Monday, December 30, 2013
While I have seen my fair share of theatre in 2013, work and life managed to get in the way of my blogging. These are three productions that meant a great deal to me, and I felt compelled in…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:52AMFriday, December 6, 2013
How do you solve a problem like Maria, that chipper almost-nun turned nanny who saves a broken family and outwits the Nazis? Not only is she based on an actual person, but she’s a st…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:35PMThursday, November 7, 2013
When asked if I thought there would be a Broadway cast recording of Matilda, my response was “Don’t hold your breath.” Not that I didn’t want one; I believe all music…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:06PMSaturday, September 21, 2013
I get the feeling that if you were to go back in time and tell 11 year old Laura Benanti that she would one day be one of Broadway’s most beloved stars, she would’ve thought you …
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:15AMWednesday, August 21, 2013
Masterworks Broadway is the gift that keeps on giving. There have been so many interesting releases and reissues that it’s been almost dizzying to try and keep up. Their output is cons…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:08PMMonday, June 10, 2013
The idea of a Tuesday matinee is a such a novelty to me, having grown up on the Broadway regimen of Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm. But in London, there are matinee options for Tuesday, Wedne…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 09:37PMSunday, June 9, 2013
It’s a heated race in many of the musical categories this year with a lot of Kinky Boots vs. Matilda vs. Pippin going on. Some races are neck and neck, creating actual suspense –…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 02:10AMFriday, May 31, 2013
While planning my trip to London, I hoped I might be able to catch Dame Judi Dench and Dame Helen Mirren on stage, both of whom were appearing in the West End for limited seasons. I didnR…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:48AMWednesday, May 22, 2013
One of the reasons I planned my trip to London when I did was to see the first staged UK production of Darling of the Day at the Union Theatre in Southwark. The tiny London theatre has been …
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 08:00PMTuesday, May 21, 2013
Little Me Music: Cy Coleman Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh Book: Neil Simon Starring: Christian Borle February 5-9, 2014 The Most Happy Fella Music, Lyrics & Book: Frank Loesser Starring: Shuler …
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 01:55PMSunday, May 12, 2013
When I traveled to England this year, I had made a firm decision that I wouldn’t see anything that I had already seen, or could possibly see, in New York. The first time I saw the s…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:16PMTuesday, May 7, 2013
The 2013 Theatre World Award Winners for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance during the 2012-2013 theatrical season have been announced! The ceremony will take place on Mo…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:27PMSaturday, April 27, 2013
I’ve been itching to get back to London ever since my 2012 visit came to an end. I took the opportunity to fly back when I learned that The Union Theatre was going to be presenting the…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:50PMTuesday, April 9, 2013
When asked if I wanted to take a physical comedy course, my gut instinct was to find an excuse to say no. I hadn’t attended a class of this sort in probably ten years and my memories o…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:58PMWednesday, March 27, 2013
There’s a moment in the finale of It’s a Bird… It’s a Plane… It’s Superman in which the company sings (and I quote) “A-wah-o-wah-o-wah-o-wah-o.̶…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:29PMSunday, February 10, 2013
When I was in eighth grade, I went to my first audition. There was going to be a local production of The Sound of Music, and since the film was a big part of my growing up (and just that su…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 06:53PMFriday, February 1, 2013
Last night I had the great fortune to attend TCM‘s 40th anniversary screening of the film version of Cabaret at the Ziegfeld Theatre on 54th Street. After waiting for what seemed an et…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 08:58PMFriday, January 25, 2013
I once did a book report on The Mystery of Edwin Drood in 8th grade because I procrastinated and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Frankly, I don’t remember much, except that the…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:00PMSunday, January 20, 2013
My 2013 theatergoing started with my first trip to the Metropolitan Opera in about 4 1/2 years. Out of the blue, I got a message from Roxie asking me if I was interested in seeing Turandot a…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 11:53AMMonday, December 31, 2012
Another year of movie watching gone! The same rules for my list like every year: each film was watched in its entirety and an asterisk indicates a film watched for the first time. Close …
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:11PMBertie Carvel – Matilda. Hearing Carvel’s performance on the original cast recording was my main impetus in making sure I got to London to see the show while he was still in the …
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 04:53PMThursday, December 6, 2012
Back in 2004, I had made plans to see the 5-time Tony winning revival of Weidman and Sondheim’s Assassins after Roundabout announced an extension. Within a couple of weeks, this exten…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:23AMWednesday, November 21, 2012
Annie - I caught an early preview of the classic Strouse-Charnin musical at the Palace. I have a dubious history with this one; the last time I saw it onstage was 21 years ago and while I d…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:32AMWednesday, October 3, 2012
It’s hard for me to believe it but five years ago today my first post went up on Theatre Aficionado at Large. I was amazed when this blog turned one year; I’m completely astounde…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 01:56PMSunday, September 30, 2012
I’ve received press invites to many preview performances, but until Thursday night I had never been invited to cover a show’s first preview. The 50th anniversary revival of Edwar…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 01:46AMFriday, September 28, 2012
My jaw dropped when I started playing the new cast album of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. I know the Jule Styne-Leo Robin score fairly well, and have heard every recording there is (includi…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:05AMThursday, September 27, 2012
New label Broadway Records is fast adding eclectic titles and talent to its catalog with its first cabaret recording and first concept cast album, though I don’t really think a 20 year…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:02AMMonday, September 24, 2012
I can’t believe it’s fall. I had an incredibly busy summer, with work and life requirements getting much of my attention. I took a mental health break from formal blogging, but i…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 09:40PMSunday, July 15, 2012
Maryann Plunkett won the 1987 Tony for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance in Me and My Girl, but what many might not know is that the role of Sally in the Stephen Fry-Mike Ockren…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 05:02PMMonday, June 25, 2012
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s shows don’t do much for me. I’ve never really been taken in by his style, and I tend to approach his shows from a mostly academic perspective, pulling…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 10:35PMSunday, June 10, 2012
Much has been made of the new revival of Porgy and Bess currently playing at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. The iconic folk opera has long been the subject of controversy since its premiere in…
SOURCE: Theatre Aficionado at Large at 12:08AM 
