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…
Since the Atlantic Theater Company first announced that Brian d’Arcy James and Kelli O’Hara would lead the cast of the new musical “Days of Wine and Roses” based on the book by JP Miller, it was evident why theater goers would rush to buy tickets. Add to that fact, the music and lyrics were written by Adam Guettel, who once…
“Notre Dame de Paris” is based on the novel by Victor Hugo and is adapted by author Luc Plamondon with music composed by Richard Cocciante. The musical and dance piece is billed as a musical spectacle and this current production at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater lives up to that righteous claim. Containing fifty-one musical numbers and little spoken…
“The Gospel According to Heather” a new musical which is now playing at Theater 555 fails to deliver any clear message let alone a gospel, constantly being sidetracked by insignificant subplots and ridiculous situations that try to reflect on the present socio-political turmoil. Just when the audience thinks it may get a grip on the proceedings, the musical switches gears…
“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…
With dramatic revivals, the question always becomes: is it too soon or is it too dated? Now, John Guare’s 1990 award- winning dark comedy, “Six Degrees of Separation,” has made its first return to Broadway. Fortunately, this proves a perfect time to savor a play about a momentous evening – and its immediate aftermath – when a seemingly desperate but…
Traffic flows continuously around the “island” which is the roundabout better known as the Drawing Room of Lord Kettlewell’s (Brian Protheroe) British country estate. Things are not going well for the financier who has summoned his Etonian secretary Farrington Gurney (Charlie Field) to a rare Saturday business meeting to attempt to stop his Lordship’s substantial business losses. Nor are things…
Created by Paula Vogel and Rebecca Taichman, “Indecent” could not have opened on Broadway at the Cort Theatre at a more auspicious time. During an increasingly frenzied discussion about what is and what is not decent in contemporary American society and culture, this remarkable and stunning play – based on true events surrounding the 1923 Broadway debut of Sholem Asch’s…
The 2017 Broadway revival of “Miss Saigon” raises rich and deep enduring questions. Based on Giacomo Puccini’s “Madame Butterfly,” the mammoth musical has enjoyed decades of success – as has Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s “Les Miserables.” Success aside, the questions remain: What is the “ultimate sacrifice” one human being can make for another? What are the moral parameters involved…