After 20-odd years singing, dancing and acting in dinner theatres, summer stocks and the ever-popular audience participation murder mysteries (try improvising with audiences after they?ve had two hours of open bar), Michael Dale segued his theatrical ambitions into playwriting. The buildings which once housed the 5 Off-Off Broadway plays he penned have all been destroyed or turned into a Starbucks, but his name remains the answer to the trivia question, "Who wrote the official play of Babe Ruth's 100th Birthday?" He served as Artistic Director for The Play's The Thing Theatre Company, helping to bring free live theatre to underserved communities, and dabbled a bit in stage managing and in directing cabaret shows before answering the call (it was an email, actually) to become BroadwayWorld.com's first Chief Theatre Critic. While not attending shows Michael can be seen at Citi Field pleading for the Mets to stop imploding. Likes: Strong book musicals and ambitious new works. Dislikes: Unprepared celebrities making their stage acting debuts by starring on Broadway and weak bullpens.
BWW Reviews: HERE LIES LOVE, One of 2013's Best Musicals, Returns to The Public
May 3, 2014
May 3, 2014
Alex Timbers, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim offer an innovative and exhilarating look at Imelda Marcos.
BWW Reviews: TONY N' TINA'S WEDDING Celebrates its Silver Anniversary
May 1, 2014
May 1, 2014
The hilarious audience interaction comedy hits Times Square in a terrific new production.
BWW Reviews: A Princely Revival of CABARET
April 29, 2014
April 29, 2014
The Sam Mendes/Rob Marshall revival extends the daring nature of the Harold Prince original.
BWW Reviews: Dramatic Peaks are a Far Climb Away in ANNAPURNA
April 27, 2014
April 27, 2014
Sharr White's comedy/drama about an estranged couple's reunion offers little that's new.
BWW Reviews: CASA VALENTINA Is What It Is
April 25, 2014
April 25, 2014
Harvey Fierstein's first non-musical play on Broadway in 27 years gives a history lesson on cross-dressing straight men.
BWW Reviews: Hyper-Gender Glam Rock Goes Family Friendly in HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH
April 24, 2014
April 24, 2014
With the exception of Bertolt Brecht plays and Robert Mapplethorpe photographs, there's not a subversive work of art that doesn't eventually get accepted as nostalgic family friendly fun.
BWW Review: Parsons and Spinella Clash in THE VELOCITY OF AUTUMN
April 22, 2014
April 22, 2014
Sometimes, all you have to do to get a laugh is have the curtain rise on Estelle Parsons in a room full of Molotov cocktails.
BWW Reviews: THE CRIPPLE OF INISHMAAN Makes Comedy of Cruelty
April 21, 2014
April 21, 2014
Martin McDonagh's peculiar dark comedy finally gets to Broadway via Michael Grandage's engaging transfer.
BWW Reviews: VIOLET is an Underappreciated Musical Gem
April 20, 2014
April 20, 2014
Sutton Foster gives her best Broadway performance in Leigh Silverman's superlative production.
BWW Reviews: Red Bull's THE MYSTERY OF IRMA VEP Could Use More Ridiculousness
April 20, 2014
April 20, 2014
The charm of the revival is no match for the original's subversiveness.
BWW Reviews: ACT ONE Really Picks Up In Act Two
April 18, 2014
April 18, 2014
James Lapine's adaptation of Moss Hart's classic autobiography is a love letter to Broadway.
BWW Reviews: Shapiro Gives OF MICE AND MEN a Classic Treatment
April 17, 2014
April 17, 2014
Anna D. Shapiro's heartbreaking production sets Steinbeck's intimate drama among cold and merciless images.
BWW Reviews: Facts Are Subjective in THE LIBRARY
April 16, 2014
April 16, 2014
Scott Z. Burns' tense and effective drama shows public opinion formed by a competitive media.
BWW Reviews: McDonald Mesmerizes in LADY DAY AT EMERSON'S BAR AND GRILL
April 13, 2014
April 13, 2014
There's a lady on stage, and not only is she an entrancing singer, but she's one hell of an actor.
BWW Reviews: Stroman Knocks 'Em Dead with BULLETS OVER BROADWAY
April 12, 2014
April 12, 2014
Ladies and gentleman, Susan Stroman is back.
BWW Reviews: Ives' Verse Play THE HEIR APPARENT is Divinely Silly
April 9, 2014
April 9, 2014
David Ives' new version of Regnard 1708 French comedy is written in nimbly penned rhyming couplets.
BWW Reviews: Clarke's THE THREEPENNY OPERA Stays Too Perpendicular
April 8, 2014
April 8, 2014
Despite some fine contributions, Martha Clarke's mounting lacks sexual spark and rebellious edge.
BWW Reviews: Will Eno Hits Broadway with THE REALISTIC JONESES
April 7, 2014
April 7, 2014
The divisive playwright's most accessible piece comes off as a Neil Simon attempt at absurdism.
BWW Reviews: THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Is Sublimely Sung and Acted
April 6, 2014
April 6, 2014
Encores! serves up Frank Loesser's superb score with a 38 piece orchestra and an excellent cast.
BWW Reviews: Kenny Leon's Sterling Second Go at A RAISIN IN THE SUN
April 4, 2014
April 4, 2014
If Kenny Leon would like to keep on mounting productions of Lorraine Hansberry's riveting classic every decade I'd be most happy to go see them all.
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