January 20th was not only the inauguration of  President Barack Obama, but the broadway debut of former Saturday Night Live quipster, Will Ferrell.  He will be playing our 43rd President George Bush in the solo comedy “You’re Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush.”  The play is co-written by Adam McKay, who wrote and directed the Ferrell movies, “Anchorman”, “Talladega Nights”, and “Step Brothers”.  The Cort Theater is hosting the American comedian for a limited engagement scheduled to close March 15th, so don’t wait to get your tickets.

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Tags: Adam McKay, Barack Obama, broadway, Cort Theater, George W. Bush, Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell on Broadway

The New York Times claimed The Garden of Earthly Delight “ one of the most eerily hypnotic spectacles of flesh in motion ever put on a New York stage.”  Martha Clarke brings Hieronymus Bosch’s painting to life.  Through dance, theater, and music the cast of The Garden of Earthly Delight tells the story of creation, sin, damnation and salvation.  This show is an experience you don’t want to miss.  Closing night is March 1, 2009.

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Tags: Art, bosch, creation, damnation, dance, garden of earthly delight, martha clarke, Music, new york theater, new york times, painting, salvation, sin, theater

Two bookcases, a desk, and a few chairs adorn the modest stage.  As the hour nears 8pm, the 99 seats of the Algonquin Theater fill up quickly.  An audience always carries a heightened sense of excitement in more intimate theaters.  No seat goes without a close and in person view of the set and characters coming to life.  

Dr. Peterson is a psychiatrist dealing with individuals from “all slices of life.”  Sunshine is an alcoholic, Mary is abused by her husband, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy fight constantly, Milton is a Bob Dylan impersonator trying to be anything but himself, and Leila is a sassy gal filled with self-doubt. The characters are fairly stereotypical and over exaggerated but there is one who stole the show.  Scott Richard Foster, who plays George Preston, is an absolute talent.  His acting is spot on while his voice creates the chills.  

Albert M. Tapper’s musical Sessions opens at the Algonquin Theater January 14th.  Tickets are $50 or $20 if you are a student or senior, well worth it even if it is only to see Scott Richard Foster work the stage.

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Tags: Albert M. Tapper, Algonquin Theater, Bob Dylan, Musical, off-broadway, Scott Richard Foster, Sessions: a new musical, stage, theater

The 2007 hit musical Spring Awakening has claimed January 18th, 2009 as its closing date.  The show has acquired 8 Tony’s during its 3 year run on Broadway, and is one of the best musicals on stage today.  

The original Spring Awakening, written by Frank Wedekind in 1891 was considered to be terribly controversial.  Set in Germany in the late nineteenth century, the story revolves around teenagers as they discover sexuality and all that it entails.  Rape, abortion, masturbation, and sexual orientation are some of the many important issues Spring Awakening covers.  

The music, written by the amazing Duncan Sheik, brings this story to life through rock-n-roll.  The tunes are catchy, the story is both hilarious and moving, and the 18th is going to creep up on you quickly so hurry up and get a ticket.

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Tags: broadway, controversial, duncan sheik, musicals, sex, spring awakening, Tony's

While taking photographs for recognized magazines such as the New York Times Magazine, Interview, Rolling Stone, and GQ, Danielle Levitt never lost sight of her dream to photograph portraits of the American youth.  She has traveled the country stopping in metropolitan, suburban, and rural areas alike looking to capture the passions of our prime. 

The detailed and systematic exposition of photography has been published by PowerHouse Books making this Levitt’s first monograph.  We Are Experienced  has been out on shelves since November 2008.

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Tags: American Youth, Art, Danielle Levitt, GQ, Interview Magazine, Monograph, New York Times Magazine, photography, portraits, Powerhouse Books, Rolling Stone, We Are Experienced

Moved to tears, I sit with my eyes unable to blink in fear of missing even a second of the brilliance that lay before me.  The stage opens on set of an old theater house where Mama Rose has entered her girls in a talent contest.   From city to city, town to town they travel with dreams of Stardom.  

