All stories by Paulanne Simmons on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 28, 2014

Off-Broadway Theater Review: INVENTING MARY MARTIN (York Theatre Company) by Paulanne Simmons

OUR HEARTS BELONG TO MARY, BUT THE REVUE ABOUT HER LIFE NEEDS REINVENTING The legendary actress and singer Mary Martin would have been 100 years old today, and to celebrate this centennial Y…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 11:40PM

Broadway Theater Review: BULLETS OVER BROADWAY (St. James Theatre) by Paulanne Simmons

SOME OF THE GLITZ WORKS, BUT BULLETS BASICALLY SHOOTS BLANKS In keeping with the growing trend of turning films into Broadway musicals, Douglas McGrath and Woody Allen’s 1994 comedy, Bulle…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 04:37AM
Monday, March 24, 2014

Off-Broadway Review: HELLMAN V. MCCARTHY (Abingdon Theatre Company) by Paulanne Simmons

A FAMOUS LITERARY FEUD MAKES GREAT DRAMA In 1980, in a television interview with Dick Cavett, novelist and literary critic Mary McCarthy made an especially biting comment about her longtime …

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 01:41AM
Tuesday, March 11, 2014

Off-Broadway Theater Review: STOCKHOLM (One Year Lease Theater Company at 59E59 Theaters) by Paulanne Simmons

AN UNHAPPY COUPLE – UNHAPPY IN ITS OWN WAY Stockholm Syndrome is a form of traumatic bonding in which hostages develop an irrational sympathy for their captors. The term refers to a ro…

SOURCE: Stage and Cinema at 07:18PM
Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Review: Lies My Father Told Me at curtainup.com/ by Paulanne Simmons

a gentle musical with something of a rambling plot line. But thanks to the lively musical numbers and memorable characters, it remains interesting and entertaining.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 08:50AM
Friday, September 13, 2013

Zachary Wobensmith Sings from the Heart about Stiff Upper Lips by Paulanne Simmons

Zachary Wobensmith Sings from the Heart about Stiff Upper Lips: In his first solo show in New York City, Stiff Upper Lip at The Duplex (61 Christopher Street), Zachary Wobensmith celebrates …

SOURCE: Times Square Chronicles at 04:06PM

John Tartaglia Celebrates His Third Decade at 54 Below by Paulanne Simmons

John Tartaglia Celebrates His Third Decade at 54 Below: John Tartaglia got his start appearing alongside puppets, first on Sesame Street and later in Avenue Q.

SOURCE: Times Square Chronicles at 03:47AM
Thursday, August 29, 2013

Review: Awake and Sing! at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

he National Asian American Theatre Co (NAATCO) does Clifford Odets' story of a Jewish family during the Great Depression.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 11:04AM
Thursday, July 25, 2013

Review: Dancing On Nails at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

The image of dancing on nails is not pretty. It speaks of self-inflicted injuries and the transformation of something that should be pleasurable into something painful. It is the perfect tit…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 06:47AM
Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Review: Tea for Three at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Given all that has been written about these presidents and their wives, there probably is not a great deal that is new here, but Bronka's delightful and insightful portrayal of these woman m…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:08AM
Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Review: The Megile of Itzik Manger at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

The Folkbiene's Purim show arrives after this year's holiday, but when a show is as much fun as this, even without a holiday, it's cause for celebration

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 04:29PM
Sunday, April 7, 2013

Review: Finks at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

oe Gilford's play about his parents is often funny, generally moving and has an ending that leaves the audience feeling satisfied and just a bit nervous

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:31AM
Saturday, March 23, 2013

Review:Happy Birthday at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

This play by Anita Loos is the kind of play that begs for the lament “They don’t make them like that anymore.” Fortunately, TACT is still staging them, and hopefully alway…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:33AM
Sunday, March 17, 2013

Review:The (*) Inn at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Target Margin's production of Peretz Hirschbein's play may leave even those familiar with Yiddish theater baffled.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 03:11PM
Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Review: The Mark of Zorro at Curtainup by Paulanne Simmons

The New Victory's presentation is so visually inventive and the story so intriguing that the 70 minutes, like Zorro, gallops by

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 11:12AM
Tuesday, November 13, 2012

Review: The Golden Landat curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

he story of Jewish immigrants is really the story of the American nation. After all, what could be more American than the film industry, Broadway and a lot of Yiddish words that have effortl…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 02:59PM
Monday, November 12, 2012

Review: Figaro at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

The Pearl production is a most enjoyable experience. But let us not forget it preceded the French Revolution by only eleven years. Laughter can be dangerous. . . . Read More

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:54AM
Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Learn and Laugh with HOW TO BE A NEW YORKER by Paulanne Simmons

Tourists (and natives) can now learn everything they ever wanted to know about the Big Apple, while enjoying a New York lunch at Sofia’s Downstairs. The show, directed by Robert Ross Parke…

SOURCE: www.nytheatre-wire.com at 10:55AM
Monday, October 29, 2012

l Review: Sowa's Red Gravy by Paulanne Simmons

These are colorful characters indeed. And they are played by a versatile ensemble cast, dressed in dazzling costumes, complete with feathers and flowing scarves. Wilson’s African-influence…

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 12:47PM
Monday, June 25, 2012

Review: 7th Monarch at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Jim Henry’s psychological drama, is being presented as a new play, but it has actually has been produced around the country for several years, including a stint at Missouri Valley College …

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:31PM
Friday, June 8, 2012

Review: Revisiting Wildfire at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Despite Eve Brandstein’s capable direction and fine performances by Lynne Wintersteller and Nancy Johnson, thi play never fulfills its potential.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:14AM
Friday, June 1, 2012

Review: I Am a Tree at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

a traditional play waiting to come out of a solo show. . .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 08:19AM
Monday, April 30, 2012

Review: Eavesdropping on Dreams at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

The formidable Lynn Cohen is the best thing about Rivka Bekerman-Greenberg's first play . .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 11:32AM
Thursday, March 22, 2012

Review: My Occasion of Sin at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Monica Bauer's play at Urban Stages speaks not so much to the Omaha riots that inspired it as to the attitudes that led to racial strifea. . .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 07:22AM
Friday, January 6, 2012

Review: How the World Began at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

In Catherine Treischmann’s new play, the red and blue states worlds collide, with interesting results.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 05:01PM
Saturday, December 17, 2011

Review: Shlemiel the First at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Besides being imbued with Klezmer this offers many lessons. And you don't have to be Jewish to appreciate them and enjoy the show

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 03:05PM
Friday, November 11, 2011

Review: Iron Curtain at Curtanup.com by Paulanne Simmons

The Prospect Theater's delightful musical gets a welcome second life .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 08:29AM
Sunday, October 16, 2011

Review: Mangella at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Part cyber-thriller, part farce, tjos seems to be what we might get if Alfred Hitchcock and the Marx brothers had lived in the 21st century.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 08:59PM
Saturday, September 17, 2011

Review: Dublin by Lamplight at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

for all who like their history tweaked a bit . . .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 09:22AM
Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Review: Herman Kline’s Midlife Crisis at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Josh Koenigsberg writes with both humor and insight. In the end, his new play is about something much more severe than a midlife crisis.

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 09:18AM
Monday, July 4, 2011

Review: Greenwich Village Follies at curtainup.com by Paulanne Simmons

Musical celebration of New York's most beloved neighborhood . . .

SOURCE: CurtainUp at 10:27AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards