Insider's Viewpoint: 2021

Friday, December 31, 2021

Top 10 Lists for 2021

Top 10 Films of 2021

10. Halloween Kills
9. Luca
8. Soul
7. Encanto
6. Raya & the Last Dragon
5. The King's Man
4. In the Heights
3. Tick Tick Boom
2. Dear Evan Hansen
1. West Side Story

Top 10 Television Series of 2021

10. Bridgerton
9. Hawkeye
8. The Mandalorian
7. Loki
6. Wandavision
5. Mare of Easttown
4. The Squid Game
3. Maid
2. Schmigadoon
1. And Just Like That

Top 5 Theatrical Events of 2021
Due to COVID, I only saw 5 Theater productions this year. I am looking forward to seeing more in 2022.

5. Follies (Fathom Events)
4. She Loves Me (Pleasant Grove Players)
3. The Drowsy Chaperone (SCERA)
2. The Sound of Music (H.C.T.O.)
1. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (H.C.T.O.)

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

I am a horror fan. But I am a very select horror fan. I do not like the zombie sub-genre, except for a handful of very select films; I abhor torture porn in any form; I hate gore and violence for the sake of gore and violence without any plot or character development; and I loathe the horror remake, reboot, and sequel aspect of the genre itself, unless it can be done in an intelligent way with a fresh perspective.

In 2018, David Gordon Green did just that with the Halloween franchise. He rebooted it, with a fresh perspective, a true fan’s perspective, and an intelligent way that I enjoyed tremendously. His perspective was that only the original Halloween film exists, and the rest don’t, complete junk. I agree with him. I enjoyed Halloween II, also created, and done by the wonderful and witty John Carpenter, but for me it if had ended there, I would have been happy. I don’t fault John Carpenter for this though. The third film, which was silly and the sequels which brought nothing to the story with zero intelligence and don’t get me started on Rob Zombie’s atrocious remakes of the first two film, which added nothing to the story of Michael Myers, and in fact, I agree with John Carpenter himself, when he said in a recent interview, that not knowing everything about Michael is what makes the saga itself so terrifying. That just pure evil does exist in this world. Like Hitchcock’s classic, “The Birds” where we never find out why the birds start attacking the public in the first place, it’s good to leave some questions unanswered, which in the horror genre, in my humble opinion, makes it even more horrifying.

David Gordon Green, along with John Carpenter and the wonderful Jamie Lee Curtis, the original Laurie in the first Halloween film and its sequel, team together to tell the tale of Michael, forty years after the events of the first film. A very intelligent and terrifying film which I enjoyed immensely. Now we pick up immediately after the end of the 2018 film. And wow, what a bloodbath and carnage ensue. Michael is in high gear in this film and it’s horrifying to watch at times. I gave this film a 9/10-star rating on IMDB because the second murder scene, for me, was a bit too much. It bordered on torture porn, and I really wish David Gordon Green had pulled back a bit, like he did with the other murder scenes. But, despite this, I enjoyed the film and was on the edge of my seat throughout the entire motion picture. The entire cast was great, and this film was very poignant and had a lot to say about society in general. I applaud everyone involved. The cinematography was very different than the 2018 installment, and the look and feel was very unsettling and terrifying. This was a real roller coaster ride and I highly recommend this film to any Halloween fan and horror fans in general. Intelligent, gripping, thrilling and emotionally draining. All things that make a good horror film in my humble opinion. But I do forewarn any viewers who are sensitive to graphic violence, this film is not for you.

I am so excited to see the final installment, “Halloween Ends” next Halloween!

Dear Evan Hansen

I have always been a devoted fan of the musical, Dear Evan Hansen, ever since I saw Ben Platt give his final performance at the Music Box Theatre on Broadway on November 19, 2017. I will never forget that experience. I, as Evan Hansen does, suffer from Social Anxiety, generalized anxiety, depression, and ADHD. I could so relate to Evan and all that he was going through. I remember when I was in high school back in the mid-eighties, when these disorders had such a stigma around them. I went into the original Broadway production only having heard the one song, “You Will Be Found.” I was so moved and at the same time, almost emotionally destroyed by this musical. How the playwright, Steven Levenson; the composer and lyricists, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul were able to portray what these disorders are like for the sufferer was nothing short of miraculous. They did it with such compassion and respect. I will love and adore them for the rest of my life for what they did with this beautiful musical. Ben Platt’s performance moved me so much. I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting him and telling him how much his performance meant to me. He so deserved the Tony award he was given for this incredible performance.

