Joseph Verlezza

Off-Broadway Review: “The Big Gay Jamboree” at the Orpheum Theatre (Closed on Sunday, December 15, 2024)

The Orpheum Theatre is hosting the newest campy musical “The Big Gay Jamboree,” with a book by Marla Mindelle and Jonathan Parks-Ramage. Ms. Mindelle, who is known for the cult favorite “Titanique,” also pens the lyrics and composes the music with Philip Drennen. The show is splattered with pop culture, musical theater, and gay social behavior references that are sure…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Table 17” at The Susan and Roland Frankel Theater at The Robert W. Wilson MCC Theater Space (Closed on Sunday, September 29, 2024)

The latest production to open at MCC Theatre is the world premiere of the new play “Table 17” penned by Douglas Lyons and under the direction of Zhailon Levingston. The title refers to a table that sits under a glimmering disco ball at Bianca’s, an upscale restaurant where the two main characters Jada and Dallas meet to review their past…

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Broadway Review: “Once Upon a Mattress” at The Hudson Theatre (Through Saturday, November 30, 2024)

The latest revival to open on Broadway is the classic “Once Upon a Mattress” with music by Mary Rogers, her first Broadway show, and an adapted book by Amy Sherman-Palladino, from the original by Jay Thompson, Marshall Barer and Dean Fuller. As soon as the on-stage orchestra begins the overture, the audience is reminded of, or in many cases introduced…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Breaking the Story” at Second Stage’s Tony Kiser Theater (Closed on Sunday, June 23, 2024)

The newest offering at Second Stage’s Kiser Theatre is a production of a new play penned by Alexis Scheer titled “Breaking the Story” which centers around a war correspondent who is actively reporting from the front line. The production directed by Jo Bonney was a bit confusing for this audience member, finding the elements of magical realism not clearly defined….

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Off-Broadway Review: “The Lonely Few” at MCC Theater’s Newman Mills Theater (Closed on Sunday, June 2, 2024).

The most recent offering at MCC Theater is a new musical entitled “The Lonely Few” with music and lyrics by Zoe Sarnak and a book penned by Rachel Bonds. Basically, it can be considered a rom com musical with a simple plot that takes a bit too long to develop especially since the predictability level is very high. The length…

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Broadway Review: The Who’s “Tommy” at the Nederlander Theatre (Closed on Sunday, July 21, 2024)

There are very few words not sung but spoken in the rock musical “Tommy,” but three that might be relevant are “Brilliant, wasn’t it?” spoken by a local lad that happens to be part of a larger audience, amazed, while watching Tommy play his first game of pinball in a pool hall. Unfortunately, they are not the three words that…

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Off-Broadway Review: “Dead Outlaw” at Audible’s Minetta Lane Theatre (Closed on Sunday, April 14, 2024)

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 with a book penned by Itamar Moses with…

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Broadway Review: “Doubt: A Parable” at the Todd Haimes Theatre (Through Sunday, April 21)

“Doubt” can produce several similar congenial feelings such as uncertainty, suspicion, uneasiness, apprehension, distrust and confusion. Usually there is a situation or event that occurs that may be the cause, or possibly misinformation that may initiate speculation and accusation. The striking Broadway revival of John Patrick Shanley’s riveting drama, rightfully titled “Doubt,” now playing at the newly named Todd Haimes…

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Broadway Review: “The Notebook” at the Gerald Schoenfield Theatre (Currently On)

If you did not read the Nicholas Sparks novel “The Notebook,” you most likely saw the movie of the same name based on the novel and if you saw the movie chances are you have plans to see the new Broadway musical, with the same name and somewhat the same story, with just a few changes. Bekah Brunstetter has penned…

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Broadway Review: “Appropriate” at the Hayes Theater (Currently On)

According to the dictionary, there are several definitions of the word ‘appropriate,’ but there may possibly be one that could be added, that being “a brilliant play by Brandon Jacob-Jenkins.” which is now having a stunning production mounted on Broadway by Second Stage Theater. Aptly titled “Appropriate” follows the ultra-dysfunctional Lafayette clan back to their family plantation home in Southeast…

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