All stories by Elysa Gardner on BroadwayStars

Thursday, February 15, 2024

The Christine Jorgensen Show: The Reluctant 1950s Transgender Diva by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ Transgender actress Jesse James Keitel and cabaret veteran Mark Nadler co-star in a new play with music about the groundbreaking star The post The Christine Jorgensen Show: T…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 01:02PM
Tuesday, December 5, 2023

Brandon Victor Dixon: Soul of Broadway at 54 Below by Elysa Gardner

The musical theater star, currently appearing in "Hell's Kitchen," offered a set that matched the glorious range of his voice The post Brandon Victor Dixon: Soul of Broadway at 54 Below appe…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 11:44AM
Monday, September 11, 2023

Santino Fontana at 54 Below: Guy-Next-Door Charm, Leading Man Chops by Elysa Gardner

The Tony Award-winning star brings his effortless appeal to a smaller stage The post Santino Fontana at 54 Below: Guy-Next-Door Charm, Leading Man Chops appeared first on New York Stage Revi…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 03:42PM
Thursday, August 10, 2023

Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ’70s: The Way We Were, Joyfully Remembered by Elysa Gardner

A cabaret stalwart looks back, honoring icons from Joni Mitchell to Marvin Hamlisch The post Ann Hampton Callaway Sings the ’70s: The Way We Were, Joyfully Remembered appeared first on New…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 02:43PM
Thursday, August 3, 2023

Back to the Future: A Sensory Assault, with Songs by Elysa Gardner

★★☆☆☆ An adaptation of the hit film offers all the noise and flash of a theme park ride The post Back to the Future: A Sensory Assault, with Songs appeared first on New York Stage…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 09:53PM
Friday, July 21, 2023

I Got the Job!: Still More Reasons to Love Lucie (Arnaz) by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ The second-generation star buoyantly celebrates Berlin, Herman, Hamlisch, her parents and others in a return to 54 Below The post I Got the Job!: Still More Reasons to Love L…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:30AM
Thursday, July 13, 2023

The Saviour: Seeking redemption and rapture, against all odds by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ Playwright Deirdre Kinahan draws on dark history for new play at Irish Rep The post The Saviour: Seeking redemption and rapture, against all odds appeared first on New York …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 07:59PM
Thursday, June 15, 2023

The Doctor: From London, a Scathing Societal Diagnosis, and a Meditation on Faith by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Director Robert Icke and a cast led by Juliet Stevenson offer strong medicine in this adaptation of an Arthur Schnitzler play The post The Doctor: From London, a Scathing So…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 10:00AM
Sunday, May 14, 2023

Romeo & Juliet: A Story of Woe, Served with a Twist by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ "Wolf Play" playwright Hansol Jung offers a piquant new take on Shakespeare's tragedy The post Romeo & Juliet: A Story of Woe, Served with a Twist appeared first on New Y…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 07:00PM
Sunday, April 23, 2023

Prima Facie: Jodie Comer in Arresting Stage Debut as Barrister Turned Plaintiff by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ But playwright Suzie Miller's post-#MeToo legal drama also raises difficult questions The post Prima Facie: Jodie Comer in Arresting Stage Debut as Barrister Turned Plaintif…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 09:53PM
Tuesday, April 18, 2023

Cabaret Mainstay 54 Below Enters a New Era: As a Nonprofit by Elysa Gardner

The midtown venue’s owners hope to raise close to 20 percent of an annual budget approaching $10 million from supporters.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:32PM
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Vanities—The Musical: Jack Heifner’s Three Female Friends Return, Singing (Again) by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ The long-running off-Broadway play-turned-long-developing musical returns, enlivened by a winning cast The post Vanities—The Musical: Jack Heifner’s Three Female Friends…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 07:01PM
Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Leo Reich, Literally Who Cares: Jokin’ ‘Bout His Generation, and Himself by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ The Gen-Z British comedian brings his irony fest to New York The post Leo Reich, Literally Who Cares: Jokin’ ‘Bout His Generation, and Himself appeared first on New York …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 05:20PM
Tuesday, January 17, 2023

Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep have all Jumped the Fences: A Short, Sweet, Wild Ride by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Humor, horror and a little pathos mix nicely in this intimate, quirky import from Northern Ireland The post Frankenstein’s Monster is Drunk and the Sheep have all Jumped t…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:00PM
Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Camp Siegfried: In Post-Weimar New York, Innocence Lost by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ David Cromer directs Bess Wohl's intimate account of young love tainted by hateful ideology The post Camp Siegfried: In Post-Weimar New York, Innocence Lost appeared first o…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 10:00PM
Tuesday, October 25, 2022

