Review: Charles Busch's MY LEADING LADIES Lights Up 54 BelowMarch 22, 2025What makes Charles such a mesmerizing performer isn’t just that he sings a song—it’s that he lives it. He doesn’t simply interpret the lyrics; he becomes them. With every number, he slips into a new skin, taking us along for the ride.
Review: Five Stars for JULIE HALSTON TAKES THE Q TRAIN at BirdlandJanuary 9, 2025Julie is a diamond cut from the rarest of molds. She’s as terminally unique as Joan Rivers and just as funny. Where others see the mundane, Julie sees the miraculous. She reminds us that life’s absurdities are not just worth noticing but worth celebrating.
Review: Josh Groban's FIND YOUR LIGHT BENEFIT CONCERT was magicalOctober 31, 2024The night’s entertainment, including performances by the likes of Sara Bareilles, Josh Groban and Lin-Manuel Miranda was extraordinary. Find Your Light is fueled by a clear mission: to bridge the gap where arts education is scarce and support the teachers who make these programs possible.
Review: Hannah Gadsby's WOOF! at Abrons Arts Center Is EverythingOctober 7, 2024The brilliance of Gadsby’s show doesn’t just lie in the variety of topics but in the way they weave them together into a tapestry of ideas that is somehow both hysterically absurd and deeply logical. Jaws dropped, minds were altered. Hannah doesn’t deliver their message with a sledgehammer—they plant the seeds and let us arrive there ourselves
Review: JIMMY FALLON'S TONIGHTMARES at Rockefeller Center Is ThrillingSeptember 20, 2024See what our critic thought of TONIGHTMARES. Walking through Tonightmares is like stepping through one perfectly crafted horror movie after another. Even if you’re not the screaming type, the sheer majesty of what’s been created in the heart of New York will blow your mind. And if, like me, you’re a big ol’ chicken. you’ll be screaming again and again. Buckle up, listen to Jimmy, and follow Taylor.
Review: MURDER FOR BREAKFAST at Joe's Pub Is “Chef’s Kiss”September 9, 2024Sayre’s genius isn’t just in tapping perfectly into the noir world that inspired him. He crafts bold, over-the-top characters who, despite their outrageousness, feel completely believable in this heightened reality. The script is loaded with sharp one-liners, brilliant turns of phrase, and expertly executed callbacks. It has the feel of an old radio play—think *Haunted Honeymoon*, but with no werewolves and plenty of d*ck.
Review: KIKI BALL-CHANGE: HOE DOWN at Joe's PubSeptember 5, 2024Kiki is brilliant in every way. I walked in expecting campy Dolly drag, but what I got was parody perfection, endless belly laughs, and a deeply moving experience. This is a must-see show for anyone who loves drag and queer comedy.
Review: Alexis Michelle Shines in HEROINE WORSHIP at Joe's PubJune 27, 2024Michelle paid tribute to Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Stockard Channing, Dionne Warwick, and many others, each song revealing new sides of Alexis and showcasing her range as both a singer and an actress. With the change of a lyric, she could shift from funny to touching, from charming to deep. Alexis exudes star quality.
Review: Linda Eder is Breathtaking at 54 BelowJune 22, 2024Linda Eder is a talent so magnificent, she doesn't seem real. Song after song, with a constant sparkle in her eye, Eder drops to the lowest lows and soars to the highest heights with ease. To be in a room with that voice is a privilege. One moment, her rich tones carry you away; the next, they break your heart.
Review: Robert Bannon's PRIDE PLAYLIST at 54 Below Is a Celebration!June 16, 2024Robert is a party and always has a genuine smile on his face, as if, in his own impish way, he is inviting anyone with joy in their hearts to join him. I will say, there is one major flaw with every Robert Bannon show, at least the two I’ve seen: they aren’t long enough!
Review: Betty Buckley Enchants at Joe's PubMay 20, 2024From the first notes of 'It's a Lovely Day Today,' Betty Buckley's iconic voice resonated through the intimate venue. It was the perfect start to an evening that blended new songs and beloved classics. It truly was a collage of perfection. Buckley is unparalleled when it comes to song interpretation. I’d go as far to say she is the master’s master.
Review: SHINING IN MISERY at 54 Below Shines!May 11, 2024The madcap adventure took us on a tour de force celebration of some of Stephen King’s most beloved characters, brimming with so many references that even the biggest King aficionado would have their work cut out for them. And it’s not only King who earns the honor of a parody—no musical theatre show or pop culture icon was safe!