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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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Theater Review: ALL THINGS EQUAL — THE LIFE AND TRIALS OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG (Pre-Broadway National Tour)
FROM NOTORIOUS TO VICTORIOUS Michelle Azar vividly invokes the spirit of famed jurist Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Rupert Holmes’s one-woman show All Things Equal. As implied in the play’s subtitle The Life and Trials of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Ginsburg faced many trials in and out of the courtroom. Set in Ginsburg’s chambers at the United…
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Concert Review: CÉCILE McLORIN SALVANT (Sanders Theater in Cambridge, MA)
PURE PLEASURE Acclaimed vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant brought nothing but pleasure to Sanders Theater in Cambridge last night, courtesy of Celebrity Series of Boston. From the moment she stepped onto the darkened stage in her bright tangerine dress and what appeared to be platform Doc Martens and electric blue socks, she captivated the audience with…
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Theater Review: THE LION KING (National Tour)
IT DOESN’T MATTER WHETHER IT’S THE KING OF MUSICALS OR NOT; IT’S THE KING OF EXPERIENCES Endearing heroes and villains. Shakespeare and ancient myth. Coherent storytelling. Anthropomorphic jungle animals. Gorgeous African chanting. Transfixing puppet pageantry on a pythonic, prodigious level. A celebration of theatrical ingenuity. Forty-nine cast members –six of whom are South African. Over…
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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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Theater Review: KOOZA (Cirque du Soleil — International Tour in San Francisco and San Jose)
KOOZA RETURNS TO THE CITY OF ITS 2007 U.S. PREMIERE Circuses since the 19th century conjure up images of clowns, fire eaters, men walking on stilts and lion tamers with jungle felines jumping through flaming hoops. The sexy girl in the sparkling bustier riding atop the elephants around in a circle is the quintessential image…
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Highly Recommended Theater: CHICAGO (National Tour at San Diego Civic Theatre)
MY KIND OF SHOW, CHICAGO IS Coming to the San Diego Civic Theatre is the National Tour of the 1996 revival of Chicago, now the longest-running revival in Broadway history, and the second longest running musical behind Phantom of the Opera. But it’s a short run, February 13-18, 2024, so don’t say I didn’t give you…
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Recommended Concert: SING AND SWING: OUR AMERICAN SONGBOOK (North American Tour, Jan. 25 to March 30, 2024)
SINGIN’ AND SWINGIN’ ACROSS THE LAND They only need one name: Ella, Judy, Bing, Dean, Peggy. These were the artists who brought the music of Gershwin, Ellington, Porter, and Berlin to life. Now, Jazz at Lincoln Center presents Sing and Swing: Our American Songbook, which relives and recreates some of the classic pairings in jazz…
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Highly Recommended Theater: THE NOSEBLEED (National Tour Jan 25 – Feb 8, 2024 at The Walker, REDCAT & The Wex)
The Nosebleed, the Obie Award-Winning Show from Playwright and Director Aya Ogawa now on national tour The Walker, Minneapolis (Jan. 25-27); REDCAT in L.A. (West Coast Premiere Feb. 1-3, 2024); The Wex, Ohio State (Feb. 8-10, 2024) The Nosebleed (Brian Rogers) As part of its 2024 national tour, the profound and beautiful 2022 Obie Award-winning The Nosebleed…
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Theater Announcement PARADE (North American Tour Launches January 2025)
Easily one of the best Broadway productions ever, the revival of Parade, winner of the 2023 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical and Grammy Award nominee for Best Musical Theater Album, is launching a North American Tour in January 2025. The production will run technical rehearsals and have its first public performances at Proctors Theatre…
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Theater Review: THE WIZ (Pre-Broadway Tour)
I WISH I COULD SAY “NO BAD NEWS” BUT… The large opening night audience at the San Diego Civic Theatre last night seemed to be having a good time watching the the musical revival of The Wiz, in town through Sunday before a pre-Broadway national tour (the show opens March 29 at the Marriott Marquis)….
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Highly Recommended Concerts: SAMORA PINDERHUGHES LIVE (tour at UCLA, NY’s Winter Jazzfest and more)
Composer, pianist, vocalist, filmmaker, and multidisciplinary artist Samora Pinderhughes will take his acclaimed performances to select cities across the U.S., including a date at New York’s Winter Jazzfest on January 12. The multidisciplinary artist will also kick off the 2024 lineup at UCLA’s Center for the Art of Performance, bringing a combination of new and…
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Theater Review: MJ The Musical (First National Tour)
MJ WANTS TO BE STARTIN’ SOMETHIN’ – AND DOES MJ The Musical, now on its first national tour, raises the bar for the bio-musical. It far exceeds a mere revue of Michael Jackson’s iconic music and performance choreography. Set in the rehearsal hall for Jackson’s 1992 Dangerous World Tour, the story follows a documentarian from…
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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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Dance Review: COMMON GROUND(S) / THE RITE OF SPRING (Pina Bausch Tour at Park Avenue Armory)
THE RITE OF BAUSCH As part of an international tour, this outstanding New York premiere which opened last night showcases a double bill: The Rite of Spring features Pina Bausch’s monumental choreography and Common Ground[s] pays tribute to her by partners at the Pina Bausch Foundation, École des Sables, and Sadler’s Wells. Germaine Acogny and…
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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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Jazz Concert Review: BRAD MEHLDAU TRIO (International Tour at Disney Hall)
BRAD MEHLDAU IN TOP FORM Ever since he recorded with altoist Christopher Hollyday’s group in 1991, Brad Mehldau has one been one of jazz’s top pianists. He was with Joshua Redman’s group during 1993-94 but otherwise has mostly been heard as a leader ever since. He put together his trio with bassist Larry Grenadier and drummer…
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Music / Concert Review: AMERICAN RAILROAD (Silkroad Ensemble with Rhiannon Giddens; U.S. Tour)
TUNNEL VISION In this first program post-Yo-Yo Ma artistic directorship, the American Railroad national tour by Silkroad Ensemble presents an evening of newly composed and arranged music with a slew of fresh faces joining the illustrious ensemble. Under the direction of banjoist, fiddle player, vocalist and multi-Grammy winner Rhiannon Giddens, the ensemble features a cast…
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Theater Review: JUST FOR US (Alex Edelman on Tour at the Mark Taper Forum)
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE WHITE SUPREMACIST MEETING If you’re looking for great night of humor about white supremacy and anti-Semitism (and who isn’t?), this is the show for you. Alex Edelman, Boston-born and -bred but now located in New York, brings his one-man show to the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles….
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Highly Recommended Concert: FRAGMENTS 2 (Alisa Weilerstein, cellist; presented by LA Phil at Disney Hall)
I have been following Alisa Weilerstein for over fifteen years, but until about five ago it was only on recordings and YouTube. Having seen her perform live four times since I can assert that the phenomenal American cellist has attracted attention worldwide because her playing combines a natural virtuosic command and technical precision with impassioned musicianship and…
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