BWW Review: Beth Malone's SO FAR at Joe's Pub is Adorable and HeartwarmingSeptember 2, 2015Tony Award nominated Beth Malone, currently starring in the Tony Award winning musical Fun Home on Broadway, returned to Joe's Pub this past Monday and took it by storm with her adorable and heartwarming solo cabaret show Beth Malone: So Far. Through songs and often hilarious vignettes about her life, she took audiences on an inspiring journey of discovering her sexuality and proudly owning her true self.
BWW Interview: Ben Perry, Dana Ivgy, and Efrat Aviv Talk Tziporela and ODD BIRDZAugust 27, 2015Hilarious and critically lauded Israeli sketch comedy troupe Tziporela is starting their last two weeks of ODD BIRDZ in New York City today at The Players Theatre. With Tziporela garnering international attention for being so funny, BroadwayWorld sat down with Ben Perry, Dana Ivgy, and Efrat Aviv to learn more about this group of deft comedians.
BWW CD Review: Lea DeLaria's HOUSE OF DAVID is Jazzy GeniusAugust 20, 2015Lea DeLaria's HOUSE OF DAVID serves as a jazz tribute to David Bowie. Each of the twelve tracks has been pristinely arranged by Lea DeLaria. Across the recording, Lea DeLaria pays fascinating homage to David Bowie's original genius while creating wholly original and spellbinding versions of these well-known and beloved tunes.
BWW Review: Jane Lynch Makes 'Em Laugh with SEE JANE SING! at Joe's PubAugust 17, 2015At the top of her show, SEE JANE SING!, Jane Lynch jokes that she always wanted to be the kind of TV celebrity that held an audience hostage for an hour as she dabbled in the art of cabaret. Luckily for us, deft comedienne Lynch surprises the audience by being a fantastic singer, leaving the audience begging her for more encores.
BWW Reviews: I KNOW WHAT BOYS WANT Favors Melodrama Over NuanceJuly 31, 2015New York based theatre company Ego Actus is staging the world premiere of award-winning playwright Penny Jackson's I KNOW WHAT BOYS WANT. The play is a thought provoking cautionary tale that explores the seedy underbelly of cell phone camera surveillance and how once something is shared online, it never truly goes away.
BWW Reviews: NYMF's HELD MOMENTARILY is an Interesting Work in ProgressJuly 28, 2015When I think of NYMF, I typically think of quirky musicals that would otherwise slip through the cracks of mainstream theatre. HELD MOMENTARILY: A NEW MUSICAL, with book, music, and lyrics by Oliver Houser, fits perfectly into this box, and given its previous performance history at 2014's New York International Fringe Festival, that is no surprise.
BWW Reviews: NYMF's SINGLE WIDE is Heartwarming Despite Unintentional CampJuly 28, 2015My favorite thing about attending NYMF is the fact that I truly never know what to expect from the works I see there. Walking into SINGLE WIDE, I was expecting a completely irreverent musical soiree along the lines of David Nehls and Betsy Kelso's THE GREAT AMERICAN TRAILER PARK MUSICAL. Instead, I was treated to a nearly complete project with a heartwarming story that was as wholesome as it was entertaining.
BWW Reviews: Tziporela's ODD BIRDZ is Funny as EverJuly 25, 2015The Birdz are back by popular demand, and they're as funny as ever. Last October, I had the pleasure of reviewing Tziporela's ODD BIRDZ, when the hilarious sketch comedy troupe made their US Debut at New York City's The Player's Theatre. While back with the same show, some bits have been tweaked and expanded. Whether you saw them in 2014 or not, Tziporela's ODD BIRDZ is sure to have you bowled over with laughter.
BWW Reviews: Gregory Nalbone Charms with Uneven THE SOUNDS OF MY HEARTJuly 17, 2015Having appeared on many of New York City's cabaret stages, Gregory Nalbone returns to the Metropolitan Room with The Sounds of My Heart. Directed by Lennie Watts and music direction by Kenneth Gartman, this show showcases Nalbone's baritone register and Pop-Broadway instrument and allows him to bare his soul as he sings some of his and our favorite tunes.
BWW Reviews: Texas Treasure Holland Vavra Flys Audiences to the MoonJuly 15, 2015Last December, Texas treasure Holland Vavra made her 54 Below debut in Cuz We're F#cking Talented, a concert where a handful of artists showed off their skills. Last night, she made a special trip from Houston to premiere her tribute to Frank Sinatra, Holland at the Sands: My Blue Eyed Sinatra. With her own brand of lovable, quirky humor and her golden instrument, Vavra made her solo cabaret debut a delightful spectacle.
BWW Reviews: Migguel Anggelo's I, INMIGRANTE is a Dynamic TreatJuly 7, 2015Recently, Migguel Anggelo returned to Joe's Pub in New York City with an encore performance of his latest concert, I, Inmigrante. Like his pervious concert, Between Dreams / Entre Sueños, the set featured music from both of Anggelo's solo albums, his electrifying energy, his brilliant vocal range, and his unique artistry. Anggelo's latest cabaret is a dynamic treat sewn together with palpable heart and rib-tickling humor.
BWW Interviews: Aiden Leslie Talks Live Out Loud, NYC Pride, and His MusicJune 21, 2015It's summer, which means its time to turn the radios up, dance in the streets, soak up the sun, and enjoy life's journey. That's exactly what New Yorker by way of Ohio Aiden Leslie is doing. With his music climbing the charts, I recently sat down with the popular pop vocalist to chat about his music and LGBTQ advocacy. Aiden Leslie will have a busy NYC Pride Week, and plans to be spreading his dance inducing beats all summer long.
BWW Reviews: THE SHAKESPEAREAN JAZZ SHOW is ElectrifyingJune 22, 2015Summer in New York City is always a great time to brush up on your Shakespeare. It seems there is always some novel way to (re)experience the works of William Shakespeare. Fitting into this idea, Alex Ates and Patrick Greeley's THE SHAKESPEAREAN JAZZ SHOW is a triumphant tour de force that pristinely blends Shakespeare's poetry with a catchy New Orleans jazz beat.
BWW Reviews: WOMEN ARE CRAZY BECAUSE MEN ARE A**HOLES is Comedy Gone WrongJune 15, 2015After a four year run in Los Angeles, Brad T. Gottfred's hit comedy WOMEN ARE CRAZY BECAUSE MEN ARE A**HOLES is running Off-Broadway at New York City's Cherry Lane Theatre. The outlandish comedy is about four couples coming together for a brunch to celebrate the minting of a new couple. With a premise ripe for a fun-filled romantic comedy, it's a shame that the play is such a staggering disappointment.
BWW Interviews: Gabe Bowling and Bryan Langlitz Talk MILLION DOLLAR QUARTETJune 14, 2015MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is a crowd-pleasing favorite of both theater and music fans alike. The vibrant jukebox musical tells the story of the world's most infamous impromptu jam sessions. Filled with toe-tapping hits and tons of heart, I chatted with Gabe Bowling (Carl Perkins) and Bryan Langlitz (Sam Phillips) about the spirited musical.
BWW Reviews: THE TOXIC AVENGER Spreads Hot Toxic Love at 54 BelowJune 10, 2015The Toxic Avenger, based on Lloyd Kaufman's character and film by the same name and winner of the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Off-Broadway Musical, returned to New York City on Monday night for a special one-night-only concert reunion at 54 Below. Following a critically acclaimed run at The Alley Theatre in Houston, TX, the quirky musical about a New Jersey based radioactive mutant superhero may have its sights set on Broadway.