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

There's a musical about two guys writing a musical. It's filled with musical theatre "in-crowd" references. Heidi Blickenstaff is a featured player. It's an original, on Broadway. Only this time, it's much more than four chairs and a keyboard, and there's a bigger budget. Where [title of show]  looked for the emotional touchstones of creating a musical—creating anything, really—the original musical  Something Rotten  looks for opportunities to (lovingly) lampoon the art form. That isn't exactly a dig. Something Rotten  is a hilarious love letter to the theatre, with tongue firmly in cheek. It was conceived by brothers Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick , both of whom wrote the score. (The book is by Karey Kirkpatrick and John O'Farrell .) Set in 1595, the story focuses on the Bottom brothers, Nick (Brian d'Arcy James) and Nigel (John Cariani), two writers overshadowed by rock star writer William Shakespeare (Christian Borle). Looking for success, ...

Upcoming Farewells We learned this week that a few shows will be concluding their Broadway runs. One of these devastates me. The Last Ship is concluding its Broadway run. I'm so saddened by this news. The Last Ship is a beautiful show, original in concept and score (penned by Sting ), with fantastic performances. ( Lin-Manuel Miranda is right : Everything Michael Esper does is magic.) The new musical had been struggling at the box office (because it didn't receive a rave from the Times ; because it's in a too-big house; because of the time of year; because it wasn't a recognizable commodity; because there wasn't a marquee name (to most ticket buyers) starring in it—not because it isn't good) when Sting stepped on stage, but producers just can't see a way to keep the ship afloat after his departure on January 24, which will be the final performance. I'm so sad. See it now if you can, and pick up the original Broadway cast recording. It's a tr...

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2015 I love rock and roll, and so do these people. The 2015 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame class has been announced. Lou Reed ; Green Day ; Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble ; Joan Jett and the Blackhearts ; Bill Withers ; and the Paul Butterfield Blues Band will be inducted in an April 18, 2015, ceremony. In addition, Ringo Starr will receive the Award for Musical Excellence, and "5" Royales will receive the Early Influence Award. As you may know, artists are eligible for nomination into the Hall 25 years after their first release. Green Day make it in on their first year of eligibility. Reed was previously inducted with the Velvet Underground but will be posthumously inducted as a solo artist. And, as Rolling Stone notes , Starr is the last of the Beatles (inducted as a band in 1988) to be inducted as a solo artist. An edited version of the induction ceremony and concert will likely air on HBO in May, as has been the case in the ...