Theater in the City of Angels by Cara Joy David

L.A. is not exactly known as a theater town, but there are worthy things to see in the area. My last trip just happened to coincide with the opening of Jane Anderson's The Escort.

Easy Reader: Simon Callow's <i>My Life in Pieces</i> Just the Superb Ticket for Theater Lovers by David Finkle

Well before British actor Simon Callow decided to become an actor, he determined he wanted to be a writer. Now he's combined both talents to write a truly outstanding book about the theater.

Channel Surfer: Why Cowell-Less <i>American Idol</i> Is New, Improved, Better Than Ever by David Finkle

The reality talent show -- which under Simon Cowell searched relentlessly for the next big pop star, according to the man's definition -- is no longer blindered to other musical genres.

Let There Be New Shows by Cara Joy David

We're heavy into the spring season. The flowers are blooming. Flops are already being declared (that's you, Catch Me If You Can), and I'm in the mood to look ahead to this year's Tony Award …

Seaworthy "Anything Goes;" Heavenly "Divine Sister" by Michael Giltz

It's hard to go wrong with a sturdy musical theater vessel like the Cole Porter classic Anything Goes. But the Roundabout comes close with the mildly pleasant revival currently on Broadway, …

First Nighter: Stephen Adly Guirgis's Play, <em>The Motherf**ker With the Hat</em>, Earns Its Broadway Asterisks by David Finkle

Language has failed -- that's Guirgis's story and he's gallantly sticking to it. This modern rom-com is to be greatly admired, enjoyed and seriously pondered after the final fade-out.

First Nighter: <em>Upstairs Downstairs</em> Makes Sparkling PBS Return by David Finkle

Those <em>Upstairs Downstairs</em> purveyors have woven their now chilling, now heart-warming, now belly-laughs-inducing intrigues into a tapestry worthy of hanging next to the f…

First Nighter: Robin Williams Broadway-Bows in Rajiv Joseph's Toothless Play by David Finkle

Robin Williams has made his Broadway debut at last. This is a very good thing. The very bad thing is that he arrives in <em>Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo</em>, a decidedly th…

The Fall That Was by Cara Joy David

This fall I was puzzled by quite a few things on Broadway. I didn't foresee Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson tumbling so quickly. It had no stars, but neither did Spring Awakening.

First Nighter: <em>South Park</em>'s Trey Parker and Matt Stone Cheerfully Commit The Book of Mormon to Broadway by David Finkle

The production is hardly a surprise attack by the nose-thumbing partners. It could be said they're going after Christianity as a whole with the appearance of a slang-spouting Jesus in a lust…

First Nighter: City Center Encores! Series Where's Charley? All-Singing, All-Dancing, All-Lovable by David Finkle

A Strategy You Can Hum: Why People Fall Into the Trap of Ignoring Strategic Principles by Matt Cohen

Stephen Sondheim wrote a beautiful song that provides a great lesson in how to think strategically. (It's kind of like Schoolhouse Rock for business majors.) In addition to its many artistic…

First Nighter: Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Turns Off the Past by David Finkle

<em>Spider-Man</em> exemplifies a larger story -- the transformation of the Great White Way from a collection of buildings dedicated to advancing the art of theater to nothing le…

Peter Pan Crows Again With Disney Magic, Off-Broadway by James Sims

Peter Pan and his band of Lost Boys never fail to spark curiosity, among adults as much as children. Now, an Off-Broadway production has brought Peter back to life in an entirely unique way.

Can The Man Behind The Boy From Oz Save Spidey? Don't Wish Too Hard by Cara Joy David

A major problem with Spider-Man is that the scenes are mis-punctuated. This is a problem with much of Taymor's work: She creates visually stunning pictures, but often character development s…

First Nighter: Kurt Elling Fools Around With Time at Birdland by David Finkle

Whenever I hear Kurt Elling, I'm reminded of firsts, the shock of the suddenly and compellingly new. His approach to a song is all that -- previously unexplored, unfamiliar.

First Nighter: A. R. Gurney's Black Tie Diverts as it Disappoints by David Finkle

First Nighter: Brooke Shields Reviews Her Life at Feinstein's at Loews Regency by David Finkle

What she wants the world to understand is that she did have a happy childhood. She isn't the hard-bitten survivor her publicized past might suggest.

We're All Mad Here by Cara Joy David

It's often said that going too far down the rabbit hole may not be a good idea. One wonders if that is just what the producing team behind Wonderland has done.

Ben Vereen Reflects on His Career Before Playing the Town Hall by James Sims

It seems fitting that Ben Vereen's performance debut at New York's The Town Hall is taking place as lawmakers in Washington are debating the issue of federally funded arts programs.

First Nighter: Steve Ross's Brilliant Oak Room Take on Romance and Rhythm Then and Now by David Finkle

Steve Ross -- currently the undisputed monarch of Manhattan cabaret -- is currently performing his own "Rhythm & Romance" in New York City through February 12.

First Nighter: Dmitri Hvorostovsky in Met's Ravishing Simon Boccanegra by David Finkle

During the first night of this season's Metropolitan Opera revival of the 1995 Giancarlo del Monaco production, the cast followed some straight-forward advice with prodigious rewards.

Broadway's Web-Slinging Troublemaker by Cara Joy David

Broadway is mired in tradition -- for instance, there are no reviews prior to opening night. In light of the Spider-Man debacle, I have been wondering whether this tradition is somewhat frau…

First Nighter: Ibsen's<i> John Gabriel Borkman </i>Unleashes Acting Blizzard by David Finkle

<em>John Gabriel Borkman</em> is one of the rarely revived Ibsen works, which may be a reason to see it now. On the other hand, this treatment won't serve as a strong argument f…

First Nighter: Jon Robin Baitz's "Other Desert Cities" is Red-Hot by David Finkle