REVIEW: “Grand Night for Singing” at the Mac-Haydn Theatre

by Paula Kaplan-Reiss A perfect title for this musical revue, A Grand Night for Singing at the Mac-Haydn Theatre bathes the audience in the glorious tunes of Richard Rodgers and memorable lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II. From Oklahoma in 1943, to The Sound of Music in 1959, Rodgers & Hammerstein…

REVIEW: “Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground” at Barrington Stage Company

by Macey Levin Dwight David Eisenhower has a special place in the history of the United States of America.  He was the commander-in-chief of the Allied armies in Europe during World War Two and one of the architects of D-Day.  He also reluctantly became the thirty-fourth president of our country. …

REVIEW: “The Elephant Man” at the Berkshire Theatre Group

by Paula Kaplan-Reiss Have we made much progress in how we treat ‘the other?’ Do we struggle with learning and accepting the interior of a human while being repulsed by his exterior? Playwright Bernard Pomerance poses these questions in his play The Elephant Man, presented at the Berkshire Theatre Group‘s…

REVIEW: The Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY Presents “Eclipsed” at theREP

by Paula Kaplan-Reiss Admittedly, I knew nothing about the Civil Wars in Liberia. In fact, I know nothing about Liberia in West Africa. Eclipsed by Danai Gurira, performed by the Black Theatre Troupe of Upstate NY and housed at theRep introduces us to the war-stricken lives of Liberian women captured…

REVIEW: “Mary Jane” at Bridge Street Theatre

by Macey Levin Mary Jane is a single mother with a two and-a-half year old son, Alex, who has cerebral palsy, frequent seizures and difficulty breathing. She is the central charter In Amy Herzog’s “Mary Jane” receiving a compelling nd beautifully acted production at Catskill, New York;’s Bridge Street Theatre.…

REVIEW: “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead” at Albany Civic Theater

by Sierra Pasquale In this smart, self-aware, and sharp-edged production of Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead at Albany Civic Theater, the audience is treated to an evening that is as thought-provoking as it is laugh-out-loud funny. Anchored by two outstanding lead performances and brought to life with inventive…

REVIEW: “Pippin” at SLOC Musical Theatre

by Jess Hoffman Pippin is a musical theater classic, and it’s hard to explain why. Don’t get me wrong, I love it–I find the score irresistible, the main character lovable, and the entire concept quite charming–but it’s hard to say exactly why. The plot is nonsensical and the titular character…