Saturday, July 22, 2023

Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death by Michael Portantiere

Original Broadway Cast, 1971 (A&R, 2LPs; no CD) Onstage, this piece by Melvin van Peebles was intensely theatrical; I was actually frightened when cast member Minnie Gentry looked straig…

SOURCE: castalbumreviews.com at 07:06PM
Saturday, September 3, 2022

A Labor Day Salute to Stage Managers by Jan Simpson

Monday is Labor Day, which means that it’s time for my annual tribute to some of the people whose labor makes the theater we all love work. I’ve been doing this for 15 years now and I ca…

SOURCE: Broadway & Me at 02:43PM
Thursday, June 2, 2022

50 YEARS AGO ON BROADWAY by Ron Fassler

During the height of my teenage theatergoing years, which occurred between 1969 and 1973, I was never happier than when I would pore over the New York Times’ ABC’s Directory in order to …

SOURCE: ronfassler.medium.com at 11:46AM
Sunday, January 30, 2022

‘Brothers and sisters getting their groove on’: Melvin Van Peebles’ house-party musical by Chris Wiegand

Known for his pioneering blaxploitation cinema, the late film director also created Don’t Play Us Cheap, a goofy but soul-stirring Broadway hit that should not be forgotten When Melvin Van…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:54PM
Tuesday, January 18, 2022

Playwright and Theatre Professor Paul Carter Harrison Dies at 85

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that playwright and theatre professor, Paul Carter Harrison, has died at 85.While teaching at California State University, Sacramento (1970–1972), Harr…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:22AM
Friday, August 6, 2021

Broadway Veteran Actor Arthur French Has Died at Age 89

French's many Broadway credits include The Trip To Bountiful, Dividing The Estate, Mule Bone, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Design For Living, You Can’t Take It With You, Death Of A Salesman…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:57AM
Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Don’t Play Us Cheap by Michael Portantiere

Original Broadway Cast, 1972 (Stax, 2LPs) This Melvin Van Peebles musical is as different from his earlier Ain’t Supposed to Die a Natural Death as it could be. Though plotless, the earlie…

SOURCE: castalbumreviews.com at 12:27PM

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