Linda Winer

‘Invisible Thread’ review: Director Diane Paulus’ latest

Michael Luwoye and Adeola Role in "Invisible Thread," a new musical at Second Stage about a New Yorker in Uganda, directed by Diana Paulus. Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “Invisible Thread” WHERE Second Stage Theatre, 305 W. 43rd St. INFO $65-90;…

Carol Channing dies; legendary Broadway musical star was 97

Carol Channing, the last of a generation of Broadway musical stars with oversized personalities and a trouper’s dedication to touring America, died Tuesday in Rancho Mirage, California, her publicist said. She was 97. Publicist B. Harlan Boll said…

Neil Simon dead; prolific Tony and Pulitzer award-winning playwright was 91

Playwright Neil Simon attends the Broadway opening night of "Bonnie & Clyde" at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre on Dec. 1, 2011 in Manhattan. Credit: Getty Images/Cindy Ord Neil Simon, the last of Broadway’s red-hot commercial playwrights, who penned…

A.R. Gurney dead; ‘Dining Room,’ ‘Cocktail Hour’ playwright was 86

A. R. Gurney's first hit was "The Dining Room." Credit: Getty Images for American Theater / Craig Barritt A.R. Gurney, who chronicled the vanishing New England WASP establishment in more than 40 plays, including “The Dining Room” and “The Cocktail…

Summer arts preview 2017: Broadway theater

THE END OF LONGING (in previews, opens June 5) Who knew? Matthew Perry — that’s right, friend, Chandler — writes plays. He also co-stars in the New York premiere of his bittersweet comedy about “an alcoholic, an escort, a self-diagnosed neurotic and…

‘The Golden Apple’ review: Encores! revives a rarity

N'Kenge stars in "The Golden Apple." Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “The Golden Apple” WHERE New York City Center, 131 W. 55th St. INFO $35-$125; 212-581-1212; nycitycenter.org BOTTOM LINE Ambitious oddity, stylistic hodgepodge but lovely singing. ‘The…

‘Pacific Overtures’ review: Sondheim revival soars in intimate setting

WHAT “Pacific Overtures” WHERE Classic Stage Company, 136 E. 13th St., Manhattan INFO $71; 212-352-3101, classicstage.org BOTTOM LINE A tiny but mighty revival. A fundraising pitch in the program for Classic Stage Company describes its mission as…

Tony nominations 2017: ‘Great Comet,’ ‘Hello, Dolly!,’ ‘Evan Hansen’ get top nods

Bette Midler was nominated on Tuesday, May 2, 2017, for a Tony for her lead role in the revival of "Hello, Dolly!" Credit: Julieta Cervantes “Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812,” the immersive spectacle based on a slice of “War and Peace,” led…

‘A Doll’s House, Part 2’ review: Worthy Broadway sequel to Ibsen’s shocker

Jayne Houdyshell as the servant Anne Marie and Laurie Metcalf as the formerly disappeared Nora in "A Doll's House, Part 2." Credit: Brigitte Lacombe WHAT “A Doll’s House, Part 2” WHERE Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45th St. INFO $39-$147; 212-239-6200;…

‘Bandstand’ review: Band of war vets serves up music and emotion

Laura Osnes and the cast of "Bandstand," reportedly the first stage show certified in a campaign supporting accuracy in military-themed art. Credit: Jeremy Daniel WHAT “Bandstand” WHERE Jacobs Theatre, 242 W. 45th St. INFO $59-$159; 212-239-6200;…

‘Six Degrees of Separation’ review: Cons and connections still timely in revival

Allison Janney and John Benjamin Hickey in the revival of John Guare's "Six Degrees of Separation," at Barrymore Theatre. Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “Six Degrees of Separation” WHERE Barrymore Theatre, 243 W. 47th St. INFO $93-$163; 212-239-6200;…

‘Anastasia’ review: A vapid journey to the past on Broadway

Every couple of years — OK, two years ago and now — Broadway producers have felt compelled to stage a big, bombastic, romantic musical about recent Russian history, preferably based on at least one hit movie. In 2015, we had the brief run of “Dr.…

‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ review: Saccharine overload

Christian Borle as Willy Wonka, center, works hard to find the charm in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” WHERE Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, 205 W. 46th St. INFO $79-$169; 877-250-2929;…

‘Hello Dolly!’ review: Singing Bette Midler’s praises in a happy show

Bette Midler brings her nonstop show-biz virtuosity to the title role in "Hello, Dolly!" at the Shubert Theatre. Credit: Julieta Cervantes WHAT “Hello, Dolly!” WHERE Shubert Theatre, 225 W. 44th St. INFO $59-$229; 212-239-6200,…

‘The Little Foxes’ review: Good reason to see it twice

Cynthia Nixon, left, as Regina Giddens and Laura Linney as Birdie Hubbard in Manhattan Theatre Club's "The Little Foxes." Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “The Little Foxes” WHERE Friedman Theatre, 261 W. 47th St. INFO $70-$150; 212-239-6200;…

Andy Karl cuts back on ‘Groundhog Day’ appearances

Andy Karl, who performed at the opening of “Groundhog Day” Monday and the following day despite a serious knee injury, has cut back his appearances this week to just Friday and Saturday evenings. Understudy Andrew Call, who filled in last Saturday…

‘Indecent’ review: Gripping, extraordinary play about a play

WHAT “Indecent” WHERE Cort Theatre, 138 W. 48th St. INFO $39-$129; 212-239-6200, indecentbroadway.com BOTTOM LINE An extraordinary play about theater history, great passion and oppression. Has there ever been anything quite like “Indecent,” a play…

‘Groundhog Day’ review: Andy Karl’s injury shadows terrific musical

Andy Karl, center top, and the cast of "Groundhog Day" at the August Wilson Theatre with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and directed by Matthew Warchus, 2017 . Credit: Joan Marcus WHAT “Groundhog Day” WHERE August Wilson Theatre, 245 W. 52nd…

Where star vehicles took Carol Channing, James O’Neill and other actors

Carol Channing, who played the title role in "Hello, Dolly!" more than 5,000 times, says, "You've got to go out there and paint a new picture every single night." Credit: Joan Marcus We don’t often get the chance to think about Carol Channing and…

‘Groundhog Day’ star Andy Karl injured during preview

Andy Karl, who plays weather forecaster Phil Connors in the musical "Groundhog Day" on Broadway, was injured during a preview performance Friday, April 14, 2017, and finished using a cane. Credit: AP / Manuel Harlan Andy Karl, the star of the new…