On September 24, 2021, the motion picture version was released, and Ben Platt was cast to recreate his performance of this character for film. I will say this, I am so glad he was chosen. No one could have played this role other than him for this film version as far as I am concerned. So many complaints of he was too old were bantered all over social media and it angered me immensely. A lot of criticism has arisen about this film adaptation, mostly from audience members who never saw it on stage, that the character is a sociopath and never receives any just retribution for his actions. I completely disagree with this sentiment and that is the reason for this story. Too many misconceptions about social anxiety have been bantered all over social media and I for one am sick of it. Evan Hansen is a high school senior with a child’s mentality. His social anxiety is on the high end of the spectrum, and he has been through so much in his short life and he really doesn’t understand, at first, the repercussions of his actions. In the end, he decides to come clean to the family he has deceived as well as the public on social media in general to stop the unjust demonization of the family, which by the way, is caused by the character of Alana, exploiting Connor’s supposed suicide note online, to raise the funds for a memorial in his name, which is very manipulative and terrible. In the end, Evan loses everything he gained: the surrogate family as well as the love of the one girl who saw him for, who he truly was and wanted to spend the rest of her life with him. In the end, he learns from his mother, that he is of infinite worth and doesn’t need to live in a fantasy world and lie to get people to like him. In the end, all is forgiven, not forgotten, and the family moves on and becomes closer because of the experience. So, in the end, hope endures.

Ben is brilliant in this film along with the rest of the incredible cast: Julianne Moore as Evan’s mother, Heidi; the beautiful Kaitlyn Dever as Zoe; Amy Adams and Danny Pino as Zoe and Connor’s parents, Cynthia and Larry; Colton Ryan as Connor; Amandla Stenberg as Alana; and Nik Dodani as Jared, Evan’s only friend. Congratulations to everyone involved with this film. I was once again, like the stage musical, moved and touched by this incredible story. I am so glad that the producers brought this wonderful musical to the big screen and to an even wider audience, who needs the message of this beautiful story. The stigma surrounding mental disorders and illness needs to stop now.

Sunday, October 31, 2021

Stop Stereotypes in Film

Saturday, September 25, 2021

2020 Tony Nominations: My Picks vs Actual Recipients

My Picks
Actual Recipients

Nominations for the 2020 American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards®
Presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing

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Best Play

Grand Horizons

Author: Bess Wohl
Producers: Second Stage Theater, Carole Rothman, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Mandy Greenfield

The Inheritance

Author: Matthew López
Producers: Tom Kirdahy, Sonia Friedman Productions, Hunter Arnold, Elizabeth Dewberry & Ali Ahmet Kocabiyik, 1001 Nights Productions, Robert Greenblatt, Mark Lee, Peter May, Scott Rudin, Richard Winkler, Bruce Cohen, Mara Isaacs, Greg Berlanti & Robbie Rogers, Brad Blume, Burnt Umber Productions, Shane Ewen, Greenleaf Productions, Marguerite Hoffman, Oliver Roth, Joseph Baker/Drew Hodges, Stephanie P. McClelland, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Caiola Productions, Mary J. Davis, Kayla Greenspan, Fakston Productions, FBK Productions, Sally Cade Holmes, Benjamin Lowy, MWM Live, Lee & Alec Seymour, Lorenzo Thione, Sing Out, Louise! Productions, AB Company/Julie Boardman, Adam Zell & Co/ZKM Media, Jamie deRoy/Catherine Adler, DeSantis-Baugh Productions/Adam Hyndman, Gary DiMauro/Meredith Lynsey Schade, John Goldwyn/Silva Theatrical Group, Deborah Green/Christina Mattsson, Cliff Hopkins/George Scarles, Invisible Wall Productions/Lauren Stein, Sharon Karmazin/Broadway Factor NYC, Brian Spector/Madeleine Foster Bersin, Undivided Productions/Hysell Dohr Group, Ushkowitzlatimer Productions/Tyler Mount, The Young Vic

Sea Wall/A Life

Author: Simon Stephens & Nick Payne
Producers: Nine Stories, Ambassador Theatre Group, Seaview Productions, Benjamin Lowy Productions, LFG Theatrical, Audible, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, Jacob Langfelder, Brian Moreland, Roth-Manella Productions, Salman Vienn Al-Rashid Friends, SLSM Theatricals, Teresa Tsai, Dunetz Restieri Productions, Morwin Schmookler, Jane & Mark Wilf, The Public Theater, Oskar Eustis, Patrick Willingham, Mandy Hackett

Slave Play

Author: Jeremy O. Harris
Producers: Seaview Productions, Troy Carter, Level Forward, Nine Stories, Sing Out, Louise! Productions, Shooting Star Productions, Roth-Manella Productions, Carlin Katler Productions, Cohen Hopkins Productions, Thomas Laub, Blair Russell, WEB Productions, Salman Al-Rashid, Jeremy O. Harris, Mark Shacket, New York Theatre Workshop

