Kinky Boots

Kinky Boots
Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
Composer and Lyricist – Cyndi Lauper
Book by Harvey Fierstein
Al Hirchfeld Theatre
March 24, 2018
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5

Kinky Boots lived up to everything I expected! Β It was fun and silly and didn’t pretend to be anything that it couldn’t deliver. Β I felt like a was watching a bit of Billy Elliot, Hairspray, and La Cage, Β  Kinky Boots shared the same themes of individuality, love, and fierceness that connect all the shows above – but I did NOT get bored. Β Never once did I look at my watch. Β It kept me involved the entire time. Β Speaking of fierceness, Wayne Brady rocks. Β  Continue reading Kinky Boots

Amy and the Orphans

Amy and the Orphans
Written by Lindsey Ferrentino
Directed by Scott Ellis
Roundabout: Laura Pels Theatre
March 20, 2018
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5.

Amy and the Orphans was damn near the best show I have seen in a long time. Β I know there are those who do not value the comedy and would only say that ratings ofΒ πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ roΒ πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ must go to a drama – because of their profundity, but I disagree! Β A great night in the theatre is a great night in the theatre!

I have to admit that part of my reason in going to see Amy and the Orphans was to see how a woman with Down Syndrome would actually work out in a full theatrical production. Β My very limited experience with those living with Down Syndrome convinced me that this was impossible. Β But I was wrong!Β  Continue reading Amy and the Orphans

Good for Otto

Good for Otto
Written by David Rabe
Directed by Scott Elliot
The New Group at the Pershing Square Signature Theatre
March 21, 2018
Production website
πŸ’‰ out of 5.

As a MFA Playwright from Penn State – and now a high school teacher of playwriting, I always run into the same problem with beginning writers. When given the choice to write about what they want to write Β about, young students seem to gravitate to setting their play in the psychiatrist’s office. Β The reason is clear – rather then writing a story with some conflict – rather than SHOWING us the story – they would rather put a wild, kooky outragious character on a psychiatrist couch and just drill them with questions to get a monologue out of them. Β It is cheap easy playwriting. Β You don’t have to SHOW us you can just TELL us – and that is not what our art form is about. Continue reading Good for Otto

Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo

Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo
Written by Edward Albee
Directed by Lila Neugebauer
Signature Theatre
March 21, 2018
Production website
πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰πŸ’‰ out of 5

It is so great to back in New York and back in the theatre. Β After a break of a few months it was so wonderful to curl up on a snowy Tuesday evening to watch essentially two characters tear through some language to create some beautiful Albee-esque existentialism. Β The play was a combination of two one acts – the later being the classic “Zoo Story” that EVERYONE reads in college and debates for hours and EVERY young male actor gnashes their teeth (literally) to tell the infamous “dog story”. Β What was new for me – was to see the play, “At Home” that was written as a precursor to the “Zoo Story” and gives us a bit of character background to the rather flat and enigmatic Peter. Continue reading Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo