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69 stories from The Contending

Jack Stokes On the Challenge of Embodying 4 Characters In ‘This Is Not America’ At Edinburgh Fringe [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Jack is Back! Last year, Jack Stokes impressed New York City audiences and critics with his remarkable portrayal of a young British soldier in the WW2-era two hander Shellshocked which perfo…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on July 20, 2026

Nate Mann On Being Drawn Into the Authentic World of ‘Birthright’ [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

In Jonathan Spector’s theatrical masterwork Birthright, currently running at MCC, a sextet of Jewish Americans bonds after a “birthright” trip to Israel in 2006. The epic play follows …

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:45am on July 15, 2026

Stephen Michael Spencer On the ‘Blessing’ of Performing in ‘Music City’ [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

There are gifted singers and gifted actors. The twain doesn’t always meet. Stephen Michael Spencer is a great example of that dynamic artistic collision meeting and melding with his outsta…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:35am on July 11, 2026

Jonathan Spector’s Brilliant New Play ‘Birthright’ Belongs On Broadway by Frank J. Avella

We are coming off a very sad Broadway season for musicals but a fairly strong one for plays. On the off-Broadway front, it was a mediocre season for both. I won’t purport to have seen even…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on July 6, 2026

Andrew Durand On ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ “Wonderment,” “Disappointing” Tony Category Misplacement [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

In the buoyant revival of Richard O’Brien’s The Rocky Horror Show, currently wowing audiences at Studio 54 on Broadway, Tony nominee Andrew Durand takes on the role of Brad Majors, a swe…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:22am on June 28, 2026

‘The Balusters’ Fearless Margaret Colin On The Amazing Cast Of The Tony-Nominated Play [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

You would easily recognize Margaret Colin, perhaps not by name, but she’s appeared in blockbuster films, popular TV shows and celebrated stage productions. Colin is currently wowing audien…

SOURCE: The Contending at 6:16pm on June 4, 2026

‘The Balusters,’ ‘Giant,’ ‘Schmigadoon!’ Win Top Honors at 2026 Dorian Theater Awards by Frank J. Avella

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics kicked off Pride Month by bestowing Prince Faggot and Ragtime top honors in the 2026 Dorian Theater Awards. Radical Off-Broadway sensation …

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:30am on June 1, 2026

Tony Nominee Hannah Cruz On Her Electrifying, Stakes-Raising Turn In ‘Chess’ [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Hannah Cruz enters the Chess stage early in act two, raising the already high stakes and she very near steals the show. For her electrifying work, she’s received a well-deserved Tony nomin…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on May 28, 2026

Emmys 2026: Lena Hall On Ali’s Journey On ‘Your Friends & Neighbors,’ How She Would Direct the Musical ‘Chess’ [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Tony-winner Lena Hall continues to dive deep into the psyche of the singular character of Ali on season two of Apple TV+’s envelope-pushing dramedy Your Friends & Neighbors. Though pla…

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:45am on May 28, 2026

‘Two Strangers’ Tony Nominee Christiani Pitts On Appreciating ‘This Wild Time’ [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

In Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York), Christiani Pitts plays jaded, New Yorker Robin Rainey tasked with picking up her too-excited soon-to-be nephew-in-law, Dougal Todd (Sam Tutt…

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:45am on May 27, 2026

Tony Nominee Sam Tutty On His ‘Two Strangers’ Success, the Surreality Of Awards Season [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Brit born Sam Tutty makes quite the splash in the only original Broadway show to open this past season: Two Strangers (Carry a Cake Across New York). He plays Dougal Todd, an overly eager yo…

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:45am on May 26, 2026

Tony Awards 2026 Predictions: Will It Be A Schmigasweep Or Can ‘The Lost Boys’ Fly Home With Top Honors? by Frank J. Avella

It was a strong year for plays, both new and old, on the Great White Way and a mediocre and slight year for musicals. Period. Let’s hope next season brings a better crop. There are some ti…

SOURCE: The Contending at 1:41pm on May 24, 2026

Tony Nominee Ali Louis Bourzgui On ‘The Lost Boys,’ David’s Queerness [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Anyone who saw The Who’s Tommy performance from the 2024 Tony Awards, experienced just how mesmerizing and magnetic a performer Ali Louis Bourzgui was in the titular role. After that elect…

