Stage and Cinema

“Ryan J. Haddad’s affectionate tribute to his uncle celebrates the power of theater, though its homespun approach limits its emotional impact.”

“The jaw-dropping absurdity will continue to tickle your funny bone at the same time you tilt your head, asking yourself, WTF?!”

“Buoyed by across-the-board terrific performances and Whitney White ’s enthusiastic direction, this entertaining trip to Africa via the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre is worth the price of passage.”

“With sharp comedic turns, Human Things turns a remote island, an approaching storm, and two troubled marriages into an affecting night of theater.”

“More story by association than cogent narrative, creators Arias and Twist have again brought the fun, laughs, theatricality, imagination, wonder, naughtiness, and coloring-outside-the-lines sensibility that made the show a success almost twenty years ago.”

“Fortunately, there is a solid play beneath the pile, and a passionate cast brings it to life with energy, conviction, and heart.”

“Chekhov’s understanding of depression and social judgment remains remarkably contemporary; this production feels less timeless, and I suspect the problem is primarily one of direction rather than talent.”

“If you’re in the mood for a dark, hetero-toxic thriller, Attendant may just be for you.”

“Only Cat Cohen can turn a sudden, life-threatening neurological event into an evening in which the audience laughs almost continuously and springs to its feet in applause the moment she finishes.”

“The play offers its own thoughtful, if imperfect, meditation on the people who watch over it.”

“Funny without being frivolous, political without becoming didactic, and deeply compassionate without ever surrendering its bite, Wasserstein’s writing still lands.”

“At the Delacorte Theater, director Daniel Sullivan and a brilliant cast serve up a delicious cocktail of irrational jealousy, paranoia, tyrannical tantrums, bucolic escapades, and miraculous reunions beneath the New York summer night sky.”

“The Saviors is a compelling drama that wrestles with faith, tradition, trust, and trauma.”

“Dr. Benjamin has an extremely engaging personality.”

“The Off-Broadway revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, choreographed and directed by Danny Mefford, is pretty close to letter-perfect.”

“Thanks to director Mary Zimmerman, scenic designer Daniel Ostling, and lighting designer T.J. Gerckens, there is remarkable artistry on display at PAC NYC, where the thrilling new musical Giulia: The Poison Queen of Palermo opened tonight.”

“It is a work of emotional and intellectual resonance, threaded with humor, shadowed by darkness, and guided by an unmistakably individual vision.”

“After intermission, the emotional stakes deepen, allowing the musical’s warmth and sincerity to shine through.”

“Five hours fly by in this gripping, emotionally rich adaptation.”

“The forward momentum feels assured from first scene to last, as though the playwright and director know exactly where it’s going and trust us to keep up.”

“Girl, Interrupted is doing something genuinely difficult: rendering the texture of a disordered memory with theatrical and musical honesty, without sentimentality and without exploitation.”

“Jerome is a rewarding theatrical journey—one that balances intimacy with ambition, humor with heart, and romance with hard-earned wisdom.”

“For theatre historians and students—or for anyone who wants to witness two exceptional actors doing extraordinary work—The Emporium makes a compelling, if complicated, case for its own existence.”

“It is theatre as sensory bombardment: highly theatrical, intensely performed, and impossible to ignore.”

“Thoroughly enjoyable, knowingly silly, and affectionate without becoming smug, Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody understands precisely what fandom wants from a send-up like this.”

“The Mystery of Edwin Drood is a challenging, unusual, and complex piece to pull off, and it is no mystery why J2 Spotlight succeeds so well with this piece: dedication, talent, and spunk.”

“Anthony’s performance captures Lenny’s urgency while taking moments to recognize the absurdity of being dragged into court over words, and struggling with being denied a chance to perform his act in court.”

“Broken Snow ultimately delivers on its opening promise.”

“The Balusters is not just a fabulous new play; it is a vital, invigorating reminder that even the most polite rooms can contain seismic change.”

“If Proof is a play that explores the relationship between extreme intelligence and mental illness, we must believe Catherine and Robert have both.”

“The acting is absolutely first-rate, the staging delights, and you will certainly leave feeling better for it.”

“It is a feat of total embodiment, and one that seems destined for recognition—and rightly so.”

“Andronicus is so vivid it will convert skeptics: It’s memorable for seasoned theatergoers and will be a revelation for anyone who usually steers clear of Shakespeare.”

“Molochnikov’s production doesn’t merely argue for theater’s relevance—it embodies it, with restless energy and a palpable love of the form.”

“If the journey proves more taxing than transformative, it nonetheless leaves a distinct impression.”

“While the production’s cool, methodical staging keeps the audience at arm’s length, the story it tells—of an immigrant who rises to shape global policy—remains a compelling and distinctly American narrative, even when the drama itself struggles to fully ignite.”

“For all its ambition, Monte Cristo presents a strong, impressive debut—one that occasionally struggles to reconcile its tonal shifts but never lacks for theatrical sweep or conviction.”

“Campy, over the top, and utterly ridiculous, Bigfoot! follows in the tradition of hilarious musicals like Evil Dead or Avenger.”

