Ben Brantley News

The intimate Broadway house was originally co-owned by Irving Berlin and premiered his MUSIC BOX REVUES.

There is still time to catch the Broadway shows closing in early 2016! Check out what shows are closing soon and be sure to see them while you still can!

Due to critical acclaim and popular demand, Playwrights Horizons has announced an extension of their New York premiere production of 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist MARJORIE PRIME, a new play by Jordan Harrison (Maple and Vine, Doris to Darlene at PH; staff writer for 'Orange is the New Black'). Commissioned by Playwrights Horizons, the play is directed by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Detroit, Maple and Vine, Your Mother's Copy of the Kama Sutra at PH; Belleville; This Wide Night; The Thugs).

It's written in blank verse, contains soliloquies and even has a ghost, but is Mike Bartlett's future history play really Shakespearean?

As we count down the last days of 2015, New York City's top theatre critics have been taking stock of the theatre season- deciding on their personal choices for their favorite productions of the year.

Transport Group presents ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, starring Jackie Hoffman (On the Town, Difficult People, Hairspray) as Princess Winnifred and John 'Lypsinka'Epperson (Lypsinka's The Boxed Set, The Passion of the Crawford) as Queen Aggravain. The production opened last night, December 13. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Playwrights Horizons presents the New York premiere of 2015 Pulitzer Prize finalist MARJORIE PRIME, a new play by Jordan Harrison (Maple and Vine, Doris to Darlene at PH; Amazons and Their Men; Kid-Simple; 'Orange is the New Black'). Commissioned byPlaywrights Horizons and directed by Obie Award winner Anne Kauffman (Detroit, Maple and Vine, Your Mother's Copy of the Kama Sutra at PH; Belleville; This Wide Night; The Thugs), the play opens tonight, December 14, at Playwrights Horizons' Mainstage Theater (416 West 42nd Street), and will play a limited engagement through Sunday, January 3. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Tampa Repertory Theatre will present Sam Shepard's bracing comedy True West at Studio 120 on the University of South Florida campus January 7 through 24, 2016. Performances are at 7:30 PM on Thursdays, 8 PM on Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 PM on Sundays. Studio 120 is located at 3837 USF Holly Drive, Tampa 33620, where ample free parking is available during performances. Patrons may purchase tickets at the door or from a link on TampaRep's website at http://www.tamparep.org.

THE COLOR PURPLE, which opened last night to ecstatic reviews, will record its official cast album this Monday, December 14, 2015.  The new Broadway cast recording will be released by Broadway Records on January 29, 2016and can pre-ordered at Amazon.com and at www.BroadwayRecords.com.  The album is being produced by six-time Grammy Award winner Frank Filipetti.

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet, Ellen Maddow and Tina Shepard-former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater-the Talking Band has remained a cornerstone of New York City's avant-garde theater community. Ben Brantley of The New York Times recently called them 'one of the boldest and most venerable politically minded companies in New York experimental theater.' American Theater magazine has deemed them 'one of the most exceptional theater companies in the country.' The Talking Band will present in association with La MaMa the world premiere of its latest work, Burnished by Grief, a sinister, music infused romantic comedy, at La MaMa'sfirst floor theater from January 22-February 7.

The new Broadway revival of THE COLOR PURPLE opens tonight, December 10, at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (242 W 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

Broadway's The Color Purple doesn't officially open until this Thursday, December 10, but New York Times theatre critic Ben Brantley couldn't wait to rave about the show. The writer teased his opinion before the big night in his 2015 'Best of' roundup.

New York Theatre Workshop presents LAZARUS by David Bowie and Enda Walsh (Once, Tony Award). Lazarus is inspired by the novel The Man Who Fell to Earth by Walter Tevis and directed by Ivo van Hove (Hedda Gabler, More Stately Mansions, Obie Awards). Lazarus began previews on November 18 and officially opens tonight, December 7, 2015 at New York Theatre Workshop. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Based on the smash hit 2003 film of the same title, SCHOOL OF ROCK: THE MUSICAL, with music from the movie, as well as an original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyricist Glenn Slater, a book by Julian Fellowes and direction by Laurence Connor, makes its world premiere on Broadway tonight, December 6, at the Winter Garden Theatre. Let's see what the critics have to say!

Mr. Burns at the Unicorn muses on what might be through the lens of The Simpsons

CHINA DOLL is the new play by David Mamet starring Tony, Emmy and Academy Award-winner Al Pacino. Directed by Tony Award-winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf) and co-starring Christopher Denham ('Master Harold'... and the Boys, Argo, 'Manhattan'), China Doll officially opens tonight, December 4th, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere in a sold-out run, led by Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as 'Fanny Brice'. The multi award-winning Michael Mayer directs the production, opening tonight, 2 December, at Menier Chocolate Factory before a West End transfer. Let's see what the critics had to say...

GYPSY, often lauded by critics as the greatest American musical, is the latest in the award-winning Broadway Re-Imagined series produced collaboratively by Hennepin Theatre Trust and Theater Latte Da.

According to press notes from M Properties Group, Third Rail Projects has leased and customized a single-story 5,000 SF warehouse in Bushwick, Brooklyn (at 383 Troutman Street) for its fully immersive theater experience THE GRAND PARADISE, in which visitors travel to a tropical paradise.

Having landed the coveted job as Lin-Manuel Miranda's alternate in the title role of Broadway's HAMILTON once a week, Javier Muñoz is bringing his own -- apparently sexier -- interpretation to the part. The New York Times just re-reviewed the hit musical with commentary on Muñoz's performance.