All stories by Mark Beech on BroadwayStars

Friday, September 28, 2018

Top London Performing Arts This Week: Shakespearean Stars and Gender Swaps by Mark Beech

Gender-swapping is everywhere on the London stage. This week Stephen Sondheim’s bachelor Bobby becomes a female Bobbi in “Company.” Hayley Atwell and Jack Lowden alternate in the lead …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 12:43PM

Ralph Fiennes Smooches Sparky Cleopatra at National Theatre: Review by Mark Beech

Ralph Fiennes, always a crowd draw, plays a prowling General Mark Antony; Sophie Okonedo is the Egyptian Queen Cleopatra. Fiennes lurks and sulks like a wounded tiger. Okonedo regally flounc…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 09:01AM
Thursday, September 20, 2018

Top New York Performing Arts This Week: Daniel Radcliffe to Last of the SummerStage by Mark Beech

Music still leads New York performing arts this week. Paul Simon follows his Madison Square Garden shows with one last big tour gig, at Corona Park, Flushing Meadows. Central Park SummerStag…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 03:04PM

Top London Performing Arts This Week: Ralph Fiennes to Kylie Minogue by Mark Beech

It is a week of stellar returns for the London stage this week. Ralph Fiennes is back at the National Theatre, this time playing Antony in “Antony and Cleopatra.” Kylie Minogue takes ove…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 01:12PM
Wednesday, September 19, 2018

America, Get Ready as Magic Numbers Head for West Coast: Interview by Mark Beech

America, get ready. The Magic Numbers are heading back. If you don’t know this UK-based, Mercury Prize nominated band, now is a great time to catch up. They have returned with their first …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:15AM
Friday, September 14, 2018

Top London Performing Arts This Week: 50 Cent, “Foxfinder” by Mark Beech

A string of new plays opened this week in London, led by “Foxfinder,” starring Olivier Award-winner Iwan Rheon. Off West End, “The Village,” “Distance” and “An Adventure” are…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 12:42PM

Top New York Performing Arts This Week: Paul Simon Bows Out, David Byrne, “Heartbreak House” by Mark Beech

Music leads our choice of New York performing arts this week. Paul Simon is playing his last big shows in New York before retiring from touring, while David Byrne is returning to the Forest …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 08:57AM
Monday, September 10, 2018

Hard-Hitting “Distance” Is a Powerful Exploration of Suicide: Review by Mark Beech

“Distance” is powerful, hard-hitting, shocking, challenging, thought-proving, bleak, and important, all in one. Alex McSweeney’s play has just premiered at Park Theatre in London.On ev…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 01:58PM
Friday, September 7, 2018

Top New York Performing Arts This Week: Ringo Starr to Last-Chance “Carousel” by Mark Beech

New York’s autumn theater season adds another two shows this week: “Girl From the North Country,” Conor McPherson’s play with Bob Dylan music, and pool-room saga “The Nap.” They …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:47PM

Top London Stage This Week: Pinter at the Pinter, Last Night of Proms, Arctic Monkeys by Mark Beech

London is saying farewell to the Proms for another year with the Last Night and looking forward to a lively autumn season for performing arts.The “Pinter at the Pinter” season is now sta…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:43AM
Thursday, September 6, 2018

“Dance Nation” Takes on American Dreams, Adolescent Nightmares: Review by Mark Beech

“Dance Nation” starts with a wild, tightly-choreographed group dance. Don’t be fooled by this scene, the show’s title and its posters into thinking that this is all about dance, and …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:27AM
Friday, August 31, 2018

Top New York Stage This Week: Major Play Debuts, Laura Pausini, Sun Ra, Hamilton by Mark Beech

This week, New York has two significant plays making their debuts: Theresa Rebeck’s new comedy “Bernhardt/Hamlet” and “The True,” Sharr White’s political satire.Meanwhile, music …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 06:40PM

Top London Performing Arts This Week: Stellar Transfers to Proms by Mark Beech

This week London is about to get some amazing transfers of acclaimed shows, both from New York and Edinburgh.One of New York’s best plays of the past few years, the multi-award-winning “…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:39AM
Thursday, August 30, 2018

Judith Owen Transforms Drake, Ed Sheeran Songs on Album, Tour: Interview by Mark Beech

Judith Owen’s latest album “redisCOVERed” is a superb collection that reinterprets songs by Drake, Ed Sheeran, Joni Mitchell, Paul McCartney and more. Owen radically reworks them as yo…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 09:28AM
Monday, August 27, 2018

Russian “Swan Lake” in London Mixes Tradition, Simmering Passion by Mark Beech

The beauty of “Swan Lake” makes it one of the most crowd-pleasing ballets. Tchaikovsky’s familiar, enchanting music is entertainment enough for some audiences. That’s not even to fac…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 10:31AM
Sunday, August 26, 2018

Top London Stage This Week: Carnival, Dizzee Rascal, Dinosaurs, Swan Lake and Little Voice by Mark Beech

