American Psycho presented selections from the upcoming Broadway production at the New 42nd Street Studios starring Benjamin Walker. It has music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and is directed by Rupert Goold. It opens on April 20 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. I eagerly await the opening night.

I attended a conversation with Riccardo Frizza, who is conducting Maria Stuarda at the Metropolitan Opera, with Oliver Sachs at the Italian Cultural Institute, 686 Park Ave. The following month Fabio Luisi will be interviewed. The conversation was pleasant and intelligent, and the questions were thoughtful. There were three video clips shown of Frizza as a young conductor leading an orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9. and later as an experienced conductor conducting the overture t

The Humans, by Stephen Karam, at the Helen Hayes Theatre, was reviewed Off-Broadway. It has now transferred to Broadway, and I saw it again. It has received, generally, good reviews. The six member cast is excellent, under Joe Mantello's direction. It is a tale of a family Thanksgiving dinner, in which all types of  financial and health (both mental and physical) problems, are discussed by each individual, except the grandmother, who is suffering from dementia. She, plus the mother (Jane Houdyshell), father (Reed Birney) and a sister have arrived from Pennsylvania to dine with the younger sister and her boyfriend. There is constant pounding from the apartment above the young couple, who have just moved into their dilapidated apartment, plus various lights go off at times leaving the ending in darkness. There is a saying that Misery Loves Company, and, although there is humor at times, the point is proved in this play.                                                                                          

A revival of Buried Child, by Sam Shepard, is a production of the New Group, directed by Scott Elliott, at the Pershing Square Signature Center, with an excellent seven member cast. It takes place in a bizarre rundown home, where everyone is slightly crazy. When a grandson (Nat Wolff) arrives, after being away for six years, no one recognizes him. It is a weird tale, but fascinating to watch. Ed Harris stars as the dying grandfather, and gives a splendid performance. The opening night party took place at KTCHN at the OUT NYC, with the playwright Sam Shepard, Lois Smith, Holly Hunter, Polly Draper and Adam Rapp.

Prodigal Son, written and directed by John Patrick Shanley, is a production of the Manhattan Theatre Club. It is an autobiographical tale about the author when he was a rebellious 15-year-old and was accepted at a prestigious Catholic boarding school, where for two years he misbehaved beating up younger students, stealing and getting drunk. Timothee Chalamet, who plays the young author, gives a splendid performance as a rebel without a cause.

New York City Center Encores! presented Cabin in the Sky, music by Vernon Duke, lyrics by John Latouche, book by Lynn Root. The Encores! performances are always a delight, especially when they bring back forgotten musicals like this 1940 Broadway production. The plot is slight, but the music and dancing are unforgettable. The cast is perfect with LaChanze stealing the show with her magnificent voice, singing among other songs Taking a Chance on Love. Michael Potts, Chuck Cooper, Norm Lewis andCarly Hughes act and sing wonderfully. Another highlight of the musical is when the ensemble sings another hit song Dry Bones. The dancers, choreographed by Camille A. Brown, are terrific. Ruben Santiago-Hudson directed this thoroughly entertaining fairy tale about a man (Potts), who misbehaves and is dying, being granted another six months to change his life. His devoted wife (LaChanze) helps him achieve this so they both can be reunited in heaven.

 

Maurice Hines Tappin' Thru Life received his caricature at Sardi's with a wonderful cocktail reception attended by his cast and guests like Julie Budd and Andre Shields. It was a lively event.

American Psycho presented selections from the upcoming Broadway production at the New 42nd Street Studios starring Benjamin Walker. It has music and lyrics by Duncan Sheik and is directed by Rupert Goold. It opens on April 20 at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. I eagerly await the opening night.