All stories by Michael Sommers on BroadwayStars

Sunday, January 24, 2016

Arts | New Jersey: Review: Passions Ignite in ‘Lives of Reason’ at Two River Theater by Michael Sommers

In “Lives of Reason,” a play by Robert Rechnitz and Kenneth Stunkel having its world premiere in Red Bank, several academics compete for a deanship .

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:52PM
Tuesday, December 8, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: An Enduring Musical Comedy Gets a Gender-Bending Twist by Michael Sommers

An all-male version of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” at the Two River Theater in Red Bank, N.J., is a delightfully unorthodox production that succeeds on several level…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:00PM
Thursday, November 5, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: In ‘The Seedbed,’ an Uneasy Marital Truce Frays Over Dinner by Michael Sommers

The psychological drama by Bryan Delany is having its world premiere at the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:40PM
Friday, October 23, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: Review: Performances of ‘Comedy of Tenors’ and ‘Bandstand’ by Michael Sommers

Two new shows, a comedy by Ken Ludwig and a musical by Richard Oberacker, evoke the light and dark sides of bygone eras.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:27PM
Thursday, October 15, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: Reviews of ‘The Nether’ and ‘Song for the Disappeared’ in New Jersey by Michael Sommers

Two new plays by female writers that explore both the virtual and real worlds have premieres in the Garden State this fall.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:27PM
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: When Shakespeare Is the Subject, Not the Scribe by Michael Sommers

In “Equivocation,” Shakespeare, called Shag here, faces a conundrum when King James I asks for him to write a play.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:22PM
Thursday, September 3, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: Previewing New Jersey’s Fall Theater Schedule by Michael Sommers

The New Jersey fall theater schedule includes new works by the critically acclaimed playwrights Joe DiPietro, Jennifer Haley and Ken Ludwig.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:40PM
Thursday, August 13, 2015

Theater | Madison: A Review of ‘Misalliance’ at the Shakespeare Theater in Madison by Michael Sommers

“Misalliance,” by George Bernard Shaw, takes on big social issues within a zany comedy.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:14PM
Friday, July 24, 2015

Arts | Union: Review: In ‘By the Water,’ a Search for Calm After the Storm by Michael Sommers

Hurricane Sandy highlights a family’s strained relations in this production of Sharyn Rothstein’s drama at Premiere Stages at Kean University in Union.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:30AM
Thursday, July 23, 2015

'Ruthless!' Off Broadway Review: A Murderous Musical Mash-Up by Michael Sommers

“Ruthless!” is anything but high musical theater art but it certainly delivers any number of low laughs. “Ruthless!” continues at St. Luke’s Theater, 308 W. 46th Street.

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 11:47AM
Thursday, July 16, 2015

Theater | New Jersey: Review: ‘The Guardsman,’ at the Shakespeare Theater, Pricks the Heart While Eliciting Laughs by Michael Sommers

The Shakespeare Theater of New Jersey delivers a fresh version of Ferenc Molnar’s romantic romp, which successfully seizes the potentially tragic theme of marital mistrust and twists it in…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:08PM
Saturday, July 11, 2015

Theater Review | Long Island: Review: The Nuns Are Back in ‘Sister Act’ at the Gateway Playhouse by Michael Sommers

The Bellport production of the musical stars Rashidra Scott as a singer fleeing hoodlums and Jennifer Allen as the leader of the convent where she hides.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:24PM
Sunday, June 21, 2015

Theater Review | Long Island: A Review of ‘All My Sons’ in East Hampton by Michael Sommers

Alex Baldwin and Laurie Metcalf star in the revival of Arthur Miller’s play about a businessman whose irresponsible practices during World War II eventually imperil his family.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:07PM
Saturday, June 6, 2015

Theater Review | New Jersey: Review: All the Living Room’s a Stage in Madison Revival of ’27 Play by George S. Kaufman and Edna Ferber by Michael Sommers

The Cavendish clan, who mostly reside in a swank Manhattan duplex, are delightful people, and “The Royal Family” endures as one of the best comedies ever written about show folk.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:21AM
Monday, May 25, 2015

For a Plus-Size Show, a Slimmer Backdrop by MICHAEL SOMMERS

"Hairspray" is being staged at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, N.J., but with a less sizable set design than was used on Broadway.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

‘In Transit’ vocalizes New York stories by MICHAEL SOMMERS

I was so bored by it that I could scarcely wait to get out of the theater and into the subway for home.

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Great ‘Gatz’ recreates ‘The Great Gatsby’ by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Fitzgerald's classic American novel gets an absorbing marathon staging

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

'Time Stands Still' for Laura Linney by Michael Sommers

The play remains a well-written drama about an obsessed artist and a slowly imploding relationship, but it also remains a character study of relatively intimate scope.

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Tales of Motherhood, With a Rock Beat by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Currently in noisy residence at Playwrights Theater of New Jersey, "MoM" is an intimate rock musical with a cool concept, so-so songs and an O.K. production that does not completely fulfill …

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson' hits Broadway Broadway by Michael Sommers

Whatever, a stuffed equine suspends upside down over spectators' heads inside the garishly decked-out auditorium of the Jacobs Theatre, ...

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Populist and elitist views clash in ‘La Bete’ by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Mark Rylance brilliant plays a boor in a mock-1600s comedy

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Help for an Autistic Son Means Trouble for a Marriage by MICHAEL SOMMERS

A young couple, struggling to secure the most beneficial education for their autistic 4-year-old son, disagrees on what’s best for him. The separate paths the spouses explore eventuall…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

‘Swan Lake’ swims with sexuality by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Bourne's inventive mix of drama and dance revitalizes an old favorite and offers theatergoers an unforgettable time.

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

‘Lombardi’ drama evinces a football legend by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Not so much a fumble as an incomplete pass, "Lombardi" is a new play about Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi that presents a limited impression of the gridiron giant and his famously dr…

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Beatles tribute ‘Rain’ pours out 30 hits by MICHAEL SOMMERS

So it is what it is: Rather than thinking of "Rain" as a jukebox musical regarding The Beatles, the actual show is more like a highly animated version of a Madame Tussaud's installation R…

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

‘Angels in America’ lands again in New York by MICHAEL SOMMERS

With performances so variable in quality, "Angels in America" doesn't fly as high as might be hoped. Or perhaps the waning of middle-1990s society's pre-millennial jitters in the ugly face o…

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

A Traveling Storyteller Weary of the Awfulness of War by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Stephen Spinella plays a poet who tells tales of the misadventures of mankind.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

REVIEW: Sexy ‘Women’ throw a festive Broadway party by MICHAEL SOMMERS

A yummy confection of silly romantic comedy, seductive Latin music, alluring visuals and high-powered performances, "Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown" is a musical comedy certain to…

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Colin Quinn tells ‘Long Story Short’ with Jerry Seinfeld touches by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Funny solo show spins through world civilization in 75 minutes sharp

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM

Windy ‘After the Revolution’ winds down by MICHAEL SOMMERS

Capable actors, good direction, fine design and stretches of nice writing cannot disguise the inevitable realization that "After the Revolution" is a lot of fuss over not much of anything.

SOURCE: New Jersey Newsroom at 05:58PM