Bill W. and Dr. Bob: MisstepsMarch 7, 2007Stephen Bergman and Janet Surrey's uninspired telling of the founders of Alcoholics Anonymous is done in by Rick Lombardo's misdirection
Journey's End: Over ThereMarch 5, 2007R.C. Sherriff's 1928 wartime drama is thoroughly gripping in director David Grindley's production.
Sealed For Freshness: Giving Bad Taste a Bad NameFebruary 25, 2007'I write plays for people who hate theatre,' says playwright Doug Stone. Well, if I had to spend my time watching plays of the embarrassingly low quality of his Tupperware comedy it wouldn't be long before I fit comfortably within his desired demographic.
The Madras House: After A FashionFebruary 20, 2007With its depictions of men controlling women's fashions, sexual politics and warnings of a rising economic force in the Middle East, Harley Granville-Barker's drama, getting a fine and stately production at The Mint Theatre, is one of those plays that inspires musty old sayings like 'It's as relevant today as it was back then.'
Marat/Sade: Cage MatchFebruary 20, 2007An excellent acting ensemble is featured in The Classical Theatre of Harlem's thrillingly disturbing environmental production of Peter Weiss' drama.
Donna Lynne Champlin's Finishing The Hat: Attend The TalesFebruary 15, 2007With the skill of a seasoned physical comic and the wry sense of humor of someone who has been there and back, Donna Lynne Champlin's cabaret debut tells us of career misadventures, disappointing boyfriends and freakishly odd personal experiences without ever seeming self-indulgent.
Adrift in Macao: Everybody Goes To Rick Shaw'sFebruary 14, 2007Be sure and check your brain at the door because you might find yourself laughing your head off at Christopher Durang and Peter Melnick's hilarious and tuneful film noir spoof
Translations: Words Of LoveFebruary 12, 2007Garry Hynes' positively radiant production of Brian Friel's romantic and poetic political folk drama is graced with a heart-stirring ensemble cast.
Tock Tick: Racing With The ClockFebruary 8, 2007Gihieh Lee and Tim Nevits' musical fantasy of a 12-year-old girl trying to save her mother from dying of a terminal illness mixes a life-affirming message with a tender understanding of the cold hard facts of death
In The Bar Of A Tokyo Hotel: Unconventional WilliamsFebruary 7, 2007If this 1969 Tennessee Williams play is not exactly a great work that was underappreciated in its time, The White Horse Theater Company's new production certainly reveals it to be an interesting curiosity.
Frank's Home: A Dazzling ExteriorJanuary 31, 2007Richard Nelson's drama about Frank Lloyd Wright's family life is lacking, but Peter Weller dazzles in the title role
The Fever: Post-Radical ChicJanuary 30, 2007The New Group revives Wallace Shawn's 1990 monologue about a man feeling guilt for his privileged life
Her Song: Noteworthy WomenJanuary 28, 2007A new musical revue at Birdland salutes women songwriters from Katherine Lee Bates and Nora Bayes to Donna Summer and Stevie Nicks
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.
