Joseph Verlezza

Off-Broadway Review: “Saturday Church” at New York Theatre Workshop (Closed Friday, October 24, 2025)

The new musical “Saturday Church” which is now playing at NYTW, is based on the 2017 film written and directed by Damon Cardasis, who also co-wrote the book for this production alongside James Ijames. This quasi-jukebox musical attempts to weave the music of Sia into the storyline, but it is also only quasi-successful in this endeavor. Too often the music…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Mexodus” at the Minetta Lane Theatre (Closed Saturday, November 1, 2025)

The latest show offered by Audible Theater is more than a play or a musical but might be categorized as an impactful theatrical event. The production features a fusion of several genres of music created by live looping, an engaging book with a profound message, and incredible performances from two multi-talented storytellers. This combination elevates the production to another level….

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Off-Broadway Review: “JOY: A New True Musical” at the Laura Pels Theatre (Closed Sunday, August 17, 2025)

The only effort Betsy Wolfe has to put forth to sell a new musical is to use those incredible vocal cords to mesmerize an audience, but in the “new true musical”, “Joy”, with a book by Ken Davenport and music and lyrics by Annmarie Milazzo, she has her work cut out for her. The show is based on the life…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Angry Alan” at Sound Seaview (Closed Sunday, August 3, 2025)

The inaugural production of Seaview Studio, the newly renovated Off-Broadway theater (formerly known as the Tony Kiser), is titled “Angry Alan,” penned by playwright Penelope Skinner and starring John Krasinski. Mr. Krasinski is not Alan, he is Roger, an insecure, confused, gullible “everyman” who quickly falls down a rabbit hole on the internet, where he learns how to place blame…

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A Post-Run Look and Interview Questions: “Giovanni’s Room” at Quintessence Theatre in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Closed Sunday, July 6, 2025)

After a successful run, including two extensions, “Geovanni’s Room” at Quintessence Theatre, the show closed on Sunday, July 6, 2026. Although the adaptation could have had a third extension, contractual considerations made that impossible. On May 28, Quintessence Theatre Group in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania brought a literary classic to life in the world premiere of James Baldwin’s “Giovanni’s Room,” adapted by…

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Broadway Review: “Call Me Izzy” at Studio 54 (Closed Sunday, August 17, 2025)

Isabelle Scutley is the main character in a new Broadway play that stars a riveting Jean Smart. She prefers to be called “Izzy” even though her husband Ferd disapproves. Fred is also psychologically and physically abusive, hindering Izzy’s artistic and academic endeavors. To avoid confrontation and harm she is often found in the bathroom, scribbling her poetry on sheets of…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Beau the Musical” at 154 Christopher Street (Through Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Flowing in the same vein as the triumphant off-Broadway show “Dead Outlaw,” which made a move to Broadway last season, is the wonderful “Beau the Musical,” now playing at Theatre 154. Produced by Out of the Box Theatrics, the musical follows somewhat the same structure where an onstage band provides the musical force but also serve double duty by taking…

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Broadway Review: “Real Women Have Curves: The Musical” at the James Earl Jones Theatre (Closed on Sunday, June 29, 2025)

The somewhat recognizable journey from play, to film, and finally to musical delivers the new “Real Women have Curves” to the James Earl Jones Theatre on Broadway. It has morphed into a small musical with a big heart. The book by Lisa Loomer and Nell Benjamin is based on the play by Josefina Lopez and the screenplay by Ms. Lopez…

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Broadway Review: “Dead Outlaw” at the Longacre Theatre (Closed Sunday, June 29, 2025)

Only in America, where greed, fame, crime and capitalism reign and members of a civilized society aspire to become part of the materialistic regime, can you discover the story of Elmer J. McCurdy, a futile outlaw who was gunned down in 1911. The new musical, which opened at the Minetta Lane Theatre off-Broadway last season, is now playing at the…

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Broadway Review: “Boop! The Musical” at the Broadhurst Theatre (Closed Sunday, July 13, 2025)

If you are not a Baby Boomer, chances are you would have never seen any of the black and white Betty Boop cartoons that made the spit curl bombshell a household name. Now that she has made her way to Broadway, courtesy of Bob Martin’s book, David Foster’s music and Susan Birkenhead’s lyrics, everyone, (young and not so young), can…

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