Thursday, October 30, 2008

Broadway Theater Tour: Winter Garden Theater

Address: 1634 Broadway
Seating capacity: 1,482 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Mamma Mia!"
Notable for: This famous theater was home of "Cats" for years and years; this large theater boats a wide auditorium/stage suited for staging large musicals

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Cats" with Laura Beechman (1995): **1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Walter Kerr Theater






















Address: 218 West 48th Street
Seating capacity: 947 (mid-sized), with two balconies
Currently playing: "The Seagull"
Notable for: One of my very favorite theaters - awesome sightlines and beautifully decorated; a palace for serious theater going

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Doubt" with Cherry Jones (2005): ***1/2
-"Grey Gardens" with Christine Ebersole (2006): ***
-"A Catered Affair" with Faith Prince (2008): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Vivan Beaumont Theater

Address: 150 West 65th Street
Seating capacity: 1,080 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "South Pacific"
Notable for: This theater is part of the Lincoln Center complex; the theater boasts a classical thrust stage, which is surrounded on three sides by seating; the theater is steeply raked, so the auditorium has a large feel

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Carousel" with Audra McDonald (1994): ****
-"It Ain't Nothin' but the Blues" with Gretha Boston (1999): **1/2
-"Henry IV, Parts I and II" with Michael Hayden (2003): ***1/2
-"The Frogs" with Nathan Lane (2004): **1/2
-"The Coast of Utopia: Voyage" with Ethan Hawke (2006): ****
-"The Coast of Utopia: Shipwreck" with Billy Crudup (2006): ****
-"The Coast of Utopia: Salvage" with Jennifer Ehle (2007): ****
-"South Pacific" with Kelli O'Hara (2008): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Studio 54

Address: 254 West 54th Street
Seating capacity: 920 (small to mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Pal Joey"
Notable for: A recent addition to Broadway, it is currently being operated by the Roundabout Theater Company; yes, this used to be the legendary club

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Cabaret" with John Stamos (2002): ****
-"Assassins" with Neil Patrick Harris (2004): ***1/2
-"110 in the Shade" with Audra McDonald (2007): ***
-"Sunday in the Park with George" with Daniel Evans (2008): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: St. James Theater

Address: 246 West 44th Street
Seating capacity: 1,623 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Gypsy"
Notable for: A very popular musical theater house

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The Secret Garden" with John Cameron Mitchell (1992): ***1/2
-"The Who's Tommy" (1993, 1995) with Michael Cerveris: ***1/2
-"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" (1996): **1/2
-"The Producers" with Hunter Foster (2004): ***
-"Gypsy" with Patti LuPone (2008): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Shubert Theater

Address: 225 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,521 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Spamalot"
Notable for: Located in the heart of the theater district, the Shubert is the epitome of the Broadway theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Crazy for You" with Karen Ziemba (1995): ***1/2
-"Big" with Barbara Walsh (1996): **

Broadway Theater Tour: Samuel J. Friedman Theaer

Address: 261 West 47th Street
Seating capacity: 650 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: "To Be or Not to Be"
Notable for: Intimacy; for the longest time, the theater was dark and was just recently impeccably restored; it is the Broadway home of the Manhattan Theater Club

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Reckless" with Mary-Louise Parker (2004): ***
-"LoveMusik" with Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris (2007): *1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Richard Rogers Theater

Address: 226 West 46th Street
Seating capacity: 1,368 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "In the Heights"
Notable for: Along with the Majestic Theater, the Richard Rogers boasts stadium seating in the orchestra level, improving sightlines

What I've seen at this theater:
-"How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying" with Matthew Broderick (1995): ***1/2
-"Chicago" with Bebe Neuwirth (1997): ***1/2
-"Private Lives" with Alan Rickman (2002): ***1/2
-"Movin' Out" with music by Billy Joel (2004): ***1/2
-"In the Heights" with Lin Manuel Miranda (2008): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Palace Theater

Address: 1564 Broadway
Seating capacity: 1,784 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Legally Blonde"
Notable for: This is a flagship Broadway Theater, and is well suited for large, glitzy musicals

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Aida" with music by Elton John (2004): ***
-"Legally Blonde" with Laura Bell Bundy (2007): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: New Amsterdam Theater

Address: 214 West 42nd Street
Seating capacity: 1,747 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Mary Poppins"
Notable for: This is the most beautiful theater on Broadway, thanks to Disney who restored it stunningly and brought it out of obscurity

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The Lion King" with Heather Headley (1998): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: New York State Theater






















Address: 20 Lincoln Center Plaza
Seating capacity: 2,755 (large), with 4 rings
Currently playing: (various)
Notable for: Being the home of the NYC Ballet and the City Opera (the "other" opera company); not technically a Broadway Theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Daphne" (2004): **
-"La Boheme" (2004): **1/2
-"Platee" (2004): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Neil Simon Theater

Address: 250 West 52nd Street
Seating capacity: 1,297 (mid-size to large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Hairspray"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse suited for larger productions)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The King and I" with Lou Diamond Phillips (1996): ***
-"Hairspray" with Carly Jibson (2004): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Nederlander Theater

Address: 201 West 41st Street
Seating capacity: 1,232 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Rent" (recently closed)
Notable for: Before "Rent" resurrected the Nederlander, this theater was dark for a long time (it's location below 42nd Street was once considered unattractive)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Rent" by Jonathan Larson (1996, 1996, 1997, 2004): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Music Box Theater

Address: 239 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,009 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "August: Osage County"
Notable for: Classy, perfectly proportioned auditorium; one of my very favorite theaters on Broadway

What I've seen at this theater:
-"State Fair" with Andrea McArdle (1996): **
-"The Vertical Hour" with Julianne Moore (2007): **

Broadway Theater Tour: Minskoff Theater

Address: 200 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,710 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "The Lion King"
Notable for: Another large modern theater; theater is elevated and lobby has a spectacular view of Times Square

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Sunset Boulevard" with Betty Buckley (1996): ***1/2
-"The Scarlett Pimpernel" with music by Frank Wildhorn: **
-"Fiddler on the Roof" with Alfred Molina (2004, saw twice): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Metropolitan Opera House

Address: Lincoln Center Plaza
Seating capacity: 3,995 (large), with 5 rings
Currently playing: (various)
Notable for: Being the world's premier opera company; not technically a Broadway theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Aida" (2004): ****
-"The Magic Flute" directed by Julie Taymor (2004): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Marquis Theater






















Address: 1535 Broadway
Seating capacity: 1,604 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Irving Berlin's White Christmas"
Notable for: Theater is built within the Marriott Marquis Hotel; it's a modern theater suitable for large musicals and boasts probably the best sightlines of any Broadway theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"La Cage aux Folles" with Gary Beach (2004): **1/2
-"The Drowsy Chaperone" with Sutton Foster (2006): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Majestic Theater

Address: 247 West 44th Street
Seating capacity: 1,645 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "The Phantom of the Opera"
Notable for: Musical theater house with stadium seating on the main floor; unique for housing Broadway's longest running show, "The Phantom of the Opera"

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The Phantom of the Opera" directed by Hal Prince (1992, 1996, 2004): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Lyceum Theater

Address: 149 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 943 (small to mid-sized), with two balconies
Currently playing: "[title of show]" (just closed)
Notable for: Gorgeous facade and auditorium

What I've seen at this theater:
-"I Am My Own Wife" with Jeffrey Mays (2004): ***1/2
-"The Lieutenant of Inishmore" by Martin McDonough (2006): ***1/2
-"Journey's End" with Boyd Gaines (2007): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Lunt-Fontanne Theater

Address: 205 West 46th Street
Seating capacity: 1,475 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "The Little Mermaid"
Notable for: Disney has recently had two hits here.

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Titanic" with Michael Cerveris and Victoria Clark (1998): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Longacre Theater

Address: 220 West 48th Street
Seating capacity: 1,081 (mid-sized), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Boeing-Boeing"
Notable for: BEING THE ONLY BROADWAY THEATER I HAVE NOT SEEN A SHOW IN; beautifully restored earlier in the year

What I've seen at this theater:
-(none)

Broadway Theater Tour: John Golden Theater

Address: 252 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 805 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Avenue Q"
Notable for: This intimate auditorium has one only one aisle running down the center of the auditorium versus the traditional two

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Master Class" with Patti LuPone (1996): ***
-"Avenue Q" (2004): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Imperial Theater

Address: 249 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,421 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Billy Elliot"
Notable for: One of the most sought-after theaters which combines a large seating capacity with an intimate atmosphere

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Les Miserables" directed by Trevor Nunn (1991, 1995): ****
-"The Boy from Oz" with Hugh Jackman (2004): **1/2
-"Coram Boy" originally seen at the Royal National Theater (2007): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Hilton Theater

Address: 213 West 42nd Street
Seating capacity: 1,813 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "Young Frankenstein"
Notable for: This is a modern theater designed in the old-school theater design mode; it's suitable for spectacular musicals and is notable for it's large orchestra level and two relatively small balconies

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Ragtime" directed by Frank Galati (1999, saw twice): ***1/2
-"42nd Street" (2002): ***
-"How the Grinch Stole Christmas" directed by Jack O'Brien (2006): **1/2
-"Young Frankenstein" with Roger Bart (2007): **1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Helen Hayes Theater

Address: 240 West 44th Street
Seating capacity: 597 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: Slava's Snowshow
Notable for: Intimacy of auditorium

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Golda's Balcony" with Tovah Feldshuh (2004): **1/2
-"Xanadu" with Kerry Butler (2007): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Harvey Theater (BAM)

Address: 651 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Seating capacity: 874 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: (Various)
Notable for: Although the seating capacity is less than your average Broadway theater, productions here tend to have an epic feel to them; theater is distinguished by a steeply raked auditorium with notoriously uncomfortable seating in the balcony; theater is also noted for its stripped, bohemian decor

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Othello" presented by Cheek by Jowl (2004): ***
-"Macbeth" with Patrick Stewart (2008): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Gershwin Theater

Address: 222 West 51st Street
Seating capacity: 1,933 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Wicked"
Notable for: This is one of Broadway's few theaters built in the modern era; it's one of the very largest theaters on Broadway, and it's suitable for large scale musicals

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Show Boat" directed by Hal Prince (1995, 1996): ****
-"Candide" directed by Hal Prince (1997): **
-"1776" with Brent Spiner (1998): **1/2
-"Oklahoma!" with Patrick Wilson (2002): ***
-"Wicked" with Idina Menzel (2004): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Gerald Schoenfeld Theater


















Address: 236 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,079 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "All My Sons"
Notable for: This theater is a slightly smaller replica of the Broadhurst Theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Dancing at Lughnasa" by Brian Friel (1992): ***1/2
-"Jekyll and Hyde" with Linda Eder (1997, saw twice): **
-"Brooklyn" with Eden Espinosa (2004): *
-"A Chorus Line" with original Michael Bennett choreography (2006): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Eugene O'Neill Theater






















Address: 230 West 49th Street
Seating capacity: 1,108 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Spring Awakening"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Death of a Salesman" with Brian Dennehy (1999, saw twice): ****
-"Caroline, or Change" with Tanya Pinkins (2004): ***1/2
-"Sweeney Todd" with Michael Cerveris (2006): ***
-"Spring Awakening" with music by Duncan Sheik (2006): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Ethel Barrymore Theater

Address: 243 West 47th Street
Seating capacity: 1,096
Currently playing: "Speed-the-Plow"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The Life" with score by Cy Coleman (1997): **1/2
-"Company" with Raul Esparza (2006): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Delacorte Theater

Address: Central Park
Seating capacity: 1,892 (large), with no balcony
Currently playing: none (summer run of "Hair" just concluded)
Notable for: Public Theater's spectacular Shakespeare in the Park programming; although not technically a Broadway theater, the Delacorte has transferred some high profile shows to a Broadway house

What I've seen at this theater:
-"On the Town" directed by George C. Wolfe (1997): ***
-"The Taming of the Shrew" (1999): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Cort Theater






















Address: 138 West 48th Street
Seating capacity: 1,084 (mid-sized), with two balconies
Currently playing: "The 39 Steps"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Freak" with John Leguizamo (1998): ***
-"The Little Dog Laughed" with Julie White (2006): ***
-"The Homecoming" with Ian McShane and Raul Esparza (2007): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: City Center






















