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Michael M. Landman-Karny
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Concert Review: PATTI LUPONE: A LIFE IN NOTES (Tour)
A LEGEND IN THE LIMELIGHT Patti LuPone’s Enchanting Evening at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion “Music holds a transformative power, the ability to encapsulate a moment in crystalline clarity,” proclaimed a visibly moved Patti LuPone, moments after her arrival on stage for her international tour stop at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion to a resounding welcome, setting…
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Dance Review: WOOLF WORKS (American Ballet Theatre – North American Premiere)
WOOF! WOOLF WORKS WORKS! Virginia Woolf’s novels have had a profound impact on literature, inspiring adaptations in ballet and opera. These adaptations face the unique challenge of capturing the innovative narrative structures and exploration of inner lives that are central to Woolf’s work. Wayne McGregor‘s Woolf Works, originally choreographed for the Royal Ballet but now…
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Theater Review: FUNNY GIRL (National Tour)
KATERINA MCCRIMMON IS A BRIGHT NEW FUNNY GIRL BUT THE TOUR IS LIKE BUS-AND-TRUCK Funny Girl is a captivating musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a renowned comedienne and entertainer during the early 1900s. This production delves into her journey to fame, her tumultuous relationship with gambler Nick Arnstein, and her remarkable resilience…
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Concert Review: A BROADWAY BIRTHDAY: SONDHEIM, LLOYD WEBBER AND FRIENDS! (Segerstrom Concert Hall)
A BITTERSWEET BIRTHDAY In the luminous world of musical theater, two names stand as colossi, casting long shadows across Broadway and the global stage. Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber, though walking parallel paths, have carved their legacies with distinct artistic chisels, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts of audiences and the annals of…
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Los Angeles Theater Review: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES (Pasadena Playhouse)
CULTURAL COMEDY GOLD, THIS PLAY REALLY IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES In a landscape where minority narratives often revolve around stereotypes of poverty and struggle, One of the Good Ones emerges as a refreshing portrayal of affluent Latiné experiences. Written by Gloria Calderón-Kellett, a Norman Lear protégée known for her work on the Netflix…
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Music Review: Mí„LKKI CONDUCTS BRAHMS (Susanna Målkki, conductor | Daniil Trifonov, piano | LA Phil at Disney Hall)
A NIGHT OF ELEGANCE AND VIRTUOSITY The February 23, 2024 Los Angeles Philharmonic concert at the Walt Disney Hall was an opportunity to see two renowned classical musicians, conductor Susana Målkki and pianist Daniil Trifonov. Witnessing Målkki’s conducting is a captivating experience. Her technique is characterized by swift arm movements that allow her to maintain…
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Opera Reviews: THE DWARF & HIGHWAY 1, USA (LA Opera)
AN OPERATIC RARITY DOUBLE-BILL ONE FASCINATING FAILURE AND ONE MASTERPIECE LA opera presented a unique double bill of relative rarities, Alexander Zemlinski’s Der Zwerg and William Grant Still’s Highway 1, USA. Zwerg’s Der Zwerg (The Dwarf) was suppressed by the Nazis due to his Judaism, and Still’s opera Highway 1, USA is little known due…
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Theater Review: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Chance Theater in Anaheim)
WIG SNATCHED! 1998 QUEERGENDER MUSICAL STILL SLAYS IN 2024 In the pantheon of (so-called) rock musicals, Hedwig and the Angry Inch holds a distinct and unparalleled position, merging raw energy with emotional depth in a way that few other shows can claim. Witnessing its 1999 iteration with Michael Cerveris in the lead role was a…
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Theater Review: MYSTIC PIZZA THE MUSICAL (National Tour)
A TASTY SLICE OF 80s NOSTALGIA In the ever-evolving landscape of film-to-stage musical adaptations, the latest entrant Mystic Pizza emerges as a charming addition. Based on the eponymous 1988 cult-classic film delight, we are brought back to the quaint environs of Mystic, Connecticut, and the intertwined lives of three young Portuguese-American women, childhood friends working…
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Dance Review: MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO AND JULIET (North American Premiere, Ahmanson Theatre in L.A.)
