970 stories by "Michael Portantiere"
What's the most politically significant date in American theater history? You'll often get one of two answers (or both) to that question: May 10, 1849, the night of the so-called Astor Place…
Millies, Tevyes, Adelaides, and Jean Valjeans from around the country did their stuff onstage at the Minskoff Theater on Monday evening, June 1 as the 62 young men and women nominated for th…
Back in the day, the title role in the wildly popular Jerry Herman musical Hello, Dolly! was played on Broadway and elsewhere by almost every major female stage (and/or screen) star of a cer…
Now he has gone from flying high over the city of Metropolis to ruling the undersea world as King Triton in the new production of The Little Mermaid that begins performances this week at the…
For many of us who can barely walk and chew gum at the same time, professional dancers seem to be rare, very talented birds indeed -- and they are. But, of course, they're actually human bei…
There's an honorable tradition of excellent plays based on the lives of historical characters, but also a dishonorable tradition of works in which the writers were unable to limn the lives o…
Triple-threat Shonn Wiley has all sorts of credits in all sorts of venues, but even if you were to chart his career only in terms of his participation in the City Center Encores! series of s…
Photo slideshow by Michael Portantiere.
In the February 2013 issue of Opera News, director Michael Mayer offered a lengthy explanation of why he chose not to set his new production of Verdi's Rigoletto for the Metropolitan Opera i…
Janis Paige was supposed to play Feinstein's last spring, and I had the pleasure of interviewing her via telephone in advance of that planned appearance. But then she was injured in a fall a…
I can think of at least three major Men(c)kens, each notable in his own way. There was H.L. Mencken, the brilliant journalist-essayist-critic who gained great fame during the first half of t…
Excellent word of mouth, not to mention Rimalower's own tireless efforts to promote the show, has caused it to be extended again and again at the Duplex, and he has begun to take it on the r…
[H]er upcoming concert at The Town Hall on Saturday March 9 ... has a good chance of being one of the most exciting events of the spring season here in New York City.
The tragedy of suicide resulting from anti-gay bullying is eminently worthy of theatrical treatment. . . .
Andreas has also been a sparkling presence on the cabaret scene over the past several years, and she's now making her debut at the beautifully appointed, excitingly booked, superbly well man…
If an actor works almost constantly, it's a given that that he's held in high esteem by directors and other colleagues. Case in point: Andrew Samonsky, who has made his mark in several produ…
If an actor works almost constantly, it's a given that that he's held in high esteem by directors and other colleagues. Case in point: Andrew Samonsky, who has made his mark in several notab…
The novel La dame aux camélias (1848), by Alexandre Dumas fils, is best known to most people through two of its many adaptations: Giuseppe Verdi's opera La traviata (1853), much b…
How versatile a performer is Christine Ebersole? Let's count the ways. Many people first became aware of her from her work as a sketch comedian on Saturday Night Live. On Broadway, she has p…
"I don't think I've ever admitted that I was over 50!" Coming from almost any other 81-year-old, that sentence might be taken with huge skepticism. But when Mitzi Gaynor says it, you know sh…
Sparkle!, a starry holiday concert masterminded by Scott Nevins, brought gladness and cheer to the audience that assembled at XL Cabaret on Monday, December 17 for the one-night-only event. …
Sparkle!, a starry holiday concert masterminded by Scott Nevins, brought gladness and cheer to the audience that assembled at XL Cabaret on Monday, December 17 for this one-night-only event.…
The 24th annual Gypsy of the Year competition, held at the New Amsterdam Theatre, raised $3,902,608 to support the good works of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year's event culminat…
The 24th annual Gypsy of the Year competition, held at the New Amsterdam Theatre, raised $3,902,608 to support the good works of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. This year's event culminat…
The great composer Alan Menken was honored by Encompass New Opera Theatre on Sunday, October 21 at the National Arts Club in a celebration that featured memorable performances of his songs, …