Address: 131 West 55th Street
Seating capacity: 2,750 (large), with two balconies
Currently playing: "On the Town" (an Encores! presentation)
Notable for: Not technically a Broadway theater, this house is host to the hugely popular Encores! series

What I've seen at this theater:
-American Ballet Theater featuring a mixed bill (2004): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Circle in the Square Theater

Address: 1633 Broadway
Seating capacity: 650 (small) with no balcony
Currently playing: (none)
Notable for: Only Broadway theater with a true three quarter thrust stage, no balcony, and an auditorium completely underground; theater is located in the same complex as the Gershwin Theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Metamorphoses" directed by Mary Zimmerman (2002): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Carnegie Hall

Address: 881 7th Ave.
Seating capacity: 2,804 (large), with 4 rings
Currently playing: (various)
Notable for: This is the famed music hall; not technically a Broadway theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-Sister's med school graduation (NYU)
-"Opening Doors" celebrating Stephen Sondheim in Zankel Hall (2004): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Brooks Atkinson Theater

Address: 256 West 47th Street
Seating capacity: 1,044 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Grease"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Noises Off" with Patti LuPone and Faith Prince (2002): ****
-"Jumpers" with Simon Russell Beale (2004): ***
-"Democracy" with James Naughton (2004): ***
-"A Moon for the Misbegotten" with Kevin Spacey (2007): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Broadway Theater

Address: 1681 Broadway
Seating capacity: 1,752 (large), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Shrek"
Notable for: This is a premier musical comedy house, with the distinction of starting out as a movie palace

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Miss Saigon" with Joan Almedilla (1995): ***
-"La Boheme" directed by Baz Luhrmann (2002): ****
-"Bombay Dreams" (2004): **

Broadway Theater Tour: Broadhurst Theater

Address: 235 West 44th Street
Seating capacity: 1,186 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Equus"
Notable for: Has a twin theater in the Schoenfeld Theater

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Kiss of the Spider Woman" with Chita Rivera (1993): ****
-"Dance of Death" with Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan (2001): ***
-"The History Boys" with Richard Griffiths (2006): ****
-"Les Miserables" with Lea Salonga (2007): ***

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Broadway Theater Tour: Bernard B. Jacobs Theater

Address: 242 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1,078 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "13"
Notable for: (typical Broadway playhouse)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"'night Mother" with Edie Falco (2004): ***
-"Frost/Nixon" with Frank Langella (2007): ***1/2
-"Rock'n'Roll" with Rufus Sewell (2007): ***

Broadway Theater Tour: Booth Theater

Address: 222 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 785 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Dividing the Estate"
Notable for: It's one of the coziest Broadway theaters, and one of the finest theaters to watch plays (i.e, non-musicals)

What I've seen at this theater:
-"The Pillowman" with Billy Crudup (2005): ****
-"Faith Healer" with Ralph Fiennes (2006): ****
-"The Seafarer" with David Morse (2007): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: Belasco Theater






















Address: 111 West 44th Street
Seating capacity: 1,018 (mid-sized), with two balconies
Currently playing: "American Buffalo"
Notable for: Features Tiffany lighting; theater is rumored to be haunted

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Passing Strange" with Stew (2008): ***1/2
-"Dracula" with Kelli O'Hara (2004): *
-"Frankie and Johnny in the Claire de Lune" with Edie Falco: ***

Broadway Theater Tour: August Wilson Theater

Address: 245 West 52nd Street
Seating capacity: 1,275 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Jersey Boys"
Notable for: Elevated auditorium; theater is narrower than most Broadway theaters, allowing for better sightlines

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Little Women" with Sutton Foster (2004): **
-"Jersey Boys" with John Lloyd Young (2006): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour: American Airlines Theater

Address: 227 West 42nd Street
Seating capacity: 740 (small), with one balcony
Currently playing: "A Man for All Seasons"
Notable for: Operated by Roundabout Theater Company; theater was just recently stunningly restored from obscurity

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Twelve Angry Men" with Boyd Gaines (2004): ***1/2
-"Pygmalion" with Claire Danes (2007): ****

Broadway Theater Tour: Ambassador Theater

Address: 219 W. 49th Street
Seating capacity: 1,125 (mid-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "Chicago"
Notable for: Given that the theater was build diagonally on the plot of land, the auditorium is wider than most Broadway theaters

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Bring in da Noise/Bring in da Funk" with Savion Glover (1996): ***1/2
-"Hedda Gabler" with Kate Burton (2001): ***
-"Topdog/Underdog" with Jeffrey Wright (2002)

Broadway Theater Tour: Al Hirschfeld Theater

Address: 302 West 45th Street
Seating capacity: 1.437 (mid to large-sized), with one balcony
Currently playing: "A Tale of Two Cities"
Notable for: Uncharacteristically spacious lobby, luxurious Moorish-inspired decor

What I've seen at this theater:
-"Curtains" with David Hyde Pierce (2007): ***
-"Wonderful Town" with Donna Murphy (2004): ***1/2

Broadway Theater Tour! (in the comfort of your own home)

Not only am I a huge performance enthusiast, I am also a big fan of the venues in which they take place. And in terms of performance spaces, nothing beats the intimacy and sense of occasion of attending a show in a Broadway theater. The next series of posts are dedicated to New York City's Broadway theaters. My hope is that by viewing these posts, you get sense, no matter how small, of the magic that these magnificent performance spaces exude. Enjoy!

Cabaret of Desire (Blair Thomas & Co. / DCA Theater) - 10/29/08

Together with the folks at Redmoon, Blair Thomas & Co. has a monopoly on puppet theater in Chicago. His stunning craftsmanship is currently display via "Cabaret of Desire", a surreal, melancholy collection of letters, poems, and vignettes (made especially for puppet theater) by Frederico Garcia Lorca. The entire project comes off as playful, macabre, and defiantly and wonderfully avant-garde. The piece is performed by a remarkable cast of five, who "double" as puppeteers, actors, stage crew, and musicians/singers.

Rating: ***1/2 (out of ****)

Eurydice (Victory Gardens Theatre) - 10/29/08

Victory Gardens is currently presenting a very touching production of Sarah Ruhl's "Eurydice". It's a radical reinterpretation of the Orpheus and Eurydice myth, which retains the essential themes of the power of love and the devastation of loss. For me, it's the best thing to be staged yet at their beautiful Biograph venue, and I think it's because the production understands the dimensions of the space (unlike previous shows, which almost seem to be intimidated by it). Although not technically a world premier (I had seen a workshop-like production of "Eurydice" at the Piven Workshop up in Evanston a couple of years ago), it is presents further evidence of Ms. Ruhl's considerable playwriting talents. And married to the visually poetic production by Sandy Shinner and Jessica Thebus, as well as the deeply-felt performances, the text comes to vivid theatrical life.

Rating: ***1/2 (out of *****)

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Joffrey Ballet, Fall Program - 10/26/08

Joffrey Ballet's season under new artistic director Ashley Wheater opens with its exquisitely danced Fall Program. Works included are the revival of Robert Joffrey's winsome "Postcards", the Joffrey premier of Jerome Robbins' elegant "In the Night", and the world premier of Edwaard Liang's exciting "Age of Innocence". It's an eclectic lineup, but all play to the company's modern/classical sensibility.

Rating: **** (out of *****)

Friday, October 24, 2008

Red Angel (LiveWire Chicago Theatre) - 10/24/08

"Red Angel" presented by the folks at LiveWire is a mixed bag. It starts out promisingly enough, with a young aspiring writer seducing a household name author. However, it loses focus as seemingly the same scene gets played out in different permutations. It's the most fully realized set I've seen at the tiny Side Studio yet, and the acting is all very thoughtful, bold even. However, this is a better production than the script deserves.

Rating: ** (out of *****)

Thursday, October 23, 2008

After Ashley (Stage Left Theatre) - 10/23/08

Stage Left's production of "After Ashley" is an above average comedy which manages to dramatically engage as well as make us laugh. The show deals with how father and son (Brian Plocharczyk in an inspired performance) deal with the death of the matriarch. The play is always interesting to watch because it's populated by smart, interesting characters who seem real. However, Stage Left is notorious for its "bare-bones" stagings, and this is one play that could benefit from just a bit more realism.

Rating: **1/2 (out of *****)