Elisabeth Vincentelli News

In response to popular demand, The Acting Company (Ian Belknap, Artistic Director; Elisa Spencer-Kaplan, Executive Director) extends their acclaimed production of playwright/poet Marcus Gardley's X: Or, Betty Shabazz v. the Nation through February 25, 2018. Coinciding with African Heritage Month, the Ian Belknap-directed play deepens our understanding of one of America's most complex, compelling historical figures, and explores the tumultuous landscape of ideology and activism in the 1960s. 

Theater critics Joe Dziemianowicz (Daily News), Adam Feldman (Time Out New York) and Elisabeth Vincentelli (3 on The Aisle) review new shows of the 2017 fall season, both Off-Broadway and on, with co-hosts Jesse Green (Co-Chief Theater Critic for The New York Times) and producer Susan Haskins, cluing you in on what not to miss and what you are sorry that you already did miss.

CRUEL INTENTIONS is an exhilarating and deceptively funny new musical that pulls you into the manipulative world of Manhattan's most dangerous liaisons: Sebastian Valmont and Kathryn Merteuil. Seduced by revenge and fueled by passion, the two diabolically charming step-siblings place a bet on whether or not Sebastian can deflower their incoming headmaster's daughter, Annette Hargrove. As the two set out to destroy the innocent girl - and anyone who gets in their way - they find themselves entangled in a web of secrets, temptation, and the cruelest game of all: love.

Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita plays 'Cindy Lou Who' in the world premiere of Matthew Lombardo's new comedy with a twist of rhyme, WHO'S HOLIDAY! directed by Carl Andress. The strictly limited engagement plays The Westside Theatre Upstairs (407 W 43rd St, New York, NY 10036) through Sunday, December 31st.

Home for the Holidays, Broadway's only Christmas Concert Celebration, Broadway welcomes you home this holiday season when three of the greatest voices of their generation, winners of 'American Idol,' 'The Voice,' and 'America's Got Talent,' unite to form Broadway's newest Holiday concert tradition.

In this episode of THEATER TALK, preview the 2017 fall theater season with Michael Musto (NewNowNext.com), Patrick Pacheco (L.A. Times), Elisabeth Vincentelli (The New York Times, The New Yorker, Newsday), guest co-host Jesse Green (The New York Times) and executive producer/co-host Susan Haskins-Doloff. The productions they discuss include 'SpongeBob SquarePants,' 'The Band's Visit,' 'Once on this Island,' 'M. Butterfly,' Junk,' 'Meteor Shower,' 'The Parisian Woman,' 'Farinelli and the King, John Leguizamo's Latin History For Morons, Time and the Conways, Torch Song, The Wolves, Oedipus el Rey and more.

THEATER TALK, winner of the 2017 Emmy Award for Best Interview/Discussion Show in the NYC area, delves into the immersive new musical KPOP, set in a Korean pop music factory.

Theater Talk, winner of the 2017 Emmy Award for the Best Interview/Discussion show in the NYC area, is returning for an all-new season. The fall premiere features guests Michael Musto (NewNowNext.com), Patrick Pacheco (L.A. Times), and Elisabeth Vincentelli (The New York Times, The New Yorker, Newsday) previewing the new Broadway season along with guest co-host Jesse Green (The New York Times) and series executive producer/co-host Susan Haskins.

Today American Theatre releases the first episode of its new podcast, Three on the Aisle. Featuring drama critics Peter Marks, Terry Teachout, and Elisabeth Vincentelli, Three on the Aisle is a podcast from New York about theatre in America.

The world premiere production of ONE NIGHT ONLY will play at the WP Theatre through October 8, and the critics are weighing in!

THEATER TALK, the 2017 NY Emmy Award-winner for "Best Interview/Discussion Series," will begin its new season in early October with the show's Executive Producer Susan Haskins-Doloff returning as co-host.

The Acting Company has announced its 2017-18 season, which exemplifies the venerable organization's commitment to cultivating a national audience for the theater with exceptional touring productions of classical and new works; developing the best young American actors by giving them an opportunity to practice their craft in a wide-ranging repertory; and educating students that have limited access to the arts.

The Public Theater is currently presenting its Free Shakespeare in the Park production of A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM, directed by Lear deBessonet with choreography by Chase Brock. The show officially opened last night, Monday, July 31 and runs through Sunday, August 13. Let's see what the critics had to say...

Encores! Off-Center kicks off the 2017 season with Assassins! The trigger-happy squad assembled for Assassins, Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's carnival ride through the history of political violence, will star Steven Boyer(John Hinckley Jr.), Alex Brightman(Giuseppe Zangara), Victoria Clark(Sara Jane Moore), John Ellison Conlee (Charles Guiteau), Clifton Duncan (The Balladeer), Shuler Hensley (Leon Czolgosz), Ethan Lipton(The Proprietor), Erin Markey (Lynette 'Squeaky' Fromme), Steven Pasquale (John Wilkes Booth), Cory Michael Smith (Lee Harvey Oswald), and Danny Wolohan(Samuel Byck). Assassins will be directed by Anne Kauffman, with music direction by Chris Fenwick and choreography by Lorin Latarro.

This week THEATER TALK presents the Season's-End Critics panel - with Peter Marks of The Washington Post, Terry Teachout of THE WALL Street Journal, Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times & The New Yorker, and Linda Winer of Newsday - discussing the notable plays of Spring 2017 on Broadway. Then, Tony winner Joel Grey joins co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins to talk about his revealing memoir, 'Master of Ceremonies' (Flatiron Books). The episode also features a surprise Michael Musto Roast featurette.

This week THEATER TALK presents Part Two of the Season's-End Critics panel - with Peter Marks of The Washington Post, Terry Teachout of THE WALL Street Journal, Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times & The New Yorker, and Linda Winer of Newsday - discussing the notable plays of Spring 2017 on Broadway. Then, Tony winner Joel Grey joins co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins to talk about his revealing memoir, 'Master of Ceremonies' (Flatiron Books). The episode also features a surprise Michael Musto Roast featurette.

Created by Long Beach's Bossy Flyer in a garage-turned-rehearsal studio, Flight has gone on to critically acclaimed runs at the Edinburgh and New York International Fringe Festivals, and an Off-Broadway run in New York at the legendary Barrow Street Theatre. Flight is now having its San Diego premiere at the Lyceum Mainstage in the San Diego International Fringe Festival!

This week THEATER TALK presents Part Two of the Season's-End Critics panel - with Peter Marks of The Washington Post, Terry Teachout of THE WALL Street Journal, Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times & The New Yorker, and Linda Winer of Newsday - discussing the notable plays of Spring 2017 on Broadway. Then, Tony winner Joel Grey joins co-hosts Michael Riedel of the New York Post and Susan Haskins to talk about his revealing memoir, 'Master of Ceremonies' (Flatiron Books). The episode also features a surprise Michael Musto Roast featurette.

Season's-End Critics, Part One - with Peter Marks of The Washington Post, Terry Teachout of the Wall Street Journal, Elisabeth Vincentelli of The New York Times & The New Yorker, and Linda Winer of Newsday - features the venerable critics reviewing the past season and discussing theater coverage in the Digital Age.

The 2016-17 season has been a great one for Broadway. Total attendance is up to 13.27 million, with a record breaking $1.45 billion in total grosses. Many of the tickets purchased for New York theatre depended on the opinions of Broadway's reviewers, and yet the critics haven't had the same luck as the industry they are reviewing.