Theatre

Bea Flies Home – Remembering A Broadway Legend

by Karen Tortora-Lee May 7, 2009 Broadway

My first encounter with Bea Arthur wasn’t in her role as Dorothy Zbornak on Golden Girls, or even as Maude Findlay in Maude. I was first introduced to Bea Arthur’s disembodied baritone as it came seeping through my bedroom floor boards. Picture it – Brooklyn, early seventies. A young six year old is trying to get her beauty [...]

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“The Oath” Will Have You Testifying

by Karen Tortora-Lee April 28, 2009 Manhattan

Take a preacher looking for a flock, a flock looking for a preacher, one “Good” sister, one “Bad” sister, a snooty churchwoman trying to bring down a house of cards and a housekeeper who’d give Alice a run for her money, set it all in the dry, hot Dust Bowl of Depression-Era Florida and you’ve [...]

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“Caitlin and The Swan” Revisited

by Karen Tortora-Lee April 22, 2009 Manhattan

After interviewing Dorothy Fortenberry and Josh Conkel last week about Caitlin and the Swan I was ready for anything. A shocking comedy, a satirical poke at the female-friendship meme, a sly wink that came with a taboo nod, or perhaps even a mish-mash of Animal Farm, The Seagull, and Babe, Pig in the City. What [...]

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A Play Takes Flight – The Making Of “Caitlin And The Swan”

by Karen Tortora-Lee April 15, 2009 Interviews

It was shocking, that first time in high school English class when my very Catholic, very quick-to-giggle sophomore class was taken through a reading of William Butler Yeats’ Leda and the Swan: A sudden blow: the great wings beating still // Above the staggering girl, her thighs caressed // By the dark webs, her nape [...]

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Try Some Now – The Crown Point Spring Sampler

by Karen Tortora-Lee April 6, 2009 Deals

In the Fall you’ll be able to feast on all the goodness that is the Crown Point Festival: a three week multi-media arts event that incorporates Film, Theatre and Music happenings all over the Lower East Side. But for now, just like when you do a tasting for your wedding, The CPF is having a [...]

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You’d Be A Fool To Miss “Fool For Love”

by Karen Tortora-Lee March 17, 2009 Manhattan

There’s been a lot of talk lately about Rihanna and Chris Brown in the headlines, the tabloids, the blogs, the daytime talk shows, the elevator banks … how he allegedly beat her and how they’ve allegedly reconciled. Wherever you go you’ll hear the same thing: What the hell is she thinking? I can’t even begin [...]

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Figaro/Figaro … and More Figaro

by Karen Tortora-Lee March 12, 2009 Manhattan

I’ve loved the opera since I was a little girl; my parents had a pair of season tickets to the Met since I was twelve and I’d go whenever the seats were offered to me. Aside from the time I was sixteen and my friend and I ditched La Boheme to go shoe shopping on [...]

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Choreographer Seth Gertsacov Finds His Truth

by Karen Tortora-Lee March 5, 2009 Dance

You know you’re standing next to a writer when: their stance is unassuming, their posture is hunched, and when they move it’s only after hours of being in one spot either typing furiously, day dreaming earnestly, or working out that writer’s block by playing yet another game of computer solitaire. (Hey … don’t put it [...]

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Feeling the Chill? It’s FRIGID!

by Karen Tortora-Lee February 25, 2009 Deals

Gosh, it’s cold outside. Like, tried-to-dial-my-cell-phone-so-took-off-my-glove-and-immediately-regretted-it-because-my-fingers-froze-into-a-claw type of cold. But does it have to be frigid inside too? According to this festival … yes it does! With January ’09 having the sad distinction of being the month that saw the close of such long running hits as Hairspray, Spamalot and Spring Awakening, as well as [...]

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Carl Andress Tells The Whole Story, Starting With “The Third Story”

by Karen Tortora-Lee February 23, 2009 Interviews

When it comes to the theatre, Carl Andress was practically weaned First Row, Center; he’s been writing, acting, and directing for as long as he can remember, and it’s always been his passion. He got his start years ago when … well, I’ll let him tell you all about that. His latest directorial offering The Third Story stars Kathleen [...]

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There’s Something Out There – The Wendigo

by Karen Tortora-Lee February 16, 2009 Manhattan

I was afraid of The Wendigo before I even got into the theatre. But not for the reasons you might think. Not because I was about to see a tale of horror, or because I’d done some research on it and the Algernon Blackwood story (upon which it was based) left me spooked. Not because I [...]

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I Can Get It for You Wholesale

by Karen Tortora-Lee February 3, 2009 Broadway

For those who know their Broadway Show history, I Can Get It for You Wholesale is the 1962 musical responsible for bringing a teen-aged Barbra Streisand to the New York stage; she not only debuted to critical acclaim, but she sang her way into a Tony Nomination as well for her role as Miss Marmelstein. [...]

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Playwright Eric Sanders Explains It All

by Karen Tortora-Lee January 28, 2009 Interviews

Eric Sanders is many things: a prolific playwright, a producer, and a lover of the horror genre. With his upcoming play, The Wendigo, he takes the old tale written by Algernon Blackwood and brings it to the stage. I sat down to talk with him about his career, his upcoming play, and his thoughts on [...]

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Broken Dog Legs – One Woman’s Journey

by Karen Tortora-Lee January 26, 2009 Manhattan

Before anyone calls the ASPCA, let me say right up front that Broken Dog Legs, the one woman show written and directed by Emily Conbere and starring Penny Pollak, does not harm any dogs. Rather, “broken dog legs” is a metaphor that reflects one woman’s journey (“SHE”) through therapy as she confronts issues dealing with [...]

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Hollow Log – If Theatre Was TV

by Karen Tortora-Lee January 19, 2009 Manhattan

Hollow Log by Lawrence Dial is billed as a Comedic Thriller, but I think that’s just economy of words. It’s not so much a comedic thriller as it is a drama, which then becomes a comedy, then moves on to a thriller, then becomes dramatic again then swerves over to tragedy just before ending on [...]

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“Ecstasy” Lives Up to Its Name

by Karen Tortora-Lee January 16, 2009 Manhattan

Last night I had a great night … just kicked back with some old friends, drank a lot, reminisced, sang some songs, then passed out. Oh, wait, that wasn’t me … that was the cast of Mike Leigh’s Ecstasy. For the next few weeks, until January 25th, 2009, you can catch this fantastic play at [...]

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Becky Shaw – Worst. Date. Ever.

by Karen Tortora-Lee January 5, 2009 Manhattan

Pop Quiz. Becky Shaw is: a) your old college roommate who reconnected with you on Facebook b) your boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend – who still has her ski boots in his closet c) your mother’s bingo partner who keeps asking if you want to be fixed up with her recently divorced son The answer is actually: d) [...]

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