Women Without Men by Hazel Ellis premiered in Dublin, Ireland in 1938. It was met with much acclaim, especially from the Evening Herald which called it a play that “marks another step forward in Irish Drama.” Ellis left a strong imprint in the world of Irish Theater, but she became reclusive from it and instead chose the path of matrimony. It led to two difficult marriages and a battle with alcoholism. [Read more…] about Theater Review: Women Without Men
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Theater Review: Angel Reapers
In our current age of technology, self-will, and instant gratification, it’s difficult to wrap our heads around the idea of a simplistic lifestyle. New Yorkers especially, are known for their jet paced lives. Even if you were to ask a contemporary resident of Oshkosh, Wisconsin what brings joy and meaning to their days, it’s highly doubtful that they would respond with: “furrowing fields”, “repairing the henhouse”, “reaping hay”, “laundering garments” or “gathering eggs”. Yet these activities translated to spiritual enlightenment for the Shakers, an 18th century group of men and women who lived communally in Colonial America.
Concert Review: Valentine’s Day with Megan Hilty and the NJSO
Unless you’re a commuter, it takes compelling incentive for a Manhattanite to leave the island. The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra is one such reason. Megan Hility is another. One would think then, that this musical marriage would be nothing short of perfect for the Valentine’s Day Weekend; lush orchestral tones, a Broadway bombshell, fine direction by guest conductor Todd Ellison, and romantic standards all seem to be the essential ingredients for a perfect concert. Yet after venturing to the recently restored but acoustically challenged Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey last Friday evening February 12th, I returned to New York with a minor sense of disappointment.
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Reviews: Broadway and the Bard, Snow White, & Rock & Roll Refugee
Broadway and the Bard
After recently sitting through eighty minutes of the inscrutable and insufferable Broadway and The Bard, I sheepishly turned to my guest for the evening (a fellow aficionado of entertainment) and asked his opinion. “Well,” he said, “I fell asleep for most of it and when I woke, I kind of just checked out and then remembered that I had to water my plants.” Such commentary does not support a compelling night of theatre. I wholeheartedly agreed with his assessment, though unfortunately, I remained awake for the ordeal.
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Transform Yourself With The Grand Paradise
When I first heard about The Grand Paradise, I made a choice to not look up anything else about the show, other than hearing it was about “the 70’s.” That can mean a lot of things, some great, some terrible, and I’ve found that sometimes it’s best to know as little as you can (well, in some cases).
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TedxBroadway Turns Five Years Old
What are you doing one week from today? If your answer is: “Going to work”, you have made a noble, but terribly incorrect choice. The correct response is: “Calling off sick and going to New World Stages for the most exciting industry event of the year.” Here, non-boring brainiacs from surprisingly unexpected disciplines will share their insights and help answer the question, “What is the best Broadway can be?”
Concert Review: Alan Cumming at Carnegie Hall
Daniel Nardicio certainly gives tickets buyers their money’s worth. The nightlife extraordinaire has made quite a niche for himself in the last few years producing major concerts for celebs including Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Carol Channing, Lady Gaga, and others. On Monday February 8th Nardicio managed to pack the house at Carnegie Hall with eager fans of Golden Globe, Emmy, SAG, and Tony Award winning performer, Alan Cumming.
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An Interview with Anne Nelson, Playwright & Screenwriter of The Guys
Anne Nelson had tough choices to make. As an eager twenty-something from Oklahoma, she looked forward to seizing opportunities beyond the panhandle state, but questioned whether or not she had the fortitude to deal with traumatic events. She came to the conclusion that a choice to back away from life’s discomfort is not a healthy way of living and took the plunge into journalism. It took her to Central American war zones in El Salvador and Guatemala. In her position as a foreign correspondent, she would meet fellow journalists for coffee and days later, would learn that they had been tortured and killed by death squads. “Suddenly, I came back to New York and would attend dinner parties where I felt like the ‘weird one’ because I just wasn’t on the same wavelength,” she said during a recent phone interview. “Normalcy meant working my way back to a state where I’d be able to fit in.”
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Great Clubs, Venues & More In The Heart of Long Island
For all of the Manhattanites out there, we are always planning for something or going to something every weekend it seems. Albeit a great party, event, wedding, you name it. There is always something going on. So what happens when you want to plan an event, or just go out for the night with your friends at something a bit different from your run of the mill local place? Long Island actually has both of that and more, and we have found some really great locations for you to enjoy yourself at, whether it is something you are planning, or experience something completely different. Here is where we think you would enjoy yourselves at off the LIRR.
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Theater Review: Our Mother’s Brief Affair
Any opportunity to see Linda Lavin on stage is one worth seizing and although her latest Broadway project may not be the most riveting piece of theater, it shouldn’t be disregarded. Richard Greenberg’s memory play, Our Mother’s Brief Affair is a quiet and profound glimpse into the layered complexities of human interaction.
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