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Artistic, musical, creative, and entertaining topics of art about all things Beat and Music.
"Crazy Meshugga Hurricane Earthquake"
"Crazy Meshugga" at the Theater for the New City is what I would call a "Claude Solnick" special. Solnick writes for TNC and is a in house writer in residence. Like Amy Coleman, Claude Solnick too is a run on sentence. Is there something in the water at Crystal Fields woke theater?
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
"The Seach for Signs of Intelligent Life in The Universe"
"The Search for Signs of Intelligent Life in The Universe" at The Shed is almost two plays' in one. We get Trudy the bag lady who makes clever, and at times hysterical observations of the society around her. She has the sticky post it's in her raincoat lining to prove it. Then we get the other eleven roles which includes sullen teen punk Agnus Angst; the feminist activists Edie, Lyn and Marge; and the wealthy posh Kate. Their scenes are interwoven by the character of Trudy, an enlightened vagrant who believes she is in communication with aliens. In 1986 "Signs" starred Lilly Tomlin and her performance won her a Tony for best actress in a play. Directed by John Bailey, the play would run for 391 performances and would tour for much longer throughout the United States. The play would be made into a film in 1991 and later would have a Broadway revival from 2000- 1.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
"Diana" and "Cheek to Cheek" Reviews.
"Diana" The Tale of Two Musicals. "Diana" at Longacre Theatre has one good Act and one bad one. In what has really good costumes by William Ivey Long, and not just Diana's costumes but also the Ensemble cast as well as Charles and the Queens and most everyone else who graced the stage. The scenic design by David Zinn was also catchy and lively as was the lighting by Natasha Katz.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
Why Taylor Swifts Short Film "All Too Well" Is A Masterpiece. Top Story - November 2021.
You waited for it. It's finally here. And admit it...you bawled your eyes out. This is me listening to the extended version of one of my all time favorite Taylor Swift songs for the first time and somehow, as a gift from the universe, there is a short film written and directed by the musical goddess herself to accompany my first listen.
By Lizzy Gabrick4 years ago in Beat
"War Words.
"War Words". Shit Happens. And Then You Drive On. As the audience listens to Gimme Shelter by "The Rolling Stones" the stage reading actors rise as one and march up and around the platform that each will read from at several points in the evening and to their chairs. Director Justin Reinsilber (who was just made artistic director at NY Rep which put this performance on) tried to make this seem edgy; it seemed to staged and robotic, however. "War Words" which was performed for one night in New York City and will perform this Thursday in Los Angels, is written by award-winning playwright Michelle Kholos Brooks. Brooks won the Susan Glaspell Award for "Hitler's Tasters as well as Festival Fringe Edinburgh for "Hitler's Tasters" Her play, "War Words" takes us through the different lives of different soldiers' of different theaters of the military. Throughout the evening we are given many fact:"0.5% of the entire population here serve in the military; that most soldier's feel the call to serve, rather than being drafted; that IED's kill more soldiers and property than anything else combined.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
Theater Review.
Inline image "Mrs. Warren's Profession" at Theater 2 (The Kirk Theater) at Theater Row is one of George Bernard Shaw's most controversial works: it was frowned upon at the time of Shaw's play for a woman to own and run a business. One would have thought that it would be more of a stir up that the play's plot was that Mrs. Warren ran a brothel. The Gingold Theatrical Group uses Mr. Shaw's writing to help promote freedom of speech and creates theater to further the cause of supporting human rights. To Gingold, Shaw was a humanitarian and as such they continue to produce works like: "Major Barbara" and "Widower's Houses".
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
"Lackawanna Blues"
"Lackawanna Blues" at MTC is a one man show written, directed and starring Rueben Santiago-Hudson. The shows nexus is based on his life and the people that he knew in Lackawanna, New York growing up there. The writer is passionate about this play and he gives it his all. Set in the backdrop of a once industrial building (looked like an old textile plant), Michael Carnahan gives his set a feel of a town that was once vibrant as Lackawanna once was. Santiago-Hudson never really tells us just what happened to his town, if anything. He is also not very clear in what years things happen in his life. He paints broad strokes about Jackie Robinson and the 1973 Supreme Court case on segregation. Other than a few mentions, however, he never really paints the picture of what was happening in America as he went along in this ninety minute intermission less play.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
"Caroline, Or Change.
"Caroline, Or Change at Studio 54 has many good things going for it: singers with big voices and wide ranges who make the most of the songs that they are given to sing; Ann Yee's choreography is entertaining for the most part, sans the camp, however, the best part about "Caroline" is the sets and costumes which are both by Fly Davis. A close second is the orchestrations by Rich Bassett and Buryl Red. In these two, the evening was enjoyable in how the music flowed as well as how Fly Davis's interpretation of this musical with its gregarious outfits continuously surprised throughout the musicals two and a half hours. Jack Knowles who did the lighting also made the most in keeping the audience entertained... he was at times circus like, at other times we had a sultry feel to the performance. The lighting was often in toto with the action, from the Jazzy feel of Lake Charles, Louisiana in the year 1963. The entire play takes place in just two months of that year, November- December.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
10 Indian Singers Whose Inspiring Journeys.....
1. Kailash Kher Kailash Kher is one of the most inspiring self-made singers of our country. He left home at the age of 7-8 in search of a guru and learned music from around 15 teachers. During his struggling days, he used to spend the night at cheap residences, hostels, and railway stations. His first big break was the song “Rabba Ishq Na Hove” from the movie Andaaz.
By sanju unique 4 years ago in Beat
"The Lehman Trilogy"
Ominously the first scene is Lehman Brothers being gutted by the U.S. Treasury and The Fed in 2008. In the very next scene, Henry Lehman arrives at Ellis Island from Rimpar, Germany and sets his new course in America. That is the beginning of the exquisite play, "The Lehman Trilogy" at the Nederlander Theatre that opened October 14th. Without Ben Miles, the original Emanuel Lehman when the show played at the Armory, the show thrives still. In three parts, we are taken for a journey in the Lehman's family history. Henry Lehman being the first to come to America, then Emmanuel and later Mayer. Not without argument, the three plod along selling fabrics and suits in Alabama. Steadfast to their German past and their Jewish roots, the three are able to make it through insightfulness and hard work.
By Robert M Massimi. ( Broadway Bob).4 years ago in Beat
