Michael Dale

“As it turns out, this West Side Story is excellent.”

“Director Kenny Leon's solid production for Roundabout, with an exceptional ensemble led by Blair Underwood and David Alan Grier, is the drama's first time on Broadway.”

“Linney's performance is fine, but, as solo pieces go, the assignment doesn't appear especially demanding.”

“No doubt Jagged Little Pill will excite fans whose prime interest is to hear a beloved song catalogue performed by terrific Broadway singers.”

“In Matthew Lopez's Exhilarating 'THE INHERITANCE' Gay Men Strive For Generational Connection”

“Stretched too broadly and the whole business can warp.”

“But, as embraced by director Dexter Bullard, it plays like one of those formulaic, comfortably predictable sitcoms that you might have enjoyed twenty years ago, but watching it now makes you cringe at what you once found funny.”

“Robert Schenkkan's 'THE GREAT SOCIETY' The Last Four Years of LBJ's Presidency”

“And yet, that culture of optimism is just the comfort Payne provides at the end of an emotional theatre-going experience, through Abe's connection with a popular song that most audience members will know, and perhaps even Alex can take comfort from.”

“McNally's two-character play, set during those early morning ‘what now?’ hours immediately after a pair that only casually knows each other has had sex for the first time, is wonderful.”

“In keeping with Lamb's philosophy, the fast-moving, highly engaging Ink never stops to consider why the public came to devour The Sun's outlandish style of journalism.”

“It's also a flat-out laff-riot from start to finish, featuring a cast packed with expert stage comedians landing bookwriter Robert Horn's archly-humored gags.”

“O'Brien's production is decidedly low-key.”

“One might wonder if, a century or so from now, audiences might be able to see Hillary and Clinton with fresh eyes, uninformed by public knowledge and public opinion. But for now, it's those previous opinions we hold that act as additional characters in this vibrant social commentary comedy about the job of getting elected.”

“There is little texture and why the mature, introspective Anna is lured to him is never quite apparent.”

“This is a sensational Broadway debut for an artist we'll hopefully be seeing more from in years to come.”

“As the political power struggle intensifies and the body count begins to rise, Gold guides his actors to a smooth transition into the tension and tragedy of its climax. Jackson's Lear is no less pitiable in the play's final moments than he might have been with a less presentational performance.”

“It's all an extraordinary balance of historical fact, legal analysis and personal experience presented with a warm, conversational tone.”

“Morisseau's well-crafted storytelling proves just as important as the musical memories.”

“Cole Porter’s 1948 masterpiece of dramatic romance and ribald sass is still ‘Wunderbar!’ over 70 years later.”

“It's these musical moments that supply the characters they play with their own strength and spiritual nourishment.”

“This stage Mockingbird is majestically triumphant.”

“The brilliance of placing a stage adaptation of Chayefsky's story of television news as editorialized entertainment with content controlled by funding corporations is that what was taken as satire over forty years ago can be seen as social commentary in 2018.”

“The problem isn't that it's all too much.”

“Birbiglia is the kind of ribald, engaging storyteller you never want to stop.”

“It's an interesting piece of writing...The characters are less fully-fleshed out humans than they are representations of types created to express four sides of what is arguably the most controversial issue facing America today...The playwright seems determined to introduce every racially-orientated aspect of the situation into the one-act...”

“The play's defiant and universal humanity shines through with a burning intensity in Moises Kaufman's beautifully modulated production.”

“More than a memory play, The Waverly Gallery captures the humor and strength of a family in the face of crisis.”

“As a portrait of a vengeance-obsessed culture drowning in its own spilled blood, ‘The Ferryman’ is a searing social document.”

“So canny in its writing and presentation, The Lifespan of a Fact may not only inspire audiences to think more closely about the sources from which they get their news.”

“Effortful delivery is just one issue with the wheezy direction of Daniel Sullivan, whose forte is definitely not this kind of snappy, suspenseful comedy, in which timing is everything.”

“Yes, there's some damn good, expressive and provocative writing in Bernhardt/Hamlet, and the opportunity to see an exceptional artist like McTeer draw every complex nuance out Rebeck's best words is an experience worthy of any Broadway season.”

