 BWW Review: Natalie Douglas Shares Her Love for Cher in Her Latest TRIBUTES at Birdlandby Troy Frisby - August 13, 2018 It's safe to say that Natalie Douglas is a little obsessed with Cher. Throughout TRIBUTES: CHER, the latest in her award-winning TRIBUTES series, Douglas made her way through the icon's life from her early career up to the present, both in song and in story. But the real focus of the July 16 show at Birdland wasn't necessarily in identifying with the woman, the myth, the legend that is Cher. (After all, how can anyone fully relate to someone for whom a phrase as simple as "Hi again" is a meme-able moment?) (more...)  BWW Review: Tovah Feldshuh Means Business as LEONA! at Feinstein's/54 Belowby Troy Frisby - July 27, 2018 Leona Helmsley shuffled back to this mortal coil for one night only---three, actually---and, as portrayed by Tovah Feldshuh, she's lost none of her bite in those intervening years. From the start, Feldshuh's Leona narrowed her eyes into a hard stare that would put Paddington to shame, never letting up for a moment. (more...)  BWW Interview: Alaska Talks ON GOLDEN GIRLS, Why RuPaul Is A Total Rose Nylund, And Her New DRAG RACE-Themed Podcastby Troy Frisby - July 25, 2018 If you know one thing about Alaska, it's that she won RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE ALL-STARS 2. If you know a second thing about her, it's probably that she's obsessed with THE GOLDEN GIRLS. So much so, in fact, that the drag queen and her partner-in-crime, Handsome Jeremy, molded that obsession into a live show, which returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre for an encore run in August. Before Alaska kicks off the latest string of shows, we spoke with her by phone about what fans can expect from the aptly-titled show, ON GOLDEN GIRLS, which pays tribute to the musical stylings featured on the beloved sitcom. (more...)  BWW Review: Original Cast of PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES Reunites at Feinstein's/54 Below for Energetic Concertby Melanie Votaw - July 24, 2018 PUMP BOYS AND DINETTES was my first Broadway musical, so it not only holds a special place in my heart, but I still remember most of the lyrics. Running for 577 performances in 1982-83 and earning a Tony nomination for Best Musical, PUMP BOYS was 'the little show that could' with just six cast members and a small set. But the characters and songs captured many fans who came out to relive the experience at Feinstein's/54 Below July 22. (more...)  BWW Review: Adrienne Truscott Plays Both Comedian and Performance Artist in ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT'S A ONE TRICK PONYby Audrey Moyce - July 10, 2018 If you've heard of Adrienne Truscott's work, the title of her current show, ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT'S A ONE TRICK PONY (OR ANDY KAUFMAN IS A FEMINIST PERFORMANCE ARTIST AND I'M A COMEDIAN), is self-explanatory: she last made waves with ADRIENNE TRUSCOTT'S ASKING FOR IT, a comedy special in which she stood on stage, naked from the waist down, and told rape jokes for an hour. So why is it, Truscott asks, that a woman who has just told a bunch of jokes is labeled a feminist performance artist, while Andy Kaufman, a man who never told a single joke, was labeled a comedian? Isn't it, Truscott asks, ironic? (more...)  BWW Interview: Becca Blackwell Talks THEY, THEMSELF AND SCHMERM, Mining Humor from Difficult Topics, and the Butterfly Effect of Queer Artistsby Troy Frisby - June 20, 2018 'You're never going to see yourself onstage unless you write for yourself.' That's what Becca Blackwell was told by their friend, Michelle Matlock, who had written THE MAMMY PROJECT as a solo show for herself. That idea, coupled with encouragement from Blackwell's partner and 'prolific' fellow artist, Erin Markey, led Blackwell to write THEY, THEMSELF AND SCHMERM. (more...)  BWW Feature: The BROADWAY PRINCESS PARTY Continues to Bring Magic to New York and Beyondby Troy Frisby - June 18, 2018 The BROADWAY PRINCESS PARTY is having a homecoming of sorts. The brand, led by Benjamin Rauhala and Laura Osnes (Rodgers and Hammerstein's CINDERELLA), touched down at Feinstein's/54 Below (then simply 54 Below) back in August 2015, returning for four more engagements over the next three years. When the show returns to the space on June 25, it will look a bit different than what New York audiences may have come to expect. (more...) BWW Review: Gina Gershon Gets Wild in Her Cafe Carlyle Debut by Troy Frisby - June 14, 2018 'God, you guys are easy,' Gina Gershon joked at Cafe Carlyle, after garnering applause simply for taking off her jacket. (more...)  BWW Review: Salty Brine Connects Weezer and Puccini In His New LIVING RECORD COLLECTION Installment, I'M A LOT LIKE YOUby Audrey Moyce - June 13, 2018 Salty Brine has made what is becoming a familiar move: reckon with your beloved art works which time has "revealed" to be problematic (by which I mean, you have become aware enough to realize this; it was problematic from the beginning). (more...)  BWW Interview: Daniel Quadrino Returns to Feinstein's/54 Below With His Friends In Towby Gianluca Russo - June 11, 2018 On June 12, Daniel Quadrino will make his return to Feinstein's/54 Below for a night of laughter, music, great times and, yes, even a song by Shawn Mendes. We took a few minutes to chat with him before the show to get all the details before the big night. (more...)  