James T. Lane portrayed choreographer Paul Williams in the American tour of “Ain’t Too Proud” and his many Broadway roles have included “Chicago” (Billy Flynn), “Kiss Me Kate” (Paul), “King Kong,” “The Scottsboro Boys” (Ozie Powell and Ruby Bates), and “A Chorus Line” (Richie Walters). Lane’s movie and television credits are equally impressive including his recurring role on Peacock’s “The…
“Foxes” a new play by Dexter Flanders now having a run at 59E59 theaters is appropriately named since the two central characters Daniel (an earnest Raphel Famotibe) and Leon (a complex Bayo Gbadamosi) resolve their issue following the age-old idiom of being “clever as a fox.” Mr. Flanders has penned a complicated story that deals with themes of sexual identity,…
“Lizard Boy” a new Indie-Rock musical with book, music and lyrics by Justin Huertas is currently playing at New World Stages presented by Prospect Theater Company. It can be described as an LGBTQ+ story but themes of identity, coming of age, acceptance and human kindness and forgiveness are relevant to all, regardless of gender, race, or political persuasion. It has…
There are two questions you should probably ask yourself when deciding to attend a performance of the revival of “Dancin” which was originally produced in 1978, when it was nominated for seven TONY awards. First, do you like the choreography of Bob Fosse and second, do you like dance? The first is actually not as important as the second, which…
Most, if not all, of my colleagues did not like “Bad Cinderella.” However, the performance I recently attended was sold out and that often undervalued pundit known as “the audience” could not have been more appreciative of what they experienced on the stage of the Imperial Theatre. It is important for us theatre critics to remember that often unheralded phenomenon…
I am an LGBTQ+ able-bodied and hearing person walking into the lobby of one of my favorite venues: The Public Theater. There is a notice on the door to mask up before entering. I am early and after masking up and picking up my ticket, I lean up against one of the columns in the lobby and check out my…
Unlike the typical one-thousand-piece jigsaw puzzle where the completed puzzle matches the image on the cover, “The Collaboration’s” dénouement and resolution are nothing like the playwright’s supposed intention when writing the script. Anthony McCarten sets us up for a scuba diving expedition. The playwright teases us into a deep-sea dive into the wreckage that is the lives of two disparate…
“Some Like It Hot” a modern day, good old-fashioned musical has arrived on Broadway at The Shubert Theatre, and it delivers on all levels, making for a very enjoyable evening of musical comedy. It is based on the motion picture of the same title, but the book by Matthew Lopez and Amber Ruffin is clever, witty, and updated to reflect…
There are two paths to “disappearance” in David Cale’s engaging “Sandra” currently running at the Vineyard Theatre. The audience discovers that Ethan Martin’s path has been well thought out. Sandra Jones’ (Marjan Neshat) path on the other hand is completely reactive, random, and riddled with danger. Two paths diverge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and the choices made by both on…
Broadway has had quite a roster of juke box musicals grace the stage in the past and it seems that this season will add a few more to the archive. Opening at The Stephen Sondheim Theatre is “& Juliet” featuring music and lyrics by Max Martin and Friends and a book by David West Read. Songs from Mr. Martin’s repertoire…