“And in this electrifying production at Theater, it rings louder than ever.”

“Such insularity may be why the play is much too long and self-indulgent.”

“In an era when new plays often struggle to find both intellectual rigor and theatrical propulsion, Spare Parts manages to deliver both.”

“But if you find the cute but irrelevant and obvious jokes tiring, you may discover that after two hours and fifteen minutes, you’ve had more than enough.”

“But if you are looking for a mindless, game-like performance that is guaranteed to make you laugh, don’t think twice, this is Paradise.”

“The Monsters is a layered, emotionally muscular play powered by two formidable performances and technical flair that matches a script full of duels and drama alike.”

“Nevertheless, entertainment is the chief value of this sensational Broadway revival.”

“A remarkable work, not to be missed!”

“And how do we get it back?” That’s one of the questions posed about the condition of gender equality in 2025. America at the start of Liberation, Bess Wohl’s vivid new memory play that brings the 1970s women’s movement roaring back to life at the James Theatre.”

“For me, Ragtime was a cathartic collective experience, given what we are living through today in our traumatized country.”

“Yasmina Reza’s Art returned to Broadway last night starring Neil Patrick Harris, Bobby Cannavale, and James Corden, and it is a tight, acidic joyride through ego and insecurity, wickedly funny.”

“I did not leave with my jaw dropped but with a flicker of childhood wonder reignited, and a loving nod to the memories and mentors that taught me to find the extraordinary in the everyday.”

“Heathers is still speaking loud and clear.”

“It’s a slam-bang, love-struck miracle — and baby, it’s right on time.”

“This jubilant, guaranteed rouser is a celebration that looks to be a mainstay on Broadway for quite some time.”

“A breathtakingly beautiful play.”

“Audra McDonald in Gypsy makes it even more significant, something you will not forget.”

“Death Becomes Her is a crowd-pleasing hit that deserves to be around forever — well, at least for a good long time.”

“Morisseau (Skeleton Crew, Pipeline, Confederates) offers an affecting, engaging, often funny yet fundamentally human (and messy) exploration of relationships, otherness, colonialism, class and identity.”

“Directed by Michael Herwitz, this tense two-character psychological thriller is thought-provoking and absolutely engaging, a must see for Boomers, Millennials, and Gen Z.”

“Come for the catchy songs, stay for the ballroom extravaganza, and remember that while the cast may be extravagant and constantly one-upping and over-the-topping each other, it’s not a feature or a bug, it’s the whole point.”

“As Cephus, Tory Kittles shines brightly.”

“Hell's Kitchen is a sumptuous, shining, satisfying show that has great performances, a compelling story, enthralling music, creative production design, exciting choreography and a huge heart.”

“Unfortunately the action is diluted by Daniel Aukin ’s slow direction (he could cut an hour off without changing the plot) and the levity of the script by David Adjmi.”

“When Ponyboy expresses in song what he’ll bring to being a future writer (‘And in his memory, I’ll stay gold’) it also speaks for the creative team and performers, as this production is pure theatrical gold.”

“Gutenberg!, nimbly directed by Alex Timbers, is a blast from beginning to end.”

“Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ bold new play doesn’t waste a moment in embracing the creepiness that has invaded Ursula’s home.”

“Like any big spread at a cookout, it looks great but turns out some of the dishes are hit and miss.”

“But the real cancer of this revival are the performances.”

“This is a star-making tour de force performance requiring a level of singing, dancing and nuanced acting rarely seen on stage.”

“This is what tourists come to Broadway for — to get a taste of what it’s like when pros turn on the heat.”

“Few performers possess the charisma and, frankly, the chops to straddle a stage alone and draw you in so fully – but Lithgow might be that great exception.”

“All-in-all a very pleasant outing for a Sunday afternoon (42nd Street notwithstanding).”

“But sadly, this album simply doesn’t soar into the heavens like Willy’s magic elevator.”

“He’s endeavoring to make fun of bad musicals with a musical that is worse than a lot of the ones he’s trying to make fun of.”

“Despite its promising plot, Bullets Over Broadway, even with all the glitter of William Ivey Long’s costumes and Santo Loquasto’s scenery, is fairly lackluster.”

“McNally's work is outstanding. It transcends the issue of gay-acceptance and puts its question more broadly: Can anyone love us for us?”

“Not much in this very professional production feels like it needs to be said.”

“Today the story of an ambitious woman using her sexuality to get ahead seems trite and quaint.”

“Ultimately, it’s Norris’s play that lacks the Broadway curb appeal.”

“One Man, Two Guvnors is smart, it’s charming, and most importantly, it’s very funny!”

“Under the swift and farcical direction of Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, the company glows like starstuff itself.”

“The Scottsboro Boys is an antic shindig with a dark heart…unique and powerful- an eruption of entertainment.”

“La Bête's funny moments outnumber its tiresome stretches (and those funny moments are very funny indeed), and the skilled comic performances of Rylance, Hyde Pierce, and Ouimette are pure pleasure to behold.”