A Raisin in the Sun: A Classic Overbaked, but with Radiant Performances by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ Actors manage to shine despite directorial gimmickry in John O'Hara's new revival of the Lorraine Hansberry classic The post A Raisin in the Sun: A Classic Overbaked, but wi…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 11:00PM

Candida: Revisiting an Early Shavian Heroine, and Her Motley Crew of Admirers by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Gingold Theatrical Group presents a broadly funny new take on Shaw's satire The post Candida: Revisiting an Early Shavian Heroine, and Her Motley Crew of Admirers appeared f…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:00PM
Thursday, October 13, 2022

Everything’s Fine: Recollections of A Teacher’s Pet, Horrific and Kindly Rendered by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Writer and actor Douglas McGrath, under John Lithgow's direction, exudes humility and empathy in this one-man play The post Everything’s Fine: Recollections of A Teacher�…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 07:56PM
Thursday, September 22, 2022

Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical: Multi-Dimensional Fun, and Not For Fans Only by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ A savvy creator and vibrant, youthful cast bring the creepy Netlfix series to the stage, buoyantly The post Stranger Sings! The Parody Musical: Multi-Dimensional Fun, and No…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 09:30PM
Thursday, August 11, 2022

On That Day in Amsterdam: Strangers Find Romance, and Guilt, Far From Home by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ A college boy meets a less fortunate traveler in Clarence Coo's play The post On That Day in Amsterdam: Strangers Find Romance, and Guilt, Far From Home appeared first on New…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:00PM
Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville: Several Tokes Over the Line by Elysa Gardner

★★☆☆☆ A disappointingly preachy revue from HERE and LaMaMa overstates its case for "the people's plant" The post Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville: Several Tokes Over the Line appeared …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 09:25PM
Thursday, July 7, 2022

Cabaret Champion Michael Feinstein Teams With Café Carlyle by Elysa Gardner

The performer and entrepreneur is ending his partnership with 54 Below and will perform his first-ever shows at the Upper East Side venue in October.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:07PM
Thursday, June 23, 2022

Chains: Worries and Wanderlust in Early 20th Century England by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Mint Theater Company mines the enduring relevance of Elizabeth Baker's problem play The post Chains: Worries and Wanderlust in Early 20th Century England appeared first on Ne…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 06:59PM
Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom: James Joyce’s Complicated Heroine Takes a Bow by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Actress Aedín Moloney and author Colum McCann's adaptation of "Ulysses"'s final chapter returns to the stage The post Yes! Reflections of Molly Bloom: James Joyce’s Compli…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 09:00PM
Friday, June 3, 2022

Broadway’s Beloved Basement Club, Feinstein’s/54 Below, Turns 10 by Elysa Gardner

The venue beneath what was once Studio 54 will pick up a Tony Award for excellence in the theater as it marks its anniversary with a pair of concerts.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:37PM
Thursday, May 19, 2022

Belfast Girls: The Pluck of the Irish by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆Jacki McCarrick revisits an underexplored chapter in Irish, and women's, history The post Belfast Girls: The Pluck of the Irish appeared first on New York Stage Review.

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:00PM
Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Exception to the Rule: Porch Kid Meets Street Kids by Elysa Gardner

★★★☆☆ Dave Harris's follow-up to 'Tango & Bones' is entertaining, sobering and ultimately frustrating The post Exception to the Rule: Porch Kid Meets Street Kids appeared first…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:35PM
Sunday, April 24, 2022

Two By Synge: Playing a Legend for Laughs by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Irish Rep artistic director Charlotte Moore pairs and helms two of the playwright's early efforts The post Two By Synge: Playing a Legend for Laughs appeared first on New Yor…

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:00PM
Tuesday, April 19, 2022

How I Learned to Drive: Costly Lessons in Paula Vogel’s Pulitzer Winner by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ In the play's long overdue Broadway premiere, original stars Mary-Louise Parker and David Morse and director Mark Brokaw mine its wry humor and horror The post How I Learned …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 08:53PM
Sunday, April 3, 2022

Paradise Square: Allies and Rivals, in Song and Dance by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ Choreographer Bill T. Jones and a vibrant cast led by Joaquina Kalukango make a Civil War musical fly The post Paradise Square: Allies and Rivals, in Song and Dance appeared …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 07:56PM
Thursday, March 17, 2022

The Life: Seldom-Revived Cy Coleman Musical Gets a Shot in the Arm from Billy Porter by Elysa Gardner

★★★★☆ The stage and screen star and his collaborators pump fresh blood into this ode to New York's mean streets The post The Life: Seldom-Revived Cy Coleman Musical Gets a Shot in …

SOURCE: New York Stage Review at 01:44PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards