All articles from ronfassler.medium.com
The 1967 cast of “Hello, Dolly!” led by Pearl Bailey (Friedman-Abeles Photography).July 19, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerIf your love of Broadway musicals has brough…
July 8, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerWith this week’s official passing of the torch from one to another, the Belasco Theatre can now boast Will Aronson and Hue Park’…
The original cast on Jo Mielziner’s elegant set with Patricia Zipprodt’s stunning costumes (photo by Martha Swope).July 4, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.I’ve writ…
Steve Kazee and Cristin Milioti in “Once” (2012). Photo by Sara Krulwich.July 1, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.The 21st century began on January 1, 2001 (this is a s…
In front of the Apollo Theatre in the West End after attending “The Truth” (self-portrait by Ron Fassler).June 24, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerYesterday, I wrote ab…
The Royal Theatre Haymarket’s SAFETY CURTAIN — a thing of beauty and a joy to behold (photo by Ron Fassler).June 23, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerWhile in London…
Laurence Olivier (1907–1989).June 1, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.With the month of May in the rearview mirror, I’ve taken the last few days to look back at eighty …
Audra McDonald with her six Tony Awards.May 15, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerNow that the 2026 Tony Awards nominations have been announced and campaigning is in full sw…
May 5, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron FasslerWell, the 79th Annual Tony Nominations have just been announced and, as usual, theatre fans all over are reviewing the situation. In …
Sara Chase (center) and company in “Schmigadoon!”April 28, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.When I began writing this column ten years ago and titled it “Theatre Yest…
The original cast of "Beautiful Girls" from "Follies" (1971) with the inevitable Roscoe (Michael Bartlett). Photo by Martha Swope.April 4, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fas…
March 30, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Jonathan Groff at the curtain call of "Just in Time," his final performance as Bobby Darin. Photo by Ron Fassler.Almost a y…
Dual record set for "Sondheim: A Musical Tribute," or as it's commonly known, the "Scrabble Album" (1973).March 11, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
First published Ma…
Charles Durning (1923"2012).February 28, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
An update of a column written and published in 2018.
Born on this date more than a hundred ye…
Louise Troy, Edward Woodward, and Tammy Grimes in "High Spirits" (1964). Photo by Friedman-Ables.February 16, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
High Spirits, the musical …
John Cunningham (1932"2026) in "Rose" (1981). Photo by Martha Swope.January 12, 2026: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
It took me a few days to talk to some people, look up…
Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards in Eugene O'Neill's "A Moon for the Misbegotten" (1973).December 29, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Eugene O'Neill (1888"1953), the o…
Julie Benko as Sarah Brown and Jacob Dickey as Sky Masterson in "Guys and Dolls."December 21, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
As musicals go, Guys and Dolls is a sho…
A FIRST-HAND REPORT ON NEW YORK THEATRE . . . FROM A HALF-CENTURY AGO
Alan Bates in the title role of Simon Gray's "Butley," which played the old and venerable Morosco Theatre (1…
The marquee of the now demolished George Abbott Theatre proudly displaying Cassius Clay in "Buck White" (1969).December 6, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Fifty-six …
Matt Kurzyniec outside the Palace Theatre where he recently made his Broadway debut in "Beetlejuice."December 1, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
It doesn't get much bett…
Raul Esparza as J.J. Hunsecker in MasterVoices' "Sweet Smell of Success."November 25, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Most people have never heard of the musical Sweet …
"TWO STRANGERS (CARRY A CAKE ACROSS NEW YORK)": AN UNWIELDY TITLE FOR AN UNUSUALLY WONDERFUL NEWÂ MUSICAL
Sam Tutty and Christiani Pitts in "Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York)" (…
Laurie Metcalf as Sarah and Micah Stock as Ethan in "Little Bear Ridge Road" (photo by Julia Cervantes).November 13, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
In 1984, I attended…
Mike Nichols and Neil Simon in an empty theatre in the 1960s, eyes forward towards the stage.November 7, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Mike Nichols, born ninety-fo…
Sam Robards, Victoria Clarke, Camila Canó-Flaviá, and Will Harrison in "Punch" (photo by Matthew Murphy).October 13, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
If you've n…
Robert Redford (1936"2025).September 16, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Robert Redford died early this morning at age eighty-nine. A major film actor, his star never d…
LONDON REPORT: "THE PRODUCERS" IS BACK " JUST FOR THE FUN OF IT!
