Tuesday, June 17, 2025

Jim Catapano Saddled-Up for a Gay Rodeo! by Jaymichaelsae

An Exuberant New LGBTQ+MusicalKicks Off Pride at 54 Below.“The rodeo has come to town!” sings Gurney (the powerhouse-voiced Erich W. Schleck), to open Queer Cowfolk: The Gay Rodeo Musica…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 02:52PM
Monday, June 16, 2025

The Aftermath of Murder: Jim Catapano reviews John Galsworthy’s “The First and The Last” at the ATA by Jaymichaelsae

John Galsworthy’s Compelling The First and The Last is Brought into the 21st Century at the ATA Cleaning up after a killing is never going to be an easy task (unless you’re Harvey Keitel…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 01:30PM
Monday, June 9, 2025

Hiding in The Shadows No Longer: Jim Catapano reviews “Stormé” by Jaymichaelsae

The Story of the Legendary Stormé, Hero of the Stonewall Uprising and So Much More, Is Beautifully Brought to Life at the ATA   “It was a rebellion,” Stormé declared. “It was an u…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 04:09PM

Nothing Left but the Kindness of Strangers: A Jim Catapano Review by Jaymichaelsae

Bernard J. Taylor’s Tennessee Williams: Portrait of a Gay Icon Brings a Legend to Life at the ATA Tennessee Williams is alone on stage, and at this point, apparently alone in life. Seen on…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 03:48PM
Friday, June 6, 2025

CAST ANNOUNCED for “the other Shakespeare in the Park:” Shakespeare Sports’ Comedy of Errors directed by Michael Hagins by Jaymichaelsae

CAST ANNOUNCED for “the other Shakespeare in the Park” Shakespeare Sports Theatre Company opens its SHAKESPEARE SUMMER TOUR with a new production of the Comedy of Errors directed by�…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 03:14PM
Friday, May 23, 2025

The Bees Still Can’t Help Themselves! says Jim Catapano by Jaymichaelsae

Douglas Carter Beane’s 90s Classic As Bees In Honey Drown Gets a Masterful Revival  “Once, I saw a bee drown in honey, and I understood,” is a famous quote attributed to the 20th Cent…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 01:14PM
Friday, May 16, 2025

American Theatre of Actors announces Jessica Jennings as New Executive Director on Eve of 50th Anniversary by Jaymichaelsae

The American Theatre of Actors (ATA), a cornerstone of New York City’s off-off Broadway scene, today announced the appointment of Jessica Jennings as its new Executive Director. This an…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:27PM
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

The Wit and Wisdom of Felipe Luz as written by Jim Catapano by Jaymichaelsae

An Up-and-Coming Cabaret Star Looks at Life, Love, Lust, and Everything Else That Happens Under the Covers “As tempting as it is, please refrain from opening your dating apps during this s…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:43PM

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: Midtown International Theatre Festival, July 2026.  by Jaymichaelsae

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS Midtown International Theatre Festival, July 2026.  The Largest NY Independent Theatre Festival Contact [email protected] for further info The New MITF is cur…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 03:21PM
Monday, May 12, 2025

Julie Lorson: A Theatrical Force Multiplied in MCTLI’s “As Bees in Honey Drown” by Jaymichaelsae

Anya Kai, reporting For Julie Lorson, a dedicated board member of Modern Classics Theatre of Long Island, theatre isn’t just a hobby – it’s a way of life. Her involvement spans far bey…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 04:26PM

Is That in the Script? asks Jim Catapano regarding Joseph P. Krawczyk’s Living the Play by Jaymichaelsae

Joseph P. Krawczyk’s Living the Play: A Dangerous Time for Women Is Timely, Clever, and Compelling It is November 5, 2024. Crystal (Chelsea Clark), a New York Theatre actor, and her partne…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:38PM
Wednesday, April 16, 2025

Jim Catapano views the ATA’s New Life for Prince Hal by Jaymichaelsae

Shakespeare’s Henry V is revived with a Sparkling New Production at the American Theatre of Actors “We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers,” Henry V famously proclaims—and Sam Hardy, the …

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 02:31PM
Friday, April 11, 2025

SHELLEN LUBIN to helm CAROL LEE CAMPBELL’s musical play, “Chicks In Heaven” by Jaymichaelsae

Director/Writer/Performer and Coach, SHELLEN LUBIN to direct Carol Lee Campbell’s new play with music, “Chicks In Heaven” CAROL LEE CAMPBELL’s musical play about family and fait…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 05:17PM
Monday, April 7, 2025

Jim Catapano had a Joyful Afternoon of LGBTQ Voices with the Fresh Fruit Festival by Jaymichaelsae

The Nine Finalists of the 2025 Fresh Fruit Festival Celebrate Compassion and Connection On its website, NYC’s Fresh Fruit Festival encourages creators to “Let Your Dream Be Bigger Than Y…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 02:06PM

Jim Catapano views the creative view from “Over the Shoulder” by Jaymichaelsae

The Creative View from Over the Shoulder Mark Solomon Shares His Expertise on Telling Stories and the Art of Skillful Editing “The way I see the world is through stories,” says Mark Solo…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:58PM
Wednesday, April 2, 2025

MONARCH A Mexican-American Musical Exploring the lives of undocumented immigrants in the United States, will be presented at Harvard University.  by Jaymichaelsae

