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

Coming to the Boards The New Group has announced its 2016-2017 season, and it will begin with a revival of Sweet Charity , starring Sutton Foster . The production will be directed by Leigh Silverman (with whom Foster worked on Violet ) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse ( On the Town ). The season will also include The Whirligig , a new play by Hamish Linklater , starring Zosia Mamet and Maura Tierney ; Wallace Shawn 's Evening at the Talk House ; and All the Fine Boys , written by Erica Schmidt . Playbill has details. ... MTC has added the Broadway debut of August Wilson 's Jitney (directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson ) to its 2016-2017 season, as well as Martyna Majok 's Cost of Living (directed by Jo Bonney). Broadway.com has more. ... The Public Theater has announced, in full, its 2016-2017 season. Highlights include the world premiere of Saint Joan , reuniting Here Lies Love collaborators David Byrne and Alex Timbers ; a revival of David Hare 's Plen...

Shuffle Along, or, The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed  is a long title. It is also a perfect title because it aptly describes act one, Shuffle Along , and act two, all that followed. Conceived by George C. Wolfe , Shuffle Along, or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed  tells the story of the groundbreaking musical, Shuffle Along , remarkable because it was New York's first commercially successful musical written, directed, produced by, and starring African-Americans. (It went on to play 504 performances, and throughout the run and subsequent tours, performers included Paul Robeson and Josephine Baker.) The first act focuses on the show coming together. Noble Sissle ( Joshua Henry ) and Eubie Blake ( Brandon Victor Dixon ) are songwriters working the vaudeville circuit. F.E. Miller ( Brian Stokes Mitchell ) and Aubrey Lyles ( Billy Porter ) are a comedy duo also making the vaudeville rounds. The pairs meet at a ...