102 stories by "Michael M. Landman-Karny"
LA CAGE: STRIPPED OF ITS FEATHERS In Sam Pinkleton's well-intentioned but ultimately discordant revival of La Cage aux Folles at the Pasadena Playhouse, that old showbiz maxim about the show…
BRAVO, AVI! As part of a SoCal tour, Israeli Mandolinist Avi Avital and San Francisco's Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra stopped at at Soka University Concert Hall on Sunday, Nove 10, 2024. Th…
JASON ALEXANDER ISN'T FIDDLING AROUND " HIS POIGNANT PERFORMANCE GROUNDS THIS REVIVAL In Lonny Price's revival of Fiddler on the Roof, Jason Alexander's performance as Tevye stands out as th…
A WELL-PLAYED PIANO Though the surface plot of August Wilson's The Piano Lesson is fairly simple " an estranged brother and sister argue over whether to sell or keep a beautiful piano that h…
PLAYWRIGHT MARTIN CRIMP HAS A NOSE FOR UPDATES Martin Crimp's Cyrano at the Pasadena Playhouse is nothing short of theatrical alchemy. This bold reimagining of Edmond Rostand's beloved class…
The San Diego Symphony delivered a night of sheer enchantment on Friday, August 23rd, with Sondheim Tonight! A Celebration of Genius. Held at the stunning Rady Shell at Jacobs Park, this con…
A RIVETING TALE OF ART AND IDEOLOGY AT ITS FINEST In Tom Jacobson's Crevasse, playing at the Victory Center Theatre, the curtain rises on a fractured world where art, love, and propaganda in…
MUSIC, MEMORY AND MORTALITY: THE MAGIC OF JELLY'S LAST JAM In the resplendent realm of musical theatre, Jelly's Last Jam has once again ascended to prominence. Recently produced as a concert…
BUILDING BONDS OVER BREAD AND BUTTER In the evocative narrative of Miranda Rose Hall's The Sandwich Ministry, " which opened last Saturday at Skylight Theatre " the audience is invited to pa…
UNDERWEAR TYCOONS AND AERIAL INTRUSIONS: THE UNRAVELING COMEDY OF MISALLIANCE So, you stroll into the theater, right? You see this fancy conservatory set up, all English manor-style, and you…
BRINGING BACK ROSAS' BLOOM The inaugural presentation of the Latino Theater Company's 2024 season, Ghost Waltz stands as a testament to the company's commitment to groundbreaking theatrical …
Galilee 34 blends the divine and profane in its exploration of early Christianity Eleanor Burgess, a prolific playwright whose works have graced numerous stages (The Niceties, Wife of a Sale…
SHAZAM, KAZAN! So, have you heard? Lainie Kazan's 60s tunes are now just a click away on all those streaming sites. We're talking the kind of songs that make you want to break out in a drama…
THE BOYS ARE BACK AND BETTER THAN EVER In the never-ending array of jukebox musicals that have lit up Broadway's vibrant landscape, Jersey Boys shines like a brilliant star. Premiering in 20…
WITH A MAGICAL IMBALANCE, THIS KISS IS MORE LIKE A PECK In the world of theater, revivals and adaptations often serve as a bridge between eras, illuminating how the sensibilities of one time…
WOOF! WOOLF WORKS WORKS! Virginia Woolf's novels have had a profound impact on literature, inspiring adaptations in ballet and opera. These adaptations face the unique challenge of capturing…
KATERINA MCCRIMMON IS A BRIGHT NEW FUNNY GIRL Â BUT THE TOUR IS LIKE BUS-AND-TRUCK Funny Girl is a captivating musical that tells the story of Fanny Brice, a renowned comedienne and entert…
A BITTERSWEET BIRTHDAY In the luminous world of musical theater, two names stand as colossi, casting long shadows across Broadway and the global stage. Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webb…
CULTURAL COMEDY GOLD, THIS PLAY REALLY IS ONE OF THE GOOD ONES In a landscape where minority narratives often revolve around stereotypes of poverty and struggle, One of the Good Ones emerges…
WIG SNATCHED! 1998 QUEERGENDER MUSICAL STILL SLAYS IN 2024 In the pantheon of (so-called) rock musicals, Hedwig and the Angry Inch holds a distinct and unparalleled position, merging raw ene…
A TASTY SLICE OF 80s NOSTALGIA In the ever-evolving landscape of film-to-stage musical adaptations, the latest entrant Mystic Pizza emerges as a charming addition. Based on the eponymous 198…
DANCE OF DESPAIR AND DESIRE Sir Matthew Bourne's Romeo and Juliet, which made its North American premiere at the Ahmanson last night, is a bonafide hit, redefining this classic ballet (based…
OFFBEAT AND OFF TRACK In the often-unpredictable world of theatrical comedy, Kate Berlant's Kate promised to be a groundbreaking foray into the realm of absurdist humor. Yet, in its executio…
ECLIPSING NORMALITY: THE DARK ORBIT OF STEVE YOCKEY'S MERCURY Steve Yockey's work in the theatre world undeniably polarizes audiences, eliciting fervent admiration from some and equally pass…
A HAUNTING SYMPHONY OF SOLITUDE AND CONNECTION Set in the dimly lit confines of a college creative writing class and the private world of its reclusive protagonist, The Sound Inside, which o…
