Friday, September 12, 2025

AVERY SOMMERS IS COMING TO TOWN by Ron Fassler

By Ron Fassler . . .  Although Avery Sommers is coming to town doesn’t quite scan the same as Santa Claus is coming to town, the talented singer/actress will undoubtedly be spreading he…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 02:28PM

“Lady Patriot”- Unexpected Civil War Heroes by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen A well researched, little known, true Civil War story featuring three formidable women, each dedicated to her own divisive patriotism. 1861- 1865. The Richmond, Virginia home o…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 08:01AM
Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Strokes of Genius: Hirschfeld at the Algonquin by Andrew Poretz

By Andrew Poretz . . . Photos by Melissa Griegel Photography (www.griegelphoto.zenfolio.com) Theater Pizzazz was on the scene to cover the Al Hirschfeld Foundation’s cocktail party and ope…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 06:37PM

“House of McQueen” – Not Just for Fashionistas by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “Give me time and I’ll give you a revolution.” Alexander McQueen (1969-2010) Though set in the world of fashion (marvelous costume and accessory design by Kaye Voyce), th…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 07:59AM
Monday, September 8, 2025

Rachel Matz Hunter: “Take Two” – Delightful! by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen Without other similarity to the character Baby June from Gypsy, Rachel Matz Hunter might be called “a five foot two bundle of dynamite.” Diminutive only in stature, the tal…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 12:01PM
Sunday, September 7, 2025

Lisa Viggiano & Wells Hanley- “These Things First” by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen Lisa Viggiano puts her whole self into a song. You can practically see the music coursing through her body. She has control, range, and offers distinctive phrasing. Wells Hanle…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 11:22AM
Friday, September 5, 2025

HIRSCHFELD’S SONDHEIM: Drawings of One Master by Another by Ron Fassler

By Ron Fassler . . . “Hirschfeld drew from life. He was drawing from personal experience. He was going to the theatre and making sketches there and then coming back to his studio and putti…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 04:56AM
Thursday, September 4, 2025

“Finding Dorothy Parker”- Cutting Wit and Wisdom by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “Dotty had a mind like a steel trap- and a tongue to match.” Robert Benchley Dorothy Parker (1893-1967) was a poet, short story writer, screenwriter, critic, and satirist k…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 02:17PM
Wednesday, September 3, 2025

Star-Powered Revival of The Zoo Story Comes to the Jersey Shore by Melissa Griegel

September 4th, 5th and 6th Interview with Matt de Rogatis Below By Melissa Griegel… Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story opens tomorrow night, Thursday, September 4th, 2025, at the Jersey Shore…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 09:01AM

Bryce Edwards & Mike Davis’ “Hot Combination- the Cliff Edwards/Red Nichols Project” by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen It’s the bees’ knees! * An instrumental “After You’ve Gone” (Turner Layton/Henry Creamer) sashays in. Trombone surges, cornet and clarinet shimmy, sax kicks up. Tonig…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 07:52AM
Tuesday, September 2, 2025

The Siegel Column: “Ava: The Secret Conversations” and “Gene & Gilda” by Eyal Solomon

By Barbara & Scott Siegel... Plays About Celebrities: Ava: The Secret Conversations and Gene & Gilda. The post The Siegel Column: “Ava: The Secret Conversations” and “Gene &…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 10:09PM
Thursday, August 28, 2025

‘Verses & Voices’- 54 Below Nurtures Musical Theater Writers Part II by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “We were looking for artists who bring something new to the table, not just the songs.” Alexa Spiegel Broadway’s Supper Club, 54 Below, is vested in helping artists. Many…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 08:53AM
Wednesday, August 27, 2025

Jaime Lozano Premieres Songs by an Immigrant, Vol. 3 at Sony Hall with Broadway Stars by Melissa Griegel

Jaime Lozano and The Familia The post Jaime Lozano Premieres Songs by an Immigrant, Vol. 3 at Sony Hall with Broadway Stars appeared first on Theater Pizzazz.

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 04:53PM

Leiter Looks at Books: “Ben Hecht’s Theatre of Jewish Protest” by Eyal Solomon

By Samuel L. Leiter... Casual Notes on show biz books, memoirs, and studies, dust gatherers and hot off the presses. The post Leiter Looks at Books: “Ben Hecht’s Theatre of Jewish Protes…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 02:14PM

‘Verses & Voices’- 54 Below Nutures Emerging Musical Theater Writers- Part I by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “We were looking for artists who bring something new to the table, not just the songs.” (Alexa Siegel) Broadway’s Supper Club, 54 Below, is vested in helping artists. Man…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 07:04AM
Tuesday, August 26, 2025

