Cabaret Review: Chita Rivera

Every time you see Chita Rivera, you learn a lesson about performing. How to make an announcement about your legs with a piece of fabric. How to “make a huge entrance” when you have in fact been discreetly hidden in plain sight on stage for five minutes. In the case of her current cabaret act … Continue reading →

Theatre Review: “Bandstand”

This musical got robbed of the Tony noms it deserves. I think it's certainly the best musical of the season, and Richard Oberacker and Robert Taylor's score definitely one of my favorites. Director-choreographer Andy Blankenbuehler did get a nom for his choreography – it would have been truly … Continue reading →

Theatre Review: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”

Jackie Hoffman gets entrance applause!! That just tells me that some things are right in the world, even with all the daily head-slapping news. Of course, this is due mostly to her big role in TV's Feud as Joan Crawford maid Mamacita, but she is just as much fun as the permanently sozzled Mrs. … Continue reading →

Cabaret Review: John Pizzarelli

This is “too marvelous for words”: John Pizzarelli, top exponent of cabaret's jazzier side, plays a show composed only of songs written by Johnny Mercer, arguably the greatest lyricist of the Great American Songbook. And, as always, he does it with astonishing elan and profound musical … Continue reading →

Theatre Review: “Oslo”

It is long, it is talky, yet it is never boring. As we begin Oslo we hear Norwegian sociologist Terje Rød-Larsen (Jefferson Mays) discussing his theories about the art of negotiation. He feels that secret, face-to-face discussions behind closed doors, with a thoughtful progression from easy … Continue reading →