How to Dance in Ohio Book and Lyrics by Rebekah Greer Melocik Music by Jacob Yandura Choreographed by Mayte Natalio Directed by Sammy Cannold Belasco Theatre December 6, 2023 Production website 💉💉 out of 5.
Of my 10 shows that I saw on this trip I was most looking forward to seeing How to Dance in Ohio, but it was my least favorite show. I was so excited to witness a show that brought the inclusion of a cast of individuals who were self-identifying as people with autism. I thought it a great chance to give voice to people who would not normally be seen on Broadway. But, as the show made clear, no special exception, was to be given to any of them. They were going to be judged – – in fact, they wanted to be judged, on their own merits – – and it just didn’t work.
Stereophonic Written by David Adjmi Songs by Will Butler Directed by Daniel Aukin Playwrights Horizons December 5, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
I was really NOT looking forward to seeing Stereophonic. It was one of those shows that was offering a good price at the right time in my schedule. But boy was I wrong. This turned out to be the best show out of the 10 that I saw for this particular trip – – In fact, this show had one magical aspect that I’ve had with so few shows in New York – – There was a span of time in the show, when I truly, truly forgot that I was watching a play; I believed that I was in a recording studio, watching singers, actually working on an album struggling to find the right way to present it. I was not in the theater. I was not watching a play. I was watching real life unfold in front of me. That happens almost never for me in the theater. It was magical.
Waiting for Godot Written by Samuel Beckett Directed by Erin Arbus Theatre for a New Audience December 3, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉💉💉 out of 5.
Waiting for Godot is my absolute favorite play. When asked by my students for all my years of teaching, what was my favorite play? I was always proud to answer, waiting for Godot. I think it is the most perfect play that illustrates the most central core of human experience: waiting. Waiting is something that we all do and actually spend most of our life doing. Waiting for Godot illustrates that perfectly. I must have seen this production over 20 times – – sometimes good – – sometimes bad – – sometimes ugly – – but each time I’ve learned something new about the play . Here in the hands of Michael Shannon and Paul Sparks. I felt I really saw the quintessential version.
Poor Yella Rednecks Written by Qui Nguyen Directed by May Adrales Manhattan Theatre Club December 2, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
Poor Yella Rednecks was best captured by a review that summarized it by calling it a “merry mashup of hip-hop, pop culture, cursing and kung fu.’ Yep, that just about sums it up – and really it was little more – and it could have been SO much more. Basically, it tells the story of a Vietnamese family that has been transplanted to the deep south of the United States to eke out a life in a world that doesn’t understand them and clearly dislikes them. Inside this insular family, there is a marriage that is in trouble due to the man being still in a marriage to a woman with two of his children back in Vietnam and pursuing a current love interest with a Vietnamese woman in the States. Most importantly, the Vietnamese woman in the deep south must decide if she is going to spend time with the man who has such a past. Add to this projections and rap music and comic kung fu scenes with puppetry, and lots of other added fun things and you pretty much got the whole play. Metaphorically the play seemed to be a lot of frosting without much attention to the cake.
The Gardens of Anuncia A New Musical by Michael John LaChiusa Directed and Co-Choreographed by Graciela Daniele Lincoln Center Theater at the Mitzi E. Newhouse December 1, 2023 Production website 💉💉💉 out of 5.
The Gardens of Anuncia is an ode and celebration of the brilliant choreographer and director Graciela Daniela. It is perfectly staged at Lincoln Center – in that she was, at one time, the Director in Residence for the Lincoln Center Theater. Danielle has directed in choreographed eight shows on the stage – – this being her ninth. Her career is that of a theater legend. From her childhood as a baby ballerina in Buenos Aires to working as Bob Fosse dance, captain and Michael Bennett’s assistant to a collection numerous awards, and Tony Award nominations.
