Holley Farmer and John Selya in Come Fly Away. (Photo by Joan Marcus)By Hap ErsteinEight years ago, Twyla Tharp won the Tony Award for choreography, using the music of Billy Joel for her quirky, alternately graceful and clumsy leaps and lifts in a show called Movin’ Out.The Playbill program for it contained a three-paragraph synopsis of the plot -- … [Read more...]
Bulletin from Broadway No. 5: ‘Sondheim’ and ‘A Behanding’
Tom Wopat in Sondheim on Sondheim.By Hap ErsteinIt is the rare New York season that does not see a production of an existing Stephen Sondheim musical, but the brilliant composer-lyricist has not had a new show on Broadway since 1994’s Passion.So those of us who remain in awe of his abilities to push the boundaries of the musical theater have had to content ourselves … [Read more...]
Bulletin from Broadway No. 4: ‘The Addams Family’
Adam Riegler, Jackie Hoffman, Bebe Neuwirth, Nathan Lane, Kevin Chamberlin, Krysta Rodriguez and Zachary James in The Addams Family.By Hap ErsteinAfter another downpour Tuesday morning, the rains ended but it got even colder. Don’t the weather gods realize that it is almost May?Nor did I have much luck with theater. I can be fairly Pollyanna-ish when it comes … [Read more...]
Bulletin from Broadway No. 3: ‘The Temperamentals’
Thomas Jay Ryan, Arnie Burton, and Michael Urie in The Temperamentals.By Hap ErsteinMore rain Monday and still way too cold for the end of April.Since it was a Monday, most Broadway theaters were dark, but there is a complex of converted discount movie houses at West 50th Street that has a handful of auditoriums -- an off-Broadway multiplex, if you will -- … [Read more...]
Bulletin from Broadway No. 2: ‘Enron’ and a Busch-Halston cabaret
A scene from Enron.By Hap ErsteinWell, so much for the nice weather. I had another great day Sunday in all respects except meteorologically. It rained most of this gray, dreary day and even when the rains halted briefly, it was cold and raw. Fortunately, I had excuses to stay inside for most the time.I went to a matinee of Enron, Lucy Prebble’s epically … [Read more...]
Bulletin from Broadway No. 1: ‘Red,’ ‘Promises, Promises’
Alfred Molina in Red.By Hap ErsteinOh, the sacrifices I make for you, my readers.I am currently in New York City, enduring a week of theater, to fill you in on the season here, either as a guide for your future visits to Broadway or to whet your appetites for potential touring editions to South Florida. Or, OK, just because I craved an immersion into good … [Read more...]
Theater review: ‘Mamma Mia!’ is a hit — and a miss
The cast of Mamma Mia! in action.(Photo by Carol Rosegg)By Hap ErsteinThat much-maligned theater stepchild, the jukebox musical, is built from used parts, involving the meticulous selection and insertion of existing songs into a story line to make a cohesive whole.But if a careless mess like Mamma Mia! can run for years on Broadway, generate road companies all over the globe as … [Read more...]
Appreciation: Shelly Gross, wisecracking lion of the theater
Shelly Gross (1921-2009).By Hap ErsteinTo know Shelly Gross was to put up with his jokes.A compulsive entertainer, he began as a radio and television personality in his native Philadelphia, before becoming a prolific producer of Broadway shows and national tours. Never one to shy away from a challenge, he frequently produced major musicals headlined by some of the theater’s … [Read more...]
Commentary: Messy Tonys show misrepresented Broadway’s good year
The cast of Hair in the Tony Awards' opening number Sunday.(Photo by Anita and Steve Shevett)By Hap ErsteinYou would never know it from the overstuffed, frantic Tony Awards ceremony, but it was actually a pretty good year on Broadway.Any year that includes a powerhouse heart-tugger of a musical like Billy Elliot and a cutting edge show about a bipolar manic-depressive suburban … [Read more...]
ArtsBuzz: The Broadway season, considered
George Akram and Karen Olivo in West Side Story. By Hap ErsteinDespite the bad economy, which meant that several anticipated shows never got capitalized and were grounded, Broadway had a pretty solid season.Total box office was up, helped by spiraling ticket prices ($136.50 for the orchestra at Billy Elliot.) Stars headed to the stage, including Jane Fonda, Angela Lansbury, … [Read more...]