"Variety" Likes Dallas' "Hood"

Variety gives a well deserved, very positive review to Dallas Theater Center's world premiere of Carter Beane's hugely entertaining "Hood" (see my comments on the show in a earlier post below):

Variety "Hood" Review


If you are in or near Dallas, be sure to catch this show before it closes on August 6th.

Oscar Isaac Conquers A Boldly Drawn "Hamlet"

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/16/17, 9:32 PM

Oscar Isaac is mesmerizing as "Hamlet" ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬ and Sam Gold's production is forceful, bold, & modern, although at times some of his choices are rather puzzling.  No matter, this "Hamlet' feels fresh & urgent, and is one I would not have wanted to miss.

A Magical, Enchanting & Hugely Entertaining "Midsummer" in the Park

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/16/17, 10:29 AM

#MidsummerNightsDream in Central Park is a magical & entertaining romp delivered by a perfect cast. The farcical play within the play performed by the Rude Mechanicals is tough to pull off, and this is is funniest and best performed portion of "Midsummer" that I have seen.   Bravo & thank you ‪@PublicTheaterNY‬ for two great Shakespeare productions in the park this summer.

"Assassins" is Largely Successful at NY City Center

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/16/17, 10:27 AM

The venue was too big for this show, but #AssassinsNYCC was well sung & engaging with just one casting mistake (the Proprietor).  Steven Pasquale is perfection as John Wilkes Booth, and his performance

alone justifies the remounting of this Sondheim musical.

"Ghost Light" Casts a Beautiful Spell

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/14/17, 10:18 PM

I was totally enthralled with the transportive and beautiful  immersive play "Ghost Light," the latest work from Third Rail Projects now playing at Lincoln Center's LCT3 theater.  Anyone who loves theater is advised to see this enchanting piece brought to life by a terrific cast and some truly astounding staging logistics.  It all runs like, and feels like, a dream.

"Pipeline" Works Despite Flaws

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/13/17, 10:41 PM

It took me some time to get there, but I ultimately found Dominque Morisseau's new play "Pipeline" at Lincoln Center to be moving & resonant despite some writing flaws & dramatic excesses, including one entirely unnecessary character (Jasmine).

"Cost of Living" Lacks Depth

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/12/17, 6:49 PM

"Cost of Living"  ‪@MTC_NYC‬ raises intriguing issues about human needs and desires but the writing & some of the acting lacks depth & nuance.  The audience with which I saw this clearly liked this play more than I did.

Kim's Convenience Plays Like a SitCom

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/12/17, 6:47 PM

#KimsConvenience ‪@Soulpepper‬ in NY is mildly entertaining, but too sitcom-like for my taste.

"Hood" Is Joyously Entertaining

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

7/6/17, 11:53 PM

"I say yes," you must go see the joyously entertaining #Hood ‪@DallasTheater‬ - it is fresh, funny, well cast & terrifically tuneful.   The young and talented cast, which seamlessly melds Dallas performers with those from New York, appears to be having a great time on stage, and are eclipsed only by the audience members having an even greater time watching them perform this funny and fresh take on a classic tale.

2017 Tony Award Predictions & Preferences

My predictions and personal preferences for the 2017 Tony Awards, scheduled to be handed out on Sunday evening, June 11:

BEST MUSICAL

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Come From Away

BEST PLAY

Will win: Oslo

Should win: A Doll's House Part 2 (although a case could be made for all 4 fine nominees)

BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL

Will win: Hello Dolly

Should win: Hello Dolly (not great, but the best of a weak bunch of revivals)

BEST PLAY REVIVAL

Will win: Jitney

Should win: Jitney

BEST LEAD ACTOR, MUSICAL

Will win: Ben Platt, Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Ben Platt

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, MUSICAL

Will win: Bette Midler, Hello Dolly

Should win: Denee Benton, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST LEAD ACTOR, PLAY

