All stories by Toby Zinman on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, April 18, 2023

[NYC] CAMELOT (Lincoln Center): Back to the round table by Toby Zinman

Sometimes cynical, ultra-cool  critical disdain—much in evidence these days— just won’t do. I loved this show; it’s filled with wonderful songs and wonderful singers, an… The pos…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:35AM
Friday, April 14, 2023

LADY DAY AT EMERSON’S BAR & GRILL (PTC): A living portrait and an evening of wonderful songs by Toby Zinman

At 15th & Bainbridge—only a few blocks from Philadelphia Theatre Company’s stage at Broad & Lombard—there stood a legendary dive bar called Emerson’s. Jazz greats—John… …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:24PM
Tuesday, April 11, 2023

ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE (Walnut Street): A wackadoodle of a show by Toby Zinman

What a wackadoodle of a show! Part party, part pop musical, the Walnut Street Theatre’s production of Jimmy Buffett’s hit is an enjoyable evening, but… The post ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVIL…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:02PM
Thursday, April 6, 2023

[NYC] SWEENEY TODD (Lutt-Fontanne): How to review a show that is just about perfect? by Toby Zinman

I should have such a problem all the time: how to review a show that is just about perfect.  The post [NYC] SWEENEY TODD (Lutt-Fontanne): How to review a show that is just about perfect? ap…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 01:35PM
Friday, March 24, 2023

SIX (National Tour): The merry wives of Henry VIII by Toby Zinman

And now, “live in consort,” the six wives of Henry VIII: “divorced, beheaded, died, divorced, beheaded, survived.” The post SIX (National Tour): The merry wives of Henry VIII appeare…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:17PM
Thursday, March 23, 2023

[NYC] PARADE (Bernard R. Jacobs Theatre): An all too familiar morality lesson by Toby Zinman

Well, of course I know they were clapping for the cast and not the characters, but there was something creepy about hundreds of people—some of… The post [NYC] PARADE (Bernard R. Jacobs …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 11:51AM
Saturday, March 4, 2023

THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

You'll find much beauty in the vast halls of Convention Center.  The post THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW: A dilettante at large review appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:17PM
Sunday, February 19, 2023

MEET ME AT DAWN (Inis Nua): Mysteries and satisfaction by Toby Zinman

Leave it to Inis Nua, the theater company whose name means “New Island” and is dedicated to producing plays from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.… The post MEET ME AT DAWN (Inis …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:58PM
Saturday, February 18, 2023

New York Theater Report: Reviews of PICTURES FROM HOME, ENDGAME, and CORNELIA STREET by Toby Zinman

Toby Zinman looks at three plays now New York stages. The post New York Theater Report: Reviews of PICTURES FROM HOME, ENDGAME, and CORNELIA STREET appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 04:25AM
Friday, February 17, 2023

DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review by Toby Zinman

Our dilettante at large reviews Academy of Vocal Arts' South Philly themed production of Donizetti’s comic opera The post DON PASQUALE (AVA): A Dilettante at Large review appeared first on…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:26PM
Friday, February 10, 2023

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth by Toby Zinman

In the political news in the past few years, the concern has been not with the lifespan of facts, but the lifespan of lies The post THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 08:58PM
Monday, February 6, 2023

Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

The Dilettante at Large is at large again, writing about the culture as an enjoyer rather than an expert. Her latest pleasure was Opera Philly’s… The post Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 01:25PM
Sunday, February 5, 2023

CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here by Toby Zinman

Terrific actors playing lovable characters, important issues, snappy dialogue, and plenty of comedy The post CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 05:40PM
Saturday, February 4, 2023

KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone else is representing you? by Toby Zinman

A play is about acting as well as the political act of making theater as well as about getting it wrong through cultural appropriation The post KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone e…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 05:05PM
Friday, February 3, 2023

BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the hat to the grand old dames of comedy by Toby Zinman

Take it from this old broad, Broads, 1812 Productions’ new show, is an entertaining 75 minutes—if you like funny songs and dirty jokes. The post BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:20PM
Saturday, January 28, 2023

BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience by Toby Zinman

Benjamin Bagby takes on the role of the scop, the storyteller The post BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:21PM
Saturday, January 21, 2023

LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic? by Toby Zinman

Are you missing those bad hairdos and baggy blue suits of 1969? The post LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic? appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:54AM
Friday, December 16, 2022

[NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and still exciting controversy by Toby Zinman

Adrienne Kennedy’s crushingly beautiful play, Ohio State Murders, is making a long overdue debut on Broadway. The post [NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:57PM

[NYC] SOME LIKE IT HOT: Irony-free goodness by Toby Zinman

This new musical comedy, a Big Broadway rewrite of the 1959 classic movie, Some Like it Hot, offers fabulosity: huge production numbers, flashy costumes, marvelous… The post [NYC] SOME LI…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:46PM
Monday, December 12, 2022

[NYC] BECKY NURSE OF SALEM (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center) by Toby Zinman

The Crucible, has withstood all manner of productions, from starry Broadway to high school drama club, and it will withstand Sarah Ruhl’s crass replay, Becky Nurse of Salem The post [NYC] …

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:55AM
Monday, November 21, 2022

BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review by Toby Zinman

Where are the great acts I remembered? The trained cats? the galloping horses? the iron men? the Wheel of Death? The post BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review appeared first on phi…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:01PM
Monday, November 7, 2022

DEATH OF A DRIVER (InterAct): Years pass, roads are built, potholes appear by Toby Zinman

“We are together.”  This line is an often-repeated refrain in Death of a Driver, a grim new play by Will Snider presented by InterAct at the Drake’s Proscenium… The post DEATH O…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:34PM

LES MISERABLES (National Tour): How do you say schmaltz in French? by Toby Zinman

Q: How do you say schmaltz in French? A:  Les Miserables. This long musical melodrama, based on Victor Hugo’s long novelistic melodrama is currently wowing… The post LES MISERABLES (Na…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:16PM
Friday, October 28, 2022

10 DATES WITH MAD MARY (Inis Nua): Irish charm at Fergies Pub by Toby Zinman

Anna Faye Lieberman gives us the raging, disappointed, self-indicting, violent, drunk, lonely, and altogether wild-hearted Mary The post 10 DATES WITH MAD MARY (Inis Nua): Irish charm at Fer…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 12:38PM
Tuesday, October 18, 2022

MODIGLIANI UP CLOSE at the Barnes: A dilettante at large reviews by Toby Zinman

Modigliani at the Barnes Foundation is a ravishing exhibition in a ravishing venue.  The post MODIGLIANI UP CLOSE at the Barnes: A dilettante at large reviews appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 02:32PM
Tuesday, October 11, 2022

New York Reviews: LEOPOLDSTADT and COST OF LIVING: by Toby Zinman

Two meditations on misfortune show us what it is to be “laughing wild amid severest woe.” The post New York Reviews: LEOPOLDSTADT and COST OF LIVING: appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 03:43PM
Monday, September 26, 2022

OTELLO (Opera Philadelphia): A dilettante at large reviews by Toby Zinman

This is one for the life list if you’re an opera fan. The post OTELLO (Opera Philadelphia): A dilettante at large reviews appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:29PM
Thursday, September 15, 2022

TRAVESTIES (Lantern): A play of ideas married to farce by Toby Zinman

Tom Stoppard’s newest play Leopoldstadt is coming to New York, and once again he is being talked about as if he were the second coming… The post TRAVESTIES (Lantern): A play of ideas ma…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 04:49PM
Friday, September 9, 2022

TWO-CHARACTER PLAY (IRC): 2022 Fringe review by Toby Zinman

Nobody writes crazy, despairing, desperate women like Tennessee Williams The post TWO-CHARACTER PLAY (IRC): 2022 Fringe review appeared first on phindie.

SOURCE: phindie.com at 10:14PM
Monday, June 13, 2022

INTO THE WOODS (Arden): A Sondheim show for grown-ups by Toby Zinman

No woods. No cutesy pop-up book set. Just three hours of pure musical theater pleasure: gorgeous melodies, clever lyrics, profound ideas and a dream cast.… The post INTO THE WOODS (Arden)…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 06:31PM
Friday, June 10, 2022

FABULATION, OR THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE (Lantern): A funny play with a serious agenda by Toby Zinman

Lynn Nottage knows how to “sustain the complexity” so that this funny play with a serious agenda works The post FABULATION, OR THE RE-EDUCATION OF UNDINE (Lantern): A funny play with a s…

SOURCE: phindie.com at 09:56AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime