Circle Mirror Transformation

I had the pleasure of attending a dress rehearsal of Alaina's new show at Playwrights Horizon last night and it is excellent. Sure, I give all her shows great reviews (she is the Production Stage Manager) but it's only because she works on great projects! This show takes place over six weeks in an acting class in rural Vermont and features five extremely talented actors playing five unsuccessful actors searching for their role in life. Yeah, it's meta... The characters all face serious emotional baggage and end up tearing each other down. It is heartbreaking on some levels, inspiring on…

Superhuman

I am a fan of basically any type of entertainment spectacle, from sports contests to film and TV to concerts. I like when people demonstrate extraordinary humanity and push the limits of our own experience. But if I had to show an alien just one event in hopes of proving our survival worthiness, I might take it to Cirque de Soleil. It has everything: music, dance, comedy and unbelievable stunts. Performing feats of strength and concentration with potentially lethal risks, these performers bring you onto the precipice with them, jarring your nerves and repacing your heart. At times, it is…

Billy Elliot

Wow. I am blown away by this Broadway production, based on the movie about a boy who just wants to dance. His story is woven tightly into the story of the 1984 British Miners' Strike, which consumes his family and community. The battles fought on all fronts are emotionally devastating and Elton John's music is beautiful; combined they create a deeply stirring experience. Struggles can end in victory or defeat but either way, they define our character more than anything else. There are three boys playing Billy, and last night we saw Trent Kowalik, who was phenomenal. Besides being a…