MONARCH, an impactful new musical exploring the lives of undocumented immigrants in the United States, first premiered at the Los Angeles Theater Center in 2022, receiving great acclaim incl…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:38PM
Friday, March 28, 2025

REVIEW by JIM CATAPANO: A Fractured Family Searches for Connection by Jaymichaelsae

A House Divided Visits a Family in the Aftermath of the Events of 2016 and 2020 Thanksgiving Day, 2021. COVID lingers. The Trump Era is (temporarily) interrupted. The working-class Gebauer f…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:18PM
Tuesday, March 25, 2025

Jim Catapano warns us of Tragedies of the Past, Warnings for the Future by Jaymichaelsae

Anne L. Thompson-Scretching’s A Lesson in Blood Returns to the ATA at a PivotalMoment in Time  The saying “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it,” asattributed…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 11:13AM
Monday, March 17, 2025

Jim Catapano views the creative view from “Over the Shoulder” by Jaymichaelsae

Mark Solomon Shares His Expertise on Telling Stories and the Art of Skillful Editing “The way I see the world is through stories,” says Mark Solomon. “It’s the water I swim in.” Re…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:13PM
Monday, March 10, 2025

Jim Catapano reviews the creation & connection in AMT’s Upside Down by Jaymichaelsae

A Rousing New Musical at AMT Imagines Life and Love in a Very Different Timeline It’s another day in our matriarchal society. The legendary New York Jets are working towards their seventh …

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 01:33PM
Tuesday, March 4, 2025

Knock Knock, Whodunnit? Jim Catapano finds fun at CLUE by Jaymichaelsae

The MCT’s Imagining of Clue delights at the BACCA Arts Center It is the early 1950s, a time when everyone is suspicious of everyone else. By invitation, several of society’s supposed fin…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:47PM

Jim Catapano reviews a dying gasp of a senator’s soul with Michael Hagins’ “The Senator Speaks” by Jaymichaelsae

Michael Hagins’ Powerful New Play The Senator Speaks Examines the Human Consequences of Playing Politics “We are all mired in dark times,” proclaims Conservative Republican Senator Cal…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 01:50PM
Thursday, February 27, 2025

Jim Catapano serves up a Double Serving of Strindberg from the ATA by Jaymichaelsae

The Stronger and Playing with Fire Perfectly Complement Each Other at the ATA August Strindberg was a true renaissance man of late 19th Century Sweden—a prolific playwright, painter, novel…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:03PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2025

AMT Theater announces opening of UPSIDE DOWN, a new musical — Opening March 8 @ 7:00 p.m. at AMT Theater by Jaymichaelsae

AMT Theater announces the new opening of UPSIDE DOWN, a new musical — Opening March 8 @ 7:00 p.m. at AMT Theater, 354 West 45th Street, New York City TICKETS here. According to a recent Ga…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:01PM
Monday, February 24, 2025

AMT Theater announces the new opening of UPSIDE DOWN, a new musical, March 8 @ 7:00 p.m. AMT Theater, 354 West 45th Street, NYC by Jaymichaelsae

  TICKETS According to a recent Gallup poll, 92.4 percent of the U.S population identifies as straight while the rest considers themselves as part of the LGBTIQA+ community.  Turn that nu…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 12:48PM
Monday, February 17, 2025

Joshua Crone and Thoeger Hansen: Bridging Divides Through Theatre by Jaymichaelsae

Article by Anya Kai Joshua Crone and Thoeger Hansen are a dynamic force in the world of theatre, bringing a unique blend of playwrighting, directing, producing, and acting to their projects.…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:15PM
Thursday, February 13, 2025

“This is NOT A Drill” New Musical to Hold Private Industry Reading in NYC on Theatre Row by Jaymichaelsae

“This is NOT A Drill” New Musical to Hold Industry Reading in New York CityBY INVITATION ONLY event to be held on Theatre RowBASED ON ACTUAL EVENTS After numerous workshops and developm…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 02:16PM
Monday, February 10, 2025

From “Tonight Show” Writer to Funerals with Punchlines: Brad Dickson’s “Lovely Idiots” Comes to NYC by Jaymichaelsae

Get ready for a funeral unlike any you’ve attended before. Playwright Brad Dickson, Emmy Award-winning former staff writer for “The Tonight Show,” is bringing his uproarious play, “L…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 04:21PM
Sunday, February 9, 2025

Jim Catapano reviews (beyond) Doomsday Scrolling: A Timely Tale of Feminist Resistance by Jaymichaelsae

(beyond) Doomsday Scrolling Raises a Collective Voice Against Patriarchal Atrocities Past and Present “One of the convenient afflictions of power is a lack of imaginative extension. For ma…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:18PM
Friday, January 31, 2025

Two Deep Cuts from a Legendary Playwright: Jim Catapano reviews Anton Chekhov by Jaymichaelsae

Two Deep Cuts from a Legendary Playwright Chekhov’s Witty One-Act Character Studies Are Showcased at the ATA The coupling of A Tragedian In Spite of Himself and The Anniversary is a delici…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 03:10PM
Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Holly Doubet: A Musical Legacy in the Making with a musical lineage that spans generations, by Jaymichaelsae

Holly Doubet is poised to make her mark on the Broadway stage with THIS IS NOT A DRILL. A graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London and a double major in classical piano and voice fro…

SOURCE: Arts Independent at 06:12PM