“Whether it's large enough to fill a Broadway house for any length of time remains to be seen.”

“If the plot slogs about a bit, the attempts at humor can get clunky and the lyrics are often indecipherable...give credit to director Michael Mayer, choreographer Spencer Liff...and a talented company seemingly obsessed with showing the audience a good time.”

“Like so many 90-minute plays these days, 'Straight White Men' is a mildly amusing extended skit.”

“Mantello's immensely engaging production certainly isn't stingy with the laughs, the director also has the liberty to play to a more sympathetic public, allowing the sharp edges to occasionally soften, giving clearer views of what all that laughter was hiding.”

“Everyone shines in this production.”

“Rashad's invigorating performance insures that Joan's passions are motivated by selflessness and love, insuring that her innocence in understanding the institutionalized corruption of the ruling class is seen as a youth's uncomplicated common sense instead of naiveté.”

“If you're looking for an example of theatrical brilliance made tangible, here's what you do.”

“By looking at the text from interesting new angles, this grand production of My Fair Lady offers a 21st Century spin while allowing the magnificent musical to speak for itself.”

“Judged solely on the quality of its expertly-crafted book, its captivating music and the emotional poetics of its lyrics, Carousel must be regarded as one of the art form's highest achievements.”

“And while that spirited moment adds nothing to the plot or the character development, its go-for-broke weirdness is preferable to the rather perfunctory brand of musical theatre otherwise offered by much of this lukewarm adaptation.”

“Add some dancing clouds, an out-of-the-blue tap number, some silly flying moments and the obligatory beach balls in the audience finale, and Escape to Margaritaville is a sunny, funny excursion.”

“In a musical that's quite daring to begin with, this realistic approach that requires the audience to work harder to feel empathy is another daring move.”

“The great impact of Kirkwood's drama comes from its naturalism and simple presentation of a moral issue.”

“Unfortunately, ‘The Parisian Woman’ is neither villainous nor irresistible enough to make us care one way or the other.”

“The quartet of comic experts are just sensational together, and Zaks' fast and funny staging keeps us from unnecessarily lingering on vague philosophical points.”

“Leguizamo's punch lines, potent and hilarious as they may be, have a serious undercurrent that propels director Tony Taccone's production.”

“Rejoice then: The Band's Visithas made the leap with dignity and pure, intense beauty intact.”

“Akhtar sees to it that he's unlikely to be viewed as a sympathetic anti-hero; just a fascinating product of his time, surrounded by equally ruthless players of varying skills and nerves.”

“It's hard to like or care about the characters, who exist in two fundamentally off-putting registers: When they are up, they are rah-rah party kittens playing charades, and when they are down they are grizzly and miserable.”

“PRINCE OF BROADWAY is at its best at such moments; when today's stars put their personal stamp on classic roles.”

“Gold's invigorating production showcases four stellar performances. Metcalf is a master of drawing out comedy that's firmly anchored in realism...”

“Much of the time, Moore's monologue is not fiery enough to even be hot air.”

“How music can be used to express emotions too horrific and painful to put into words.”

“Guare effectively toys with the audience's sympathy the same way Paul toys with the sympathies of his scam's targets...”

“While their score is polished and professional, it's trapped within a slow-moving book with a low percentage of jokes that land well.”

“To see that honest expression of mutual love, and to know the emotions it stirred in its time - both outrage and admiration - is a breathtaking moment that connects the audience with theatre history.”

“Extremely touching and realistically funny...Helping to make the play so entertaining and clever, without undercutting the seriousness of the subject, is that the premise of the fact-based piece begins as a somewhat naïve attempt at a social experiment...Despite numerous locales and characters, the three-hour-long, three-act play never sags.”

“An important story that's certainly worthy of a first class treatment, and director Michael Greif's polished and professional production delivers...”

“The moments of Kline and Burton together represent the production's peak of civilized high comedy.”

“Whatever the reason, Significant Other is a significant contribution to this Broadway season.”

“He delivers a superb production filled with funk, grit, humor and some positively thrilling acting.”

