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

Casting News Off-Broadway —Thank Thespis, Michael Esper is back. The captivating performer has joined the cast of the upcoming Lazarus , a new musical written by David Bowie. ( Here's a reminder about the musical .) Esper ( American Idiot , The Last Ship ) is joining the previously announced Michael C. Hall. The two men will also be joined by Tony nominee Cristin Milioti ( Once , The Wolf of Wall Street ), Nicholas Christopher ( Whorl Inside a Loop ) and others. Previews begin November 18, with opening night of the New York Theatre Workshop production set for December 7. Broadway.com has the full cast list. Broadway —Initial casting has been announced for the Broadway bow of Tuck Everlasting . Among the cast are Andrew Keenan-Bolger ( Newsies ), Carolee Carmello ( Finding Neverland ), Terrence Mann ( Pippin ), Fred Applegate ( The Last Ship ) and more. (Mann, by the way, will be busy before then; see below.) Previews begin March 31, 2016, with opening night scheduled f...

The nominees for the 67th annual Primetime Emmy Awards were announced. Herein, nominees in select categories. Visit emmys.org for the full list of nominees. Drama Series Outstanding Drama Series Better Call Saul Downton Abbey Game of Thrones Homeland House of Cards Mad Men Orange is the New Black  With new rules landing Orange is the New Black in the drama category and the entry of new series, like Better Call Saul , look for this year's drama slates to look a little different than usual.   Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series Bob Odenkirk , Better Call Saul Kyle Chandler , Bloodline Kevin Spacey , House of Cards Jon Hamm , Mad Men Jeff Daniels , The Newsroom Liev Schreiber , Ray Donovan Does anyone else find it wonderful that the hilarious Bob Odenkirk is gaining such fame these days for drama series? Still, I'm voting Kevin Spacey, although actual voters might get sentimental and award Jon Hamm, as this is the last year Mad Men will be n...

Checking in Off-Broadway There are several great new plays running off-Broadway. Here are interviews and news about some of them: Theater Mania and The New York Times spoke with playwright Joshua Harmon , who broke out a few years ago with Bad Jews , about his latest work, Significant Other , one of the most unflinchingly honest portrayals of being a young, single adult. Significant Other is at Roundabout. Rajiv Joseph 's fantastic new work, Guards at the Taj , has extended its run at the Atlantic Theater Company. The two-hander, which stars Omar Metwally and Arian Moayed , will play through July 12. Get your tickets now . The New York Times spoke with Jeremy Shamos about his career, which includes starring in the provocative new Bruce Norris play, The Qualms , now playing at Playwrights Horizons. The article also notes that Shamos will be part of Roundabout's upcoming Broadway revival of Noises Off . Heisenberg , the new play from Tony winner Simon Stephens ( T...

Casting News Michael Esper ( The Last Ship ) has joined the cast of Shades of Blue , an upcoming NBC series starring Jennifer Lopez. The series is shooting in New York. Deadline has details. Tony winners Gabriel Ebert ( Matilda , Casa Valentina ) and Judith Light ( The Assembled Parties ) have joined the cast of Therese Raquin . The Roundabout revival begins previews October 1, and opening night is set for October 29. Broadway.com has more. Steven Pasquale ( The Bridges of Madison County ),  John Ellison Conlee ( Murder Ballad , The (curious case of the) Watson Intelligence ), Ciara Renee ( Big Fish ) and Miriam Shor (Yitzhak in the original production of Hedwig ) have joined the cast of the Encores! production of The Wild Party . Brandon Victor Dixon ( Motown ) has also joined, replacing the previously announced Joshua Henry. The show runs July 15-18. Broadway.com has more. It is confirmed that Alex Brightman will star in the Broadway run of Andrew Lloyd Webbe...

The New Year is almost here so in lieu of a Week in Review, please enjoy this Year in Review. The Bridges of Madison County Score —Music is better than words, which is what made this show work and why I feel I can't fully express, with mere words, how good the score is. Head to Sh-K-Boom to purchase a copy. You'll thank me. I feel like crying when Kelli O'Hara starts singing "To Build a Home," the opening number. I ache when Whitney Bashor goes full Joni Mitchell in "Another Life." I absolutely swoon anytime Steven Pasquale sings, especially a love song, like "Falling into You." And if you don't completely melt from the one-two punch of the final two numbers, "It All Fades Away" and "Always Better," then you have no feeling. It's a magnificent, unabashedly emotional score from Tony winner Jason Robert Brown ( The Last Five Years ), a treasure of modern musical theatre. Freestyle Love Supreme —The frees...