There is currently a show on Broadway that celebrates the unity of humanity in the face of serious tragedy. It expresses human kindness and openness in ways that most of us thought were not possible. Leigh Fondakowski’s new play, Spill, is not that show. The former is Come From Away, a musical about a town in New Foundland that bands together on 9/11 when 38 plays had to make an emergency landing at their local airport in Gander. [Read more…] about Theater Review: Leigh Fondakowski’s “Spill” at Ensemble Studio Theatre
World Music Institute’s Night of “Baca”nallia with Susana Baca
Pioneer Works, located in the Red Hook neighborhood of Brooklyn, has an unglamorous, yet massive exterior. On Friday Night, March 17th, however, the inside of this former warehouse was packed and humming with fanfare and excitement. Crowds of people were energized by the percussive sounds of Bulla En El Barrio, a Colombian group that provided the perfect opening act for Peruvian Folk singer, Susana Baca. The concert was part of World Music Institute’s series, ORIGINS, which “preserves important cultural legacies.” [Read more…] about World Music Institute’s Night of “Baca”nallia with Susana Baca
Theater Reviews: White Guy on the Bus & Beneath the Gavel
59E59 is heating up the liberal conscious with two American plays, White Guy on the Bus and Beneath the Gavel. [Read more…] about Theater Reviews: White Guy on the Bus & Beneath the Gavel
Theatre Review: Sunset Boulevard on an Empty Strip
In Act II of the current revival of Sunset Boulevard, faded silent movie star Norma Desmond (Glenn Close) returns to the lot of Paramount studios where, years prior, she was an adored actress. As she looks around in stunned amazement, she launches into one of the musical’s most well-known numbers, As If We Never Said Good-bye. The song captures the emotion of a celebrity who wears spotlight like a warm winter coat and is ecstatic to be basking in it once again. Close, who won the Tony for her role in the 1994 staging is back on the boards, chewing the scenery and commanding the stage like the true professional that she is. [Read more…] about Theatre Review: Sunset Boulevard on an Empty Strip
Theater Review: “If I Forget” Rife with Family Conflict
Anti-holocaust discussions might not make for an appropriate conversation at a dinner party, but they most definitely produce excellent dramatic tension, as witnessed in Steven Levenson’s sharply written Off Broadway play, If I Forget.
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Theater Review: Will Eno’s “Wakey, Wakey” Rises To the Occasion
None of us are getting out of here alive, but we are getting tzotchkes and knick knacks before it all ends. The “here” I am referring to is life and an actor, simply known as “Guy” (Michael Emerson) will spend 75 plaintive and sometimes whimsical minutes talking to us about our mortal condition while reading interesting trivia from 3X5 business cards. It sounds dull, but Playwright Will Eno’s existentialist drama captures our attention and beautifully paints a canvas of what it means to live a life well lived. [Read more…] about Theater Review: Will Eno’s “Wakey, Wakey” Rises To the Occasion
Peru’s Very Own Susana Baca Takes Brooklyn Tomorrow Night
Tomorrow might be a big day for Irish folks, but there is another event happening in the neighboring borough of Brooklyn that is sure to throw Peruvian New Yorkers (and their admirers) into a state of elation. [Read more…] about Peru’s Very Own Susana Baca Takes Brooklyn Tomorrow Night
Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse Sizzles With Perfection
Remember that resolution you made at the beginning of the year? You told yourself that you were going to carefully watch what you ate and would cut back on red meat and fatty foods? Instead, you would seek gluten-free, lactose-free, wheat-free, low or zero calorie and fat free options that-while difficult-would lead you towards the promised land of better health? [Read more…] about Ben & Jack’s Steakhouse Sizzles With Perfection
CharityBuzz is Auctioning Michael Bolton (and He’s Waiting for You)
Michael Bolton is a multi-Grammy Award winning vocalist with global appeal and album sales that have yielded over 60 million. He’s also been a staunch social activist, lending his time and services to his organization, The Michael Bolton Charities supporting women & children at risk. You’d think with all that he’s accomplished, he’d be sitting on top of the world. Lately however, he’s been a bit melancholy and keeps returning to the the same question he posed in 1989: “How Am I Supposed To Live Without You?” Yes. You, Dear Reader. Michael Bolton needs you to be his “soul Provider”—and here is how you can help him get “back on his feet again.” [Read more…] about CharityBuzz is Auctioning Michael Bolton (and He’s Waiting for You)
TEDx Broadway Returns for 6th Annual Event
TedX Broadway is back on the boards for its’ 6th consecutive year and co-organizers Damian Bazadona and Jim McCarthy have recently announced confirmed speakers. [Read more…] about TEDx Broadway Returns for 6th Annual Event