All stories by Joel Benjamin on BroadwayStars

Saturday, July 28, 2018

Fiddler on the Roof (The National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene) by Joel Benjamin

Steven Skybell’s Tevye warms up from a salt-of-the-earth, everyday philosopher to the much put-upon tragic existential hero upon whom God—to whom he speaks frequently—has heaped much t…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:55PM
Monday, July 16, 2018

Batsheva – The Young Ensemble: “Naharin’s Virus” by Joel Benjamin

Naharin is known for having “invented” a movement language called Gaga.  Frankly, I’ve never been able to distinguish Gaga from any other movement palette.  If Gaga means disconnecte…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 07:10PM
Tuesday, June 26, 2018

Sean Dorsey Dance 2018 by Joel Benjamin

Sean Dorsey is a transgender and queer choreographer whose movement palette in “The Missing Generation” is a gentle, swirling combination of twisty, floor-bound, organic movements with a…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:07AM
Sunday, June 24, 2018

Women/Create! A Festival of Dance 2018 by Joel Benjamin

Jennifer Muller, of Jennifer Muller/The Works, whose artistic history includes a long association with José Limon, provided “Shock Wave,” a world premiere to a cello-heavy score by Gord…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 09:42PM
Thursday, June 21, 2018

Philadanco! (The Philadelphia Dance Company) by Joel Benjamin

The theme running through the four works presented, three of them New York premieres, was of sadness and anger.  Even “Folded Prism” by Thang Dao, an abstract dance work, had an unsettl…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:32AM
Monday, June 18, 2018

Manufacturing Mischief by Joel Benjamin

Noam Chomsky, Karl Marx, Ayn Rand, Elon Musk, Steve Jobs and a “Tiny” Trump all on stage at the same time, verbally jousting with each other?  Pedro Reyes’ "Manufacturing Mischief" at…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:06PM
Saturday, June 16, 2018

All I Want Is One Night by Joel Benjamin

Part of 59E59’s Brits Off-Broadway 2018 festival, Jessica Walker’s "All I Want is One Night" takes place in an odd combination of cabaret and antique shop.  Theater B in the 59E59 Theat…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:07PM
Sunday, June 3, 2018

Our Lady of 121st Street by Joel Benjamin

The current staging of "Our Lady" at The Pershing Square Signature Center, directed by Phylicia Rashad, magically now comes across as an addled, profane sitcom.  It’s entertaining and at …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 02:13PM
Tuesday, May 29, 2018

There’s Blood at the Wedding by Joel Benjamin

Packed into Theodora Skipitares’ "There’s Blood at the Wedding" are multiple takes on how authorities have abused their powers, too often killing innocent people.  By theatricalizing an…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:41PM
Friday, May 25, 2018

Paradise Blue by Joel Benjamin

In many ways Dominique Morisseau’s "Paradise Blue" shares similarities with August Wilson’s brilliant, if long-winded, Pittsburgh based plays.  "Blue" is part of Morisseau’s Detroit P…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:40PM
Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Parsons Dance Company 2018 by Joel Benjamin

The new work, “Microburst,” was a quartet performed to classical Indian music composed and played live by Avirodh Sharma.  Brilliant and audacious, “Microburst” took the four dancer…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:16PM
Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Alternating Currents by Joel Benjamin

Despite the complexity of the interactions of the people of Electchester and the poor folk at Pomonok, Kraar manages to end on a promising note.  "Alternating Currents," produced under the …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:27PM
Monday, May 7, 2018

The Iceman Cometh by Joel Benjamin

Denzel Washington, the raison d’être of this production (coming way too soon after several recent stagings), gives a boisterous, almost pleasant performance as Theodore Hickman, aka Hicke…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:23PM
Thursday, May 3, 2018

The Alice-in-Wonderland Follies by Joel Benjamin

Inspired by Lewis Carroll’s two Alice books and cleverly choreographed by Keith Michael, the "Follies" was preceded by Byer’s usual pre-show, uplifting audience-participation talk on the…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:33PM
Thursday, April 26, 2018

Mlima’s Tale by Joel Benjamin

Structured like Arthur Schnitzler’s wicked "La Ronde," "Mlima" begins with a harrowing hunting scene.  Mlima, the giant elephant, is portrayed with dignity and astonishing physical vitali…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:01PM
Monday, April 23, 2018

