Gypsy

 Gypsy
Majestic Theatre
June 17, 2025

Photo courtesy of Gypsy

Audra McDonald puts her unique brand on the iconic role of Rose in the Broadway revival of Gypsy.  Director George C. Wolfe found the urgency that drives every scene.  All the characters are fueled by a primal energy, a yearning for their desires and deep seeded need.  It gives this production a cutting-edge nuance.  Camille A. Brown’s choreography is a truly new take on this Broadway classic.  The movements are fully grounded in character.  Her dances propel the action and enhance the story.  The cast and ensemble are phenomenal. 

Rose (played by Audra McDonald) is pushing her two young daughters, Baby June (played by Mila Jaymes) and Baby Louise (played by Kyleigh Vickers) into show business.  Rose believes that June has all the talent.  Louise works extra hard to back up her sister.  Rose steals from her father (played by Thomas Silcott) to follow her dream and build a full act for the girls.  When she is auditioning the act, she meets Herbie (played by Danny Burstein).  Rose convinces him to represent them, and he starts obtaining bookings on the vaudeville circuit.  Rose refuses to see that the girls are outgrowing the act.  June (played by Jordan Tyson) runs off with Tulsa, one of the dancers in the show (played by Kevin Csolak), leaving Louise (played by Joy Woods) to take over.  Rose builds a whole new act around Louise, but since vaudeville is dying, they wind up taking a booking in a burlesque house.  Rose gives in and decides to marry Herbie at the end of their contract.  When the star stripper does not show up for her number, Rose does what she does best.  She pushes Louise into the spotlight. 

Joy Woods, Audra McDonald, & Danny Burstein
Photo courtesy of Gypsy

Audra McDonald roars as Rose.  She is determined, protective, and fearless.  Danny Burstein brings a
new fire to the character of Herbie.  He and Ms. McDonald have amazing chemistry.  They are an equal match.  Their characters go head to head, and always find the balance that keeps them moving forward.  

The most challenging part of playing the role of Louise is portraying her transition from a tomboy into a young woman.  Joy Woods handles this with skill and grace.  She matures from one scene to the next, creating a gradual change that shows the passage of time as the action unfolds.  By the end of the show, she is a queen in her own right, and the audience has seen it unfold one moment at a time.  

Joy Woods & Audra McDonald
Photo courtesy of Gypsy

Jordan Tyson portrays June with feisty energy.  The character is fueled by frustration, caused by her mother’s expectation.  This plays very well against Ms. Woods’ Louise, who is always working to decelerate the conflict between June and Rose.  June’s decision to leave with Tulsa is hurtful to Rose, yet it is clear by Ms. Tyson’s portrayal that it is fully motivated by her anger toward her mother and made with total disregard for her feelings.

Gypsy is playing at the Majestic Theatre.  It is an energized revival with a stellar cast, who all deliver tremendous performances. 

Domenick Danza

Pictures from Home

 Pictures from Home
Studio 54
January 20, 2023 

Photo courtesy of Pictures from Home

In Pictures from Home, playwright Sharr White takes a deep dive into Larry Sultan’s photo memoir of the same title.  She is quoted as saying, “This play is my exploration of Larry’s exploration.”  She takes Mr. Sultan’s probing of the relationship between his parents and his juxtaposition of truth with image to the next level.  Ms. White adds layers of fiction to the story through her dialogue.  The characters speak their truth as they face the masks they wear in order to project the images they desire.  Director Bartlett Sher molds and shapes this play into an emotional engaging piece of theatre.  The direct address seamlessly blends into genuine moments between the characters that are full of spunk and humor.  The cast is truly phenomenal, delivering authentic and heartwarming performances.

The action drops in on year eight of a project undertaken by photographer Larry Sultan (played by Danny Burstein).  He is in the process of interviewing and capturing images of his parents, Irving (played by Nathan Lane) and Jean (played by Zoë Wanamaker).  Irv questions the amount of time Larry has been spending on the project, constantly challenging every question he is asked and every photograph his son takes.  In the midst of these disputes, Irv tells of when he quit his job in New York City and moved his family to California to seek a better life.  His success was hard earned, yet his animosity not easily resolved upon his retirement.  Jean’s success in real estate kept the couple financially secure after her husband’s retirement, yet is underplayed in the shadow of Irv’s demanding ego.  These are the areas Larry explores with his photographs and interviews.  How do his parents project the images of success differently?  Can he capture their vulnerable sides?  Which of these qualities are reflected in him? 

Nathan Lane, Danny Burstein, & Zoë Wanamaker
Photo courtesy of Pictures from Home

Nathan Lane and Danny Burstein create a truthful and intimate father/son relationship as Irving and Larry.  They are direct and unapologetic.  They both have high standards for themselves.  They continually push each other beyond their limits.  No matter how harsh they get, you can feel their mutual respect.  Zoë Wanamaker is their rock.  She is the devoted wife, caring mother, and straight man to both male characters.  The timing between these three actors is impeccable, and surpassed only by their heart and sincerity.

Playwright Sharr White asks more questions in the course of this play than she delivers answers.  This directly corresponds to the purpose of Larry Sultan’s photography.  As his photographs tell a full story in an isolated image, questioning the truth in the perspective, so do Ms. White’s individual scenes.  They are full of subtext and backstory.  The audience is able to respond to each moment, relate to the characters and events, and bring their own perspective to the story.  They become part of the intimacy shared between the characters, their tenderness, their frustrations, their eagerness, and their hesitations. 

The character of Larry Sultan discovers at the conclusion of the story that his greatest joy is in how he touched a culture with his work.  We feel that touch in this play.  Pictures from Home is playing at Studio 54 for a limited engagement.  Don’t miss it!  

