sy pairs up with director Louis Leterrier again for the buddy comedy The Takedown. Unfortunately, both men can do a lot better. My review is here.

Holland Taylor's exit interview

Holland Taylor has been performing her play Ann since 2010, but her run at the Pasadena Playhouse was her last rodeo (other women can take on the role, of course). Oooh this was fun to do! Click here for the fun.

Severance mood board

What a treat to chat with creator Dan Erickson about some of the influences he brought to his series Severance. Click here!

Jaquel Spivey

Since November, I've had several conversations with Jaquel Spivey about his starring role in A Strange Loop. It's rare that I get this much time with someone, and I think it paid off. Click here for the article. 

Alfie Allen's My 10

My entire family was into Game of Thrones so they're very psyched that I got to talk to Theon Greyjoy, sorry, Alfie Allen — who's making his Broadway debut in Hangmen — about his go-to items. Thataway for the article.

Five sci-fi movies to stream in April

My latest column for the Times features the usual diverse array of streaming under-the-radar movies. Dive in!

Harmony

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's musical has been circling the New York airport for a long time, and I'd say it was worth the wait. My review is here.

The Little Prince

The French import The Little Prince crash-landed on Broadway. I was there to check out the wreckage: read all about it in my review for the Times.

Valérie Lemercier talks Aline

I've been a fan of Valérie Lemercier for decades and this was my first time interviewing her — about her film Aline, which I liked a whole lot. Thataway for my feature.

Little Girl Blue

I don't have the same hangups against jukebox musicals as many of my colleagues, but I readily admit that the biographical subgenre is the hardest to tackle. Read my review to see how Laiona Michelle fared with her show about Nina Simone.

Science-fiction movies for March

Another sci-fi smorgasborg for March! Click here for my latest batch of under-the-radar releases.

The American Song Contest is coming

I am ridiculously excited about this new NBC show! Here's a primer about what to expect when it starts on Monday.

The Life

The latest Encores! production bears little resemblance, in its approach, to the series' mission as it was once defined. By all means, adapt away — just don't call it an Encores. My review is here.

Is Big Sky the future of skiing?

I truly don't have the answer to that question, but it's interesting to think about it. My take, which will not solve anything: there are no good answers. Click here for my story about the Montana ski resort.

Stromae

Stromae's back! I talked to him about his new album, the glories of Technotronic and so much more. Click here for the interview.

Science-fiction movies for February

This month's selection of under-the-radar science-fiction movies casts a not particularly optimistic look at the future (though one of them does involve a Shyamalan-esque plot twist). Click here for the streaming goods.

Reacher on Amazon

A new Reacher series is streaming on Amazon and of course I wrote about it — I've lost track of how many of those books I've read! Click here for the big and burly stuff.

Prayer for the French Republic

I will always support playwrights' ambitions; I just wish Joshua Harmon's new family saga had found a better third act. Click here for my review. 

Pam & Tommy

When news of this miniseries came out a few months ago, I immediately pitched a story. But when I finally watched the 8 episodes, they did not go at all where I expected — which is a very good thing. Click here for my preview feature.

Exponential Festival 2022

The Exponential Festival went digital this year, and I watched seven of the shows (the fest concludes on Monday). It was a discombobulating experience, which is reflected in my account for The New York Times.

Five sci-fi movies for January

The latest batch of under-the-radar science-fiction movies is out, and the timing is perfect: it's snowy and cold in NYC — cue up some flicks! Click here for the list.

Ricky Ian Gordon

Two composers have two operas running in January: Puccini and Ricky Ian Gordon. I wrote about the latter for the Times. Thataway for the profile. 

Conrad Ricamora

I've long been a fan of Conrad Ricamora's, having enjoyed his performances in shows as stylistically diverse as Here Lies Love, The King and I and Soft Power. I was psyched to talk to him as he takes on Seymour in Little Shop of Horrors. Click here for the profile.

Witcher mood board

It was super-fun to chat with showrunner Lauren Schmidt Hissrich about some of the inspirations behind the Netflix series The Witcher! Read on here.

A chat with Suranne Jones

Suranne Jones is best known in the US for Gentleman Jack but she's always great — and so she is in the new Vigil. Fun fact: I called her from my brother's old bedroom in our family home in Corsica, as our interview got delayed until after I left for vacation. Suranne is thataway.

Arcane mood board

I chatted with Christian Linke and Alex Yee about the inspirations behind their Netflix series, Arcane. Fun stuff! Click here for the goods.

