by Barbara Waldinger Picture a musical consisting of seven of the nine Greek Muses, daughters of Zeus (supposedly the other two are in the band), two of whom are males, whose leader (Clio, the Muse of History) wears roller skates, changes her name, and speaks with a bizarre Australian accent…
(August 29, 2022–Chatham, NY) The electrifying roller-skating tale “Xanadu” and the deliciously fun 1950s Barbershop revue “Forever Plaid” will play the Mac-Haydn Theatre in a repertory schedule, running September 9 through October 2. After immense success and positive reviews upon its debut in 2021, the “Summer in September” Mac-Haydn season…
by Lisa Jarisch As a former librarian, I am almost always wont to pronounce “the book was better” or “read the book” when presented with a film or stage adaptation of a printed or published work. And like thousands of readers, I devoured E.L. Doctrow’s best seller of 1975 and…
by Roseann Cane A small number of American musicals seem inseparable from the actors who originated the lead roles. For devotees of musical theater, Yul Brynner is The King and I; Robert Preston, The Music Man; and of course, Barbra Streisand is Funny Girl. Contemporary actors cast in these roles…
by Barbara Waldinger The Mac-Haydn Theatre, celebrated for its spectacular musical revivals, opened its 50th season with the Tony-award winning Damn Yankees. The performance delivered on its promise of outstanding singer/dancers directed (by John Saunders) and choreographed (by Brian Knowlton) to a fare-thee-well. Damn Yankees first opened in 1955, written…
