All stories by Ian on BroadwayStars

Friday, February 16, 2024

‘Shawshank’ in China, as You’ve Never Seen It Before by Vivian Wang and Claire Fu

A stage adaptation of the film featured an all-Western cast, was performed in Chinese and raised questions about translation, both linguistic and cultural.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:06PM
Friday, February 2, 2024

Remembering Chita Rivera’s Unique Voice by Alex Barron, Lynn Levy, Diane Wong and Jesse Green

Our theater critic on some of the Broadway legend’s greatest vocal performances.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:32PM
Tuesday, December 26, 2023

The best theatre, dance and comedy tickets to book in 2024 by Arifa Akbar, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

The new year’s hottest shows include stage versions of Minority Report, Spirited Away and La Strada, performances by Keeley Hawes and Ian McKellen – plus laughs from Julia Masli, Rhod Gi…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:06AM
Thursday, December 21, 2023

The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2023 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Our critics’ highlights of the year include a 24-hour marathon, a standup welcoming hecklers, a reboot of The Matrix and a bus ride filled with emotion• More on the best culture of 2023 …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:18AM
Monday, December 18, 2023

Coronada and the Bull Return to the Stage by María Bastianes and Duncan Wheeler

Francisco Nieva (1924-2016) ranks amongst the most respected Spanish playwrights of the second half of the twentieth century. The seat of the National Dramatic Centre in the hip Madrid neigh…

SOURCE: thetheatretimes.com at 12:33AM
Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Best Dance Performances of 2023 by Gia Kourlas and Brian Seibert

New York City Ballet’s 75th anniversary celebration and Dance Reflections from France delivered some of this year’s brightest moments.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:01AM
Thursday, November 30, 2023

The Culture Desk: The Dangers of Making Art With Your Friends by Alex Barron, Lynn Levy and Diane Wong

Times theater critics sing the praises of two shows about fraught collaborations

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:02PM
Wednesday, August 23, 2023

Starry Shakespeare, super standups and a Black Sabbath ballet: the best theatre, dance and comedy of autumn 2023 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

Patsy Ferran takes on Eliza in Pygmalion, Andrew Scott plays multiple characters from Uncle Vanya and Mlima’s Tale tells a powerful tale of the ivory trade. Here’s what’s in store on s…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:55AM
Wednesday, July 12, 2023

Milan Kundera: The Unbearable Lightness of Being author dies aged 94 by Richard Lea and Sian Cain

The Czech novelist found himself silenced by the communist regime at home, but achieved international fame with playfully philosophical fiction Czech writer Milan Kundera, who explored being…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 08:25AM
Wednesday, July 5, 2023

Edinburgh festival 2023: 50 shows to see by Brian Logan, Arifa Akbar and Lyndsey Winship

Cracking comedy, an eclectic mix of theatre – and aerial dance in an ice rink. Our critics share their picks for the August arts extravaganza Rhod Gilbert: Work in Progress Gilded Balloon …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:07AM
Monday, May 29, 2023

Encore! Surefire shows returning for the Edinburgh festival in 2023 by Chris Wiegand, Anya Ryan, Brian Logan, Mark Fisher, Kate Wyver, Arifa Akbar and David Jays

In the run-up to the festival, our writers will choose new productions that have caught their eye – but here’s a selection of those we’ve already reviewed Richard Marsh has clearly see…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:24AM
Wednesday, May 10, 2023

For Broadway Dance, High Kicks and Low Comedy in a Season of Change by Jesse Green, Elisabeth Vincentelli and Brian Seibert

Is theatrical choreography at a turning point? Or just leaping, lurching and shimmying as usual? Our critics weigh in.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:01AM
Thursday, May 4, 2023

As the world awaits a coronation, we honor the many kings of St. Louis by Valerie Schremp Hahn, Ian Froeb and Jane Henderson St. Louis Post-Dispatch

From Kingshighway to King Louis to the King Burger to the King of Beers to a visit in 1977 from the future king himself, we bow down to our own royalty.

SOURCE: St. Louis Today at 12:00PM
Friday, April 21, 2023

A Question of Diversity: In Conversation with Paulien Geerlings by Rhiannon Ling and Kasia Lech

Paulien Geerlings is the head dramaturg at Amsterdam’s The Toneelmakerij, a theatre company devoted to children and teens. Currently, she serves as the artistic lead of Young Europe IV.  …

SOURCE: thetheatretimes.com at 06:19AM
Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Paul O’Grady, TV presenter and comedian, dies aged 67 by Sian Cain and Agencies

Partner announces ‘unexpected but peaceful’ death of personality who fronted Blind Date, Blankety Blank and was known for his drag persona Lily Savage Paul O’Grady, the beloved TV pres…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:06AM
Wednesday, February 22, 2023

What to See This Spring in NYC: Broadway Shows, Concerts and More by Steven McElroy, Joshua Barone, Siobhan Burke, Jon Pareles, Brian Seibert, Lindsay Zoladz and Roslyn Sulcas

“Life of Pi” and Laura Linney on Broadway, Lise Davidsen at the Met Opera, SZA on tour: Here’s what we’re looking forward to this season.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:00AM
Tuesday, February 7, 2023

The ENTRE Festival in Midwest Brazil by Luis Guilherme Barbosa Dos Santos, Mariana Tagliari, Onira De Ávila Pinheiro Tancrede, Robson Corrêa De Camargo, and Ronei Vieira Nogueira