Five sci-fi movies to wrap up 2021

 My sci-fi column for The New York Times wraps up for 2021 with this latest installment.

Mr. Saturday Night

No, not the Billy Crystal movie: I reviewed this HBO doc about Robert Stigwood, whose producing credits include Saturday Night Fever. Thataway!

Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas

The Jim Henson special, which premiered in the US in 1978, comes to the New Victory Theater in December. This gave me a golden opportunity to talk to Paul Williams. Click here for my preview of the show.

Best theater 2021

 It was a pleasure to contribute to the New York Times' roundup of great moments in 2021 theater.

Interview with Paul Verhoeven

You know what's not streaming right now? Showgirls! But hey, Paul Verhoeven has a new movie out, Benedetta, and we chatted on the phone. Click here for our conversation.

2021 Netflix holiday movies

This is starting to feel like a tradition: Once again, I ranked all the new Netflix holiday originals — well, the ones available by our deadline. Jingle all this way!

Non-Netflix streaming holiday movies

First, there were the Netflix holiday movies. Then, there were the holiday movies on streamers other than Netflix. Behold, another roundup!

Exit interview with Jennifer Nettles

Is there anything Jennifer Nettles can't do? I talked to her as she was about to wrap up her run in Waitress on Broadway. Thataway for our chat.

Celebrating Sondheim in piano bars

I'm sure there will be starrier tributes — lord knows there have been plenty in the past — but I can't think of better places to celebrate the art of the late Stephen Sondheim than at Marie's Crisis and the Duplex last night. Check out my report.

The Alchemist

If only the Red Bull company's production of The Alchemist had carried its first-act momentum after intermission! Still, it feels good to laugh at silly antics. My review can be found here.

More science fiction to stream

I picked another batch of under-the-radar science-fiction movies to wrap up November. The list is here.

Jagged

I can't say I was a huge fan of Alanis Morissette when Jagged Little Pill blew up in 1995, but this new doc is a compelling look at an influential album. Check out my review for the Times here.

Discover the Indy Pass

The past couple of seasons, I wrote about the big multi-resort passes, Epic and Ikon, that have upended the ski industry. This time I turned to a newish network of mom-and-pop hills, the Indy Pass. Read and get your skis ready!

Preparedness

The Bushwick Starr and HERE teamed up to present Hillary Miller's new play. Thataway for my review.

While You Were Partying

Soho Rep has returned in fine form with this unsettling new show, which seems to have become a bit of a cult hit — it's just been extended. I fed the hype with a critic's pick, which you can read here.

Neal Brennan's Ten

I'm going to come right out and say it: Neal Brennan has supplied one of the funniest entries the "My 10" column has ever published. You want to read it.

October's streaming science fiction

My latest batch of under-the-radar science-fiction movies is up and you can find it here. I managed to sneak in a big-budget production that I feel didn't get a fair shake. 

Chatting with ABBA

A couple of weeks ago I flew to Stockholm to chat with Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus's about ABBA's return. It was a pleasure and an honor rolled into one, and now you can read all about it here.

The Mother

The Wooster Group took on Brecht's The Mother and the results are worth talking about. My review is here.

Golshifteh Farahani

Golshifteh Farahani + aliens = win! I interviewed the great Iranian actress about her star turn in the new series Invasion. More thataway.

Designing Women

Linda Bloodworth-Thomason brings back her classic characters in a brand-new play. The production is in Arkansas but thanks to the magic of streaming I was able to review it for the Times. Click here.

Todd Haynes talks music and films

Todd Haynes is such a smart guy that when you interview him, you look smart by association!  It was an absolute pleasure to talk music and film with him, pegged to his new doc about the Velvet Underground. Click here for the feature.

Needle in a Timestack

 I reviewed this stupefyingly bland time-travel rom-dram (what else to call it when it's not funny?). Not a critic's pick, obviously. More thataway.

Maryann Plunkett's exit interview

Maryanne Plunkett was in all 12 plays of Richard Nelson's Rhinebeck Panorama cycle. I talked to her about what it was like, and closing a period of her life. Click here for the article.

Adrian Lester

Adrian Lester is finally making his Broadway debut, and I'm there for it! I talked this wonderful actor for the Times. 

A chat about Ganglands with Julien Leclercq

I love Julien Leclercq's movies and I'm happy to report his first series, Ganglands, is excellent as well. We talked about how it came to be and how he adapted his lean-and-mean style to an extended running time. Click here for the article.

Never Let Go

 There's still time to catch Michael Kinnan's solo retelling of Titanic at the Brick! My critic's pick is here.