Will win: Kevin Kline, Present Laughter

Should win: Corey Hawkins, Six Degrees of Separation

BEST LEAD ACTRESS, PLAY

Will win: Laurie Metcalf, A Doll's House Part 2

Should win: Sally Field, The Glass Menagerie

BEST FEATURED ACTOR, MUSICAL

Will win: Gavin Creel, Hello Dolly

Should win: Lucas Steele, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS, MUSICAL

Will win: Jen Colella, Come From Away

Should win: Jen Colella

BEST FEATURED ACTOR, PLAY

Will win: Michael Aronov, Oslo

Should win: Michael Aronov

BEST FEATURED ACTRESS, PLAY

Will win: Cynthia Nixon, The Little Foxes

Should win: Condola Rashad, A Doll's House Part 2

BEST SCORE

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST BOOK of MUSICAL

Will win: Dear Evan Hansen

Should win: Come From Away

BEST DIRECTION, MUSICAL

Will win: Rachel Chavkin, Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Rachel Chavkin

BEST DIRECTION, PLAY

Will win: Bartlett Sher, Oslo

Should win: Sam Gold, A Doll's House, Part 2

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY

Will win: Andy Blakenbuehler, Bandstand

Should win: Andy Blankenbuehler

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST COSTUME DESIGN, MUSICAL

Will win: War Paint

Should win: War Paint

BEST COSTUME DESIGN, PLAY:

Will win: The Little Foxes

Should win: The Little Foxes

BEST SCENIC DESIGN, MUSICAL

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST SCENIC DESIGN, PLAY

Will win: The Play That Goes Wrong

Should win: The Front Page

BEST LIGHTING, MUSICAL

Will win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

Should win: Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812

BEST LIGHTING, PLAY

Will win: Indecent

Should win: Indecent

Sojourners and Her Portmanteau Make a Fine Duet

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/4/17, 8:36 PM

I was deeply engrossed & moved by the wonderfully written, acted & staged Sojouners & Her Portmanteau at New York Theater Workshop.  The plays convey the stories of Nigerian immigrants to America in the late 1970s (in "Sojourners") and the first decade of the 21st Century (in "Her Portmanteau"). The vivid characters are brought to life by a terrific group of talented actors, in service of this compelling immigrant narrative.

A "Julius Caesar" For Our Time

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/4/17, 1:02 PM

#JuliusCaesar ‪the Public Theater's first 2017 Shakepeare In The Park offering, is urgent, current, well acted/staged & timely.  Somewhat truncated, but wisely so, the contemporary political gloss given the show works well and fits the text like a glove.  See it if you can.

Rebecca Hall's Astounding Performance Anchors "Animal"

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

6/3/17, 11:17 AM

A powerful, piercing & emotionally astute performance by Rebecca Hall ‪anchors Claire Lizzimore's fine new play "Animal" at the Atlantic Theater Company.  The opportunity to see Ms. Hall give this astounding performance in the intimate Atlantic Stage 2 should not be missed.

"Inherit The Wind" Made Timely

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

5/27/17, 3:25 PM

I must confess that before seeing the Dallas Theater Center's current revival of "Inherit The Wind," I feared that this play would feel dated and stodgy., which is the opposite of my preferred theater tastes.  Indeed, I   skipped the last Broadway revival of this play for that very reason.  But  fortunately Director Kevin Moriarty's inventive non-traditional casting & staging make this production feel compelling,  timely and relevant.  Kudos to Liz Mikel & Kieran Connelly who both shine in lead roles portraying, respectively, the Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryant inspired characters.

Annie Baker's "The Aliens" is Must-See Theater in Ft Worth

KenderTheater (‪@KenderTheater‬)

5/21/17, 6:30 PM

Annie Baker's tender & beautiful play "The Aliens" is given a pitch-perfect & sublimely acted production at Stage West Theatre in Ft Worth.  The trio of actors in the cast (two of whom switch roles in the course of the run) are terrific.  If you are in the DFW area before this production closes on June 4, I highly recommend that you see this play.