Walmartopia: Put On A Happy FaceAugust 28, 2006The customer may come first at Wal-Mart, but according to the authors of this musical satire, that privilege often comes at the expense of employees and the community
Seven Guitars: Sweetly StrummedAugust 26, 2006August Wilson's bluesy drama receives a completely captivating Off-Broadway revival from The Signature Theatre Company.
The Fantasticks: Welcome Back, Old FriendAugust 24, 2006Once again, large squares of multi-colored confetti are being tossed into the air by a young man who doesn't speak, and a terrible void left in New York's theatrical universe has been lovingly filled with the poetry, humor, romance and whimsy of Tom Jones' words and Harvey Schmidt's music.
Danny Boy: Dating GamesAugust 18, 2006Marc Goldsmith's smart, funny and touching urban romantic comedy explores the dating life of a single, intelligent, professional, four foot tall New Yorker
The Fartiste: Art Isn't EasyAugust 15, 2006A musical based on the on the true story of a man who made his living by farting for audiences never goes beyond the obvious jokes
Indian Blood: Shuffling OffAugust 11, 2006A.R. Gurney's new play, based on his own 1940's Buffalo youth, is both a charming piece of nostalgia and a sharp commentary on the shrinking significance of the community that raised him
Into The Weeds: Bloomin' CleverAugust 10, 2006This collection of songs by Bill Weeden is a welcome throwback to the type of simple, sophisticated musical revues featuring clever, intelligent lyrics that used to provide fizzy nightcaps for post-theatre crowds
Sticky Girls: Reality BitesAugust 7, 2006Linda Evans' attempted spoof of reality talk shows has all of the edge and wit of one of those time-filling sketches that take up the last fifteen minutes of an episode of <i>Saturday Night Live</i>
No Child...: A Captive AudienceJuly 28, 2006Nilaja Sun's completely absorbing and exceptionally performed solo play, based on her experiences teaching in some of New York's toughest public schools, is easily one of the best offerings currently available in any New York theatre
River Deep: What's Dramaturgy Got to Do With It?July 15, 2006When Gabrielle Lansner's dancers shimmy and go-go to Philip Hamilton's rock and roll score, <i>River Deep</i> has a vibrant and nostalgic energy. It's when the music stops that the production gets messy.
Faith Healer: Who Can I Turn To?July 5, 2006The three mesmerizing performers in the Broadway revival of Brian Friel's <I>Faith Healer</I> must perfect the tricky business of not only playing their own roles, but inventing the scene partner with whom they share the stage
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.