All stories by Elisabeth Vincentelli on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, December 3, 2024

‘How Did I Get Here?’: 7 Days in the Life of a Busy Arts Programmer by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Jay Wegman runs from rehearsals to lunches to shows for his job at N.Y.U. Skirball, then home for a “What We Do in the Shadows” episode or two.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:42AM
Wednesday, November 27, 2024

Holiday Shows to See in N.Y.C.: ‘Elf,’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ and More by Elisabeth Vincentelli

“Elf the Musical,” inventive spins on “A Christmas Carol” and classic family fare: Here are some of our favorite shows of the season.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:18AM
Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Review: ‘We Are Your Robots,’ Still Tuning Up by Elisabeth Vincentelli

In Ethan Lipton’s musings on A.I., Mozart has a place alongside humpback whales.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:36AM
Thursday, November 21, 2024

In ‘Music City’ and ‘Babe,’ Existential Battles of the Heart and Soul by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Bedlam’s country music show is a rollicking good time. But the New Group’s production of “Babe,” starring Marisa Tomei, is a frustrating one-act lacking cohesion.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:54PM
Thursday, November 14, 2024

Review: Tammy Faye Was Over-the-Top. This Musical Makes Her Small. by Elisabeth Vincentelli

“Tammy Faye,” a bland, tonal mishmash of a show opening on Broadway, seems afraid to lean into what made the televangelist so distinctive.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:18PM
Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Two Climate Change Plays Keep the Flames of Hope Alive by Laura Collins-Hughes and Elisabeth Vincentelli

“Hothouse,” at Irish Arts Center, fends off despair with loopiness; “In the Amazon Warehouse Parking Lot,” at Playwrights Horizons, is a fuzzy world lacking depth.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:31PM
Sunday, October 27, 2024

Review: ‘We Live in Cairo’ Falls Short of Being Revolutionary by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Egyptians stand up to their government in a play that excels in its design but rings hollow when its subtext and character development are scrutinized.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:12PM
Wednesday, October 16, 2024

A French Play Explores the Enduring Allure of ‘Showgirls’ by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Inspired by Paul Verhoeven’s infamous 1995 film, “Showgirl” considers what it means to be an actress who gets naked.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:24AM
Monday, October 7, 2024

‘The Big Gay Jamboree’ Review: A Golden-Age Fantasia on Steroids by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The goofball spirit that made Marla Mindelle’s “Titaníque” a hit is missing from her equally campy new show drenched in pop-culture references.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:02AM
Tuesday, October 1, 2024

3 Ambitious Song Cycles, but Only One Connects Mind and Heart by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Todd Almond’s “I’m Almost There” is a work of wonder, while Gabriel Kahane’s “Book of Travelers” and “Magnificent Bird” are less effective.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:48AM
Thursday, September 26, 2024

The Stage Combat Is Verbal in These Off Broadway Plays by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Belarus Free Theater’s “KS6: Small Forward” and three other shows are reminders that there are many ways to portray conflicts and confrontations onstage.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:48PM
Thursday, September 12, 2024

‘Counting and Cracking’ Review: One Family’s Tale Fit for an Epic by Elisabeth Vincentelli

No theatrical wizardry is needed for this compelling drama about a woman’s journey to Australia from war-torn Sri Lanka and the generations that follow.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:18PM
Tuesday, September 10, 2024

James Earl Jones’s Rich Career in Theater: ‘Othello,’ ‘The Great White Hope’ and More by Elisabeth Vincentelli

In addition to Broadway crowd-pleasers, the actor deftly navigated classics, experimental theater and new works by major contemporary playwrights.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:32PM
Tuesday, August 27, 2024

With ‘Empire Records: The Musical,’ Zoe Sarnak Revives a ’90s Cult Classic by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The composer is breaking the rules of musical theater and finding an increasingly warm welcome this year for her rock sound. Next up, “Empire Records: The Musical.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:32AM
Thursday, August 15, 2024

At a Festival Amid Industrial Ruins, Ivo van Hove Takes Charge by Elisabeth Vincentelli

For the Belgian director’s first edition as leader of the Ruhrtriennale, abandoned sites are “the starting point and the end point,” he says.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:16AM
Monday, August 12, 2024