‘Hirschfeld’s Sondheim’- a poster book by Alix Cohen

Review by Alix Cohen With this 11” x 17” book, you too can put a Hirschfeld on your wall or gift an uber-fan. There are 58 pages, 50 drawings and 25 glossy, thick, ready to frame posters…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 09:30AM
Monday, August 25, 2025

‘Kind Stranger- A Memory Play’ based on Tennessee Williams’ Memoirs by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “My goal is to capture the evanescent quality of existence.” Tennessee Williams Tennessee Williams (Thomas Lanier Williams III 1911- 1983) was one of the most influential A…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 03:10PM
Sunday, August 24, 2025

Hong Kong Ballet- ‘The Butterfly Lovers’- An Enchantment by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen The Chinese legend The Butterfly Lovers (梁山伯与祝英台, or Liang Zhu) traces its origins to the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420 AD), a time marked by rigid social hierar…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 12:07PM
Friday, August 22, 2025

A Rambunctious ‘Twelfth Night’ by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen Disguise, mistaken identity, role reversal, breached social boundaries, servants mocking masters, fools speaking truth, status quo suspended…Written in 1602 for Twelfth Night…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 02:42PM
Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Beautiful Music from Ben Jones & Laurence Hobgood by Ron Fassler

Review by Ron Fassler . . . Ben Jones has already proven that he’s a singer who is unafraid to charter new waters. Capable of singing in many different styles, he uses his extensive range…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 04:04PM
Monday, August 18, 2025

Jeff’s Ross’s “Ride” is a Delight—With or Without a Banana by Ron Fassler

Review by Ron Fassler . . . Comedian Jeff Ross is often referred to as “The Roastmaster General” for his X-rated celebrity roasts which have been a fixture on cable TV for thirty years…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 09:01PM
Thursday, August 14, 2025

“Well, I’ll Let You Go”: A Superb Meditation on Grief by Ron Fassler

Review by Ron Fassler . . . Headlining a review containing the word grief might not be the best way to get someone to go to Bubba Weiler’s excellent new play Well, I’ll Let You Go. But …

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 06:49PM
Tuesday, August 12, 2025

54 Celebrates Henry Mancini by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen The Legacy of a Master Composer Henry Mancini (1924–1994) was an influential and versatile American composer. He began as a pianist and arranger for the Glenn Miller Orchestr…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 03:11PM
Sunday, August 10, 2025

Karen Mason: “More SPF!…The Summer Continues”- Buoyant by Alix Cohen

Nostalgic Music of Teenage Summer By Alix Cohen “It’s summertime summertime sum sum summertime…” (Tom Jameson) Christopher Denny and Tom Hubbard sing. Later, the two add “bad a-da …

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 04:59PM
Saturday, August 9, 2025

United Solo Fall 2025 Variety Preview by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen The 19th Annual United Solo Festival launches October 14 and continues through November 23. Its roster of one person pieces written predominantly by each show’s performer, fe…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 06:34AM
Friday, August 8, 2025

CHICAGO MAKES HISTORY YET AGAIN!  by Melissa Griegel

Original Mary Sunshine Returns to Show Nearly 30 Years After Opening By Melissa Griegel… Show photos and video by Melissa Griegel Chicago the Musical is celebrating its 50th anniversary th…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 11:50AM

‘Ava- The Secret Conversations”- A Glimpse of Passion and Insecurity by Alix Cohen

By Alix Cohen “I was never an actress—none of us kids at MGM were. We were just good to look at.” Ava – The Secret Conversations was based on candid interviews conducted by ghost wri…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 07:23AM
Thursday, August 7, 2025

“Isaac Mizrahi Survives Democracy” at 54 Below by Ron Fassler

Review by Ron Fassler . . . Whenever Isacc Mizrahi comes up with a new edition of his cabaret shows, no matter how he might advertise them with clever titles like “Movie Stars & Supe…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 03:20PM
Tuesday, August 5, 2025

Sean Harkness: Just Me by Andrew Poretz

By Andrew Poretz . . . . Guitarist and composer Sean Harkness is one of the most talented musicians you’ll ever hear, and a rather humble fellow with a sweet nature. An impeccable guitaris…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 08:29PM
Wednesday, July 30, 2025

36th New York Cabaret Convention Preview by Alix Cohen

A Three-Night Celebration of Song, Style, and the Spirit of Cabaret By Alix Cohen “Grab your coat and grab your hat/Leave your worries on the doorstep…” The 36th Annual New York Cabare…

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 06:38AM
Monday, July 28, 2025

“Gene and Gilda” by Alix Cohen

The loving, challenging romance of Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner By Alix Cohen Comic actors/writers Gene Wilder and Gilda Radner met in 1980 on set of the forgettable caper film Hanky Panky. …

SOURCE: Theater Pizzazz at 06:59AM

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