All stories by Michael M. Landman-Karny on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Theater Review: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES (Pasadena Playhouse) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

LA CAGE: STRIPPED OF ITS FEATHERS In Sam Pinkleton‘s well-intentioned but ultimately discordant revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Pasadena Playhouse, that old showbiz maxim about the sh…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 03:43PM
Tuesday, November 12, 2024

Concert Review: VENETIAN SPLENDOR: Vivaldi Four Seasons & Gondola Songs (Avi Avital and SF’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra, SoCal Tour: Soka, G by Michael M. Landman-Karny

BRAVO, AVI! As part of a SoCal tour, Israeli Mandolinist Avi Avital and San Francisco’s Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra stopped at at Soka University Concert Hall on Sunday, Nove 10, 2024. …

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:59AM

Theater Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF (starring Jason Alexander at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

JASON ALEXANDER ISN’T FIDDLING AROUND — HIS POIGNANT PERFORMANCE GROUNDS THIS REVIVAL In Lonny Price’s revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Jason Alexander’s performance as Tevye stands o…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:50AM
Monday, October 28, 2024

Theater Review: THE PIANO LESSON (A Noise Within) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A WELL-PLAYED PIANO Though the surface plot of August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson is fairly simple — an estranged brother and sister argue over whether to sell or keep a beautiful piano th…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:56AM
Thursday, September 12, 2024

Theater Review: CYRANO DE BERGERAC (Pasadena Playhouse) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

PLAYWRIGHT MARTIN CRIMP HAS A NOSE FOR UPDATES Martin Crimp’s Cyrano at the Pasadena Playhouse is nothing short of theatrical alchemy. This bold reimagining of Edmond Rostand’s beloved c…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 09:59PM
Wednesday, August 28, 2024

Concert Review: SONDHEIM TONIGHT! A CELEBRATION OF GENIUS (San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

The San Diego Symphony delivered a night of sheer enchantment on Friday, August 23rd, with Sondheim Tonight! A Celebration of Genius. Held at the stunning Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, this con…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:58AM
Friday, August 2, 2024

Theater Review: CREVASSE (Son of Semele and The Victory Theatre Center at Victory Theatre) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A RIVETING TALE OF ART AND IDEOLOGY AT ITS FINEST In Tom Jacobson’s Crevasse, playing at the Victory Center Theatre, the curtain rises on a fractured world where art, love, and propaganda …

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 01:15PM
Tuesday, June 4, 2024

Theater Review: JELLY’S LAST JAM (Pasadena Playhouse) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

MUSIC, MEMORY AND MORTALITY: THE MAGIC OF JELLY’S LAST JAM In the resplendent realm of musical theatre, Jelly’s Last Jam has once again ascended to prominence. Recently produced as a con…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 01:01AM
Monday, June 3, 2024

Theater Review: THE SANDWICH MINISTRY (Skylight Theatre) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

BUILDING BONDS OVER BREAD AND BUTTER In the evocative narrative of Miranda Rose Hall‘s The Sandwich Ministry, — which opened last Saturday at Skylight Theatre — the audience is invited…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 10:05PM
Tuesday, May 21, 2024

Theater Review: MISALLIANCE (A Noise Within in Pasadena) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

UNDERWEAR TYCOONS AND AERIAL INTRUSIONS: THE UNRAVELING COMEDY OF MISALLIANCE So, you stroll into the theater, right? You see this fancy conservatory set up, all English manor-style, and you…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:20AM
Thursday, May 16, 2024

Theater Review: GHOST WALTZ (Latino Theater Company at Los Angeles Theatre Center) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

BRINGING BACK ROSAS’ BLOOM The inaugural presentation of the Latino Theater Company‘s 2024 season, Ghost Waltz stands as a testament to the company’s commitment to groundbreaking theat…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:59AM
Monday, May 6, 2024

Theater Review: GALILEE. 34 (South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

Galilee 34 blends the divine and profane in its exploration of early Christianity Eleanor Burgess, a prolific playwright whose works have graced numerous stages (The Niceties, Wife of a Sale…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:50AM
Friday, May 3, 2024

Album Review: LAINIE KAZAN (Four Remastered Classic ’60s Albums: “Right Now!” [1966], “Lainie Kazan” [1966], “The Love Album” [1967], an by Michael M. Landman-Karny

SHAZAM, KAZAN! So, have you heard? Lainie Kazan‘s 60s tunes are now just a click away on all those streaming sites. We’re talking the kind of songs that make you want to break out in a d…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 09:22PM
Friday, April 26, 2024

Theater Review: JERSEY BOYS (La Mirada Theatre) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