ENTRE, is a Portuguese verb in the imperative tense that invites us to enter. That says to us: Enter! Entre.Between.Pomiędzy, a festival that took place in Midwest Brazil in 2022, extended …

SOURCE: thetheatretimes.com at 05:23AM
Monday, December 26, 2022

The best theatre, dance and comedy tickets to book for 2023 by Arifa Akbar, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

Danny Boyle’s Matrix-inspired spectacular opens in Manchester, Succession star Brian Cox returns to the stage and standups Maisie Adam, Guz Khan and Catherine Cohen are on tour More from t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:48AM
Friday, December 2, 2022

Here Are the Best Dance Performances of 2022 by Gia Kourlas, Brian Seibert and Siobhan Burke

After a few slow, sad years, the dance calendar returned to something like abundance, with standout shows that leaned into joy and community.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:00AM
Friday, September 16, 2022

Guaranteed income offers stability to formerly incarcerated people by Leslie Hurtado, Brian Young Jr. and City Bureau

Many struggle to find employment because of the stigma of a criminal record. To help, one organization is offering cash. The post Guaranteed income offers stability to formerly incarcerated …

SOURCE: chicagoreader.com at 01:40PM
Wednesday, August 24, 2022

Blues, Jews and Ukrainian ballet: the best theatre, dance and comedy of autumn 2022 by Arifa Akbar, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

Samira Wiley makes her UK stage debut, there’s an urgent counter to antisemitism, plus a fourth King James, refugee dancers and comedic returns Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 09:33AM
Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Edinburgh festival 2022: 50 shows to see by Brian Logan, Mark Fisher and Lyndsey Winship

Phil Wang makes a heroic return, Ian McKellen stars in a balletic Hamlet and Sophie Duker is gleefully carefree. Here are our picks of the festival’s comedy, theatre and dance 20 great Ed…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 06:37AM
Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Edinburgh fringe 2022: 20 theatre, comedy and dance shows you shouldn’t miss by Brian Logan, Catherine Love, Mark Fisher, Anya Ryan, Rachael Healy, Kate Wyver, Claire Armitstead, Arifa Akbar and Lyndsey Winship

In the first of our festival previews, we round up some of the best offerings we’ve already reviewed – including Tim Key, Liz Kingsman, La Clique and Hungry This searing, sweaty disco is…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:48AM
Monday, May 16, 2022

Revenge is sweet: the music, TV and theatre about getting your own back by Jason Okundaye, Jessica Kiang, Miriam Gillinson, Hugh Morris and Sam Jordison

From Shakespeare’s dithering Dane to Desperate Housewives’ steely-eyed Bree, our critics serve up the coldest revenge dishes In Desperate Housewives, when her gay son, Andrew, sleeps wit…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:54AM
Wednesday, March 2, 2022

Ralph Ellison, Songwriter by Bob Kosovsky, Librarian, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Music Division, New York Public Library For The Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center

Ralph Ellison photo portrait seated.  The author Ralph Ellison is inextricably linked to his novel The Invisible Man, now considered a classic of American literature. While his other acti…

SOURCE: The New York Public Library at 03:24AM
Thursday, February 24, 2022

Invisible No More: Julian Work by Bob Kosovsky, Librarian, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Music Division, New York Public Library For The Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center

Julian Work's union stamp for 1948. We in The New York Public Library's Music & Recorded Sound Division are doing what we can to uncover and bring attention to composers from underre…

SOURCE: The New York Public Library at 07:18PM

Celebrating Composers of Color in the Circulating Scores Collection at the Library for the Performing Arts by Anthony McDonald, Librarian/specialist Ii, Music Division, New York Public Library For The Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center

Works  acquired for the circulating collection by Tania León, Alvin Singleton, Jeffrey Mumford, Adolphus Hailstork, Jessie Montgomery, and Florence Price In our continuing efforts to upd…

SOURCE: The New York Public Library at 07:18PM
Monday, December 27, 2021

Theatre, dance and comedy to book in 2022 – from Alan Partridge to Tennessee Williams by Arifa Akbar, Lyndsey Winship and Brian Logan

Amy Adams makes her West End debut, immersive dance confronts mental health and Steve Coogan’s alter ego embarks on a rare live UK tour • Preview more cultural highlights of 2022 Continu…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 03:36AM
Saturday, December 18, 2021

The best theatre, comedy and dance of 2021 by Arifa Akbar, Brian Logan and Lyndsey Winship

It was a year of revivals in every sense, as venues threw open their doors again. From fresh takes on classics to blazing new talents and shows that captured the current moment, our critics …

SOURCE: The Guardian at 01:54AM
Wednesday, December 1, 2021

Best Dance of 2021 by Gia Kourlas, Brian Seibert and Siobhan Burke

A year of uncertainty was capped by a happy ending: a rush of performances this fall, including standouts by masters (Twyla Tharp) and breakout stars (LaTasha Barnes).

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:02AM
Tuesday, September 14, 2021

How Indonesian Young Creative Workers in Yogyakarta Stay Productive Amid the Pandemic by Oki Rahadianto Sutopo, Annisa R Beta, Arian Utomo, Gregorius Ragil Wibawanto, and Novi Kurnia

Danastri Rizqi Nabilah, a filmmaker from Yogyakarta – a city in Indonesia known for its education and art – has no choice but to sell snacks after losing up to 40% of her income during t…

SOURCE: thetheatretimes.com at 02:19AM

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