December 2022
Here’s my inaugural newsletter, featuring an overview of plays and musicals showing in New York and DC! Enjoy.
NEW YORK: Plays
Death of a Salesman - Saw it; loved it. It's Arthur Miller's classic, considered by many the best American play of the 20th century, but this time the family is all African-American. This adds another level to the play's commentary on the precarity of the middle class in mid-century America: now, their struggles are also those of a black family in a white world. The play is heavy, but leavened with humor and beautifully done--set design and lighting really brought out the mysterious elements of the show. The performances were across the board stellar--including Wendell Pierce, Sharon D Clarke, and the living legend Andre de Shields. The Times gave it a rave.
Take Me Out - Saw it; loved it. This is an encore of a revival that played last season. It is about a baseball team with a gay player who comes out, and all that follows--including a bigoted player's reaction. But it's also about baseball and what it means to people; friendship; and so much more--super compelling writing and very thought provoking. Very funny. Featuring Jesse Tyler Ferguson from Modern Family--who was SO good and hilarious--and Jesse Williams from Grey's Anatomy. It includes full-frontal nudity in not-gratuitous shower scenes, which actually advance the plot/character in addition to being titillating. It was very well reviewed and I think it took some Tony awards last season. (limited run)
NEW YORK: Musicals
Kimberly Akimbo: Saw it; loved it. I predict this will take Best Musical this season (though I haven't seen the others yet!) Rave reviews. The music is so wonderful--from composer Jeanine Tesori ("Fun Home"), who is one of my favorite contemporary composers. This show tells the story of a teenager who has an imaginary condition where she ages 4x fast, so she is played by a 62-year old actress, the incredible Victoria Clark ("The Light in the PIazza"). I predict she'll win Best Actress. The story is tightly constructed, constantly funny, full of heart, and very poignant. Highly recommend.
Hadestown: If you haven't seen it yet, this is still my favorite thing playing in New York. It'll come through DC on tour again in the Spring. It tells the ancient myth of Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades, and Persephone with a jazz/folk/New Orleans style score. It is full of drama, humor, big ideas, beautiful songs, powerful performances, fabulous dance, and great technical elements. Listen to the album to see if you like the music. I've seen it 4 times and plan to see it at least twice more this spring. Some of the original cast is still in it and they are fabulous; I can't speak to the replacements, but the show is so good and such an ensemble show, I really don't think it hinges on any one performer (unlike Funny Girl, but don't get me started on that debacle...).
Some Like it Hot (11/1-) opens 12/11 - adaptation of the old film from the songwriting team from "Hairspray", with some great actors. No review yet and I haven't seen it, but I want to.
A Strange Loop: Great music, funny, full of heart, and also serious and dark at points. Tells the story of an aspiring muscial theatre composer writing a musical about an aspiring composer--very meta. He's a fat, gay black man and the show delves into his experiences in the gay community (discrimination he experiences being fat and being black), with his religious family troubled by him being gay, and in the professional world trying to hold on to his principles while people want him to write money-making drivel. Closing in early January--last chance!
Into the Woods: A revival of the classic show. I absolutely loved this production. It brought out all the JOY in the show--the sheer delight of this amazing music, on stage again! Minimalist (but effective) design pushes the viewer to imagine the story, just like you would if you were reading a fairy tale book. Having the orchestra front and center on stage also helped me appreciate the orchestration more. The show is hilarious, poignant, full of big themes but delivered through totally accessible characters and story telling. Closing in early January--last chance!
MJ: Michael Jackson bio-musical. Fabulous dancing, and of course the music is great. Saw it, loved it.
Six: Feminist retelling of the stories of the six wives of Henry the VIII. So much fun, great music. Saw it on tour, loved it.
DC: Plays
People, Places and Things (Studio Theatre): Intense drama about an actress struggling to recover from addiction. I saw and it and found the scenes showing her in the group rehab center really compelling--it is an honest look at that experience, not overly romanticized. Excellent performances, interesting technical elements, and thought-provoking. Playing through December 11
Just For Us (Woolly Mammoth): One-man show by Jewish stand-up comedian that is supposed to be roll-on-the-floor funny; we have tickets for next week. Selling out fast! Playing through December 23.
Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare Theatre): Saw it, really enjoyed it. One of Shakespeare's comedies, set in a DC newsroom with co-anchors Beatrice and Benedick start as enemies but fall in love. Maximalist, extremely funny, full of joyful elements--dance, balloons, disco balls, etc. A really fun way to see a Shakespeare classic.
The Tempest (Round House Theatre/Folger Theatre): Have tickets for end of the month. The Shakespeare classic + magic + Tom Waits music + dance! Very well reviewed and my parents loved it. Through January 1.
Jange Anger (Shakespeare Theatre): Runs Dec. 13 - Jan 8. Supposed to be SUPER funny, featuring a wonderful actor, Michael Urie. It's a contemporary play about Shakespeare working on "King Lear" but has writer's block; a woman comes in to intervene. I'm hoping to see it.
DC: Musicals
Into the Woods (Signature Theatre): Super well-reviewed revival of the Sondheim/Lapine classic. I have tickets for next week and am super excited--it has some of my favorite local performers in it. Also playing in New York (a different production.) Playing through January 29.
Ride The Cyclone (Arena Stage): Opens January 13 (breaking my rule since I'm excited about this!) Dark comedy about a group of people trapped on a theme park ride. Brand new musical, at a wonderful theatre. I have tickets and am excited for this.
Wicked (Kennedy Center): If you've never seen it, it's worth it. Great music, thoughtful themes, engaging story.