THE BOYS ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER In the never-ending array of jukebox musicals that have lit up Broadway’s vibrant landscape, Jersey Boys shines like a brilliant star. Premiering in …

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:59AM
Monday, April 22, 2024

Theater Review: PRELUDE TO A KISS, THE MUSICAL (World Premiere at South Coast Rep in Costa Mesa) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

WITH A MAGICAL IMBALANCE, THIS KISS IS MORE LIKE A PECK In the world of theater, revivals and adaptations often serve as a bridge between eras, illuminating how the sensibilities of one time…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:50AM
Saturday, April 13, 2024

Dance Review: WOOLF WORKS (American Ballet Theatre – North American Premiere) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

WOOF! WOOLF WORKS WORKS! Virginia Woolf’s novels have had a profound impact on literature, inspiring adaptations in ballet and opera. These adaptations face the unique challenge of capturi…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:58AM
Wednesday, April 10, 2024

Theater Review: FUNNY GIRL (National Tour) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

KATERINA MCCRIMMON IS A BRIGHT NEW FUNNY GIRL  BUT THE TOUR IS LIKE BUS-AND-TRUCK Funny Girl is a captivating musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a renowned comedienne and entertai…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:56AM
Monday, April 1, 2024

Concert Review: A BROADWAY BIRTHDAY: SONDHEIM, LLOYD WEBBER AND FRIENDS! (Segerstrom Concert Hall) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A BITTERSWEET BIRTHDAY In the luminous world of musical theater, two names stand as colossi, casting long shadows across Broadway and the global stage. Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webb…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 01:20PM
Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Los Angeles Theater Review: ONE OF THE GOOD ONES (Pasadena Playhouse) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

CULTURAL COMEDY GOLD, THIS PLAY REALLY IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES In a landscape where minority narratives often revolve around stereotypes of poverty and struggle, One of the Good Ones emerges…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 10:18PM
Tuesday, February 13, 2024

Theater Review: HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH (Chance Theater in Anaheim) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

WIG SNATCHED! 1998 QUEERGENDER MUSICAL STILL SLAYS IN 2024 In the pantheon of (so-called) rock musicals, Hedwig and the Angry Inch holds a distinct and unparalleled position, merging raw ene…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:51AM
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Theater Review: MYSTIC PIZZA THE MUSICAL (La Mirada Theatre; Lesher Center in Walnut Creek; Harris Center, Folsom) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A TASTY SLICE OF 80s NOSTALGIA In the ever-evolving landscape of film-to-stage musical adaptations, the latest entrant Mystic Pizza emerges as a charming addition. Based on the eponymous 198…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 12:09AM
Thursday, February 1, 2024

Dance Review: MATTHEW BOURNE’S ROMEO AND JULIET (North American Premiere, Ahmanson Theatre in L.A.) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

DANCE OF DESPAIR AND DESIRE Sir Matthew Bourne’s Romeo and Juliet, which made its North American premiere at the Ahmanson last night, is a bonafide hit, redefining this classic ballet (bas…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 03:46AM
Monday, January 22, 2024

Theater Review: KATE (Pasadena Playhouse) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

OFFBEAT AND OFF TRACK In the often-unpredictable world of theatrical comedy, Kate Berlant‘s Kate promised to be a groundbreaking foray into the realm of absurdist humor. Yet, in its execut…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 09:30PM
Saturday, January 20, 2024

Theater Review: MERCURY (Road Theatre in North Hollywood) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

ECLIPSING NORMALITY: THE DARK ORBIT OF STEVE YOCKEY’S MERCURY Steve Yockey‘s work in the theatre world undeniably polarizes audiences, eliciting fervent admiration from some and equally …

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 01:46PM
Monday, September 11, 2023

Theater Review: THE SOUND INSIDE (The Pasadena Playhouse in Pasadena) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A HAUNTING SYMPHONY OF SOLITUDE AND CONNECTION Set in the dimly lit confines of a college creative writing class and the private world of its reclusive protagonist, The Sound Inside, which o…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 06:39PM
Tuesday, August 29, 2023

Concert Review: BROADWAY ROMANCE (San Diego Symphony at the Rady Shell) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

On Friday, August 25th, attendees were treated to Broadway Romance, a delightful evening filled with romantic Broadway melodies at the Rady Shell. Situated in the heart of San Diego, Califor…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 02:51AM
Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Theater Review: HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING (Rogue Machine’s L.A. premiere at The Matrix Theatre) by Michael M. Landman-Karny

A HEROIC PRODUCTION Heroes of the Fourth Turning is a riveting and thought-provoking play that delves into the complexities of ideology, faith, and the generational divide in contemporary Am…

SOURCE: stageandcinema.com at 04:53PM

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