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Bio:
Ben Brantley was formerly the co-chief theater critic for The New York Times. He has been a staff critic since 1996, filing reviews regularly from London as well as New York. Subjects of his profiles include the underground Belarus Free Theater in Minsk, and Barbra Streisand in Malibu. Before ... (read complete bio)
 

Ben Brantley Biography

Ben Brantley was formerly the co-chief theater critic for The New York Times. He has been a staff critic since 1996, filing reviews regularly from London as well as New York. Subjects of his profiles include the underground Belarus Free Theater in Minsk, and Barbra Streisand in Malibu.
Before joining the Times in 1993, Mr. Brantley was a staff writer for the New Yorker and Vanity Fair. He reviewed fashion for Women’s Wear Daily, where he was the Paris bureau chief and European editor, and movies for Elle magazine.
Mr. Brantley grew up in Winston-Salem, N.C., and graduated from Swarthmore College. He is the editor of two books of New York Times theater reviews and a recipient of the George Jean Nathan Award for theater criticism.





Ben Brantley News

101 HUMILIATING STORIES Kicks Off Solo Series At Vivid Stage! Photo 101 HUMILIATING STORIES Kicks Off Solo Series At Vivid Stage!
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 27, 2023

Vivid Stage, in residence at Oakes Center at 120 Morris Avenue in Summit, will present 101 Humiliating Stories by Lisa Kron from April 13 through 16, kicking off their three-week Spring Solos Series.

The Wayward Artist Presents the West Coast Premiere of IN THE GREEN Next Month Photo The Wayward Artist Presents the West Coast Premiere of IN THE GREEN Next Month
by Stephi Wild - Mar 7, 2023

The Wayward Artist has announced the West Coast Premiere of In The Green by Grace McClean. Performances start April 14, 2023 and will continue through April 30th at the Grand Central Art Center in Santa Ana.   

Michael R. Jackson & Common to Join Second Stage Theater's Winter's Ball Photo Michael R. Jackson & Common to Join Second Stage Theater's Winter's Ball
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Feb 6, 2023

Second Stage Theater will host a Winter’s Ball geared towards young professionals and arts patrons, featuring Michael R. Jackson and Common. The fundraising event will take place on Monday, February 27 at The Pierre Hotel. See

Tony Nominee Charles Kimbrough Passes Away at 86 Photo Tony Nominee Charles Kimbrough Passes Away at 86
by Blair Ingenthron - Feb 5, 2023

According to various sources, Tony-nominated actor Charles Kimbrough passed away in Culver City, California on January 11th at the age of 86. 

Bergen County Players Continues Its 90th Season With Tony Hit Comedy THE PLAY THAT GO Photo Bergen County Players Continues Its 90th Season With Tony Hit Comedy THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG
by A.A. Cristi - Jan 27, 2023

Bergen County Players (BCP), one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will continue its 90th season on Saturday, February 18 with the hilarious Tony Award-winning hit Broadway comedy The Play That Goes Wrong.

THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG to Open at Bergen County Players in February Photo THE PLAY THAT GOES WRONG to Open at Bergen County Players in February
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 27, 2023

Bergen County Players, one of America's longest-running little theater companies, will continue its 90th season on Saturday, February 18 with the hilarious Tony Award-winning hit Broadway comedy The Play That Goes Wrong.

Caryl Churchill's LOVE AND INFORMATION to be Presented at Antaeus Theatre Company in  Photo Caryl Churchill's LOVE AND INFORMATION to be Presented at Antaeus Theatre Company in March
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 23, 2023

Antaeus Theatre Company will present Love and Information by boundary-pushing playwright Caryl Churchill (Cloud Nine, Top Girls). Emily Chase (Eight Nights) directs for a March 3 opening at Glendale's Kiki & David Gindler Performing Arts Center.

THE FERRYMAN to Play Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center Photo THE FERRYMAN to Play Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center
by Blair Ingenthron - Jan 20, 2023

Jez Butterworth's masterful international Tony Award winning Best Play (2019) “The Ferryman” will run January 27-March 5, 2023 (opening February 4) – in the first United States production after Broadway – and the first in the newly renovated and renamed Conrad Prebys Theatre at the Dea Hurston New Village Arts Center.

Brian Friel's FAITH HEALER Added to Barrington Stage Company 2023 Season Photo Brian Friel's FAITH HEALER Added to Barrington Stage Company 2023 Season
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jan 17, 2023

Barrington Stage Company Founding Artistic Director Julianne Boyd will direct a new production of Faith Healer by the great Irish playwright, Brian Friel as a part of the company’s 2023 season.

Broadway Buying Guide: January 17, 2023 Photo Broadway Buying Guide: January 17, 2023
by Team BWW - Jan 17, 2023

Looking for the best deals on Broadway shows? Welcome to our new weekly guide to the most popular shows listed on BroadwayWorld. Check out which shows are selling this week, January 17, 2023.