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Running two hours and 30 minutes, the play never once leaves you antsy.  Gypsy’s stellar cast, including Laura Benanti and Boyd Gaines, satisfies your eyes and ears.  The dynamism of Patti LuPone in the broadway revival Gypsy beckoned a standing ovation at numerous times throughout the performance.  Her stage presence was devastatingly poignant, well deserving of the 2008 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.  The St. James Theatre in NYC’s Times Square, home of the first uncut broadway production of Shakespeare’s Hamlet and the original Oklahoma!,  has been hosting the award winning play since March.

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Tags: Art, Boyd Gaines, Gypsy, Laura Benanti, musicals, Patti LuPone, Plays, Revival Musicals, stage, Tony Award 2008

A married couple tries to set up their friends, what should have been a harmless deed takes an interesting turn in this witty, romantic story. Gina Gionfriddo is no stranger to the Broadway theater scene.  Becky Shaw will be her 3rd play to run in New York.  The play began to create buzz at the Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theater of Louisville back in April, and just 9 months later it is now previewing at The Second Stage Theater.  The official opening is set for January 8th, 2009.  This is not a ticket you want to wait around to buy, the show is only on until February.

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Tags: Becky Shaw, broadway, Gina Gionfriddo, Humana Festival of New American Plays, New York, Romantic Comedy, theater

The living and singing sculptural duo, Gilbert and George have been creating art since the late 60′s while the two were still studying in London at the University of the Arts.   Upon meeting, the two had a compelling attraction that molded one highly controversial and innovative unit that has been internationally acclaimed.  They made a name for themselves in 1969 for their project, “The Singing Sculpture”,  where the two stood on a table, covered their heads and hands, and sang the popular WWII song  ”Underneath The Arches” by Flannagan and Allen.  After that they were asked to recreate this experience, sometimes standing and singing for eight hours or more.  Gilbert and George, based on these performances, decided to film their living sculpture projects to reach a broader population.  They currently reside in London’s East End and many of the images used in their art work is taken from the neighborhood surrounding them.

Tate Modern of London has organized a retrospective by the awarded duo and the Brooklyn Museum will be hosting the exhibit through January 11th, which marks over twenty years of Gilbert and George’s work.

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Tags: Art, Brooklyn Museum, Gilbert & George, living sculpture, sculpture, Singing Sculpture (1969), Tate Modern

Henrik Ibsen, “The Father of Modern Drama,” is one of Norway’s greatest playwrights of all time.  His plays were considered scandalous to his 19th Century audience, as they encouraged the audience to ponder life’s issues and morals.  In 1891 Ibsen’s play Hedda Gabler opened up to poor reviews, that same play is now considered to be a classic.  Oh how far we’ve come!

The story is fueled by Hedda Gabler’s desire to live a luxuriously, carefree lifestyle.  Hedda will stop at nothing to ensure her comfy future, and is lead to despicable deeds, lies, and death.

The Show is back on broadway in January with a familiar face in the lead role.   A role played by the likes of Cate Blanchet and Judy Davis is now being filled by Mary-Louise Parker, otherwise known as Nancy in Weeds.

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Tags: broadway, Cate Blanchet, Hedda Galber, Henrik Ibsen, Judy Davis, Mary-Louise Parker, modern drama, Norway, theater, Weeds

Joey Evans has a dream, and he wants a sugar mama to help him get it. The story comes from John O’Hara’s 1939 novel and first hit the stage in 1940.   Pal Joey is back on Broadway and is one hot ticket, Tony and Emmy Award winner Stockard Channing, Matthew Risch, and Tony and Emmy nominated Martha Plimpton make up the stories lead roles.  The Show’s opening night is Tomorrow, December 16th.

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Tags: broadway, John O'Hara, Martha Plimpton, Mathew Risch, novel, nyc, Pal Joey, Stockard Channing, theater