Joseph Verlezza

Musical and Dance Review: “Notre Dame de Paris” at the David H. Koch Theater (Closed Sunday, July 16, 2023)

“Notre Dame de Paris” is based on the novel by Victor Hugo and is adapted by author Luc Plamondon with music composed by Richard Cocciante. The musical and dance piece is billed as a musical spectacle and this current production at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater lives up to that righteous claim. Containing fifty-one musical numbers and little spoken…

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Off-Broadway Review: “The Gospel According to Heather” at Theater 555 (Closed Sunday, July 9, 2023)

“The Gospel According to Heather” a new musical which is now playing at Theater 555 fails to deliver any clear message let alone a gospel, constantly being sidetracked by insignificant subplots and ridiculous situations that try to reflect on the present socio-political turmoil. Just when the audience thinks it may get a grip on the proceedings, the musical switches gears…

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Off-Broadway Review: Defibrillator and M. Green Productions “Foxes” at 59E59 Theaters (Closed Sunday, July 2, 2023)

“Foxes” a new play by Dexter Flanders now having a run at 59E59 theaters is appropriately named since the two central characters Daniel (an earnest Raphel Famotibe) and Leon (a complex Bayo Gbadamosi) resolve their issue following the age-old idiom of being “clever as a fox.”  Mr. Flanders has penned a complicated story that deals with themes of sexual identity,…

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Off-Broadway Review: Prospect Theater Company’s “Lizard Boy” at Theatre Row (Closed Saturday, July 1, 2023)

“Lizard Boy” a new Indie-Rock musical with book, music and lyrics by Justin Huertas is currently playing at New World Stages presented by Prospect Theater Company. It can be described as an LGBTQ+ story but themes of identity, coming of age, acceptance and human kindness and forgiveness are relevant to all, regardless of gender, race, or political persuasion. It has…

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Off-Broadway Review: Audible Theater’s “Sorry For Your Loss” at Minetta Lane Theatre (Closed Sunday, June 4, 2023)

Audible Theater is currently presenting “Sorry For Your Loss” a solo show written and performed by Michael Cruz Kayne at The Minetta Lane Theatre, which approaches the subject of grieving with a touch of humor in an attempt to understand and absorb the process easier. The show straddles a line between stand-up comedy and storytelling, but delves a bit deeper,…

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Broadway Review: “New York, New York” at the St. James Theatre (Closed on July 30, 2023)

The long-awaited musical “New York, New York” has finally arrived on the Great White Way paying homage to the city that bears its name and dazzling audiences with its signature song. It is a big, splashy musical that makes the heart and soul of New York City it’s star, taking pride in this formidable melting pot, challenging those who have…

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Broadway Review: “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre (Closed July 23, 2023)

Mischief Theatre has returned to Broadway with another play that isn’t going exactly as planned, exactly the way the creative team wanted it to, now on stage at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre, aptly titled “Peter Pan Goes Wrong” based on the play “Peter Pan” by JM Barrie. The book showcases everything, and in this case take that word literally, that…

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Broadway Review: “Camelot” at the Vivian Beaumont in Lincoln Center Theater (Closed Sunday, July 23, 2023)

In the “Camelot” now on the stage of The Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, magic has been replaced with science, wizardry replaced by wisdom, romance replaced by practicality, and fantasy is overcome by reality. This all falls at the hands of Aaron Sorkin who penned this new book based on the original by Alan Jay Lerner, in an attempt…

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Broadway Review: “Shucked” at the Nederlander Theatre (Currently On)

After all the hype and waiting it is here. The new Broadway musical “Shucked,” with a book by Robert Horn, and music and lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally, has opened and is currently playing at The Nederlander Theatre. The result resembles the aftermath of a collision between “The Music Man” and “Hee Haw” that took place in a…

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Broadway Review: “Bob Fosse’s Dancin'” at the Music Box Theatre (Closed May 14, 2023)

There are two questions you should probably ask yourself when deciding to attend a performance of the revival of “Dancin” which was originally produced in 1978, when it was nominated for seven TONY awards. First, do you like the choreography of Bob Fosse and second, do you like dance? The first is actually not as important as the second, which…

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