How In Hell Do Your Describe A Show Like THIS?

It's really hard to accurately describe it. 

Ir calls itself a musical but it's more a spectacle than anything else. Oh, don't misunderstand. There really is plenty of music in it -- more than 30 songs (or at least snippets of songs) to be exact. 

And the music covers just about every genre and numerous eras. Plus, the music does sort of fit in with the story. But the story doesn't take itself too seriously and it's often all rather tongue-in-cheek. 

It's frequently comedic but you'd hardly term it a musical comedy. It's inspired by the relatively recent  Baz Luhrmann movie of the same name but it's not actually a faithful recreation of the movie, at least not as far as we can tell. 

There's so much going on that the costumes, the sets, the characters and the staging will sometimes keep you wondering exactly where to focus your attention.  It's a show that's all over the place, moving very quickly and changing from scene to scene and song to song in the blink of an eye and yet, it not only sustains your interest throughout but it all manages to come together in two acts as a coherent whole.

KABOOM! It's Moulin Rouge on Broadway at the Al Hirshfeld Theatre.

And you really ought to see it on Broadway because the theatre has been transformed for this show and one doubts that it can travel easily or faithfully.

Yes, the actual legendary Moulin Rouge in Paris has long since become a tourist trap but it's more than 130 years old and it is the home of the once-scandalous cancan. And yes, in this Broadway outing you'll see the cancan performed as never before with great dancers and the wildest, most vivid colors imaginable. It's all here, complete with the iconic rouge windmill that has beckoned throngs to the foot of Paris' Montmartre hill to partake of this unique nightlife ritual.

The story? Well, the musical promises a tale that's built around "truth, beauty, freedom and love". And, to be sure, each of these is touched upon in one way or another but don't expect anything profound. It's a classic backstage story but at its core, like the Moulin Rouge itself, this show is all about having fun. 

So, you will recognize and thoroughly enjoy the music and be delighted by the dancing, the gyrations, the gorgeous bodies and the sheer sumptuousness of the whole thing.

Which is to say you most assuredly will have fun. And if you don't, it will be your own damned fault! 

Mangez bien, riez souvent, aimez beaucoup.

 

FIRST LOOK: New Musical Title Tune!

Here's a first listen to the title track of #SomeLikeItHotMusical headed to the Shubert Theatre this fall! 🧡 Broadway’s hottest tickets are now on sale! https://somelikeithotmusical.com Featuring a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray), a book by Matthew López (The Inheritance) and Amber Ruffin (“The Amber Ruffin Show”), and choreography and direction by Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon), SOME LIKE IT HOT arrives on Broadway this November at the Shubert Theatre.

This looks very promising!

2022 Outer Critics Circle Winners!

Outstanding New Broadway Play: The Lehman Trilogy

Outstanding New Broadway Musical: Six

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Play: Prayer for the French Republic

Outstanding New Off-Broadway Musical: Kimberly Akimbo

Outstanding Revival of a Play: Take Me Out

Outstanding Revival of a Musical: Company

Outstanding Actor in a Play: Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy

Outstanding Actress in a Play: LaChanze, Trouble in Mind

Outstanding Actor in a Musical: Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop

Outstanding Actress in a Musical: Victoria Clark, Kimberly Akimbo

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play: Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Play: Uzo Aduba, Clyde’s

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical: Matt Doyle, Company

Outstanding Featured Actress in a Musical: Patti LuPone, Company

Outstanding Solo Performance: Kristina Wong, Kristina Wong, Sweatshop Overlord

Outstanding Direction of a Play: Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy

Outstanding Direction of a Musical: Jessica Stone, Kimberly Akimbo

Outstanding Choreography: Christopher Wheeldon and Rich + Tone Talauega, MJ the Musical

Outstanding Book of a Musical: David Lindsay-Abaire, Kimberly Akimbo

Outstanding New Score: Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss, Six

Outstanding Orchestrations: Jason Howland, Paradise Square

Outstanding Scenic Design: Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth

Outstanding Costume Design: Gabriella Slade, Six

Outstanding Lighting Design: Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy

Outstanding Projection Design: Luke Halls, The Lehman Trilogy

Outstanding Sound Design: Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy

John Gassner Award: English by Sanaz Toossi

Special Achievement Awards: Johanna Day, David Morse, Mary-Louise Parker, and Ruben Santiago-Hudson for reprising their outstanding performances in How I Learned to Drive and Lackawanna Blues two decades later. All had been eligible in previous seasons.

