Happy New Year to all of my readers! I was fortunate enough to spend the week of winter break in New York City seeing some amazing theatre. I am forever grateful to the cast and crew of all of Broadway who provided entertainment and worked even harder than usual while the audiences attending their shows had a break from their job. This trip, my family and I saw two dramatic plays and two musicals. Why is this a big deal for us? We have never attended a dramatic play before. Comedies, sure, but dramatic plays are new to us. Musicals are our go-to. All of this to say, here are my thoughts on my experiences.
- American Son
I saw this play on my own. It has been over a week, and the messages of this playa re still sitting with me. Kerry Washington may have it handled on Scandal, but her performance on television is nothing compared to what she does on stage in ninety minutes. The dynamic between her and Jeremy Jordan, Eugene Lee, and Brian Avers (who was on in the role of Scott) is electric. This is possibly the most powerful piece of theatre I have ever witness. No topic goes undiscussed. No perspective goes unseen. I didn’t know I could hold my breath for ninety minutes, but that’s how I felt by the end of the show. This show should be required viewing for absolutely everyone, and if you can get to the Booth Theatre before the end of this limited run, I urge you to go and witness this for yourself. - The Cher Show
I cannot stop talking about this musical! Holy cannoli! I am one of the biggest Cher fans—I can sing her whole catalog backwards and forwards, and have been to my fair share of concerts as well. The message of the show is so uplifting. The takes on the songs and how they’re used to help the story progress is wonderful. Absolutely nothing can compare to seeing Bob Mackie’s costumes on parade. Stephanie J. Block commanded the stage and embodied Cher in a way that I can’t describe. Christopher Gattelli’s choreography speaks to his strengths, and those of the ensemble as well. I hope to find myself back in this audience again in 2019. - The Prom
I don’t even know where to begin. This is the most inclusive, entertaining, moving show on Broadway. You are rooting for each character from start to finish, eating up Casey Nicholaw’s direction and choreography and Chad Beguelin’s book. Beth Leavel is a force to be reckoned with, as are Caitlin Kinnunen and Brooks Ashmanskas. The way the story moves from heavier subject matter to joy with jokes, production numbers, and honest, heartfelt performances is truly something to behold. - To Kill A Mockingbird
I will not be able to adequately express my love and appreciation for this show. Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch, Gideon Glick as Dill, and Celia Keenan Bolger as Scout in Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of the beloved classic (and favorite of mine). It was an honor to watch this adaptation, and I felt it truly honored the book, its message, and managed to increase its verbiage to become even timelier. There are definitive stamps of Sorkin’s work throughout, with jokes and moments of levity throughout the play. Every actor seemed as though they were born to play these roles in this iteration of such a revered text. My entire family, some of whom were skeptical about enjoying a dramatic play, enjoyed this show the most out of the four we’d seen. While tickets are hard to get, if you can get them for the foreseeable future, you will not regret spending time in the theatre with this production.
It goes without saying that I enjoyed every show, for different reasons. Each offered me new perspectives, new experiences, and new appreciation for my favorite art form. With this, I challenge my readers to consume a new form of media that you’re skeptical of, for whatever reason. See where it takes you, and what you gain from it. I look forward to your comments.
Keep playing with words and see what your message creates!
–Stef the StageSLP
Speech To Stage 