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:30am on May 14, 2026

‘Schmigadoon!,’ ‘The Lost Boys’ Lead LGBTQ Critics’ Dorian Theater Award Nominations by Frank J. Avella

GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics’ theater wing members announced their favorites in New York theater for the fourth annual Dorian Theater Awards. These awards celebrate t…

SOURCE: The Contending at 1:31pm on May 13, 2026

‘The Balusters’ By David Lindsay-Abaire Caps Broadway Season As Best New Play by Frank J. Avella

Broadway has been playing it safe the last few years. Revivals are plentiful but when it comes to new plays that actually have something to say, sure we get the occasional Purpose or Prayer …

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on May 11, 2026

2026 Tony Nominations Reaction: Lea Michele, Aaron Tveit, Ben Ahlers, ‘Joe Turner,’ Trip Cullman Unjustly Overlooked! by Frank J. Avella

A few surprises with this year’s Tony nominations, but mostly they were pretty much as expected. Best Play and Musical went exactly as predicted. Ditto Revival of a Musical. In the Play Re…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:23am on May 5, 2026

2026 Tony Award Nomination Predictions: The Lost Season…For Musicals by Frank J. Avella

Heading into the May 5th announcement, here’s my take on what and who will be gifted Tony Award nominations, having seen most of the shows in contention. Note that it has been a good year …

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on May 2, 2026

‘The Rocky Horror Show:’ Luke Evans Astounds In Campy, Queer-Tastic Revival by Frank J. Avella

My intro to Rocky Horror was a midnight showing of the film version at the Hyway Theater in Fair Lawn NJ the summer after my senior year in high school. I went with a group that were fans. I…

SOURCE: The Contending at 9:00am on May 1, 2026

Jamie Lloyd’s ‘Evita’ Announces Transfer to Broadway Next Season by Joey Moser

After signs that Evita might transfer to Broadway popped up around New York City in the last 24 hours, it was confirmed today that Jamie Lloyd’s heralded West End production of Andrew Lloy…

SOURCE: The Contending at 1:14pm on April 29, 2026

‘Beau the Musical’ & ‘Mexodus’ Lead 2026 Drama Desk Nominations by Joey Moser

Outstanding Play Caroline, Preston Max Allen Cold War Choir Practice, Ro Reddick Meet the Cartozians, Talene Monahon Prince Faggot, Jordan Tannahill The Balusters, David Lindsay-Abaire The P…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00am on April 29, 2026

‘Schmigadoon:’ Schmigafun! by Frank J. Avella

Like Titanique, Schmigadoon seems to want to capitalize on audience familiarity—not just with the Apple TV series it’s based on but with the old-fashioned Broadway musicals of the past i…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:47am on April 27, 2026

‘Fallen Angels:’ Kelli O’Hara & Rose Byrne, A Fabulous, Hilarious Theatrical Dream Team by Frank J. Avella

Mad & Hell, Mame & Vera, Elphaba & Glinda–one can add to this short list of famous frenemies of stage, the names Julia and Jane, the delightful and dastardly dynamic diva duo i…

SOURCE: The Contending at 5:11pm on April 23, 2026

Trip Cullman: Will Tony Finally Nominate 'Becky Shaw' Director? [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Trip Cullman is one of the most prolific theater directors working today both on and off Broadway as well as in London and regionally. He also happens to be one of the most gifted. The theat…

SOURCE: The Contending at 8:00am on April 20, 2026

'Proof:' Stirring Revival Showcases Powerful Work By Ayo Edebiri & Kara Young by Frank J. Avella

Twenty-five years ago, David Auburn's powerful play, Proof, won both the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The original production, which I found quite moving, starr…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00pm on April 16, 2026

'Titanique:' A Fabulous, Lunatic, Camp Triumph by Frank J. Avella

Full disclosure, I loved Titanique off-Broadway. Saw it twice and reveled in the  unabashed zaniness, the super gay sensibility and the show's refusal to concern itself with hyper-sensiti…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00pm on April 12, 2026
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