ONCE on Broadway

Once is the new broadway musical based on the movie that was a low budget sleeper from  2006 which became a big hit and earned grammy nominations.  An Irish musician connects with a Czech immigrant and they make beautiful music together.  If you're looking for a charming musical filled with folk pop ballads this show will definitely appeal to you.  Both leads are very talented  and tend to enhance each other's performances.   The couple seem to be destined for each other but this is a melancholy, unrequited love.  Both Girl & Guy, Steve Kazee on guitar and vocals and Cristin Miloti on piano, bring out the best in each other, yet stop short of making "hanky panky."  Come early to the show, the actors/musicians are performing while everyone is getting seated.  In fact, the audience is encouraged to come on stage & actually purchase drinks from the bar set up on stage.  If you're a fan of Irish folk music and pop ballads, this is the show you won't want to miss.  Having seen the original film, which I enjoyed, altho not a fan of most of the music,  Once at the movies, would have been enough.

Julliard Orchestra Student Composers

Dear Readers, you can thank me later.  Last night the Julliard Orchestra performed four orchestral pieces, all composed by artists in their twenties.  These four composers:  Michael Ippolito, Stefan Cwik, Michael Lee and Jared Miller.  I mention their names because these are the names you will be hearing more of in the future.  All have been honored for their and have already had their works commissioned.  The young composers were all on hand to come out and take a bow after their pieces were performed.   If you're wondering what some of our young folks are up to,  and enjoy great music and performances, I encourage you to take advantage of what  Julliard has to offer.  Stop in and pick up a schedule on 65th across from Lincoln Center.  And, the price for this incredible musical gift is fantastic.  It's free, you just need to pick up tickets two weeks ahead of time and don't be shy about coming the night of - usually they will let you 5 minutes before performances start when seats are available.  OK, you can thank me now.

In Darkness

As the title of this holocaust movie from WWII in Poland, the Jews are being rounded up for extermination.  One Catholic Polish man agrees to hide a Jewish family and several other Jews for money in the sewers under the city.  While this man only intended to make money only to turn them over to the Germans for more money, over the course of protecting these Jews he develops a strong bond with these people and continues to risk his life and his families lives (who are also sympathetic) to continue to keep these Jews safe throughout the war.  This movie is dark, disturbing and real and should be seen.  You are caught up in one of the most heinous periods of history that must be recorded and demands to be seen.  This is not easy viewing but one is reminded that there were righteous people who should also be remembered.

Linsanity

Well Knicks fans, when I asked for something more to love back in January, my wish has not only been granted but surpassed.  Watching the Knicks is not only exciting and fun, it makes you want to get out on the court and body bump with the players.  Lin may be at the heart of the team and what  a team player he  has been.   Despite our loss to the Hornets, Nets and Heat, we still have the team to beat and to root for. And, Lin, if you're looking for someone to show you around the apple, count me in.

New York City Ballet

Last night's performance at NYC Ballet featured Balanchine's Stravinsky Violin Concerto and Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free.  In between these two repertoire favorites was a relatively new work, Alexei Ratmansky's Russian Seasons.  Russian Seasons incorporated both artistic grace and whimsy.  Some movements were exceptionally fast paced while other movements more languid and lovely.  The entire company is a tour de force; dancing at it's finest.  In fact, you would be hard pressed to find a more beautiful ensemble of dancers; BARRE none.  Be sure to check out the  incredible photographs of the dancers in the lobby and get familiar with a company that is one of the world's finest. I urge you to get tickets for the upcoming season and to seek out some of the  newer ballets especially by Alexi Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon, who was honored this season with an entire Wheeldon program.

The Ugly One @ the Soho Rep Theatre

The Soho Rep is renown for innovative forceful theatrical productions.  The theatre is small and you will feel more a participant than a spectator.  As the title "The Ugly One," suggests, the value placed on beauty is the driving force of the play.  Lette, the engineer responsible for designing products for his company is not selected to present  his own innovations because he is deemed too ugly to deal with the public.  This appears to be the first Lette was made aware of how repulsive looking he is viewed by others, including his wife who cannot look him directly in the face.  Although, she assures him he is a wonderful human being.  Shortly thereafter he agrees to undergo major facial surgery despite any assurance of improvement.  Miraculously, the surgery turns him into an Adonis and  he finds his new desirability very enticing; initially.  This dark comedy takes a close look at the superficiality placed on physical beauty.  If you're looking for a intimate theatrical production this play will surgically drive home our obsession with youth and beauty.

A. Knobbs - A Bomb!

A. Knobbs starring and co-written by Glenn Glose is not for AnyBody!  It is just one big bore fest and a waste of a smart & handsome cast.  Trust me on this one - don't waste your money or your time.  Go watch Downton Abbey instead.  Enough said about this stinker.  And, don't hold out hopes for an oscar nomination for this one Ms. Close, although the academy seems to reward performances done in drag.  One more thing, this whole movie is a drag.