Happy Birthday hit me harder than any film I’ve seen at Tribeca.
The champions of The Great White Way conquered last night with a brilliant march down Broadway.
Broadway’s biggest night truly lived up to its name in every capacity.
The 78th Annual Tony Awards paid tribute to those who dare to dream big even outside of the Great White Way.
The 2024-2025 theater season’s stars shone on Sunday at the 69th Drama Desk Awards, hosted by Debra Messing and Tituss Burgess at NYU Skirball.
The town was painted rainbow during the Pride of Broadway party in New York.
Just In Time is a jukebox theatrical revelation. Full stop. Its Broadway arrival this season (which opened on April 26) is Just In Time for what audiences need.
On May 8, this year’s Tony nominees attended the 78th Annual Tony Awards’ “Meet the Nominees” event. Nominees in attendance included Academy Award-winning George Clooney and comedian Cole Escola — both nominated for Best Actor in a Play, as well as Tony-winning Megan Hilty for her role in “Death Becomes Her” and “Stranger Things” star Sadie Sink for her performance in “John Proctor is the Villain.”
Royal Family Productions is offering a quick fix for theater addicts. They are presenting Lunchtime Theatre – short performances during the day. Thus, one can stop by 145 West 45th Street, view an original work or works with talented actors, and return invigorated to the mundane world.
All The World’s A Stage is a musical written by Adam Gwon. The narrative details the experiences of a high school teacher in a small Pennsylvania town. The production consists of a barebones set. A quartet of Wiley Deweese, Beth Callen, Buffi Jacobs, and Mike Hunter provides the music, complementing the songs without overwhelming the lyrics. This is not a typical musical. The songs develop the characters and move the action forward.
Matt Rodin is Ricky Alleman. He portrays a man who is torn. He must hide his homosexuality to teach in a small-town high school. Rodin clearly shows the inner conflicts as he moves through a hostile world.
Photo: All The World’s A Stage
A Musical by Adam Gwon
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Produced in Association with Michelle Noh
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Music Direction by Andrea Grody
Movement by Patrick McCollum
Dress rehearsal photographed: Monday, March 24, 2025; 7:00 PM -Theater Five in Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Between 9th & 10th Ave
Photograph: © 2025 Richard Termine.
PHOTO CREDIT – Richard Termine
Photo: All The World’s A Stage
A Musical by Adam Gwon
Directed by Jonathan Silverstein
Produced in Association with Michelle Noh
Orchestrations by Michael Starobin
Music Direction by Andrea Grody
Movement by Patrick McCollum
Dress rehearsal photographed: Monday, March 24, 2025; 7:00 PM -Theater Five in Theatre Row
410 West 42nd Street
New York, NY 10036
Between 9th & 10th Ave
Photograph: © 2025 Richard Termine.
PHOTO CREDIT – Richard Termine
New York City should extend a welcome to Eliza Pagelle to our theaters as she portrays Sam Bucknam. Sam is a determined adolescent committed to transforming her circumstances. She views a statewide monologue contest with a full scholarship as an opportunity to escape. She asks Ricky Alleman, who is a “theater nerd,” to be her advisor and coach. Pagelle gracefully fills this role.
Elizabeth Stanley is Dede Rozenel – the school secretary who is the power behind the throne. She mentors Ricky and protects him. Stanley realistically portrays a woman who uses her unwritten power to help others.
Jon-Michael Reese is Michael Hallan. He is a flamboyantly gay man who is who is not under the same pressure as Ricky because owns a bookstore. Thus, he is financially independent. He becomes Ricky’s lover. Reese portrays this role without making it a parody.
Although the principal never appears on stage Reese, Pagelle, and Stanley’s words create a clear image of a bureaucrat willing to sacrifice a student (by suspending Sam) and academic freedom to keep a community happy and protect his job. The actors’ voice blend together to carry the story forward.
Ricky selects a safe Shakespearean sonnet for the monologue. While rehearsing, their conversations revolve around Angels in America. Ricky sees Tony Kusher a second Shakespeare. Sam acts out a scene from Angels in the hallway of the school. Ricky’ job is threatened if there is any more connection with Angels. Dede tries to protect Ricky. She even invites Ricky and his girlfriend to dinner. Ricky and Sam plan to toss Shakespeare and use a monologue from Angels.
All The World’s A Stage is not your typical musical. When their plan about the monologue is printed in an out-of-town newspaper things collapse. Michael has a brick thrown through a window of his bookstore since he was identified as Ricky’s lover. Dede draws back in horror when she realizes that Ricky is gay. Sam doesn’t win. She is offered a job with the church that dominates the town. This would trap her in the town she so desperately wants to escape through the theater. The play ends when each person finds his or her role in life. It is true that “All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players.” During this musical we can see the players finding roles that make them happier, even if it is not what they planned.
All The World’s A Stage is far more pertinent than it seems at first glance. Adam Gwon depicts characters seeking their place in a hostile world. Pennsylvania in 1996 resembles the US in 2025. This is not a musical where the audience will walk out singing the tunes. This musical inspires reflection and changes perspective. All The World’s A Stage entertains and provokes at the same time.