Curtainup Founder & Editor Elyse Sommer's Epilogue -- I've passed the torch for reviewing and editing new theater productions on and off-Broadway and elsewhere. However, I'll continue to sound off here with my take on Live and Onscreen Entertainment. As for Curtainup's extensive content since 1996-- it's all sill available at www.curtainup.com

Wednesday, December 28, 2016

Friday, December 23, 2016

Wonderful DC revival of Titanic. . .


 Titanic
Titanic - 'Tis the season for choral music to be sure but none could sound sweeter or more harmonious than the sound coming from the stage of Signature Theatre. There is not a false note from beginning to end. . . Read Mo

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Friday, December 16, 2016

Metaphor stuffed lyric from the delightful new musical, The Band's Visit

Time's Like A River, Sometimes.
Time Is An Ocean.
This Sofa Is My
Boat And I'm Just Drifting Right Along.
Time Is Like Syrup
and I'm The Bug Stuck In The syrup,
Just Kind Of Trying To Find
Out What I'm Doing Wrong.
Just Waiting For Something to Happen,
For Anything To Happen.

— Lyrics from ensemble's mood setting opening number   Waiting.


 Below a link to our review
www.curtainup.com/bandsvisit16.html

The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart--a new immersive tenant at the McKittrick Hotel


The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart - There are surprises aplenty in this new take on the classic struggle of a human and the Devil, which is raising the roof at the Heath, a performing space and pub in the McKittrick Hotel. . . Read More

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

we review NYTheatre Workshop's starry, modern Othello



Othello
Othello - TV's James Bond plays a malevolently cool Iago in the NYTheatre Workshop's modern day version of the Bard's green-eye-monster haunted soldier. Read More

Friday, December 9, 2016

Cheek by Jowl's The Winter's Tale-- makes brief stop at BAM



The Winter's Tale
The Winter's Tale - Cheek by Jowl presents Shakepeare's late-career romance at BAM, exquisitely designed by Nick Ormerod. . . Read

The Band's Visit -- one of the most enjoyable shows in town


The Band's Visit
The Band's Visit - Erin Kollrin's award winning film successfully transitions from screen to stage play with a wonderful musical score by David Yazbek . . . Read More

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Monday, December 5, 2016

Dear Evan Hansen-- it's a hit on Broadway



Dear Evan Hansen
Dear Evan Hansen - A small musical's big heart and big on talent cast is now a welcome addition to the Broadway musical scene. . . Read More

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Ride the Cyclone-- a quirky charmer of a musical --but not for everyone



Ride the Cyclone
Ride the Cyclone - After getting killed in a roller coaster accident, members of a high school chorus compete for another chance at life in this quirky charmer of a musical.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Lucy Kirkwood's The Children impressed our London critic




The Children
The Children - Lucy Kirkwood's new play looks at the world after a nuclear power station disaster and the scientists who people it.

Sunday, November 27, 2016

The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal review



The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal
The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal - Laoisa Sexton's play is an inventively staged, well-acted comic romp underpinned by a serious theme . . . Read More

The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal--a comic romp , but with something to say




The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal
The Pigeon in the Taj Mahal - Laoisa Sexton's play is an inventively staged, well-acted comic romp underpinned by a serious theme . . .

Sunday, November 20, 2016

London rocks to School of Rock



School of Rock
School of Rock School of Rock comes to London with its talented teams of children playing their own instruments in this feel good family musical. . . . Read More -

Goldoni's farce at TNFA will be heaven for some, torture for others

vival. . . Read More
The Servant of Two Masters
The Servant of Two Masters - TNFA's production of Carlo Goldoni's farce will be heaven for spectators swept up in

Sweet Charity --This small producton, offers big pleasures



Sweet Charity
Sweet Charity smartly streamlined - Sutton Foster is a delightful Charity Hope Valentine in this smartly streamlined revival. . . Rea

Friday, November 18, 2016

Friday, November 11, 2016

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Fiinian's Rainbow delightfully revived at the renovated Irish Rep



 Finian's Rainbow
Finian's Rainbow - the Irish Rep celebrates its renovated home's completion with this hit-after-hit musical from another era

My review of Sweat, Lynn Nottage's workplace drama



Sweat
Sweat - Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage takes theater goers into the world of blue collar Americans faced with downsized and disappearing manufacturing jobs

Saturday, November 5, 2016

Kings of War--just 4 performances to see Ivo vanHove's marathon at BAM



kings of war
Kings of War - Except for the Dutch dialogue (and those supertitles), director Ivo van Hove's evening with these kings is like a binge-session of House of Cards. .

Wednesday, November 2, 2016

The Collector-a less than ideal adaptation of John Fowles' novel



The Collector
The Collector - the two actors in this stage adaptation of John Fowles's novel do their best to provide the much needed tension and pace

Monday, October 31, 2016

Coriolanus --timely as usual at presidential election time election time



Coriolanus
Coriolanus - a new production by the Red Bull Theatre Company just as New York voters are poised to vote for their next president.Read More

Saturday, October 29, 2016

Two Class Acts--by A.R. Gurney at the Flea



 Two Class Acts: Ajax and Squash
Two Class Acts: Ajax and Squash - A double bill by A. R. Gurney ends the Flea Theater's residence on White Street, before moving to a larger space

Thursday, October 27, 2016

Wednesday, October 26, 2016

Wednesday, October 19, 2016

Love, Love, Love successfully crosses the pond



 Love, Love, Love
Love, Love, Love - Brtish playwright Mike Bartlett's latest play gets a well cast, smoothly directed American production Read More

Sell| Buy|Date, Sarah Jones's new multi-character solo



Sell/Buy/Date
Sell/Buy/Date - Sarah Jones is back on stage with her usual array of characters, this time reflecting on the sex industry

Monday, October 17, 2016

Thursday, October 13, 2016

The Maids newly adapted at Intar



The Maids
The Maids - The experimental and the traditional collide in José Rivera's adaptation of Jean Genet's play at INTAR.  Read More

Heisenberg--a quirky charmer now on Broadway



Heisenberg
Heisenberg - No uncertainty Simon Stephen's quirky romance being a charmer, especially since it stars Mary Louise Parker Read More

Tuesday, October 11, 2016