West Side Story
Broadway Theatre
10 December 2019
Saw the first night preview of the new Broadway production of West Side Story. Singing was great! A lot of video projection which were sometimes annoying if you are seating on the sides because you don’t see any of the action which sometimes were not visible to the audience except through the projection.
Little Shop of Horrors
Westside Theatre
27 November 2019
Gyudon lunch with Sapporo at Tabata 2 before Little Shop of Horrors. Jonathan Groff has a great sweet voice and Christian Borle was terribly funny as the sadist dentist. Worth the high-priced ticket!
Evita
NY City Center
14 November 2019
City Center MainStage’s gala presentation of EVITA marks the 100th anniversary of Eva Perón's birth. The outstanding New York City Center cast is led by two actresses in the role of Eva - Maia Reficco (as Eva aged 15 – 20) and Solea Pfeiffer (as Eva aged 20 – 33) - alongside Jason Gotay (as Che), Enrique Acevedo (as Perón), and Philip Hernandez (as Magaldi).
Tina
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre
12 November 2019
Just came from an entertaining Broadway show, TINA, and the musical numbers were terrific. Of course it includes the abusive relationship between Tina and Ike. The finale was terrific with the entire audience on their feet and singing along with Proud Mary.
Bella Bella
Manhattan Theatre Club at City Center
18 October 2019
Just got out of City Center’s Bella Bella starring Harvey Fierstein who is perfectly engaging and funny as Bella Abzug, the 70s Congresswoman from NYC. Absolutely entertaining!
Scotland, PA
Roundabout at Laura Pels Theatre
29 September 2019
Saw a very entertaining dark musical comedy last night at the Roundabout Theatre called Scotland, PA.
To Kill A Mockingbird
Shubert Theatre
19 September 2019
Jeff Daniels gave a triumphant performance.
Moulin Rouge
Al Hirshfeld Theatre
11 September 2019
The sets were fabulous but there is something I hate about this show - its use of songs from The Sound of Music, Diamonds Are Forever and others. It just doesn't seem original at all.
Sea Wall/A Life
Hudson Theatre
24 August 2019
Just came from a very good performance of Sea Wall/A Life with Jake Gyllenhaal and Tom Sturridge.
Betrayal
Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre
19 August 2019
Saw Harold Pinter’s Betrayal with Tom Hiddlestone giving a fine performance and so did Charlie Cox and Zawe Ashton. The strikingly stark set gave the production focus on the psychological intricacy and acting.
Oklahoma!
Circle on the Square
17 July 2019
I went to see Oklahoma! on Broadway but was disappointed. It felt like a high school production in a gymnasium and some of the singing felt like karaoke esp when they used mics. No wonder Oscar Hammerstein’s grandson didn’t like the production. Weird but they served chili and corn bread during intermission and I ate them. Big mistake!
2019 After Gay Pride Parade Party
Roland's Penthouse
30 June 2019
Annual After Gay Pride Parade party at Roland's.
2019 Gay Pride Parade
New York City
30 June 2019
Annual Gay Pride Parade.
Brunch
Scampi NYC
30 June 2019
Brunch with friends before the Pride parade.
French Summer Party
Église Française du St Esprit
29 June 2019
Marlene invited me to a garden party at her church/school.
Kiss Me, Kate
Roundabout Theatre at Studio 54
21 June 2019
Kelli O'Hara was the haughty Kate/Lilli and Will Chase as Petruchio/Fred; witty lyrics and music by Cole Porter. Quite enjoyable evening though with a boisterous group of high school kids in the audience.
Broadway By The Year (1987 & 2015)
Town Hall
17 June 2019
Scott Siegel (who writes, directs, and hosts the one-night-only performance) introduced a roster of present-day stars and emerging talents to give new voice and renewed life to both the biggest hits and some of the lesser-known works of the past.
safeword.
American Theatre of Actors
16 June 2019
A play about bondage and the two couples, one gay and one straight, and the effects in their lives.
New York Philharmonic
Central Park
12 June 2019
Great music, great picnic with friends and great fireworks!
Pretty Woman
Nederlander Theatre
12 June 2019
A very entertaining show adapted from the movie.
In The Closet
Theatre Row
9 June 2019
Saw an Off-Broadway show “In The Closet” at Theatre Row which explores ageism in the gay community.
The Cher Show
Neil Simon Theatre
7 June 2019
Tonight on Broadway: The Cher Show. Delightful and entertaining!
Network
Belasco Theatre
5 June 2019
Saw Network on Broadway with a strong performance by Bryan Cranston. Could earn him the Tony!
Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus
Booth Theatre
2 June 2019
Spent a hilarious afternoon at the Booth Theatre with Nathan Lane in Gary: a Sequel to Titus Andronicus.
Whipped Cream
American Ballet Theatre
28 May 2019
At Lincoln Center tonight for ABT’s delightful Whipped Cream.
Norma Jean Baker of Troy
The Shed
16 May 2019
NORMA JEANE BAKER OF TROY starring Ben Whishaw and Renée Fleming, a play by Anne Carson based on stories about two beautiful women, Helen of Troy and Marilyn Monroe. As might be expected, Ms. Fleming brings a luxuriant, caressing tone to the song fragments.
King Lear
Cort Theatre
16 March 2019
Glenda Jackson was unbelievably good as King Lear and Ruth Wilson was also great in a dual role as Cordelia and Fool.
New York Galore!
Chinatown*9/11 Memorial*Park Avenue Visit*Yama Restaurant
16 March 2019
Lunch in Chinatown (delicious soup dumplings and scallion pancakes), 9/11 Memorial, visit to Tim’s sister, dinner at Yama before King Lear.
My Birthday Lunch
Le Bernardin
15 March 2019
Excellent lunch with Tim at Le Bernardin, the premier French seafood restaurant in NYC. Started with a terrine of poached salmon for our amuse bouche and for our aperitif Pernod for me and Campari for Tim. Our starters were Lacquered Lobster Tail Butternut Squash Manicotti, Shrimp-Black Pepper-Brandy Sauce for me and Barely Cooked Scallop, Sea Beans, Bonito Butter Sauce for Tim.
For our main course: Steamed Black Bass, Baby Shrimp, Calamari, Lemongrass-Infused Bouillon for me and Lacquered Skate, Fennel-Herb Salad, Smoked Duck Broth
for Tim. Both could never have been prepared better! The sommelier suggested Biaumont Bourgogne Côtes d'Auxerre Goisot and it was excellent suggestion!
Dessert for me was Mont Blanc (chestnut crémeux, rum-candied chestnut with flecks of edible gold and vanilla ice cream) and for Tim was Hazelnut (golden hazelnut sphere, Frangelico mousse and praline ice cream). Espresso coffee topped off the excellent lunch!