Londoners seeking entertainment in this bank-holiday week are spoiled for choice.Music fans can listen to Dizzy Rascal at the South West Four festival, Britney Spears at the O2 or Bernstein …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 09:15AM

Top New York Stage This Week: Revived “Band’s Visit,” Autumn Lookahead by Mark Beech

The new fall season looms in New York, with a lot to look forward to, including three shows that were big hits in London: “Girl From the North Country,” with Bob Dylan songs; Jez Butterw…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 06:31AM
Wednesday, August 22, 2018

“Little Voice” Sings Her Heart Out in London Revival: Review by Mark Beech

“The Rise and Fall of Little Voice” has become something of a British classic, especially after its film version.It’s been revived many times. If you’ve not seen it, now is a good ti…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 07:43AM
Monday, August 20, 2018

Top Picks and Award Winners From 2018 Edinburgh Fringe: Health to Heroin by Mark Beech

The main batch of awards is coming in this week at the world’s largest arts festival in Edinburgh. It is time for the final part of the BLOUIN ARTINFO pick of the best of 5,000 events scat…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 02:00PM
Friday, August 17, 2018

Top New York Stage This Week: Drake to “Pretty Woman” by Mark Beech

In one of the hottest musical tickets in months, Drake is at Madison Square Garden. “Pretty Woman” is another big seller as the hit movie comes to the New York stage. These are just two …

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 12:16PM

Top London Stage This Week: Britney Spears, Star Seekers, Simon Rattle and Drug Dealers by Mark Beech

London performing-arts events this week include a great variety of music. There’s a hit-packed show by Britney Spears at the O2, Sir Simon Rattle’s Ravel at the BBC Proms and Fatboy Slim…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 06:50AM
Thursday, August 16, 2018

RIP Aretha Franklin: How The Queen of Soul’s Voice Defined and Inspired America by Mark Beech

To get a sense of the passions and talent that drove Aretha Franklin, who has died at the age of 76, you can do little better than listen to her superb 1972 double album “Amazing Grace.”…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 04:44PM
Monday, August 13, 2018

Top Picks From 2018 Edinburgh Fringe and Festival: Angry Alan to Paddington Bear by Mark Beech

The world’s largest arts festival is now midway through its run in Edinburgh, with more information coming in to help choose from 5,000 events scattered over 300 venues. Some productions h…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 11:26AM
Friday, August 10, 2018

Top New York Stage This Week: Summer Stage, ELO, Last-Chance “Clear Day” by Mark Beech

The Center Park’s Summer Stage’s free shows; comedy by Mike Birbiglia; Jeff Lynne’s ELO; serious plays such as the latest by Tracy Letts, “Mary Page Marlowe.” These are just some o…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 08:29AM

Top London Stage This Week: “Little Shop of Horrors” to Art’s House Festival by Mark Beech

As London’s unprecedented heatwave eases, performing arts are preparing for a host of outdoor shows, such as “Little Shop of Horrors” and the Art’s House Festival. “Emilia” is jo…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 06:05AM
Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Top Picks From 2018 Edinburgh Fringe and Festival: Godot to Spike Milligan by Mark Beech

As the world’s largest arts festival continues in Edinburgh, it is getting clearer which shows are among the best of the 5,000 events scattered over 300 venues.The Edinburgh Fringe and Edi…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 03:39PM
Friday, August 3, 2018

Top New York Stage This Week: Shakira, “Mary Page Marlowe” by Mark Beech

Music by Rod Stewart, Shakira and The Breeders; comedy by Mike Birbiglia; serious plays such as the latest by Tracy Letts, “Mary Page Marlowe.” These are just some of the highlights of p…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 11:06AM
Thursday, August 2, 2018

Top London Stage This Week: Last Chance to See Orlando Bloom’s “Killer Joe,” 51st State by Mark Beech

As London’s heatwave continues into August, there are many cool performing-art shows on offer. In music, the BBC Proms this week includes everything from folk to Bernstein, Mahler, Britten…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 09:18PM

Top 5 Picks From 2018 Edinburgh Fringe and Festival by Mark Beech

It’s a tough job for people attending the world’s largest arts festival, which is starting in Edinburgh, to choose from the plethora of 50,000 performances and 5,000 shows scattered over…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 09:16AM
Tuesday, July 31, 2018

Ian McKellen’s Energetic King Lear is Shakespeare Swan Song: Review by Mark Beech

Ian McKellen’s King Lear has predictably got some glowing reviews. Some explanations for this are obvious even before seeing his impressive performance.McKellen always wins deference and a…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 02:34PM
Friday, July 27, 2018

Top New York Stage This Week: Jukebox Musicals, Peculiar Patriots by Mark Beech

New jukebox musicals are opening in New York to strong initial reviews. “Head Over Heels” showcases the music of The Go-Go’s and Belinda Carlisle, while “Smokey Joe’s Cafe” prese…

SOURCE: www.blouinartinfo.com at 04:41PM

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