BWW Review: BenDeLaCreme Raises Hell in INFERNO A GO-GO at the Laurie Beechman Theatreby Troy Frisby - June 1, 2018 Welcome to the exciting world of "14th century Italian literature." If that's not exactly a thrilling prospect for you, don't worry: BenDeLaCreme's INFERNO A GO-GO has more than enough sugar the help the medicina go down. (more...)  Celia Berk Returns to The Beach Cafe with LOVE IS JUST SAND on June 2by BWW News Desk - May 29, 2018 Celia Berk brings LOVE IS JUST SAND back to The Beach Cafe on June 2, 2018 at 8:15 pm. (more...)  BWW Review: Kathleen Turner Harnesses Her Power in FINDING MY VOICE at Cafe Carlyleby Troy Frisby - May 28, 2018 Kathleen Turner is many things, but bashful isn't one of them. (more...)  BWW Review: Liz Callaway Honors Female Role Models at Feinstein's/54 Belowby Melanie Votaw - May 29, 2018 In her new show A HYMN TO HER at Feinstein's/54 Below, Liz Callaway paid tribute to numerous women who have served as her role models. (more...)  BWW Interview: DRAG RACE's BenDeLaCreme Talks INFERNO A GO-GO, Life After ALL STARS 3 and Making Art Accessibleby Troy Frisby - May 23, 2018 BenDeLaCreme may have been dubbed 'BenDeLaChrist' by Aja on RUPAUL'S DRAG RACE ALL STARS 3, but for her next act, the queen is headed straight to Hell. (more...)  Photo Coverage: Explore Islands Philippines Expo in NYC Opensby BWW News Desk - May 11, 2018 The Explore Islands Philippines expo invites visitors to discover, experience, and invest in the Philippines. (more...)  BWW Review: Justin Vivian Bond Colors Outside the Lines with BOYS IN THE TREES at Joe's Pubby Troy Frisby - May 8, 2018 In Bond's latest show, BOYS IN THE TREES, the performer seems particularly interested in exploring what happens when one colors outside prescribed lines of gender---masculinity, in particular---primarily performing songs by men who did just that. (more...)  Jon Jon Briones Presents Honorary Awards at 2018 Unity Gala, 5/11by BWW News Desk - May 6, 2018 Olivier Award-nominated actor Jon Jon Briones will present the honorary "Nepales" awards at the Friends of the Philippines Society USA's maiden benefit dinner, titled "2018 Unity Gala," on Friday, May 11, 6 p.m. at Cipriani 42nd Street. (more...)  BWW Interview: Varla Jean Merman Talks Upcoming Show WONDER MERMAN, Inspiring Women, and The Changing Landscape of Dragby Troy Frisby - May 1, 2018 Drag artist Varla Jean Merman's new show, WONDER MERMAN, pays tribute to inspirational women throughout history, both real and fictional. The idea that "behind every great man, there's a great woman" feels tone-deaf, at best. But a more arcane expression that may actually hold true is that behind many a great drag queen, there's a great man. (more...)  Discover the Philippines' Travel Destinations & Festivals at Grand Central Terminal, May 9 to 12by Oliver Oliveros - April 27, 2018 From May 9 to 12, New York's beaux-arts landmark Grand Central Terminal will provide the backdrop to showcase the 7,641 islands that make up the Philippines, which is promoting its vacation destinations, along with its captivating festivals! (more...)  BWW Review: Broadway's Resilient Moms Gather At Feinstein's/54 Below To Send Love And Light to Ruthie Ann Milesby Troy Frisby - April 2, 2018 Of the many great parts of the Broadway community and the performing arts community at large, perhaps the greatest is its ability to come together and provide support for one another. BROADWAY BABY MAMAS, held at Feinstein's/54 Below on March 15 little more than a week after the unthinkable tragedy involving Ruthie Ann Miles, was an incredible example of just how deep that support runs. (more...)  BWW Review: Tilda Swinton Moves Into The Laurie Beechman In The Absurd and Exquisite TILDA SWINTON ANSWERS AN AD ON CRAIGSLISTby Audrey Moyce - April 2, 2018 Byron Lane's meditation on the artifice and projection of fame and celebrity is brilliantly explored through the prism of Tom Lenk's exquisitely crafted performance in TILDA SWINTON ANSWERS AN AD ON CRAIGSLIST, which ran March 16-25 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. CRAIGSLIST's Tilda is almost better than the real thing, because she is utterly raw in being herself, and Lenk was a treat to behold for all of the show's 80-odd minutes; his performance and Lane's writing were equally superb. (more...) BWW Review: Bebe Neuwirth Serves Up an Acting Lesson at Feinstein's/54 Below by Melanie Votaw - April 6, 2018 If you want to know how to act a song, go see Bebe Neuwirth, who recently performed STORIES WITH PIANO, #1 at Feinstein's/54 Below. (more...)  BWW Review: Feinstein's/54 Below Pays Tribute to BABY: THE MUSICAL and Benefits Planned Parenthoodby Melanie Votaw - March 25, 2018 For nearly 35 years, I have loved the score of BABY, the Broadway musical that ran for 241 performances from 1983 to 1984 and made Liz Callaway a star. So, it was thrilling to hear the music sung in concert by a stellar cast at Feinstein's/54 Below on March 18, the proceeds of which went to Planned Parenthood. (more...)  BWW Review: Full of Contradictions and Multitudes, Lena Hall Nails the Part in THE ART OF THE AUDITIONby Ashley Steves - March 16, 2018 Quite the contradiction, no one is as simultaneously surprised and unfazed by Lena Hall's success as Lena Hall. (more...) |
