This week’s spotlight…
“Birthright” at MCC
Beyond Broadway
4 out of 5 stars
Jonathan Spector’s newest play is a telling look at American Jewry as told through the stories of six people…
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“Black Swan” at American Repertory Theater
Beyond Broadway
4 out of 5 starsAdapting the 2010 film “Black Swan” for the stage presents challenges, but this production generally meets them…
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“A Walk on the Moon” at the Laura Pels Theatre
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 starsFor those who know “Waitress” or “Bridges of Madison County,” the new musical “A Walk on the Moon” may feel familiar in terms of its storyline…
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The 300 Word Commentary: Finding the meaning of Tracy Letts (in 12 hours)
It’s rare to binge the work of a great American playwright as if it were a Netflix series. That’s the experience offered by “12 Hours With Tracy Letts”…
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The 300 Word Commentary: Saying an unfortunate early farewell to “The Fear of 13” (aka the season’s best play)
This Adrien Brody-helmed drama never got the recognition — Tony or otherwise — it deserved…
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"Misterman" at Theatre Row
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 starsPerhaps more than anything, Enda Walsh’s “Misterman” is an actor’s showcase, allowing a performer to capture what it means to be a man gone mad…
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“The Loved Ones” at Irish Rep
Beyond Broadway
4 out of 5 starsIrish Rep’s presentation of Erica Murray’s “The Loved Ones” checks all the boxes that are hallmarks of this stellar Off Broadway company…
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“David Copperfield” at 59E59 Theaters
Beyond Broadway
4 out of 5 starsMany of the pleasures of watching just three actors enact Dickens' epic "David Copperfield" come from the inventive stagecraft that enables their feat…
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“La Cage Aux Folles” at New York City Center
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 starsIn this City Center “Encores” production, the show’s transformation makes perfect sense – it has a newfound sassiness and verve that make it feel unquestionably contemporary…
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"I'm Almost There" at BAM
Beyond Broadway
4.5 out of 5 starsTodd Almond's dizzily wonderful show plays as if someone smashed apart a William Finn musical based on James Joyce's "Ulysses," then performed the shards…
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New musicals at Downtown Urban Arts Festival
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 starsCarter Quinn Tanis and Marissa Raine Carlin’s “Whiskey, Hope, and The Climate Clock” and Howard Ho’s “Sing Truth to Power” showcase smart concepts and catchy songwriting…
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Norm Lewis at 54 Below
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 starsCasting aside his brooding roles as Javert or the Phantom, Norm Lewis is having a jovial time during his residency at 54 Below…
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“Youth in Flames” at 59E59 Theaters
Beyond Broadway
3.5 out of 5 stars"Youth in Flames" views Hong Kong's 2019 pro-democracy demonstrations through a personal lens…
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"I Wanttt a Unicorn Frappe!!!" at The Tank
Beyond Broadway
2.5 out of 5 starsThe wedding industry is a $100 billion behemoth – and much of that is undoubtedly driven by brides-to-be with dreams of the perfect day. Such is the backdrop for Catherine Weingarten’s surrealist comedy…
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“Heated Rivalry: The Unauthorized Musical Parody” at Culture ClubNew List Item
Beyond Broadway
5 out of 5 starsThe show skewers not only the hit HBO gay hockey romance and its fans, but also pokes fun at Broadway tropes, politics and YouTube deep cuts…
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Presenting our first annual The Wordies awards!
Who needs the Tony Awards? We’d much rather have The Wordies, our theatrical honors – some dubious, some for real — in a variety of categories that should exist, but somehow don’t…
What we do
The 100 Word Review delivers exactly that: sharp, digestible critiques of theater and other cultural events, all in 100 words or less. (Because honestly, who has time to read more?) Plus, look for 200 word Q&As with theater pros, 300 word commentaries on the theater scene and occasional other news and features.