Ben Brantley Videos

VIDEO: Jerry O'Connell Talks A SOLDIER'S PLAY and the Broadway Shutdown Videoplay
VIDEO: Jerry O'Connell Talks A SOLDIER'S PLAY and the Broadway Shutdown

by Stage Tube - Mar 24, 2020

Jerry O'Connell was a guest on Tuesday, March 24's episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan. O'Connell Skyped in from his home to talk with hosts Kelly Ripa and Ryan Seacrest.

VIDEO: Watch GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY's Kimber Elaine Sprawl Takeover Our Instagra Videoplay
VIDEO: Watch GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY's Kimber Elaine Sprawl Takeover Our Instagram

by Taylor Brethauer-Hamling - Mar 6, 2020

We spent Girl From the North Country's opening night with star Kimber Elayne Sprawl when she took over BroadwayWorld's Instagram Story yesterday! Watch as she takes us on a tour of her dressing room, puts her costars Colton Ryan and Austin Scott to the test with a 'finish the lyric' game, and hits the red carpet in style (as voted on by our Instagram followers!). Missed all the fun? No worries! Watch the highlights below.

BWW TV: Watch Highlights from GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY on Broadway! Videoplay
BWW TV: Watch Highlights from GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY on Broadway!

by Show Highlights - Mar 2, 2020

Preview performances are underway for Girl From The North Country, which officially opens at the Belasco Theatre on March 5. Celebrated playwright Conor McPherson boldly reimagines the songs of the legendary Bob Dylan in Girl from the North Country - the soaring masterwork about the dreams we keep close, the people we hold dear, and the place we call home.

VIDEO: Watch the Cast of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY Perform 'Slow Train/License to K Videoplay
VIDEO: Watch the Cast of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY Perform 'Slow Train/License to Kill' on THE TONIGHT SHOW

by Stage Tube - Feb 26, 2020

The cast of Girl from the North Country stopped by The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Tuesday, February 25 to perform a special medley performance of 'Slow Train' and 'License to Kill.'

VIDEO: Watch A SOLDIER'S PLAY Star David Alan Grier Interviewed on THE LATE SHOW Videoplay
VIDEO: Watch A SOLDIER'S PLAY Star David Alan Grier Interviewed on THE LATE SHOW

by Stage Tube - Jan 24, 2020

The star of 'The Soldier's Play' on Broadway, David Alan Grier, points out that he was in the play's original cast in 1981 alongside such future superstars as Denzel Washington and Samuel L. Jackson.

VIDEO: Blair Underwood Says He Almost Burned Down the Set of A SOLDIER'S PLAY Videoplay
VIDEO: Blair Underwood Says He Almost Burned Down the Set of A SOLDIER'S PLAY

by Stage Tube - Jan 22, 2020

Blair Underwood talks about what happened when he showed his family the set of 'A Soldier's Play' on Broadway.

BWW TV: Go Inside Opening Night of A SOLDIER'S PLAY with David Alan Grier, Blair Unde Videoplay
BWW TV: Go Inside Opening Night of A SOLDIER'S PLAY with David Alan Grier, Blair Underwood & More!

by TV - Opening Night Special - Jan 22, 2020

The American Airlines Theatre was the place to be last night as Charles Fuller's A Soldier's Play finally opened last night on Broadway, almost four decades after it premiered off Broadway. 'The reason I wanted to do it was to get to speak these words that Charles Fuller wrote. We get to mine and uncover themes of racism, identity, love of country, an hatred of self,' says leading man Blair Underwood. 'To be able to do that in such an incredible play, that has won a Pulitzer for a good reason... it's exciting every night.'

VIDEO: David Alan Grier Gives Advice to the Young Cast of A SOLDIER'S PLAY Videoplay
VIDEO: David Alan Grier Gives Advice to the Young Cast of A SOLDIER'S PLAY

by Stage Tube - Jan 20, 2020

David Alan Grier was a guest on Monday's episode of Live with Kelly and Ryan to talk about starring in A Soldier's Play on Broadway. During the interview, Grier talks about how this is his third round with the show, as he previously starred in the off-Broadway production and the film adaptation. 

VIDEO: Go Inside Rehearsals For GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY Videoplay
VIDEO: Go Inside Rehearsals For GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY

by Stage Tube - Jan 14, 2020

The music of Bob Dylan is coming to Broadway this February with The Girl From the North Country, and we're getting a peek inside rehearsals! Check out the video to see what happens in the rehearsal room as the show's cast and creative prepare to move into the Belasco Theatre!

BWW TV: Watch Highlights from A SOLDIER'S PLAY on Broadway! Videoplay
BWW TV: Watch Highlights from A SOLDIER'S PLAY on Broadway!

by BroadwayWorld TV - Jan 14, 2020

Previews are underway for A Soldier's Play, which opens officially on January 21, 2020. This is a limited engagement at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway (227 West 42nd Street).