Domenick Danza

Describe the Night

Describe the Night

Atlantic Theater Company

Linda Gross Theater

November 24, 2017

Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

The New York premier of Rajiv Joseph’s play Describe the Night is presently in previews at Atlantic Theater Company.  It explores the phenomenon of how perception can become reality, and how facts can easily be replaced by fabrications that become acceptable truths.  Mr. Joseph’s writing is luminous and engaging.  The action of the play spans the years from 1920 through 2010.  It follows the events connected by Isaac Babel, considered one of Russia’s greatest writers of his time, and Nicolai Yezhov, who was closely associated with Stalin and became the chief of the Soviet Police from 1936-38.  Their fabricated truths are linked to the plane crash in 2010 that killed the President, First Lady, and virtually every top member of Poland’s government and military.

Danny Burstein & Zach Grenier
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

In 1920 Isaac Babel (played by Danny Burstein) meets Nicolai Yezhov (played by Zach Grenier).  They are both Soviet Soldiers.  Isaac is writing in his journal, describing the night, and teaches Nikolai how easy it is to tell a believable lie.  Fast forward to the plane crash of 2010, where Mariya, a journalist (played by Nadia Bowers), urgently needs to rent a car to flee the Soviet Police investigation of the events leading up to the crash.  Feliks, the car rental agent (played by Stephen Stocking), gives her his truck to escape unnoticed.  He passes on to her an old journal that was given to him by one of the victims of the plane crash before she died.  This is the journal belonging to Isaac Babel.  The play goes back and forth in time and follows the hand to hand journey of this journal, covered in truth, lies, perceptions, and falsities, from its start in 1920 until it gets into the hands of Vova (played by Max Gordon Moore), the man from St. Petersburg, who is on his way to be one of the most powerful men in the world.

Max Gordon Moore & Nadia Bowers
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

The cast is superb in bringing clarity and life to the brilliant writing of Mr. Joseph’s play.  Every scene is driven by characters who are rich and real.  Danny Burstein and Zach Grenier juxtapose their characters with traits, physicality, and vocal rhythms that give visceral vigor to every scene they share.  Tina Benko is charming and heartbreaking as Yevgenia, the wife of Nicholai Yezhov.  The chemistry between her and Mr. Burstein is tangible.  Their connection is honest and genuine.  Nadia Bowers is powerful as Mariya.  She shows her range by also playing Mrs. Petrovna.  Max Gordon Moore’s character of Vova grows from an unassuming, eager government employee to a manipulative and aggressive official.

Danny Burstein, Zach Grenier, & Tina Benko
Photo courtesy of Atlantic Theater Company

Playwright Rajiv Joseph and director Giovanna Sardelli conquer a huge subject matter that is tightly interwoven with clear themes that are relative to every audience member.  The Atlantic Theater Company production of Describe the Night is running at the Linda Gross Theater through December 24.  The play has many layers that will keep you thinking.  See it with someone with whom you can have a deep, detailed discussion, or be prepared to do as I did and engage the person next to you during the two intermissions.   

Domenick Danza

Fiddler on the Roof

Fiddler on the Roof

The Broadway Theatre

June 11, 2016

Photo courtesy of Fiddler on the Roof

The revival of Fiddler on the Roof currently running at The Broadway Theater is magnificent!  How can one of the most profound musicals ever written interpreted by visionary director Bartlett Sher be anything less?  I can’t be, so when it is peppered with the lustful choreography of Hofesh Shechter and performed by a phenomenal cast, it becomes an exceptional work of theatre that should not be missed.  Every moment in this production is genuine and full of hope and humanity.

Danny Burstein makes the role of Tevye his own.  His timing and vocal qualities are like no other interpretation.  His Tevye is an everyman - simple, hardworking, flawed, struggling to live with dignity, and balancing his beliefs in a changing world.  Every one of his gestures reveals his deeper needs.  His vocal intonations expose his exasperation and softer side.  He proficiently connect one moment to the next to create an identifiable character who is both respectful and respected.  Jessica Hecht does the same with the role of Golda.  She forcefully plays a stern wife and mother with a tender understanding and soft heart.  She falls to the floor with grief, then stands strong to complete her daily chores.  Together they portray how a traditional lifestyle is built, which includes a significant amount of flexibility, persistence, and foolery.

Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, & Samantha Massell
Photo courtesy of Fiddler on the Roof

Alexandra Silber (as Tzeitel) and Adam Kantor (as Motel) are magical together.  Samantha Massell (as Hodel) and Ben Rappaport (as Perchik) set the stage on fire.  Melanie Moore (as Chava) and Nick Rehberger (as Fyedka) are idealistic, willful, intelligent, and passionate.

Director Bartlett Sher delivers a production where everyone on stage viscerally understands the needs of the villagers of Anatevka.  They address one another directly and austerely, with no sense of apology.  They literally clutch and cling to one another, as they do to their beliefs.  That is truly all they have and what they know to value.  Hofesh Shechter’s choreography is the true highlight of the show.  Every stomp and footstep connects to and comes deeply from the earth.  Every shoulder shake and arm raise reaches longingly to God.  The zest for life of the characters is expressed and portrayed through the way they gesticulate, spin and pulsate.  Even as they depart Anatevka, they stomp and reach, signifying the longevity of their existence.

Danny Burstein as Tevye
Photo courtesy of Fiddler on the Roof

At the start of the prologue, the image of the fiddler rises up from the floor of the stage and disappears into the fly space.  At the end of the prologue, he floats through the air wearing a purple coat, depicting the images from the well-known Chagall paintings.  This is an inspired production that must be experienced.  It will re-inforce your value of life.  L’Chaim!

Domenick Danza