This month's overlooked sci-fi movies

And we're back with five more science-fiction movies you might not have heard of. If you think of sci-fi as just galactic epics, these will surprise you. Click here for the list.

A Commercial Jingle for Regina Comet

In-person theater is coming back to life and I trekked to Union Square for this new musical. I wish I'd liked it more. Click here for my review.

Talking Tonys

It was great fun to discuss CBS' Tonys broadcast (rather than who or what got awards) with the Times' Jesse Green and James Poniewozik. Read on.

Only an Octave Apart

 I talked to Justin Vivian Bond and Anthony Roth Costanzo about their show at St. Ann's Warehouse. I love that they were inspired by Beverly Sills and Carol Burnett's TV special from 1976! Click here for the goods.

Everybody's Talking About Jamie

A film adaptation of the West End musical Everybody's Talking About Jamie is now on Amazon, and I reviewed it for the Times. Fun fact: Holly Johnson of Frankie Goes to Hollywood sings the big Richard E. Grant number. Click here for my review.

Come from Away

Just like the stage musical, the capture of Come from Away is hard to hate and hard to love. My review of the new Apple TV+ stream is here.

There is still theater to stream

As in-person theater returns, my streaming column in the New York Times comes to an end, at least in this incarnation. There are some real goodies in that last installment so click here.

10 from Jean-Paul Belmondo

I was actually surprised by how many Jean-Paul Belmondo hits are available in the U.S. — and if you're lucky enough to have a Kanopy account, there are even more. I put together a list of 10 for the New York Times. Get reading and then get streaming!

Come From Away

I returned to Gander and the good folks of Come From Away, which is now streaming on Apple TV+. It's pretty much like the Broadway show (itself returning soon), which means that it's hard to hate and hard to love. Click here for my review.

Some science-fiction movies for September

 My latest column on streaming science-fiction movies has landed. Dig in!

Interview with Liza Birkenmeier and Katie Brook

These two collaborators are back with Islander, which combines two things I'm particularly interested in: pro sports and fandom. We met at Ocean's 8 on Flatbush — you know the place. Click here for the enjoyable (if I may say so myself) Q&A

What will happen to streaming theater?

As in-person theater returns, what shape will its streaming version take? Is it here to stay? What should we call it anyway? This and more on my new piece.

More streaming theater to finish up the summer

The delta variant is complicating things for IRL theater but guess what? It's not affecting streaming! My latest column is here.

A starter kit for NYC cyclists

It was super-fun to write this starter kit for the many people who got bikes last year. (And yes, I actually love riding in NYC.) Click here for the two-wheel goods.

A trip to the Tabor Opera House

Last month I spent a week in Colorado and researched two stories. The first was about the Creede Repertory Theater and the second is about the Tabor Opera House in Leadville. Both are packed with history and unforgettable characters. Click here for Leadville.

And remember: a breakfast burrito a day is part of a balanced mountain diet.

August's science-fiction column

Digging deep for the latest installment of my column about streaming science-fiction movies. Click here then start watching.

Friday Night Footlights: The story of Creede Repertory Theater

A few weeks ago I flew to Denver, then drove hours in a woefully underpowered Nissan Versa to reach Creede, Colorado. What's going on there? Read on! This is definitely in my top 5 or maybe even top 3 of my favorite articles ever.

More theater to stream

In-person shows are coming back but streaming theater is not letting on! Here's the latest selection from my Times column.

Exit interview with Blanka Zizka

I first met Blanka Zizka in 2018, when I did a story about the Wilma Theater's acting company, the HotHouse, a few years ago. So when I heard she was retiring from the Wilma, I had to talk to her. She was just as sharp and candid as I hoped. Click here for our chat.

The Boy Behind the Door

I wrote about this new movie streaming on Shudder, an abduction slasher in which the heroes are 12-year-old boys. Click here for the review.

Woodstock 99

It's hard to wrap your head around not just what happened at this festival in 1999, but also how John Scher talks about it in 2021 — I had to replay a couple of scenes to make sure I heard him right. Click here for my review.

The Two Noble Kinsmen

 Shakespeare in the Parking Lot is back — though I caught its show not, technically speaking, in a parking lot but in Bryant Park. Click here for my review.

July's Science-fiction column

 My latest New York Times column covering streaming science-fiction movies is out and I found some goodies for the fans out there. Click here for five links.

More theater to stream

 I have been traveling and working on a time-intensive stories so I've fallen behind on posting links to my stories. Here's my latest theater-streaming guide, just as I start working on the next one, which is running next week!