Frank Rizzo

“The stage version of ‘Paranormal Activity’ performs on an intimate and domestic scale yet delivers more thrills, chills and screams than Broadway has seen in years, and giving the franchise a legit afterlife.”

“This production won’t inspire other productions.”

“This stunner of a show, based on the Joel Schumacher film, is a solid theatrical transformation, rich in imagination, humor and heart — and with spectacular special effects.”

“But basically, it's just a messy drag.”

“Sadly there's little wind beneath this uninspired musical's thin and tattered wings.”

“The opening of the cult hit ‘Titaníque’— the musical spoof of the 1997. Oscar-winning smash ‘Titanic’ — is the latest theatrical evidence that one can be stupid and smart at the same time.”

“‘Cats: The Jellicle Ball’ just might become the next much-needed, must-see touring show from the House of Broadway.”

“In productions large or small — or, here, imperfectly in-between, though still glorious — everything is the service of the show that creates with words, music and movement a grand American tapestry — tears and all.”

“This lower temperature approach too often misses the work's humor, horror and emotional resonance.”

“Smart elevates the material and makes Izzy's story feel fresh, authentic and always compelling.”

“On the surface, 'Dead Outlaw' is a boisterous and wildly entertaining show that should attract young audiences who like their entertainment bold, bracing and outrageous.”

“The same can be said for the artistic team behind this appealing, tuneful and politically potent show based on Josefina López's 1990 play and the 2002 film which she co-wrote with George LaVoo, and which starred America Ferrera.”

“For others, it will feel like just a shadow of a play.”

“More than a tribute, it’s a feast — and one of the most heartfelt and joyous shows of the season.”

“‘Boop!’ shows that cartoon makeovers may be an enticing novelty, but to really succeed it first needs to be well drawn.”

“It packs a wallop — and so does this production.”

“Too British? Not if you want to laugh uproariously — and perhaps even unexpectedly shed a tear or two.”

“Decades later, its music became the source of a Grammy-winning album, then a popular film — and now it's the most intoxicating and rapturous show of the Broadway season.”

“Others, too, might welcome that sense of comfort in a production of grandeur and heart, telling a story of grief, healing and wonder.”

“'All In' brings a different kind of comedy to the stage, a gentler kind of wit”

“Depending on your comic tastes, you're either on board for this ultimate vanity project or not.”

“The songs are undistinguished and unrooted in character, filled with generic and immediately forgettable power ballads, Christian pop tunes and revivalist floor stompers.”

“As in ‘The Ferryman,’ Mendes once again guides a finely-tuned ensemble cast.”

“...reveals itself to be a terrifying trip to the dark side of the internet.”

“These charmless characters are broadly outlined, psychologically shallow and simplistically played.”

“For all the familiar jukebox musical templates of thin characters, unsurprising plot developments and oldie pop/rock songs shoehorned into the narrative, there's something to be said for simple packaging that knows what it is and does it well.”

“Audiences may feel the same way after seeing this work of theatrical virtuosity, realizing that all the tiny details, wild rhythms, and clever hooks presented on stage have added up to a work that is brave, purposeful, and rich.”

“It's evident in its inventive storytelling, combined with its musical richness and emotional engagement, fueled by the vigor of brilliant outsiders demanding their place not only in history but on Broadway.”

“But even as it works to cast Lempicka in a new light, this complex artist still remains just beyond the frame.”

“‘Water for Elephants’ could be the greatest show on Broadway.”

“But without leading characters, story or songs that are elevated, this love story remains not only leaden but as slight as jottings in journal.”

“It’s a big-hearted, earnest musical performed by an eager, confident and appealing cast, playing characters—some more richly drawn than others—who find safety in routines, rules and control but also recognize the need to break free.”

“At first, all off the goings-on are entertaining in a crazy kind of way — until they become less and less so.”

“There’s not one false note in director Daniel Sullivan’s clear direction or in the natural yet precise performances of Linney and Hecht, who are working at the top of their game and together offer a master class in acting.”

“What remains is a cooler ‘Camelot,’ with its own head-scratching dramaturgy.”

“The funniest and most invigorating new show on Broadway...Winner of the 2022. Pulitzer Prize, ‘Fat Ham’ recasts its source material to imagine what Shakespeare did not how people might overcome circumstances, expectations and their own demons to forge new paths through life.”

“This theatrically thrilling revival of ‘Parade’ teaches lessons that still need to be learned from a wicked past that haunts us still.”

