Theater

'Dying City' is a mesmerizing look at the battles within

2013-05-20 19:25:00

There are many ways of being a political playwright. Christopher Shinn's approach, centered on characters rather than on ideologies, is one that will never go out of style. Illuminating large-scale public concerns through the microscopic examination...

Review: 'The Fantasticks' an ingenious musical revival

2013-05-20 14:41:00

The delicate theatricality of “The Fantasticks” has weathered countless editions worldwide since its off-Broadway premiere in 1960. But Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s adaptation of Edmond Rostand’s “Les Romanesques” has...

Review: 'Mel Brooks: Make a Noise' on PBS' 'American Masters'

2013-05-20 13:26:00

"Do I get paid for this?" says Mel Brooks at the end of Robert Trachtenberg's biographical documentary, "Mel Brooks: Make a Noise," premiering Monday as part of the PBS series "American Masters." "If this program was called 'Dutch Masters,' I'd have boxes...

Tony Awards 2013: 'Pippin,' Christopher Durang gain momentum

2013-05-20 08:35:00

Like the Oscars, the Tony Awards are preceded each year by a bevy of award shows that renders the main event something of a foregone conclusion. This Broadway season, many of the front-runners have become clear relatively quickly, with the big-top-...

Zachary Levi to make Broadway debut in 'First Date'

2013-05-20 13:06:00

“Chuck” star Zachary Levi will make his Broadway debut opposite stage and screen alum Krysta Rodriguez in "First Date,” a musical romantic comedy with a book by “Gossip Girl” writer Austin Winsberg. Previews will start July...

August Wilson's words came straight from his soul

2013-05-19 07:00:00

Stage and film legend James Earl Jones once said, "It's hard for an actor to go wrong if he's true to the words that August has written." As an actor and writer, I have found that statement to be true of only a few playwrights. There is usually at least...

Carole King to be honored with Obama-hosted show, Gershwin Prize

2013-05-17 12:49:00

Carole King seems to have fans in high places: The singer-songwriter's life will be staged with an eye toward Broadway, and next week her oeuvre will be honored at the White House. Officials announced Friday that President Obama will host a star-studded...

'Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder' heads to Broadway

2013-05-16 13:32:00

The musical comedy “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder” may be nearly as nimble as its lead actor, Jefferson Mays, who plays multiple characters and dies no less than eight times in the production. In its third incarnation, the...

Jed Bernstein, Broadway producer, to head Lincoln Center

2013-05-15 16:18:00

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York has tapped a prominent producer from the world of commercial Broadway to serve as its next president. Jed Bernstein, whose credits include the successful revivals of "Driving Miss Daisy" and "Hair," is...

John Caird brings blockbuster cred to L.A. Opera's 'Tosca'

2013-05-16 06:30:00

John Caird, who's directing the L.A. Opera production of "Tosca" that opens Saturday, played crucial roles in launching two of the biggest stage blockbusters of modern times. The fact that the British director remains somewhat below the radar, at...

Ricky Jay documentary reveals his magical life and mentors

2013-05-16 07:00:00

Renowned sleight-of-hand magician, actor, author and historian Ricky Jay learned his craft from the best in the field, including Al Fosso, Slydini, Cardini, Dai Vernon and Charlie Miller. These men never made a lot of money during their long careers,...

Attendance for Broadway touring shows continues to dip

2013-05-13 16:56:00

Attendance at touring Broadway shows nationwide dropped for the second straight season, according to a newly released report from the Broadway League. The report said that 12.7 million people attended a touring show in the 2011-12 season, down from 13.1...

Yes, the signature number is "Hey There," associated more with the Las Vegas Rat Pack than the Haymarket Riots, but this is still one of the very few Broadway musicals ever written about an industrial dispute.

2013-05-01 08:52:00

Pianist and composer Eubie Blake (1887-1983), the son of former slaves, was one of the most popular and prolific performers of the ragtime era, and a stage pioneer: His 1921 musical "Shuffle Along," written with partner Noble Sissle, was one of the first Broadway musicals to be written and directed

2013-04-16 00:00:00

Nicole Kidman is no stranger to sexy roles, but her 1998 turn in "The Blue Room" at Broadway's Cort Theatre may have set the bar for the Australian actress -- at least, on stage.

2013-04-01 15:06:29