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

Creative Arts Emmys The primetime Emmy Awards are this Sunday ( here's the list of nominees ), but this past Saturday and Sunday, the creative people who, for the most part, work behind the scenes to bring you your favorite shows were honored. Grease Live took home four awards: Outstanding Lighting for a Variety Special; Outstanding Production Design for a Variety Special ( Hamilton and Dear Evan Hansen 's David Korins ); Outstanding Technical Director for a Limited Series, Movie, or Special; and Outstanding Special Class Program (this award goes to the producers, making Tony winner Thomas Kail an Emmy winner). Other winners included the writing staff for Last Week Tonight with John Oliver , Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series; recent Tony winner Paul Tazewell ( Hamilton ), for Outstanding Costumes for a Variety Special for The Wiz Live ; and Tina Fey and Amy Poehler , Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series, for their SNL hosting appearance. Visit the Emmy...

Lazarus in London A London production of Lazarus will be mounted this fall. Featuring music from the late, great David Bowie 's catalog (and a few new tunes) and a book by Enda Walsh , Lazarus is inspired by and is a continuation of The Man Who Fell to Earth . Michael C. Hall , Michael Esper , and Sophia Anne Caruso , who starred in the off-Broadway run last year, will reprise their roles across the pond. Lazarus will begin previews at the Kings Cross Theatre on October 25. Opening night is set for November 8, and the limited engagement is scheduled to conclude January 22, 2017. Broadway.com has more. Casting News Oscar winner and Tony nominee Lupita Nyong'o ( 12 Years a Slave , Eclipsed ), Tony nominee Danai Gurira ( Eclipsed ), and the great Michael B. Jordan ( Fruitvale Station ) have joined the previously announced Chadwick Boseman in Ryan Coogler's Marvel flick, Black Panther . Deadline has details. Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth ( On the Twentieth...

Nominees for the 2015-2016 Drama Desk Awards were announced. These awards honor excellence in Broadway and off-Broadway, and are voted on by theater critics, journalists, editors, and publishers. Winners will be announced at that June 5 ceremony. Herein, the full list of nominees. (Note that, because it was considered last year during its off-Broadway run, Hamilton was not eligible this year.) Outstanding Play The Christians The Humans John King Charles III The Royale Outstanding Musical First Daughter Suite Daddy Long Legs School of Rock Shuffle Along... Waitress Outstanding Revival of a Play     Cloud Nine Death of a Salesman Henry IV Long Day's Journey Into Night A View from the Bridge Women Without Men Outstanding Revival of a Musical The Color Purple The Golden Bride Fiddler on the Roof She Loves Me Spring Awakening Outstanding Actor in a Play Andrew Garman , The Christians Avi Hoffman , Death of a Salesman Frank Langella , The F...

The nominations for the Outer Critics Circle (OCC) Awards were announced today. These awards honor excellence in both Broadway and off-Broadway. The OCC includes critics covering New York theatre for out-of-town outlets. Note that Hamilton was not considered this year as it was considered (and awarded) last year, for its off-Broadway iteration; only new elements of the Broadway production were considered. In addition, at the request of the show's producers, Shuffle Along... was not considered this year because of the OCC nomination deadline; it will be considered next year. Winners of this year's awards will be announced May 9 and feted May 26. Herein, the full list of nominees (unless otherwise noted, categories include Broadway and off-Broadway): Outstanding New Broadway Play Eclipsed The Father The Humans King Charles III Therese Raquin Outstanding New Broadway Musical American Psycho Bright Star On Your Feet Tuck Everlasting Waitress Outstanding New Off-...

The Lucille Lortel Awards honor excellence in off-Broadway. Winners will be announced and honored at the May 1 ceremony. Herein, the full list of nominees, as well as special award recipients. (Unless indicated, categories were open to both plays and musicals.) Of note: There are several incredible shows, performances, and creative efforts that did not get nominated (say, like, Significant Other ), which just shows how rich the off-Broadway scene is these days. Outstanding Play The Christians , by Lucas Hnath  Eclipsed , by Danai Gurira  Gloria , by Branden Jacobs-Jenkins Guards at the Taj , by Rajiv Joseph  John , by Annie Baker Outstanding Musical Futurity , by Cesar Alvarez (music, lyrics, book) and The Lisps (music)  Iowa , by Jenny Schwartz (book and lyrics) and Todd Almond (music and lyrics)  Southern Comfort , by Dan Collins (book and lyrics) and Julianne Wick Davis (music)  Tappin' Thru Life , by Maurice Hines  The Wildness: S...

New York City Ballet Teases New Season The full lineup, including specific performance dates, has not been announced yet, but New York City Ballet did announce the outline of its 2016-2017 season. Most noteworthy is that the season will feature two world premieres by female choreographers . (The last time the company premiered a ballet by a female choreographer was in 2011.) Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and principal dancer Lauren Lovette will choreograph ballets that will premiere at the company's Fall Gala, which will also include a new work by soloist and resident choreographer Justin Peck (one of three ballets he'll create in the season), and a new work by corps de ballet member, Peter Walker . Continuing its focus on new(er) works, the spring season will include a four-week festival of ballets that were commissioned in the last 30 years. Highlights of the festival, I'm sure, will be all–Peck, all– Christopher Wheeldon , and all– Alexei Ratmansky nights. (The company...