"Empire"

Both Broadway and off Broadway have turned to period pieces and history pieces as of late; good examples are "Lenimpika" and "Suffs". In "Empire", the musical is based on what is the most beautiful building ever built, the Empire State Building in New York City.

This musical surprised me to the upside... it did not receive either critical, nor audience acclaim when it opened, however, it is worth going to see.

The musical treats us to a really great set (looks a lot like an art studio with all its clutter). Walt Spangler deftly has the back of the stage doubling as both a neat subway exit and a platform for multi purposes where the actors under superb direction by Cady Huffman are able to use the space creatively. The music by Sherman & Hull and the choreography by Lorna Ventura make "Empire" a pleasant show to watch.

While the cast doesn't really have any big names, they blend and act well together. Kaitlyn Davidson as Frances Wolodsky commands her role as well as the stage. She is the go-to woman behind the scenes that gets this behemoth built. Paul Salvatoriello as Al Smith and Albert Guerzon as Charles Kinney give us the push-pull effect on getting the 102 story building built on time. Public perception is everything and both the Governor and Mayor need to put a positive spin on this depression era where spending has all but dried up.

On top of the pleasant songs, what really sticks out is the lighting by Jamie Roderick. In using bigger light fixtures in this musical, Roderick washes the stage with brilliant periwinkle purples, orangish reds that lock in the actors, the set and the costumes (Tina McCartney costumes). Roderick is brilliant here with the lighting structure, especially in the more edgy dance numbers that Lorna Ventura puts forth for the audience to relish in. The sound too by Shannon Slaton gives a nice undercurrent throughout. The musical has its macabre moments where death is inevitable, Slaton brings the emotion front and center with temperament of the situation at hand.

At two hours and thirty minutes, the actors have a lot to say, and they say and sing it well. The musical never lags: the first act, which is an hour and a half flies by because the plot has so much to say with a nice compliment of music. The second act which is much shorter rounds out the stronger first act.

"Empire" at New World Stages is enjoyable and it is recommended.

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Next up is Six Characters at the Claire Tow Theatre at Lincoln Center. It will be interesting to see if they keep it to tradition,or if they bring it into the modern. The Tow, as well as the other two theater's at Lincoln Center have been more progressive in the last few years; some of it works, most of it doesn't. This year, as well as next, has some interesting plays coming to the Center and it will be curious to see how the direction goes and in what direction the plays move in.

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This summer season continues into August with "Once Upon A Mattress" at the Hudson Theatre in previews. Later this summer two more will open, one with Patti LuPone and the other at Theatre 555. The fall season is also shaping up to be a good one with a full compliment of both plays and musicals coming to the "Great White Way".

Broadway, Hollywood, Patti LuPone, "Alladin", "Harry Potter", "Back To The Future", "Othello", Tony Awards, New York City, Bryant Park, off Broadway, Theater, Obie Awards.