Solitary Solidarity: Theatre Reviews from the Present to the Past

      On August 22nd, 2024 I saw the 2pm performance of the musical "The Great Gatsby" at the Broadway Theatre in New York City.  I read the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel of the same name, and have seen the 1974 film "The Great Gatsby" directed by Jack Clayton.  I tried to win the ticket lottery for the Broadway musical a handful of times.  I finally won, and got to see the show.             At the performance of "The Great Gatsby" that I saw, the cast included Jeremy Jordan (Jay Gatsby), Eva Noblezada (Daisy Buchanan), Noah J. Ricketts (Nick Carraway), Traci Elaine Lee (Jordan Baker), Chilina Kennedy (Myrtle Wilson), John Zdrojeski (Tom Buchanan), Paul Whitty (George Wilson), and Eric Anderson (Meyer Wolfsheim).  The entire cast did a great job.  I read that Chilina Kennedy was a recent addition to the Broadway Production, and not an original cast member.  I think she is an excellent addition to the company....

      On August 8th, 2024 I saw the 5pm performance of the Max Wolf Friedlich play "Job" at the Helen Hayes Theatre in New York City.  The Broadway Production began previews on July 15th of that year, and officially opened July 30th.  The limited Broadway Engagement of "Job" runs through October 27th, 2024.  The World Premiere of "Job" performed at the SoHo Playhouse beginning September 18th, 2023 (after beginning previews September 6th of that year).  After the World Premiere Engagement of "Job" closed October 15th, 2023, it reopened at the Connelly Theatre, performing from January 19th through March 23rd, 2024.  Both of these sold-out Off-Broadway engagements preceded the astounding Broadway Production that I saw (while I didn't see the SoHo Playhouse presentation of "Job," I did see a production there with my grandma in 2001.  To read that blog post, click  HERE ).      This riveting production of "Job" starred Peter Fr...

     On August 4th, 2024 I saw the 3pm performance of the musical "Water For Elephants" at the Imperial Theatre in New York City.  I won the Telecharge Ticket Lottery again, having just won it for the July 31st performance of "Back to the Future: The Musical."  As of writing this blog review, that musical is playing over at the Winter Garden Theatre, which was a slightly longer walk from Grand Central Station.  This time, I took the slightly shorter walk from the train station to the Imperial Theatre, and saw what turned out to be an incredible musical.  Incredible, and underrated, in my opinion.           Before "Water For Elephants" made its Broadway Premiere on March 21st of this year (after beginning previews on February 24th, 2024), it made its World Premiere Debut at the Alliance Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia.  The World Premiere Engagement of the musical performed from June 16th thru July 9th, 2023, after beginning pr...

     On July 31st, 2024, I saw the 2pm performance of "Back to the Future: The Musical" at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City.  I won the Telecharge Ticket Lottery for "Back to the Future," so the ticket price was $45 dollars.  It was well worth the price, since it was for a seat in the orchestra section, and the view of the stage wasn't obstructed.  "Back to the Future: The Musical" features music and lyrics by Alan Silvestri and Glen Ballard, and a book by Bob Gale.  The Broadway production features costume and scenic design by Tim Hatley.         Another Broadway show I saw which featured scenic and costume design by Tim Hatley was "Life of Pi."  I saw "Life of Pi" on April 19th, 2023.  My blog review for that show can be found by clicking  HERE .  While these were two very different shows, both featured state of the art scenery, and costumes which were pretty similar to those in the feature films...

           On the afternoon of December 16th, 2023, I saw a performance of "Covenant" at the Black Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre in New York City.  "Covenant" was written by York Walker, and directed by Tiffany Nichole Greene.  This was a World Premiere Production, and began previews October 5th, 2023.  Having officially opened on October 26th, it was originally scheduled to play until December 3rd.  However, due to popular demand, the production was extended twice.  The final closing date was December 17th (the day after I got to see the show).   Theatre Program for "Covenant."     Initially, I was supposed to see "Covenant" on October 21st, 2023.  My mom even bought me a ticket to that performance.  However, there were weather (and mud) related factors that prevented me from getting to the city that day.  Lucky for me, tickets weren't too expensive, so I got to...

      On November 18th, 2023, I saw the 2pm performance of the Stephen Karam play "The Humans" at the County Players Falls Theatre in Wappingers Falls, NY.  "The Humans" is a tragicomedy thriller.  It is also a one act play, so there is no intermission.  Another one-act play I saw in 2023 was "Grey House."  I enjoyed that play, and I enjoyed seeing "The Humans" as well.         This production of "The Humans" starred Brian Mathews (as Erik Blake), Ann Citron (as Deirdre Blake), Ivy Meehan (as Aimee Blake), Jessica Valente (as Brigid Blake), Claudia King (as Fiona "Momo" Blake), and Paul Herbig (as Richard Saad).  The synopsis of the play, as stated in the theatre program, is as follows:  "Breaking with tradition, Erik Blake has brought his Pennsylvania family to celebrate Thanksgiving at his daughter's apartment in lower Manhattan.  As darkness falls outside the ramshackle pre-war duplex, eerie things start to go...

      On the afternoon of July 15th, 2023, I saw a performance of "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street" at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York City.  "Sweeney Todd"  features a book by Hugh Wheeler, as well as music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.  This production is a Broadway Revival of the musical.  While there have been revivals of "Sweeney Todd" in the past, this is the first one that is accompanied by a 26-piece orchestra, much like the 1979 Broadway Production.  But unlike the Original Broadway Production, which starred Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou, this production stars Annaleigh Ashford and Josh Groban.        While I never saw the Original Broadway Production of "Sweeney Todd," I saw the professionally filmed performance of the First National Tour, where Angela Lansbury reprised her role as Mrs. Lovett and George Hearn replaced Len Cariou in the title role.  Besides that, both of those product...