The Irish...and How They Got That Way - 2010 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 1

Perhaps the biggest change was the audience. In the 1980s, AC/DC was the rebellious band parents warned their children about. Now, the band is the spectacle parents bring their children to experience. It was a little unnerving to hear a mother asking, “Timmy, would you like a cookie?” before the band opened with “If You Want Blood, You’ve Got It.”

Tony Danza returns to 54 Below with his Sinatra tribute show this July, joined by Linda Eder and a packed lineup of Broadway and cabaret stars.

This dazzling production, a feast for the eyes and ears, runs through June 28 at the Kennedy Center. The show delivers a fun, nostalgic and moving experience.

After performing in over fifteen countries and regions worldwide, Les Misérables: The Arena Concert Spectacular will be coming to a close at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The concert has been a celebration of the musical’s 40th anniversary, the world’s longest-running musical. We had the chance to speak with Killian Donnelly, one of the actors playing Jean Valjean, after his first performances at the Royal Albert Hall earlier this month. We discussed his introduction to Les Mis, how he has grown along with the show and even what it was like to perform in the 2012 film!

The new musical HOT JAMBALAYA is currently heating up the stage at Horizon Theatre in Atlanta through June 21st, bringing audiences a wildly entertaining mix of murder mystery, comedy, New Orleans flavor, and original music. Created by Atlanta theatre artists Matt Hobbs (Songwriter for WOMAN OF THE YEAR and BLACK NERD, and the viral sensation, PUPPY SONGS) and Travis Sharp (LAWRENCEBURG, SONG OF THE LIVING DEAD, MUSICALS SUCK: THE MUSICAL, and WICKET), the show has been years in the making and has already developed a passionate following after its original run at Dad’s Garage last year.

What did our critic think of THE 4TH WITCH at Oz?

Much has been written about the proliferation of pop singer-songwriters writing new musicals for Broadway and off-Broadway. Less covered is the trend of pop singers performing on Broadway, which has made for a number of memorable appearances in current and recent seasons. 

There’s a moment in almost every conversation about the 1980s when someone stops mid-sentence, smiles to themselves, and suddenly looks a little misty. That pause isn’t accidental - it’s memory doing its thing. And if For The Record: Teen Beat Live has anything to say about it, audiences are about to experience that feeling on a visceral level inside CineVita’s glittering Spiegeltent at Hollywood Park.

The best kind of group therapy, TINY BEAUTIFUL THINGS at Stages Houston

A polished NT Live filming of All My Sons arrives on screen as a compelling highlight of the National Theatre Live season on 16 April 2026, combining strong performances with assured direction. Led by Bryan Cranston and Marianne Jean-Baptiste, the play recording delivers emotional depth and tension layered in morality, which resonates far beyond the stage.

In 2010, Spamalot was first performed in Sweden and now it's time again. On September 25th, it will premiere at the Nöjesteatern in Malmö. Remaining from the original Swedish production are musical veterans Kim Sulocki as the valet Patsy and Anki Albertsson who will once again play Lady of the Lake. Otherwise, a completely new ensemble where Samuel Fröler portrays King Arthur and 'Ankan' Johansson takes on Sir Robin.

Salt Lake City-based Sackerson and Lil Poppet Productions have announced their next collaboration will be 'Red' by John Logan, directed by Morag Shepherd.

Many fellowship programs help emerging leaders learn the craft and business of theater, in both nonprofit and commercial spaces. For this article, I spoke with several fellows about five things Broadway leaders don’t often say but that we learned as fellows.

Jane Comfort and Company will debut a world premiere alongside two existing works at LaMama's Ellen Stewart Theater March 19-22 2026

Top notch talent, and a WHOLE LOT MORE, is on display in Prism Theatre’s debut production of CAMP MORNING WOOD, which plays its final weekend in Palm Springs  with just four more performances remaining before the campfire goes out. The show’s premise is about seven characters navigating their inhibitions in the judgement-free, clothing-optional environment of Camp “Morning Wood”. It is far from an evening a high-art or thought provoking theatre but, if you just want to let go of the cerebral and give in to a mindless romp with a wonderfully engaging cast, CAMP MORNING WOOD is the ticket. I had the chance to catch up with Leo Ayala, the actor who plays the musical’s protagonist, Randy, as he was getting “undressed” for e recent matinee performance. (Just kidding about the undressing). Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Paulo Szot, Kate Baldwin and many more.

Next month, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond for Women's History Month, including Linda Eder, Kate Baldwin, Jenn Colella and more. 

Theater West End was wise to split Angels in America in the season as two separate performances, each with their own block in the schedule. Originally, I was concerned that the Part Two of it all might turn away prospective theatergoers. But upon watching both parts now, and bearing in mind my own familiarity for the characters, I can also see now how the original production’s 18-month gap would have also been enticing for an audience.

Current star of Masquerade Telly Leung discusses with Jennifer Ashley Tepper playing the Phantom in the immersive production, the full circle from Rent fan to Rent actor, Gavin Creel’s leadership during a production that never was, and much more. 

In a world where AI increasingly tries to consume and simulate real human experiences, theatre sometimes feels like one of the last gasps of being in a room together. When we watch a show with others, respiration synchronizes, empathy increases, and information retention improves. It’s one of my favourite feelings.

In January of 2026, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, Matthew Morrison and many more. 

One of the most effective things the musical gains by moving from page to screen to stage is permission to reframe the story without betraying it. By leaning harder into the Curtis brothers as the emotional spine, the musical clarifies a distinction that’s always been present in the text but rarely foregrounded this explicitly: Darry, Soda, and Ponyboy are family by blood, bound by obligation and grief; while the Greasers are family by choice, bound by loyalty and survival.

Next week, 54 Below will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Melissa Errico, Sondheim Unplugged: The Final Season and more. 

Eve Aronoff Fernandez is a classically trained chef, culinary innovator, and the visionary behind Frita Batidos, the beloved Cuban-inspired restaurant born in Ann Arbor, Michigan and is now open in NYC.

The creators of PERFECT WORLD discuss how the true story of a brilliant young novelist who vanished in 1939 became the inspiration for their new musical, playing Nov. 1-9 at the El Portal Theatre.