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

Blackbird  is intense. David Harrower 's two-hander packs a lot of history and angst into the knock-down, drag out war that makes up the 90-minute play. As some of the marketing materials have said, Ray (Jeff Daniels) and Una (Michelle Williams) had a relationship some 15 years ago. Today, in the plain, fluorescent-lit break room at Ray's office, they'll have their reckoning. The relationship, as you might guess if you have an idea of the actors' age difference, was an inappropriate one. When Una was 12 and Ray was 40, the two had a three-month long sexual affair, and though Ray already went to trial and served some time for it, Una has arrived (unannounced) to re-litigate the abuse. It's not fun. It absolutely will make you uncomfortable—how could it not? (Director Joe Mantello ( The Humans , The Last Ship ) is sensitive and careful not to sensationalize the action.) Yet it's unfortunately relevant today, just as it was when it debuted off-Broadway in 2...

Michelle Williams and Jeff Daniels Return to Broadway Oscar nominee   Michelle Williams ( Cabaret , Blue Valentine ) and Emmy winner and Tony nominee Jeff Daniels ( The Newsroom , God of Carnage ) will star in the Broadway debut of Blackbird , which was previously seen in New York off-Broadway. (Daniels starred in that production alongside his Newsroom  costar Alison Pill.) Previews will begin February 5, 2016, with opening night set for March 10. Playing at the Belasco, the limited engagement is scheduled to conclude on June 12. Joe Mantello  ( The Last Ship , Casa Valentina ) directs David Harrower 's play. Broadway.com has more. Lin-Manuel Miranda: Genius The term gets bandied about a lot, often in a cavalier manner. In a recent interview with Rolling Stone , Miranda quipped, "You know a great way to trick people into thinking you're a genius? Write a show about geniuses." (The show he's talking about, of course, is Hamilton .) But now the MacArthur...

PBS Fall Arts Series Announced The lineup for PBS's Fall Arts Festival (airing on consecutive Fridays this fall) has been announced, and it's a great slate of programming. First up, on September 26, is the New York Philharmonic concert presentation of Sweeney Todd , performed this past spring with Emma Thompson as Mrs. Lovett. Next, on October 3, will be Austin City Limits Celebrates 40 Years , in which musicians, including Foo Fighters , Gary Clark, Jr. and Bonnie Raitt , will play and pay tribute to the famed series. That will be followed, on October 10, by The Nance , which bowed on Broadway in the 2012-2013 season and starred Nathan Lane . Other broadcasts include the Great Performances concert featuring Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga (October 24) and Kristin Chenoweth 's Coming Home concert (November 28). Visit Broadwayworld.com for the full schedule, then mark your calendars, set your DVR or fire up your PBS Roku channel! Casting Updates Film — Aaron Tveit ...

Willkommen back, dear readers! In a rare occurrence, Broadway audiences are being treated to a return engagement of a wonderfully successful revival. Opening at Roundabout's Studio 54 in March 1998, the Sam Mendes – Rob Marshall production of Cabaret brought Emcee Alan Cumming stateside, earning the Scottish star a Tony Award and catapulting him to fame. (He can currently be seen on The Good Wife , and he was last seen on Broadway in Macbeth . ) The revival continued through 2004 (I saw it in 2001, when Cumming and Natasha Richardson (as Sally Bowles) had long since left the production), giving Neil Patrick Harris, Michael C. Hall, John Stamos, Norbert Leo Butz and a slew of other top actors an opportunity to welcome people to the Kit Kat Club. But in the 10 years since its closing, audiences have not had the chance to enter said club and enjoy a cabaret. I'm usually wary of revivals. There are so many talented writers out there, and while a revival might be a safer cho...

(Scroll down for news about Aaron Tveit's debut solo album.) New York City Ballet: Justin Peck The 2013-2014 season is almost here! The season kicks off next week in style as the fall gala celebrates collaborations between choreographers and fashion designers. The one night only event will feature the debut of a new Justin Peck ( In Creases , Paz de La Jolla ) ballet. (He's teaming up with Prabal Gurung.) You might recall that the 25 year old phenom is a soloist with the Company as well as a rising choreographer. Learn more about the gala and the Company's season at nycballet.com , and check out the spotlight video featuring Justin Peck below. (Scroll down for more good news for NYCB dancers.) Downton Abbey Trailer The fourth season of the hit British soap opera will air in the UK this fall and come to US TV screens in early 2014. Here's a look at what you can expect when the series returns: Casting Updates Will Chase  ( The Mystery of Edw...