“These people want to blow up their world, and in a way they do, most entertainingly.”

“Leave your cynicism on the other side of the turnstile and swipe yourself in.”

“So fill your bellies ahead of time and let this dazzling show fill your spirits all night long.”

“Stephanie J. Block does a sensational job with Trina, who spends the show trying to be the grownup who can provide her son with a healthy, normal upbringing.”

“This is satisfying old-school, muscular comedy done right.”

“HEISENBERG may seem somewhat thin and whimsical on the surface, but in the hands of two fine actors it's a touching and satisfying venture.”

“HOLIDAY INN is unabashed fluff, delectably served up sharp and snazzy from start to finish.”

“The narrative, however, isn't, as McIntyre's inner monologues grow tiresome and the environment recreations seem redundant.”

“A newcomer to the show watching the sweet and endearing revival now gracing the Theatre may find it surprising to know how polarizing Cats was during its original 18-year stay.”

“But if the book disappoints, the dynamic company is well worth catching.”

“Carlsson's lyrics are an embarrassing display of false rhymes and miss-accented syllables.”

“Tuck Everlasting is a real heart-tugger.”

“Without an expert mimic taking charge, Fully Committed is little more than pleasantly amusing with a sweet finish.”

“Once it becomes apparent what Zeller is up to, 'The Father' has nowhere to go - it merely marks time until André completes his dreary spiral into despair and complete confusion.”

“While there's a cold distancing throughout the evening that keeps the production from fully engaging, there are still numerous good points.”

“Nice music, fine performances, but other than that, barely a twinkle.”

“Williams and Daniels, both excellent, effectively confront the audience to feel sympathy for their characters as it becomes increasingly clear what emotions are for each other.”

“Liesel Tommy's excellent direction and the playwright's sensitive writing balances each argument evenly, presenting each woman to be heroic, and flawed, in her own way.”

“Sadly, Whitaker's performance is far too undistinguished to believe his Erie would merit such status.”

“OUR MOTHER'S BRIEF AFFAIR is hardly one to remember.”

“NOISES OFF is a night of wild, frenetic fun that guarantees more laughs than COPENHAGEN, DEMOCRACY and BENEFACTORS combined.”

“Fiddler on the Roof is a great example of intelligent, literate musical theatre that invigorates the heart and entertains the spirit.”

“It remakes a patchy musical as a thrilling one.”

“School of Rock is a big, beautiful blast of musical comedy from start to finish.”

“If CHINA DOLL doesn't set off the sparks of a SPEED-THE-PLOW or an OLEANNA, it does provide enough of the old Mamet tension and cynicism that makes decent people feel disgust for the world we live in.”

“MISERY on Broadway is a bit of tasty popcorn elevated to high art by an exceptional stage actor.”

“Miller's fine play would be better served by allowing the actors to provide such subtext.”

“This is a great topic for a musical and the talented company plays it admirably, but Allegiance, while certainly not a bad theatre piece, is an underachieving one.”

“On Your Feet loses steam when the melodramatic plot takes over in a second act that concentrates on family and romantic issues leading up to the bus crash that almost kills Gloria.”

“By taking a peek into the future, King Charles III is history-making fun.”

“Director Evan Cabnet's gorgeously understated mounting of Helen Edmundson's adaptation looks like a somewhat faded oil painting come to life.”

“So leave the deep-thinking cap at home, and settle in for some pleasurable laughs.”

“By Broadway standards, the intimate Helen Hayes theatre might be considered the Main Stem's version of an eight foot by eight foot platform, so Dames at Sea's premiere Broadway production is also a tiny affair featuring six actors with more or less equal-sized roles.”

“If THE GIN GAME is a little thin on plot to fill out its two acts, it serves splendidly as a star vehicle for beloved senior actors.”

“In Paris is a thrilling addition to Broadway.”

“In order for Broadway to seriously claim itself to be the heart of American theatre, more plays like this need to be produced there regularly.”

“While it's good to have this somewhat underappreciated musical back on the boards, a production that matched the work of its glittering leading lady would be a more welcome arrival.”