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

Notes on the New Combinations evening, including the world premiere of two ballets: Fearful Symmetries : This Peter Martins ballet is reminiscent of Robbins's Glass Pieces , though it's just one movement (with a coda). Using the John Adams composition of the same name, Fearful Symmetries , which I first saw in 2011 , is athletic and buoyant. Taking its cue from the music, there is repetition—symmetry—to the steps. The ending coda is like a cool down, something suggesting that everything leading up to it was a fever dream. There are no principals, giving more corps de ballet members and soloists an opportunity to be showcased, and not just the two main couples ( Claire Kretzchmar + Russell Janzen and Ashly Isaacs + Zachary Catazaro ). In particular, I noticed featured soloist Harrison Ball , who made great leaps in some impressive sections. While Isaacs comes on like a seductress, Kretzchmar looks too green to make me believe she feels anything the ballet might be ...

Winners for the 23rd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards announced and celebrated January 29. Herein, the full list of winners. Winners are in bold typeface and are notated with an asterisk. Movies Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Captain Fantastic Fences Hidden Figures* Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling, La La Land Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences* Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role Amy Adams, Arrival Emily Blunt, The Girl on the Train Natalie Portman, Jackie Emma Stone, La La Land * Meryl Streep, Florence Foster Jenkins Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali, Moonlight * Jeff Bridges, Hell or High Water Hugh Grant, Florence Foster Jenkins Lucas Hedges, Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel, Lion   Outstanding Performan...

Casting News Complete casting for the revival of Sunday in the Park with George has been announced. Joining stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford are their City Center costars Tony winner Ruthie Ann Miles ( The King and I ) and Phillip Boykin ( Porgy and Bess ), among others, as well as Andrew Kober ( She Loves Me ), Erin Davie ( Side Show ), Max Chernin ( Bright Star ), and Robert Sean Leonard ( Dead Poets Society , Prodigal Son ), and more. Previews begin February 11, and opening night is set for February 23. The limited engagement is scheduled to conclude April 23. Broadway World has the full casting announcement. Ben Schwartz ( House of Lies , This is Where I Leave You ) and Noell Wells ( SNL , Master of None ) will star in the Netflix original film, Happy Anniversary . The Tracking Board has more. Complete casting for the February 19 Crazy for You concert has been announced. Joining stars Tony Yazbeck and Laura Osnes are Mark Linn-Baker ( On the Twenti...

Notes on the Stravinsky x Five program, five ballets, all set to Igor Stravinsky compositions: Scenes de Ballet : This is an early Christopher Wheeldon work. In fact, as program notes state, it was Wheeldon's second ballet for NYCB. As the title suggests, the ballet shows scenes from a ballet class, starting with young children and maturing through about-to-graduate. (All the dancers are SAB students.) Ian Falconer 's scenic design sees a ballet barre running down the center of the stage, with a suggested but unseen mirror atop, just like in class. For much of the ballet, there are dancers on either side of the barre mirroring one another. This is a lovely ballet, showing the romanticism of the art form, from the little tiny dreamers to the slightly older dreamers. It's certainly nothing remarkable (like Wheeldon's breakthrough Polyphonia or After the Rain ), but delightful nevertheless. The Cage : I think this Jerome Robbins ballet is fabulous. "The...

The nominees for the 89th Academy Awards have been announced. Jimmy Kimmel is set to host the February 26 ceremony. Herein, the full list of nominees. Best Picture Arrival Fences Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Hidden Figures La La Land Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight Actor in a Leading Role Casey Affleck , Manchester by the Sea Andrew Garfield , Hacksaw Ridge Ryan Gosling , La La Land Viggo Mortensen , Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington , Fences Actress in a Leading Role Isabelle Huppert , Elle Ruth Negga , Loving Natalie Portman , Jackie Emma Stone , La La Land Meryl Streep , Florence Foster Jenkins Actor in a Supporting Role Mahershala Ali , Moonlight Jeff Bridges , Hell or High Water Lucas Hedges , Manchester by the Sea Dev Patel , Lion Michael Shannon , Nocturnal Animals Actress in a Supporting Role Viola Davis , Fences Naomie Harris , Moonlight Nicole Kidman , Lion Octavia Spencer , Hidden Figures Michelle Williams , Man...

Casting News Andre Holland ( Moonlight ) will appear in the film, Widows , co-written by Steve McQueen and Gillian Flynn, and directed by McQueen. Holland joins the previously announced Tony winners Viola Davis and Cynthia Erivo. Variety has more. Tony winner James Monroe Iglehart will join the Hamilton Broadway company as Lafayette/Jefferson in mid-April, succeeding Seth Stewart . Iglehart won his Tony for playing the Genie in Aladdin , and will conclude his three-year run in that show on February 19. Major Attaway will take over the Genie role beginning February 21. Theater Mania has more. Richard Armitage ( Love, Love, Love ) has joined the cast of Ocean's Eight , the female-led Ocean's 11 flick. Armitage joins stars Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, and Helena Bonham Carter. Deadline has more. Golden Globe winner Rachel Bloom ( Crazy Ex-Girlfriend ) and Jerry O'Connell ( Seminar , American Hero ) have joined the starry lineup of the Febru...

Casting News Academy Award winner and stage veteran Marisa Tomei , as well as Tony nominee Omar Metwally ( Guards at the Taj , The Affair ), Tony winner Lena Hall ( Hedwig and the Angry Inch ), and others, will star in Sarah Ruhl's How to Transcend a Happy Marriage . The LCT production, directed by Rebecca Taichman, begins previews February 23, with opening night set for March 20. Broadway.com has more. Taylor Louderman ( Bring It On , Gigantic ) will join the Broadway company of Kinky Boots , taking on the role of Lauren. She begins performances on January 16. Broadway.com has more. Complete casting for Joan of Arc: Into the Fire , the new musical from David Byrne and Alex Timbers, has been announced. Jo Lampert stars in the title role (in costume at right), and Terence Archie ( Rocky ), Mike McGowan , and others will appear in featured and ensemble roles. Broadway World has the full announcement. Previews begin February 14, with opening night scheduled for March ...

Winners of the 74th Golden Globe Awards were announced and celebrated on January 8. The full list of winners is below. (Winners are notated in bold typeface and with an asterisk.) Movies Best Motion Picture, Drama Hacksaw Ridge Hell or High Water Lion Manchester by the Sea Moonlight * Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama Amy Adams, Arrival Jessica Chastain, Miss Sloane Isabelle Huppert, Elle* Ruth Negga, Loving Natalie Portman, Jackie     Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea* Joel Edgerton, Loving Andrew Garfield, Hacksaw Ridge   Viggo Mortensen, Captain Fantastic Denzel Washington, Fences   Best Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy 20th Century Women Deadpool Florence Foster Jenkins La La Land * Sing Street   Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy Annette Bening, 20th Century Women   Lily Collins, Rules Don't...