Outer Critics Circle Commendations: The Standbys, Understudies, and Swings of the theatrical community who step up to perform, often on hours’ notice, to keep their shows running; and The Covid Safety Supervisors, Managers, and Compliance Officers who put themselves in harm’s way eight times a week to keep the curtains up.

Excellent Cuisine Steps From Times Square

 

Of all the cities in Italy, Venice has always been our favorite.

It's a delight -- a feast for the senses at every turn.

But we can't always be in Venice.  So, when we want a touch of Venice we head right up the road to the bustling island of Manhattan.

We're talking about one of our favorite restaurants, Osteria al Doge.

Just steps away from Times Square. Osteria al Doge presents an inviting, charming ambience with Venetian inspired dishes. Homemade pastas are complimented by a good selection of fish and meat entrees without forgetting the great thin crusted pizzas. Here you'll find great, authentic Italian food for lunch and dinner.

We've been patronizing this restaurant for two decades and we can tell you that the atmosphere, service and (most of all) the dishes are all consistently excellent.

In a city like New York, it's hard to maintain success amidst relentless competition. People have so many choices and many of them are outstanding.

But Osteria al Doge has continuing to attract a loyal following as well as newcomers with a great dining experience.

Whether it's a romantic dinner for two, an important business lunch, or a lively group celebration, Osteria offers the easy elegance of Venice in the heart of New York's theatre district. And it's great for pre or post theatre dining.

Put it at the top of your list!

Complete List Of Tony Award Nominees!

2022 Tony Award Nominees honoring Broadway's Best!

Best Play

Clyde's, by Lynn Nottage
Hangmen, by Martin McDonagh
The Lehman Trilogy, by Stefano Massini and Ben Power
The Minutes, by Tracy Letts
Skeleton Crew, by Dominique Morisseau

Best Musical
Girl From The North Country
MJ
Mr. Saturday Night
Paradise Square
SIX: The Musical
A Strange Loop

Best Revival of a Play
American Buffalo
for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
How I Learned to Drive, by Paula Vogel
Take Me Out
Trouble in Mind, by Alice Childress

Best Revival of a Musical
Caroline, or Change
Company
The Music Man

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical
Billy Crystal, Mr. Saturday Night
Myles Frost, MJ
Hugh Jackman, The Music Man
Rob McClure, Mrs. Doubtfire
Jaquel Spivey, A Strange Loop 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical
Sharon D Clarke, Caroline, or Change
Carmen Cusack, Flying Over Sunset
Sutton Foster, The Music Man
Joaquina Kalukango, Paradise Square
Mare Winningham, Girl From The North Country

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical
Matt Doyle, Company
Sidney DuPont, Paradise Square
Jared Grimes, Funny Girl
John-Andrew Morrison, A Strange Loop
A.J. Shively, Paradise Square

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play
Simon Russell Beale, The Lehman Trilogy
Adam Godley, The Lehman Trilogy
Adrian Lester, The Lehman Trilogy
David Morse, How I Learned to Drive
Sam Rockwell, American Buffalo
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, Lackawanna Blues
David Threlfall, Hangmen 

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play
Gabby Beans, The Skin of Our Teeth
LaChanze, Trouble in Mind
Ruth Negga, Macbeth
Deirdre O'Connell, Dana H.
Mary-Louise Parker, How I Learned to Drive

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical
Jeannette Bayardelle, Girl From The North Country
Shoshana Bean, Mr. Saturday Night
Jayne Houdyshell, The Music Man
L Morgan Lee, A Strange Loop
Patti LuPone, Company
Jennifer Simard, Company

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play
Alfie Allen, Hangmen
Chuck Cooper, Trouble in Mind
Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Take Me Out
Ron Cephas Jones, Clyde's
Michael Oberholtzer, Take Me Out
Jesse Williams, Take Me Out

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play
Uzo Aduba, Clyde's
Rachel Dratch, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kenita R. Miller, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Phylicia Rashad, Skeleton Crew
Julie White, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Kara Young, Clyde's

Best Book of a Musical
Girl From The North Country, Conor McPherson
MJ, Lynn Nottage
Mr. Saturday Night, Billy Crystal, Lowell Ganz & Babaloo Mandel
Paradise Square, Christina Anderson, Craig Lucas & Larry Kirwan
A Strange Loop, Michael R. Jackson

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre
Flying Over Sunset; Music by Tom Kitt, Lyrics by Michael Korie
Mr. Saturday Night; Music by Jason Robert Brown, Lyrics by Amanda Green
Paradise Square; Music by Jason Howland, Lyrics by Nathan Tysen and Masi Asare
SIX: The Musical, Music and Lyrics by Toby Marlow & Lucy Moss
A Strange Loop, Music and Lyrics by Michael R. Jackson 

Best Scenic Design of a Play
Beowulf Boritt, POTUS: Or, Behind Every Great Dumbass are Seven Women Trying to Keep Him Alive
Michael Carnahan and Nicholas Hussong, Skeleton Crew
Es Devlin, The Lehman Trilogy
Anna Fleischle, Hangmen
Scott Pask, American Buffalo
Adam Rigg, The Skin of Our Teeth

Best Scenic Design of a Musical
Beowulf Boritt and 59 Productions, Flying Over Sunset
Bunny Christie, Company
Arnulfo Maldonado, A Strange Loop
Derek McLane and Peter Nigrini, MJ
Allen Moyer, Paradise Square

Best Costume Design of a Play
Montana Levi Blanco, The Skin of Our Teeth
Sarafina Bush, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Emilio Sosa, Trouble in Mind
Jane Greenwood, Neil Simon's Plaza Suite
Jennifer Moeller, Clyde's 

Best Costume Design of a Musical
Fly Davis, Caroline, or Change
Toni-Leslie James, Paradise Square
William Ivey Long, Diana, The Musical
Santo Loquasto, The Music Man
Gabriella Slade, SIX: The Musical
Paul Tazewell, MJ

Best Lighting Design of a Play
Joshua Carr, Hangmen
Jiyoun Chang, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Jon Clark, The Lehman Trilogy
Jane Cox, Macbeth
Yi Zhao, The Skin of Our Teeth 

Best Lighting Design of a Musical
Neil Austin, Company
Tim Deiling, SIX: The Musical
Donald Holder, Paradise Square
Natasha Katz, MJ
Bradley King, Flying Over Sunset
Jen Schriever, A Strange Loop

Best Sound Design of a Play
Justin Ellington, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Mikhail Fiksel, Dana H.
Palmer Hefferan, The Skin of Our Teeth
Nick Powell and Dominic Bilkey, The Lehman Trilogy
Mikaal Sulaiman, Macbeth

Best Sound Design of a Musical
Simon Baker, Girl From The North Country
Paul Gatehouse, SIX: The Musical
Ian Dickinson for Autograph, Company
Drew Levy, A Strange Loop
Gareth Owen, MJ

Best Direction of a Play
Lileana Blain-Cruz, The Skin of Our Teeth
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Sam Mendes, The Lehman Trilogy
Neil Pepe, American Buffalo
Les Waters, Dana H. 

Best Direction of a Musical
Stephen Brackett, A Strange Loop
Marianne Elliott, Company
Conor McPherson, Girl From The North Country
Lucy Moss & Jamie Armitage, SIX: The Musical
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Best Choreography
Camille A. Brown, for colored girls who have considered suicide/ when the rainbow is enuf
Warren Carlyle, The Music Man
Carrie-Anne Ingrouille, SIX: The Musical
Bill T. Jones, Paradise Square
Christopher Wheeldon, MJ

Best Orchestrations
David Cullen, Company
Tom Curran, SIX: The Musical
Simon Hale, Girl From The North Country
Jason Michael Webb and David Holcenberg, MJ
Charlie Rosen, A Strange Loop