Martha Graham Dance Company: Spring Season 2018 by Joel Benjamin

"Ekstasis,” danced by PeiJu Chien-Pott, her hair loose, her costume a tight tube of form-fitting jersey (designed by Graham, herself), stood still as eerie clacking percussion and quiet wo…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:27AM
Thursday, April 19, 2018

Ballet Hispánico: Spring Season 2018 by Joel Benjamin

The dancers displayed a new depth of expression, particularly in the world premiere “Espiritus Gemelos,” a sensitive, beautifully acted duet about a brief same sex encounter performed by…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:23PM
Sunday, April 8, 2018

Symphonie Fantastique by Joel Benjamin

Twist’s “Creator’s Note” in the program alludes to Wassily Kandinsky’s musical metaphorical paintings and Twist’s youthful attraction to the possibility of using abstract puppetr…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:37PM
Friday, March 30, 2018

A Walk in the Woods by Joel Benjamin

The two talented, delightfully understated actors have taken on these roles with energy and sincerity.  Manning makes Honeyman both simple and complex at the same time while Van Treuren min…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:49PM
Thursday, March 29, 2018

Escape to Margaritaville by Joel Benjamin

The ups and downs of the road to true romance provide the show with its ties to the Buffett songs.  Tully opens the show with “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Boat,” to show his romantic nature a…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:17PM
Friday, March 23, 2018

Hal & Bee by Joel Benjamin

Baker’s lines are spiky and colorful, often dark, sometimes banal, but his portrait of these two and the two lesser characters is always illuminating and full of real emotion.  The fade-o…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 01:06PM
Wednesday, March 14, 2018

An Ordinary Muslim by Joel Benjamin

The trouble is that there is nothing new or daring or particularly interesting about the play despite its intriguing subject matter.  It is an old-fashioned play—think warmed over Cliffor…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:28PM
Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Locked Up Bitches by Joel Benjamin

All the good jokes get lost in the onslaught of cast members vying for their moments and looking for the audience’s approval, which admittedly was offered freely.   "Bitches" becomes cha…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:56PM
Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Edward Albee’s At Home at the Zoo: Homelife & The Zoo Story by Joel Benjamin

Lila Neugebauer has directed these two one-acts to bring out their naturalism. In the past, "The Zoo Story" was usually performed with an odd, surreal quality.  Neugebauer has given the con…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 08:08PM
Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Katie Goodman’s Broad Comedy by Joel Benjamin

Songs jostle with playlets, usually with topical references.   This is a good lineage to be part of and "Broad Comedy," the bumpy new show at the SoHo Playhouse, succeeds mostly due to the…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:59PM
Tuesday, February 20, 2018

In the Body of the World by Joel Benjamin

"Body" dovetails Ensler’s personal agonizing battle with cancer and her involvement with a feminist group in the Democratic Republic of Congo where women have faced violence, rape and almo…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 02:40PM
Thursday, February 8, 2018

Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill Fill by Joel Benjamin

Produced as part of the Flea’s Season of Women, Del Rosso’s freshman effort shows great promise.  Under Marina McClure’s insightfully freewheeling direction the members of The Flea’…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 10:13PM
Monday, January 29, 2018

Malpaso Dance Company: 2018 Season by Joel Benjamin

The first work on the program was “Indomitable Waltz” (2016) choreographed by Aszure Barton to dark hued music by the Balanescu Quartet and Nils Frahm.  Barton achieved a graceful, yet …

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 11:58AM
Tuesday, January 23, 2018

Josephine: A Burlesque Cabaret Dream Play by Joel Benjamin

The main event, however, is the performance of Harris who doesn’t just imitate Baker but uses her own gifts to illuminate the multitalented cult figure.  It’s as if Baker has brought ou…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:09PM
Monday, January 22, 2018

Works & Process at the Guggenheim: “One of Sixty-Five Thousand Gestures”/”NEW BODIES” by Joel Benjamin

“NEW BODIES” (2016) choreographed by Melnick was initiated by Sara Mearns in a summer workshop at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Skilled classical ballet dancers who were interested in…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 04:33PM
Sunday, January 21, 2018

Pillowtalk by Joel Benjamin

Kyoung H. Park's "Pillowtalk" mixes the mysteries of passionate, but flawed, love with the realities of racism in today’s society, specifically, Brooklyn, New York, where Sam (Basit Shit…

SOURCE: www.theaterscene.net at 12:49PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre