Reviewing the Drama: Broadway, Off-Broadway, Ballet, Movies, and TV Reviews

Emmy Extras Wrap up , including who won and what they wore! Photos: red carpet, part one ; red carpet, part two ; red carpet, part three winners ; winners in the press room ; inside the ceremony ; parties ; and more parties (including pre-Emmy parties) New York magazine's Vulture breaks down the Emmy ratings At right, Seth MacFarlane's snarky follow up to his microphone gaffe. (He also addressed it when he went on Leno earlier this week) Theatre Updates Bad news, dear readers: Peter and the Starcatcher will end its Broadway run on January 20, 2013. The magical show will live on, though, when the national tour kicks off in Denver in August 2013. Read my review of the Broadway production, then head over to peterandthestarcatcher.com to purchase tickets before the Broadway run concludes. Playbill has more details. Lucky Guy , the last play written by the late great Nora Ephron , will bow on Broadway this spring. Dates are not set, but according to the ...

Do you remember that cult TV movie The Wave ? I don’t mean that it was a cult hit but rather that it was about how easy it is to form and gain followers for a cult. It took place in a school, and a teacher began a “movement” as a way of demonstrating what a cult is, then it spiraled out of control and became an actual cult. It’s from 1981 and if you missed it you’re not missing much, except I can’t help but think that Paul Thomas Anderson’s latest opus, The Master , was maybe, in some small part, inspired by that movie of the week. The Master follows Freddie Quell (Joaquin Phoenix) as he is inculcated in The Cause, a new religion – which many view as a cult – created by the master, Lancaster Dodd (Philip Seymour Hoffman). Leading up to and following the release of The Master , many were speculating that The Cause was (not-so-loosely) based on Scientology, the cult/religion followed by some Hollywood A-listers. I can see where the specifics of The Cause (particularly its belief ...

It was a glamorous night at New York City Ballet’s Fall Gala. Honoring the designer Valentino, the stars came out and the incredible company of City Ballet dancers brought their A game. The night consisted of four short pieces and one extended, world premiere ballet, with the costumes (at least the ladies’ costumes) designed by Valentino, except for the threads for Balanchine’s Rubies , though those costumes were in Valentino’s signature red. We began with Sophisticated Lady , a 1988 Peter Martins ballet set to a handful of Duke Ellington tunes. While the men (including former principal dancer Charles Askegard, appearing as a guest artist) donned tuxedoes, Maria Kowroski stunned in gorgeous red Valentino creation. The long flowing gown began with one should strap (adorned with show-ready ruffles) and cascaded down Kowroski’s long and lithe body. (The ruffles reappeared at the exaggerated hemline.) The sophisticated lady looked simply sumptuous. And the dancing wasn’t half ...

The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards are now in the books! Though not a particularly suspenseful ceremony it was fun to watch, with Jimmy Kimmel gamely handling hosting duties (loved the shout out to Philo Farnsworth). Scroll down for a list of winners (denoted in bold lettering) in select categories. (For the full list of winners, visit the Emmy Award website .) We begin, of course, with the fashion! One of the big trends on the red carpet this year was the uneven hemline, specifically high, cocktail length in the front and low, floor length or longer in the back, as Modern Family 's Ariel Winter (in Katherine Kidd) and Mad Men 's Elisabeth Moss (in Dolce and Gabbana) show off, above. Another trend: cute couples! Check out Judd Apatow + Leslie Mann (in John Varvatos and Naomi Claude (I think...I didn't catch the designer's name)) and Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt (Hamm is wearing Armani, Westfeldt is in J. Mendel), below. And now, some not so good choice...

Emmy Prep The Emmy Awards will be handed out this Sunday night! (Don't remember who or what shows are nominated? Here's a reminder .) This past Saturday, however, the Creative Arts Emmys were handed out. Creative Arts Emmys cover categories like casting, design elements, camera work and other non-performance areas. The Emmys website has the full list of winners , including Downton Abbey 's hairstylist, Anne "Nosh" Oldham; the Adam Schlesinger-David Javerbaum 2011 Tony tune , "It's Not Just for Gays Anymore"; and the writing staff of The Daily Show . Tune in this Sunday night to the primetime Emmy Awards. Host Jimmy Kimmel will start the fun at 8pm EDT on ABC. Visit emmys.com for details. And now, some Emmy prep: EW looks back at the 17 greatest Emmy moments HitFlix makes its predictions for Outstanding Supporting Actor for Comedy and Drama E! Online weighs in with its choices The Hollywood Reporter's TV critic makes his Emmy picks ...

If There is I Haven’t Found it Yet is an interesting, layered family drama, if slightly predictable. In its US premiere, Nick Payne’s play is sharply directed by Michael Longhurst and boasts a talented foursome, including Jake Gyllenhaal in his New York stage debut. (He’s previously appeared on stage in the West End.) The storm clouds have been gathering for quite some time in 15-year old Anna’s (an impressive Annie Funke) home. And though it’s raining (literally; in place of a curtain, rain falls into a well at the foot of and spanning the length of the stage), nothing really gets going until Anna’s uncle, Terry (Gyllenhaal), arrives. Somewhat estranged from his brother George (the reliable Brian F. O’Byrne) and sister-in-law Fiona (Michelle Gomez), the reentry period can only be described as awkward, but Terry quickly forms a bond with his niece.   Anna is overweight and is being bullied at school, but one could argue that she is also being bullied at home, courtesy o...

Do good fences make good neighbors? I’m not sure, but if Lisa D’Amour’s play Detroit is any clue, don’t make your fence out of plywood.  D’Amour’s Pulitzer Prize-finalist play makes its New York debut at Playwrights Horizons, and to be honest, I’m not sure what all the fuss is about. Detroit looks in on couple Mary and Ben (Amy Ryan and David Schwimmer) just as they meet their new neighbors, Sharon and Kenny (Sarah Sokolovic and Darren Pettie). (Veteran John Cullum appears briefly at the end of the play.) Throughout the play, the couples get to know each other. Sharon and Kenny learn that Ben has been out of work but has a plan to get back on track; Mary and Ben learn that Sharon and Kenny are recovering (and struggling) addicts, looking to make a new start in suburban Detroit, described in the Playbill as “a ‘first-ring’ suburb outside of a mid-size American city.”  All this learning going on and I still came out of the play uneducated as to the reason I was sup...