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All stories by FRANK J. AVELLA on BroadwayStars

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Monday, April 21, 2025

'John Proctor Is The Villain:' Electrifying, Essential New Play by Kimberly Bellflower by Frank J. Avella

It is not going where I think it's going! It is not going where I think it's going! Oh God, I think it's going where I think it's going! This was my near-breathless reaction to experiencing …

SOURCE: The Contending at 09:45AM

Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Jennifer Simard: Broadway Diva Kills In 'Death Becomes Her' [VIDEO] by Frank J. Avella

Broadway Diva Jennifer Simard has been killing it on Broadway for almost two decades. Note: I use the word "diva" in the best, most fabulous definition of that word. She's currently wowing a…

SOURCE: The Contending at 09:04PM

Monday, April 14, 2025

'BOOP! The Musical:' Betty Comes To Spectacular, Technicolor Life in Dazzling New Production by Frank J. Avella

Certain misguided critics (and that one in particular) are gushing over a monumental mess of a musical, loosely based on a TV series, that just hit Broadway " with a thud. Yet some of those …

SOURCE: The Contending at 01:40PM

Wednesday, April 9, 2025

'Old Friends:' A Nostalgic Revisit Of The Masterful Work Of Musical Theater Legend Stephen Sondheim by Frank J. Avella

Your feelings about the new Sondheim revue, Old Friends, will probably depend on your familiarity with the composer-lyricist's work as well as whether you enjoy songs sung out of context. I …

SOURCE: The Contending at 01:45PM

Tuesday, April 1, 2025

'Ghosts:' A Haunting And Emotionally Devastating Ibsen Revival by Frank J. Avella

I haven't been emotionally slayed at the theater in quite a while. And I can shamefully state that Ghosts is a Henrik Ibsen play I was not completely familiar with. In terms of the Norwegian…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00AM

Monday, March 31, 2025

'Purpose,' Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' Riveting New Play Boasts Trio Of Fab Female Performances by Frank J. Avella

One of the many great joys in watching Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' sometimes searing, always riveting new Broadway play, Purpose, is the trio of female performances. Not to take away anything fr…

SOURCE: The Contending at 10:00AM

Friday, March 28, 2025

A Sensational Sarah Snook In A 'Picture of Dorian Gray' For The Digital Age by Frank J. Avella

Strangely, I thought about Luigi Mangione after seeing Sarah Snook's theatrical tour de force, The Picture of Dorian Gray, at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway"Okay, not really about him but…

SOURCE: The Contending at 01:28PM

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

'Operation Mincemeat:' Madcap WW2 Musical Madness by Frank J. Avella

Operation Mincemeat presents one of the most bizarre premises for a musical, and certainly a wholly odd choice of subject matter for a comedy. Blend the two together and add a British sensib…

SOURCE: The Contending at 02:03PM

Sunday, January 12, 2025

Audra McDonald Triumphs In Mostly Captivating Revival Of 'Gypsy' by Frank J. Avella

Stephen Sondheim is my musical theatre god. My top 3 favorite shows of all time are Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd. That said… I've never agreed with the c…

SOURCE: The Contending at 01:10PM

Thursday, August 11, 2011

Review: SILENCE! The Musical by FRANK J. AVELLA

Back in August of 2005 I called the Fringe presentation of Silence! The Musical "hands down the best musical this year so far." It took way too long for this irreverent, rude and madly enter…

SOURCE: www.newyorkcool.com at 10:37AM

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