DANCE OF DESPAIR AND DESIRE Sir Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet, which made its North American premiere at the Ahmanson last night, is a bonafide hit, redefining this classic ballet (based on Shakespeare’s 1597 masterpiece) for the 21st century. Bourne, a visionary in the world of dance, has crafted a production that pulsates with modern…
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Cabaret Review: CALIFORNIA DREAMIN’ – JESSICA VOSK (Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa)
DREAMY DREAMIN’ In the shimmering galaxy of cabaret, few stars under the twilight of retirement sparkle with the vivacity and brilliance of Jessica Vosk, who, at 40, is the real deal. Her latest foray onto the stage, California Dreamin: Jessica Vosk Sings the Songwriters of Laurel Canyon, which played last night at Segerstrom Concert Hall,…
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Theater Review: KATE (Pasadena Playhouse)
OFFBEAT AND OFF TRACK In the often-unpredictable world of theatrical comedy, Kate Berlant‘s Kate promised to be a groundbreaking foray into the realm of absurdist humor. Yet, in its execution, the show — which opened last night at the Pasadena Playhouse — treads a precarious line between pioneering artistry and sheer incomprehensibility. The opening scene…
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Theater Review: MERCURY (Road Theatre in North Hollywood)
ECLIPSING NORMALITY: THE DARK ORBIT OF STEVE YOCKEY’S MERCURY Steve Yockey‘s work in the theatre world undeniably polarizes audiences, eliciting fervent admiration from some and equally passionate disdain from others. As for myself, I am firmly ensconced in the camp of his admirers. His unique approach to storytelling, marked by an intricate blend of the…
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Music Review: MAHLER 1; SCHUMANN’S PIANO CONCERTO (LA Phil; Zubin Mehta, conductor; Seong Jin-Cho, piano)
Last weekend, Angelinos had the chance to see the 87-year-old grande eminence Zubin Mehta conduct the Los Angeles Philharmonic, which he served from 1962 to 1978 as music director. During his tenure, the orchestra developed the signature Mehta style, emulating the Vienna Philharmonic. (The Los Angeles Philharmonic is unique among the top orchestras in the…
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Concert Review: AUDRA MCDONALD IN CONCERT
A living musical theater legend at the peak of her vocal and interpretive powers In the realm of musical theater, Audra McDonald stands as an unparalleled luminary. Possessing an extraordinary vocal prowess, an arresting stage presence, and an unrivaled artistic gift, she has etched her name as the preeminent diva within this art form. McDonald’s…
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Opera Concert Review: JOSEPH CALLEJA, TENOR (The BroadStage in Santa Monica)
A TENOR FOR THE AGES In a captivating concert on November 11, the renowned Maltese tenor Joseph Calleja graced the BroadStage in a recital performance that transcended the realms of virtuosity, emerging as a veritable masterclass in vocal artistry. The unfolding of the evening resembled a symphony of emotions, intricately navigated by Calleja’s unparalleled voice,…
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Theater Review: SPRING AWAKENING (East West Players)
SPRING HAS SPRUNG Distinguished by its raw emotional resonance, formidable musical composition, and a compelling narrative that plumbs the depths of adolescence, sexuality, and defiance, Spring Awakening, the rock opera adapted from Frank Wedekind’s provocative 19th-century German drama, has held global audiences in thrall since its inaugural performance in 2006. It remains a boldly audacious…
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Concert Review: A JOURNEY THROUGH BAROQUE EUROPE (Théotime Langlois de Swarte and Le Consort)
A JOURNEY THROUGH BAROQUE EUROPE Last night, November 9, Segerstrom’s Samueli Hall was a perfect location for being treated to an intimate baroque performance curated by Le Consort, the Paris-based preeminent ensemble making their U.S. debut with A Journey Through Baroque Europe. Co-directed by the accomplished violinist Théotime Langlois de Swarte, the virtuosic harpsichordist Justin…
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Dance Review: THE LOOK OF LOVE (Mark Morris Dance Group)
TAKE A LOOK AT LOVE As part of a national tour, the Mark Morris Dance Group graced the gorgeous Musco Center for the Arts at Chapman University in Orange last Saturday with its latest opus, a 65-minute dance spectacle The Look of Love. This artistic endeavor served as an homage to the illustrious Burt Bacharach, who sadly…
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Theater Review: INHERIT THE WIND (Pasadena Playhouse)
LIKE HENRY DRUMMOND, I’M AN AGNOSTIC, BUT THIS PRODUCTION OF INHERIT THE WIND SENT ME TO THEATRICAL HEAVEN Inherit the Wind, a theatrical warhorse authored in 1955 by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee, emerges as an eloquent narrative, artfully crafted around the historical backdrop of the infamous 1925 “Scopes Monkey Trial.” This legal saga…
Theater Review: SANCTUARY CITY (Chance Theater / Anaheim)
by Michael Landman-Karney | May 11, 2026
in Los Angeles, Regional, TheaterTheater Review: SWEPT AWAY (SpeakEasy Stage at Boston Center for the Arts)
by Lynne Weiss | May 10, 2026
in Boston, TheaterTheater Review: ‘NIGHT, MOTHER (Redtwist Theatre / Chicago)
by Croydon Fernandes | May 9, 2026
in Chicago, TheaterOff-Broadway Review: BIKE SHOP: THE MUSICAL (Theater for the New City)
by Rob Lester | May 7, 2026
in New York, TheaterTheater Review: SOMETHING ROTTEN! (Lyric Stage Company of Boston)
by Emily Brenner | May 7, 2026
in Boston, TheaterTheater Review: MJ THE MUSICAL (National Tour / San Diego)
by Dan Zeff | May 7, 2026
in Dance, Theater, Theater-San Diego, ToursTheater Review: FAULT (Chicago Shakespeare)
by Croydon Fernandes | May 7, 2026
in Chicago, TheaterTheater Review: I HATE HAMLET (Saint Sebastian Players / Chicago)
by Mitchell Oldham | May 6, 2026
in Chicago, Theater
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