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

The Newsroom  Season Two In this week's episode, "Unintended Consequences," we got to see what happened to Maggie (Alison Pill) while she was in Africa. I have to admit, I thought they were going somewhere else the with "incident" but regardless, I thought this provided great character development for her, and I'm looking forward to seeing how she handles herself in the newsroom in the coming weeks. Some items from the week: Aaron Sorkin answers fans' questions on HBO Connect Constance Zimmer (who plays the Romney staffer, Taylor, and who can also be seen in House of Cards ) answers fans' questions, also on HBO Connect John Gallagher, Jr. , talks to The Hollywood Reporter  about The Newsroom  and his upcoming film, Short Term 12 ; the article, "Nice Guys Finish First," also points readers to my new favorite thing, the "Harper or Halpert" Tumblr , which compares The Newsroom 's Jim Harper to The Office 's Jim Halp...

To paraphrase The Cranberries, everybody else is doing it, so why can’t I? Herein, I take my Year in Review list to 11 (because it goes to 11). This list (presented in alphabetical order) represents my favorite arts and current events goings on of the year, and beyond the 11 I’ve included some honorable mentions, pieces that were great but didn’t quite make the “favorite” cut.  All Wheeldon Night at NYC Ballet : An extraordinary night of ballet, City Ballet's first-ever night of ballet devoted to neither founding choreographer was a success. In Wheeldon's choreography, we see traces of both Balanchine and Robbins, as well as what is possible when exceptional dance is paired with an all-encompassing vision. Not to mention that the three pieces, Les Carillons (a world premiere), Polyphonia (his breakthrough work) and DGV: Danse a Grande Vitesse (a New York premiere) were exquisite. The 2013 Spring Gala will mark another Wheeldon world premiere, and I can't...

Word on the street is that director Kathryn Bigelow and screenwriter and former journalist Mark Boal (the pair that brought us The Hurt Locker ) were working on a related but different film when Seal Team Six killed Osama Bin Laden in May 2011. Bigelow and Boal then shifted focus and received unprecedented access to possibly classified files and people’s stories in order to bring us the true-ish story of “the greatest manhunt in history,” the search for public enemy number one.  Zero Dark Thirty is a gripping tale that is unflinchingly directed and wonderfully acted (particularly by leading lady Jessica Chastain). Though some might find it difficult to watch (there are scenes of torture and many may still be processing the recent history) I found it to be thought-provoking and slightly empowering. The decision for a nation to deliberately kill someone - even a terrorist - is a complicated one. I remember hearing the news “we’d” gotten Bin Laden and watching Presiden...

(This is the last Media Morsels of 2012. In lieu of a new Media Morsels next week, I'll present my Year in Review.) Casting News - The Last Five Years The New York revival of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years has found it Cathy and Jamie : Betsy Wolfe ( The Mystery of Edwin Drood ) and Adam Kantor (Mark in the final Broadway company of Rent ). Wolfe and Kantor will bring to life the roles originated off-Broadway by Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz, and tell the story of Cathy and Jamie's five-year relationship from beginning to end and end to beginning. (The unique structure of the show has us experiencing Cathy's side of the story from end to beginning and Jamie's side of the story from beginning to end.) The Second Stage production, which will be directed by Brown, begins previews on March 7, 2013, and officially opens on April 2. (The show is scheduled to conclude its limited run on April 21, but I wouldn't be surprised if it is extend...

President Barack Obama Re-Elected Ladies and gentlemen, the election is behind us and we have a winner: the American people. Not only did Americans vote President Obama into a second term , they also voted several women into office (including Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), the first openly gay women elected to the Senate.) Three states voted for marriage equality (MD, ME and WA), with one, Minnesota, voting against a ban on marriage equality, and two states voted to legalize marijuana for recreational use while one, Massachusetts, voted for medical marijuana. It's all a terrific outcome, in my opinion, and in these last few days since the election I've been thankful for the right to have my voice heard in this Republic. Visit my Tumblr   and Playbill for other Election Day reactions. (On a related note: Vice President Joe Biden will make a cameo on the November 15th episode of Parks and Recreation . Rolling Stone has details. Rolling Stone also ...

There wasn't a lot of entertainment news this week in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. If you can, consider assisting in the Hurricane Relief effort. Check in with New York Cares to find out how you can volunteer and help out. You can also make a donation in support of relief efforts; donate through the URJ's Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund [the URJ is a non-profit organization that will make sure your donation goes to those on the ground, not overhead costs] or the Red Cross . Storm-related Updates: Bruce Springsteen and friends, including Bon Jovi and Billy Joel , will perform at a benefit concert in support of the victims of Hurricane Sandy. The concert will take place and be broadcast live on NBC, HBO and other networks tonight (November 2). The event will be hosted by Matt Lauer. Rolling Stone has details. Dead Accounts , the new Theresa Rebeck play starring Norbert Leo Butz and Katie Holmes , will begin previews on November 5, two days later than originall...