288 stories by "Elyse Trevers"
It 's hard to enjoy a musical when you can't root for the main character. Although he is attractive and good to his mother, Harry Bogen (well-played by Santino Fonana,) is an opportunist, a …
One man's trash is another man's treasure and that adage has never proven as true as in Theresa Rebeck's new play "I Need That" in Roundabout Theatre Company's production at American Airline…
Photo by Billy Bustamante, Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman When I first saw "Here Lies Love" in 2013 at the Public Theater, I was one of several people who stood on the theater floor and m…
photo by Liz Lauren The title of Rebeca Gilman's latest play, "Swing State," suggests that it deals with politics. Although it is set in Wisconsin, which is a swing state, the different ideo…
So much has been written about Shakespeare over the years that it's a challenge to find a novel approach to discuss his work. Yet actor Patrick Page ("Hadestown," "Spider-man Turn Off the Da…
photo by Matthew Murphy Getting married and becoming an American citizen are two events in Jaja's life. However, "Jaja's African Hair Braiding" by Jocelyn Bion is more universal than that. I…
It's been over 60 years since "Purlie Victorious" played on Broadway. Written by actor Ossie Davis and premiering in 1961, sadly the play feels as relevant as when it first opened. Deftly di…
The name Dracula always evokes iconic images of the fang-baring scary creature dressed in black. Think Bela Lugosi. Or the Count. Or even the incredibly sensual heartthrob portrayal by Frank…
The Off-Broadway show Pay The Writer at The Pershing Square Signature Center asks what it costs a writer to pursue his art. It focuses on Cyrus Holt (Ron Canada,) a celebrated author coming …
Photo by Hugo Glendinning Broadway tickets can be expensive, especially for musicals. But you really get your money's worth when you attend "Back to the Future:The Musical." It's got glitter…
It's been almost 50 years since the release of the movie Jaws. Directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975, it was based on the 1974 novel by Peter Benchley and starred Roy Scheider as a police chi…
photo by Joan Marcus If you don't keep your eyes fixed on the stage at The Hayes Theater at all times during "The Cottage," you are likely to miss some of the show's most humorous moments. T…
Once upon a time, children were raised on fairy tales where the beautiful princess waited to be rescued by the valiant handsome prince. Today those stories have been changed to reflect a dif…
Ever heard of Alan Freed? If so, then you might enjoy Rock & Roll Man, the musical at New World Stages. Freed was the risk-taking disc jockey who coined the term "Rock and Roll" but his …
photo by Ahron R. Foster Based upon the 1962 movie starring Jack Lemon and Lee Remick, Days of Wine and Roses is now a musical at Atlantic Theater Company, starring the divine Kelli O'Hara a…
The world is so chaotic that sometimes all a viewer wants is a slice-of-life story with a happy ending. Primary Trust, the new play by Eboni Booth, a Roundabout Theatre Company production at…
By definition, the legal term prima facie means the first impression, accepted as correct until proven otherwise. The theatrical term Prima Facie refers to an exciting one-woman play starrin…
Despite its seemingly unsophisticated vibe, Shucked is an extremely polished, well-crafted musical. After all, the show is directed by Jack O'Brien (Hairspray, Full Monty, Porgy and Bess, In…
I am a native New Yorker, and I honestly love NYC. Although I know the city has its many flaws, I will defend it against all comers. Yet I cringed at the rosy 'melting-pot' version of the ci…
There's a fine line between satire and silliness, and "The Thanksgiving Play" crosses that line too often. Playwright Larisa Fasthorse takes shots at well-meaning, naive white people trying …
Sometimes performers are so good at their roles that they become forever identified with that part. For many, Sean Hayes will always be Jack on television's "Will and Grace," kooky, egocentr…
The last time I saw "Sweeney Todd," it was as a barebones production of 10 performers, including Patty Lupone and Michael Cerveris. Each performer even played an instrument, and the show was…
I had such high hopes for the revival of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot at Lincoln Center Theater this season. The music was a known quantity- glorious, lush and romantic. The title song had bec…
Some of my favorite theater moments have come when something unexpectedly went wrong onstage. Alan Bates caught a picture falling off the wall and ad libbed about poor housekeeping. Faith Pr…
photo by Matthew Murphy The real stars of the show "Life of Pi" are puppets: a hyena, a zebra, an orangutan and a 450 pound Royal Bengal tiger. Although animated by skilled puppeteers who ma…
