Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

Early in Joshua Harmon 's fantastic new play, Significant Other , our protagonist, Jordan ( Gideon Glick ), says to his friend, Laura ( Lindsay Mendez ), that the point of life is finding someone to go through it with. Laura replies that that seems easy. Jordan is adamant: No, it's not easy. It's the hardest thing ever to know  that's the point and then spend you life trying to find that significant other. Preach, Jordan. Jordan, a gay man in his late twenties, is close with his friends, Laura, Kiki ( Sas Goldberg ) and Vanessa ( Carra Patterson ). At rise, the four are celebrating at Kiki's bachelorette party. One by one, we watch as Jordan's friends—his significant others—couple up. ( John Behlmann and Luke Smith also appear as multiple characters, some significant some not.) Throughout, he fulfills his grandson duties by visiting his grandmother (usually played by Barbara Barrie; played by Alice Cannon when I saw the play), who's lived long enough ...

Casting News Prisoner 24601 has been cast. Ramin Karimloo , a West End star, has landed the coveted role of Jean Valjean in the upcoming Broadway revival of Les Miserables . (He's currently playing the role in the Toronto production; check out this Show People episode to learn about Karimloo , whose first name is pronounced Ra-meen.) He'll be pursued by Will Swenson ( Hair , Murder Ballad ), who will star as Javert. Joining Karimloo and Swenson are Caissie Levy ( Hair , Ghost , Murder Ballad ) as Fantine and Tony winner Nikki M. James ( The Book of Mormon ) as Eponine. Les Miserables will begin previews at the Imperial Theatre on March 1, 2014, with opening night set for March 23. Broadway.com has more. (Bonuses: Will Swenson reacts to the news , and all four talk to Broadway World about taking on the iconic musical.) Laura Benanti ( Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown ) will guest star on the upcoming sixth season of Showtime's Nurse Jackie . She joins...

(Scroll down to find out what Zachary Levi's dating dos and don'ts are!) City.Ballet I've been telling you about this New York City Ballet documentary series, set to air on AOL, for several months and now we have an official air date: November 4. Beginning then, you'll get a behind the scenes look at what it ' s like to be a professional ballet dancer. In this article from the Wall Street Journal , the dancers, like principal Teresa Reichlen , and producers, like Sarah Jessica Parker , are quick to point out that this is not some sensationalized reality series. It really is a documentary series, with rehearsal and performance footage mixed with interviews. Tune into AOL On ( on.aol.com ) beginning November 4 for your chance to see New York's finest dancers. (And head to nycballet.com for more information about the Company and to purchase tickets; the fall season finishes this weekend but tickets for The Nutcracker are now on sale.) Casting News ...

Broadway Idiot The documentary film, chronicling Billie Joe Armstrong's journey from a punk rocker recording the seminal Green Day album American Idiot  to a Broadway star, packing St James Theatre for American Idiot 's Broadway run, will be out on October 11 (in theaters and through various On Demand services). The doc features Armstrong and his band mates, Tre Cool and Mike Dirnt, as well as the stage show's creative team, including director Michael Mayer  and composer Tom Kitt  (a genius). (B-roll footage shows actors John Gallagher, Jr. , Rebecca Naomi Jones , Tony Vincent  and more!) Head to Rolling Stone  to check out an exclusive clip of the creatives recording "21 Guns," and then look for the flick on October 11! (Visit broadwayidiot.com to learn more about the film.) New York City Ballet Spotlight The 2013-2014 season is underway with fall performances. So far, I've had the pleasure of attending the Fall Gala performance , which included a worl...

The nominations for the 62nd annual Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced earlier today. (These awards honor excellence in Broadway and off-Broadway, and are presented by writers and commentators who cover New York theatre for out-of-town media outlets.) Pippin leads with 11 nominations, though Kinky Boots is not far behind with nine nods (look for my review of Kinky Boots later this week). Winners will be announced May 13 and honored at a luncheon on May 23. Herein, the full list of nominees. Outstanding New Broadway Play Grace (by Craig Wright) Lucky Guy (by Nora Ephron) The Nance (by Douglas Carter Beane) The Testament of Mary (by Colm Toibin) Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike (by Christopher Durang) Outstanding New Broadway Musical Chaplin A Christmas Story Hands on a Hardbody Kinky Boots Matilda Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play Bad Jews (by Joshua Harmon) Cock (by Mike Bartlett) My Name is Asher Lev (by Aaron Posner) Really Really (by ...