Sutton Foster and Michael Urie Reunite in the Zany ‘Once Upon a Mattress’ by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The hit Encores! production has transferred to Broadway, with a cast fiercely dedicated to entertaining its audience.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:00PM

This Theater Company in Wisconsin Banks on the Glory of the Human Voice by Elisabeth Vincentelli

No musicals and no mics: At American Players Theater in Wisconsin, nothing comes between the actors, their words and the public.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:03AM
Wednesday, July 31, 2024

In Chicago, 3 Shows That Keep the Audience in Mind and Engaged by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Musical adaptations of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil” and “The Lord of the Rings” as well as a new Samuel D. Hunter play were on our critic’s itinerary.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:32AM
Tuesday, July 23, 2024

In ‘Pre-Existing Condition,’ a Character Isn’t Defined by Abuse, or One Actress by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Stars like Edie Falco and Deirdre O’Connell bring a communal quality to Marin Ireland’s play about the aftermath of domestic violence.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:02AM
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

‘I Might Be Real-Life Good at This’: Shooting for Broadway at the Jimmy Awards by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The awards, which celebrated excellence in high school musical theater on Monday, have become a launchpad for future stars and Tony nominees.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:24PM

Review: In ‘Find Me Here,’ Sisters Grapple With a Father’s Will, and His Legacy by Elisabeth Vincentelli

A family gathering fuels Crystal Finn’s new play, in which an excellent cast teases out the many complications of inheritance.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:24PM
Tuesday, June 11, 2024

On Broadway, ‘Suffs’ Has a New Tune (and 6 Tony Nominations) by Elisabeth Vincentelli

A reworked opening number, less historical bulk and a general push to “have fun with these women” helped a musical find its way.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:18AM
Saturday, June 8, 2024

Pride Month 2024: An Abundance of Theater of All Stripes by Elisabeth Vincentelli

From Broadway to the city’s smaller stages, a flurry of shows with wide-ranging appeal, familiar faces and rising talent.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:36AM
Wednesday, May 22, 2024

Review: In ‘Usus,’ Pig Latin Gets Lost in Translation by Elisabeth Vincentelli

T. Adamson’s new comedy, which opens Clubbed Thumb’s popular Summerworks series at the Wild Project, is about a group of worked-up Franciscan friars.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:02PM
Tuesday, May 21, 2024

‘Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha Ha’ Review: Julia Masli Is a Problem-Solving Clown by Elisabeth Vincentelli

A hit at Edinburgh Fringe last year, Julia Masli’s show arrives at SoHo Playhouse for its New York debut.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:42PM
Sunday, May 19, 2024

‘Nobody Cares’ About Laura Benanti, but They Let Her Entertain Them by Elisabeth Vincentelli

While poking fun at her own agreeable malleability, Benanti flexes her talents in a show that will be available on Audible, without the physical dimension.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:36PM
Friday, May 17, 2024

‘Dungeons & Dragons’ Review: Community Building One Dice Roll at a Time by Elisabeth Vincentelli

Improv adds a theatrical dimension to the role-playing game, which has been undergoing a renaissance as it turns 50 this year.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:32AM
Friday, May 3, 2024

‘The Miser’ Review: Updating Molière, but Missing a Key Ingredient by Elisabeth Vincentelli

This Molière in the Park production doesn’t have the sharp satirical bite of the original.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:18PM
Wednesday, April 24, 2024

‘Orlando’ Review: A Virginia Woolf Fantasy That Plays With Gender by Elisabeth Vincentelli

In this revival of Sarah Ruhl’s adaptation of the Woolf novel, now starring Taylor Mac, the flashes of comedy can’t make up for the loss of poetry.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:06AM
Monday, April 22, 2024

Huey Lewis’s Music Makes ‘The Heart of Rock and Roll’ by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The new musical doesn’t take itself too seriously and has many winning moments — almost enough to eclipse the weaknesses of its story.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:32PM
Sunday, April 21, 2024

‘Hell’s Kitchen’ Review: Alicia Keys’s Musical Finds Its Groove on Broadway by Elisabeth Vincentelli

The retooled jukebox musical, with its top-notch performances and exciting choreography, “stands out as one of the rare must-sees” in a crowded season.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:24AM

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