“What could have been a dated drag farce ends up as a show that many will like immensely — a musical filled with fun, energy and heart.”

“It’s all entertaining enough — and no doubt a particular draw for the nostalgic baby-boomer-plus crowd — but there’s nothing extraordinary in the transformation to the stage.”

“This ‘1776’ pulsates with energy, snaps with attitude and enlivens history, which take place mostly in the Chamber of the Continental Congress in Philadelphia as these colonial representatives argue about breaking ties with England and constructing what would eventually be a clearly imperfect union.”

“The end result is certainly the funniest show on Broadway in years, if not the most likable.”

“What a 2022 audience may find exasperating is the unresolved dichotomy of its leading character.”

“It is also a voice lost in a haze of realities, roles and identities that will have audiences transfixed throughout the show's 75 minutes.”

“But this import from London’s Old Vic — here starring Campbell Scott — would certainly have Dickens scratching his noggin.”

“But platitudes like ‘The things that make you different make you strong’ only reinforce the impression that Y.A. musicals need something extraordinary to make it to the adults' table.”

“Sure, the narrative becomes a bit of a cluster-muck in the second act — but mostly it’s just screamingly good fun.”

“So those expecting a psychological study of a titan, deep analysis of the marketplace, or personal stories resulting from an industry’s seismic shift will find the play lacking, as it favors boisterous pronouncements and mythologizing over the human touch.”

“It still packs a wallop all its own, especially in this wonderfully cast, honestly staged and beautifully presented production.”

“Driver is riveting here, and audiences will identify with Anna's dilemma of both wanting him to leave and needing him to stay.”

“That it does, as it centers on the story of the classic quintet of performers singing ‘Cloud Nine,’ ‘If You Don't Know Me By Now,’ ‘My Girl,’ ‘I'm Gonna Make You Love Me’ and the title song, among others — including some songs that weren't the group's own.”

“The clever navigation of this Golden Age musical through today's waters of gender politics is one of several plusses in an otherwise uneven production that is still able to score some highs in terrific dancing, Kelli O'Hara's performance and, oh, those Porter songs.”

“Despite an icon with attitude, an armful of pop tunes and a can-do cast, the script never quite finds a satisfying style — or a genuine heart — as a winning stage musical.”

“Whether it connects emotionally to audiences to ensure a long and profitable run on Broadway could rest on those big, dark eyes of the title character.”

“Add high stakes, lowlifes and a wicked wit, and you've got a solid win.”

“Rashad’s depiction of the wide-eyed, visionary youth of fierce determination, unwavering faith and beguiling innocence — not to mention a beatific smile that radiates to the balcony — makes you a believer, too.”

“Despite the fluid staging and evocative choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (‘Hamilton’), an uneven book, undistinguished dialogue and only-serviceable tunes keep the show from meeting its deeper, darker and good-intentioned aspirations.”

“As the young woman who finds not only her identity but sense of self, Altomare takes the spotlight with the same assured conviction with which Anya takes the crown.”

“The show is essentially an extended sketch built around the premise of watching a theatrical production fall apart in every conceivable way, and the cast executes the escalating mayhem with admirable precision and commitment.”

“It's a surprisingly moving experience that make you feel that though you're watching separate lives of these strangers on a train, you're hearing the heart of one connected urban village.”

“Those who lean that way will be attracted to the tuneful folk-meets-Broadway score, to the solid performances and to the gentle Americana fable with life lessons intimately told.”

“But in the end it’s Burstein who carries the show just as Tevye hauls his horseless milk cart, lifting it with a warm smile, a gentle humor and an open heart as he and his fellow exiles continue their universal search for a more promising land.”

“The show is more literary piece than conventional musical. But it has a dark, sinister beauty — and who could resist a visit from Chita?”

“Fine cast, led by Cherry Jones and Zachary Quinto, lends affecting life to this visually distinctive revival.”

“This production has done the same.”

“Those expecting a traditional take on Charles Dickens' classic holiday perennial may be in for a shock at the new Broadway version of 'A Christmas Carol.' Or at least they might be terribly perplexed by this dour production, whose additions only subtract from the potency of the transformative tale.”

“Those expecting a traditional take on Charles Dickens' classic holiday perennial may be in for a shock at the new Broadway version of 'A Christmas Carol.' Or at least they might be terribly perplexed by this dour production, whose additions only subtract from the potency of the transformative tale.”

“Those expecting a traditional take on Charles Dickens' classic holiday perennial may be in for a shock at the new Broadway version of 'A Christmas Carol.'”