Ben Brantley News

THE RIVER opens tonight, Nov. 16, at Circle in the Square (50th Street between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you the reviews in real time below!

The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.

St. Ann's Warehouse has announced the cast of the upcoming American Premiere of the National Theatre of Scotland's Let the Right One In, adapted by Jack Thorne from John Ajvide Lindqvist's novel and screenplay, and helmed by Director John Tiffany and Associate Director/Movement Steven Hoggett. Rebecca Benson will return to the role of the vampire girl next door, which she originated in Dundee and then played at the Royal Court and on the West End to critical acclaim. Cristian Ortega will play opposite her as Oskar, the bullied boy Eli befriends.

To celebrate the publication of The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 2 on November 18 by Dress Circle Publishing, Jennifer Ashley Tepper will be sharing three short excerpts about each of the Broadway theaters featured in the book-countdown style! Today: The Nederlander Theatre

Last night, the critics weighed in on the show, which has already been buzzed about for a Broadway transfer. What does this mean for the future of the musical? Check out what they had to say below!

David Rabe's Sticks and Bones launches The New Group's 20th Anniversary Season. The play opens tonight, November 6, and plays a limited off-Broadway engagement through December 14 at The New Group. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Since its founding in 1974 by Paul Zimet, Ellen Maddow, and Tina Shepard-all former members of Joseph Chaikin's seminal Open Theater- 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 celebrates their 40th anniversary with The Golden Toad, a four-part epic whose world premiere La MaMa presents January 23 - February 8, 2015.

The New Colony is pleased to launch its 2014-15 mainstage season with the world premiere musical PLASTIC REVOLUTION at its new permanent home -- The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Chicago's Wicker Park neighborhood.

Roundabout Theatre Company presents Tom Stoppard's Tony Award-winning play, The Real Thing, starring Ewan McGregor as 'Henry' and Maggie Gyllenhaal as 'Annie' in their Broadway debuts; Cynthia Nixon as 'Charlotte' and Josh Hamilton as 'Max.' Sam Gold directs the cast of seven, which also includes Alex Breaux as 'Brodie,' Ronan Raftery as 'Billy' and Madeline Weinstein as 'Debbie.' The Real Thing officially opens tonight, October 30, 2014 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. Let's see what the critics had to say...

The Collegiate Chorale presents the New York City premiere of Eric Idle and John Du Prez's Not The Messiah (He's a Very Naughty Boy) at Carnegie Hall, December 15-16, 2014 at 8pm.

Beyond the bright lights of Broadway - the electric signage that led to its moniker as "The Great White Way" - exists another world: Off-Broadway, a varied and rich wellspring of creativity and innovation.

Full disclosure, I like most everything that I see; be it on stage, on TV, or on film. I tend to appreciate the vision required to complete such a complicated project, the artistry to craft a new work, and the creativity to bring it to life. However, while I like the majority of shows and movies that I watch, I love very few. I wanted to preface my review with that because, simply put, I loved BIRDMAN. The experience of seeing this dark comedy is as close to the rush of seeing a Broadway show as any film that I can ever remember seeing, including those actually based on Broadway shows. BIRDMAN is an acting, directing, and cinematographing triumph that is sure to be rewarded throughout the upcoming awards season.

The Public Theater presents The Fortress of Solitude, a world premiere musical with a book by Itamar Moses, and music and lyrics by Michael Friedman. Conceived and directed by Daniel Aukin, The Fortress of Solitude runs through Sunday, November 2, with an official press opening tonight, October 22. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Three one-acts from the writer The New York Times critic Ben Brantley described as "…one of our funniest playwrights," master of parody Christopher Durang, will be presented beginning November 9 at L'Etage Cabaret in Philadelphia. A Streetcar Named Durang: Two Burlesques and a Western will be presented by The Idiopathic Ridiculopathy Consortium, the Philadelphia-based theater company whose mission is to present classic absurdist theater to audiences in the Philadelphia region.

The new Broadway revival of On The Town, directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') officially opens tonight, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Terrence McNally updates his wickedly funny 1980s comedy set at a Broadway opening night party.

The star-studded Broadway production of the backstage comedy IT'S ONLY A PLAY, by four-time Tony Award winner Terrence McNally, opens tonight, October 9, 2014, at Broadway's Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre (236 West 45th Street). Let's see what the critics had to say...

A Noise Within (ANW), the acclaimed classical repertory theatre company, continues its 2014-2015 REVOLUTIONary season with The Dance of Death by August Strindberg in a new adaptation by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, which opens on Saturday, October 18and runs through Sunday, November 23, 2014. Directed by Geoff Elliott and Julia Rodriguez-Elliott, this is the West Coast premiere of the new McPherson adaptation, which had its U.S. premiere earlier this year in Chicago. In 2007, Ben Brantley of the New York Times called McPherson "quite possibly the finest playwright of his generation." The cast features Geoff Elliott* as Edgar, Susan Angelo* as Alice, and Eric Curtis Johnson* as Kurt.* Denotes member of Actors' Equity

Broadway stars of The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables Ciaran Sheehan and Gwen Eagleton will perform a one-night-only musical event From Galway to Broadway on Monday, October 20 at 7:30 p.m. at the F.M. Kirby Shakespeare Theatre. The concert will benefit The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey's young artist education and training programs. Sheehan and Eagleton will perform a medley of Broadway standards, traditional Irish songs, and beloved pop tunes.

The National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time opens tonight, October 5 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). The acclaimed new play by Simon Stephens, is adapted from Mark Haddon's best-selling novel and directed by Tony Award-winner Marianne Elliott. Let's see what the critics had to say...