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

"Art isn't easy," but when everything comes together just right, the results are sensational. Such is the case in the sumptuous revival of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George . The Stephen Sondheim – James Lapine  musical follows the artistic endeavors of two Georges, the late-19th century painter, Georges Seurat, and George, an American artist (whom we meet in 1984) who, in this story, is a descendant of Seurat. Both artists (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) struggle with "putting it together," balancing (not always successfully) the different parts of their lives that ultimately make up their art. Both must contend with the continual push and pull of competing forces; Seurat's main contention is between his personal life (making room for his lover, Dot (Annaleigh Ashford), and his art) while George is consumed with the tension between commerce and art. In "Finishing the Hat," one of the show's most famous songs...

Unfortunately, the glorious concert version of Sunday in the Park with George played only four performances. But what a treat for those of us who got to see it. With the limited run now concluded, herein you'll find just a few notes about the production. Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford is magical. I am convinced there's nothing she can't do. Her Dot was funny and sensitive and heartfelt and layered, and her Marie was equally funny and touching. I feel lucky that I've had the chance watch her career blossom (from a Heathers reading and a member of the replacement Tribe to Kinky Boots and her Tony-winning turn in You Can't Take It With You ), and look forward to watching her perform for years to come. Jake Gyllenhaal was so good presenting a portrait of an artist as a young man. His two Georges seemed different on the surface, but Gyllenhaal showed how similar they are. He loses himself in characters, delving deep into their psyche, and, here, he painted ...

NYC Dance Project— The Art of Movement My Modern Met has some of the incredible photos that have been taken as part of the NYC Dance Project, a photo series that captures the art and movement of ballet dancers. Featured dancers in the My Modern Met excerpt include NYCB's Tiler Peck , Chase Finlay , and Zachary Catazaro , as well as dancers from Alvin Ailey, ABT, Martha Graham, Bolshoi Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Ballet de Santiago. Those and additional photos have been compiled into a coffee table book, The Art of Movement , which is now available for pre-order . Sunday in the Park with George Casting Additional casting the for upcoming benefit concerts of Sunday in the Park with George  has been announced. Among those joining stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford are Tony nominee  Brooks Ashmanskas ( Shuffle Along... ); Tony nominee   Phillip Boykin  ( Porgy and Bess ,  On the Town ); Max Chernin ...

The winners for the 69th Tony Awards have been announced and honored! I thought hosts Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth were marvelous. (I especially liked Cumming's fake freak outs over Josh Groban.) The broadcast left something to be desired, though, namely all the design and "creative" (rather than performance) categories. It is unacceptable to be honoring excellence on Broadway and not show, in full, acceptance speeches from the people who created the shows—the book and songwriters; the choreographers; the lighting, scenic and costume designers. And the Tony Awards Administration Committee MUST reinstate the Sound Design categories. Finally, all shows that are nominated for Best Musical, Best Revival of a Musical and Best Score should perform, and only those shows. Without any further ado, here is the full list of winners, with winners in bold typeface and notated with an asterisk. (First the plays, then the musicals.) Best Play The Curious Incident of...

An American in Paris Sitzprobe The company of Christopher Wheeldon 's An American in Paris are in the City of Lights rehearsing for the show's world premiere at the Theatre du Chatelet. ( Check out this video of them making their way to Europe .) This week brought the all-important sitzprobe (literally: sit and sing), which is the first time the orchestra and cast (which includes Robert Fairchild ( look how excited he is ) and Leanne Cope ) come together in the same room to play/sing through the score. (And this is a gorgeous score; An American in Paris is a Gershwin trunk musical.) The musical, directed and choreographed by Wheeldon and featuring an updated book by Craig Lucas , runs in Paris November 21-January 4, 2015. Broadway previews (at the Palace) begin March 13, with opening night set for April 12. Watch highlights from the sitzprobe below, then head to anamericaninparisonbroadway.com to purchase tickets. Casting Updates Off-Broadway —Full casting has ...