Andy Nyman and Marc Antolin as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom in "The Producers" (2025).September 11, 2025: Thea…
Jerry Adler (1929"2025).August 25, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
A dozen years ago, I had the pleasure of sitting across the table from the recently departed Jerry Ad…
John Wood, Marian Seldes and Victor Garber in "Deathtrap" (1978).August 13, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
On this date forty-four years ago, Ira Levin's Deathtrap pla…
The 1969 marquee for "1776" in its original production at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rodgers).July 4, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
This is a re-working…
Frank Loesser (1910"1969).June 29, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
One hundred fifteen years ago today, composer-lyricist Frank Loesser was born on the Upper West Side o…
Advertisement for the one-night only "Hello, Dolly" in Concert at Carnegie Hall.June 24, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Last night at Carnegie Hall, those in attend…
Paul Deo Jr as Bertram and Anique Clements as Helena in "All's Well That Ends Well."June 12, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
This piece ran yesterday on the Theater P…
Photo taken from my seat in the Front Mezzanine at Radio City Music Hall last night.June 9, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
The Tony Awards have been broadcast on na…
Charles Strouse (1928"2026).May 16, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Composer Charles Strouse died yesterday at the age of ninety-six, just shy of his ninety-seventh birt…
"Buena Vista Social Club" has reason to celebrate with its ten Tony nominations announced today.May 1, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
It's always a thrill for me to rea…
A pensive Al Pacino, circa the 1970's, his most defined decade as an actor.April 25, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
I've written about him before, but there's always…
Donna McKechnie onstage at 54 Below in her new Sondheim show.April 22, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
In her current three-performance engagement at 54 Below, the am…
Chita Rivera and Dick Van Dyke perform "Rosie" in "Bye Bye Birdie"Â (1960).Producer Edward Padula was worried. He liked the show he was working hard to raise money for, but he was taking a…
Eleven of the twelve beauty contestant combatants in JR2 Spotlight Musical Theatre Company's production of "Smile" (Photo by Russ Roland).April 13, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by R…
George Clooney as Edward R. Murrow in "Good Night, and Good Luck" (Photo: Emilio Madrid).April 5, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
The current state of journalism in …
Brian Stokes Mitchell and Kate Baldwin in 2025's "Love Life" (photo by Joan Marcus).March 28, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
You would think that the only musical ev…
Stephen Sondheim (1930"2021). Photo by Richard Avedon.March 22, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
"Oh, if life were made of moments,Even now and then a bad one "…
My ticket stub from 56 years ago (note the tape marks). It used to hang on my bedroom wall.Fifty-six years ago yesterday afternoon, I took my seat as a just-turned twelve-year old in seat…
Jacob Julius Garfinkel, also known as John Garfield (1913"1952).March 5, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Yesterday was my birthday. I share the date with an actor born i…
Gene Hackman in "Under Fire" (1983).February 27, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler.
Waking up to news of the death of Gene Hackman has been a shocking blow due to circu…
Hal Holbrook on the left and his alter ego, Mark Twain, on the right.February 18, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
Yesterday marked 100 years since the birth of Harold…
Actress Kim Stanley (1925"2001).February 11, 2025: Theatre Yesterday and Today, by Ron Fassler
The actress Kim Stanley (born Patricia Reid) was born 100 years ago today. On Broadway in 19…
TINKLE, TINKLE . . . "URINETOWN" IS BACK IN TOWN
Stephanie Styles (center) surrounded by member of the "Urinetown" company (photo by Joan Marcus).February 10, 2025: Theatre Ye…
