Joe Dziemianowicz
Latest Articles
'Frankie and Johnny' review: More than skin is bared in tender revival
His-and-her nudity is front and center in “Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune” — but this rom-dram’s success isn’t measured in flesh alone. Audra McDonald and Michael Shannon...
'Gary' review: Nathan Lane's 'Titus' sequel is a stinker
It's got fart gags galore, but “Gary” isn’t a gas — it’s more like hot air. Subtitled “A Sequel to Titus Andronicus,” the labored comedy that opened Sunday night picks...
'Hillary and Clinton' review: Laurie Metcalf, John Lithgow lose this race
Not even two of the brightest stage stars — Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow — can make “Hillary and Clinton” more than a wispy exercise. The barbed comedy that opened...
'Burn This' review: Adam Driver, Keri Russell sizzle in love dance
If you come to “Burn This” expecting fireworks from Adam Driver and Keri Russell, be patient: The play that opened on Broadway Tuesday night takes a while to combust. Fresh...
Temptations' music elevates by-the-numbers 'Ain't Too Proud'
Get ready — here they come! “Ain’t Too Proud” arrived on Broadway Thursday night buoyed by a surge of nostalgia and a slew of Motown hits. But anyone who’s seen...
Raunchy, gutsy 'Kiss Me, Kate' showcases glorious Kelli O'Hara
Whether she’s hitting high notes or swatting her male co-star, Kelli O’Hara — funny and fierce — is reason enough to see “Kiss Me, Kate.” This 70-year-old hodgepodge of showbiz...
Paul Dano fails to rival Ethan Hawke in soft 'True West' revival
When Ethan Hawke relieving himself onto a houseplant becomes one of the most noteworthy moments in a Broadway show, it’s safe to say it’s been a soggy night of theater....
From 'Harry Potter' to 'King Kong': Theater's hits and misses of 2018
Tina Fey, King Kong and Harry Potter all made their marks in New York theater in 2018, with varying degrees of success. There were no perfect musicals. On Broadway, Fey’s...
'Mockingbird' is still relevant 60 years later on Broadway
Not long into this new “To Kill a Mockingbird,” a young girl considers what she’s just heard in a courtroom. “All rise,” says Scout, marveling at the weight of the...
Bryan Cranston's brilliance can't save gimmicky 'Network'
In Broadway’s “Network,” Bryan Cranston does the impossible: Playing Howard Beale, the so-called mad prophet of the airwaves, he makes Peter Finch’s Oscar-winning turn feel like yesterday’s news. So mesmerizing...
'The Cher Show' will leave you feeling moonstruck
If I could turn back time, I’d rewind to my night at “The Cher Show” for another happy high. Think I’m kidding? Snap out of it! Granted, the jukebox musical...
Broadway's 'King Kong' is a gorilla-size mess
Show me the monkey! That gargantuan gorilla in “King Kong” is the top banana of the $35 million musical that opened Thursday night on Broadway. Too bad that most everything...
Elaine May leads a strong ensemble in heart-wrenching 'Waverly Gallery'
Old age isn’t for sissies. And as painful as that reality is, Kenneth Lonergan faces it head-on in “The Waverly Gallery,” his affecting, funny-sad memory play about the wrenching and...
Daniel Radcliffe gets his facts straight in 'Lifespan'
They’re Broadway’s new odd couple: an eager-beaver fact-checker and an arrogant author who treats the truth like Silly Putty. That’s the setup for “The Lifespan of a Fact,” the so-so...
'Pretty Woman' musical just feels wrong in the #MeToo era
The hooker with the heart of gold is singing a new tune — but it’s the same old icky story. “Pretty Woman: The Musical,” which opened Thursday on Broadway, boasts...