The Sound Inside

Author: Adam Rapp
Producers: Jeffrey Richards, Lincoln Center Theater, Rebecca Gold, Evamere Entertainment, Eric Falkenstein, Salman Vienn Al-Rashid, Spencer Ross, FilmNation Entertainment/Faliro House, Iris Smith, Jane Bergère, Caiola Productions, Mark S. Golub and David S. Golub, Ken Greiner, Gemini Theatrical Investors, Scott H. Mauro, Jayne Baron Sherman, CZEKAJ Productions, Wendy Morgan-Hunter, Kristin Foster, Brian Moreland, Sonia Mudbhatkal, Jacob Soroken Porter, Williamstown Theatre Festival, Mandy Greenfield

Best Musical

Jagged Little Pill

Producers: Vivek J. Tiwary, Arvind Ethan David, Eva Price, Caiola Productions, Level Forward & Abigail Disney, Geffen Playhouse-Tenenbaum-Feinberg, James L. Nederlander, Dean Borell Moravis Silver, Stephen G. Johnson, Concord Theatricals, Bard Theatricals, M. Kilburg Reedy, 42nd.club, Betsy Dollinger, Sundowners, The Araca Group, Jana Bezdek, Len Blavatnik, BSL Enterprises, Burnt Umber Productions, Darren DeVerna & Jeremiah Harris, Daryl Roth, Susan Edelstein, FG Productions, Sue Gilad & Larry Rogowsky, Harmonia, John Gore Theatrical Group, Melissa M. Jones & Barbara H. Freitag, Stephanie Kramer, Lamplighter Projects, Christina Isaly Liceaga, David Mirvish, Spencer B. Ross, Bellanca Smigel Rutter, Iris Smith, Jason Taylor & Sydney Suiter, Rachel Weinstein, W.I.T. Productions/Gabriel Creative Partners, Independent Presenters Network, Universal Music Publishing Group, Jujamcyn Theaters, Tamar Climan, American Repertory Theater

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Producers: Carmen Pavlovic, Gerry Ryan, Global Creatures, Bill Damaschke, Aaron Lustbader, Hunter Arnold, Darren Bagert, Erica Lynn Schwartz/Matt Picheny/Stephanie Rosenberg, Adam Blanshay Productions/Nicolas & Charles Talar, Iris Smith, Aleri Entertainment, CJ ENM, Sophie Qi/Harmonia Holdings, Baz & Co./Len Blavatnik, AF Creative Media/International Theatre Fund, Endeavor Content, Tom & Pam Faludy, Gilad-Rogowsky/Instone Productions, John Gore Organization, MEHR-BB Entertainment GmbH, Spencer Ross, Nederlander Presentations/IPN, Eric Falkenstein/Suzanne Grant, Jennifer Fischer, Peter May/Sandy Robertson, Triptyk Studios, Carl Daikeler/Sandi Moran, DeSantis-Baugh Productions, Red Mountain Theatre Company/42nd.club, Candy Spelling/Tulchin Bartner, Roy Furman, Jujamcyn Theaters

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Producers: Stage Entertainment, James L. Nederlander, Tali Pelman, Feste Investments B.V., David Mirvish, Nattering Way, TEG Dainty, Katori Hall, Mark Rubinstein LTD, Warner Chappell, Peter May, Eva Price, No Guarantees, Caiola Productions, Jamie deRoy, Wendy Federman, Roy Furman, Independent Presenters Network, John Gore Organization, Marc Levine, Carl Moellenberg, Al Nocciolino, Catherine Adler, Tom Perakos, Iris Smith, Candy Spelling, Anita Waxman, Daryl Roth, Sony/ATV Music Publishing, Universal Music Publishing Group, Tina Turner

Best Revival of a Play

Betrayal

Producers: Ambassador Theatre Group Productions, Benjamin Lowy Productions, Gavin Kalin Productions, Glass Half Full Productions, Annapurna Theatre, Hunter Arnold, Burnt Umber Productions, Rashad V. Chambers, Eilene Davidson Productions, KFF Productions, Dominick LaRuffa, Jr., Antonio Marion, Stephanie P. McClelland, Smith and Brant Theatricals, Richard Winkler/Alan Shorr, The Jamie Lloyd Company

Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

Author: Terrence McNally
Producers: Hunter Arnold, Debbie Bisno, Tom Kirdahy, Elizabeth Dewberry & Ali Ahmet Kocabiyik, Broadway Strategic Return Fund, Caiola Productions, FedermanGold Productions, Invisible Wall Productions, John Gore Organization, Mike Karns, Kilimanjaro Theatricals, Peter May, Tyler Mount, Seriff Productions, Silva Theatrical Group, Cliff Bleszinski/GetterLazarDaly, Jamie deRoy/Gary DiMauro, Suzi Dietz & Lenny Beer/Sally Cade Holmes, Barbara H. Freitag/Ken Davenport, Barry & Kimberly Gowdy/Mabee Family Office, Kayla Greenspan/Jamie Joeyen-Waldorf, John Joseph/Broadway Factor, Tilted Windmills/John Paterakis, The Shubert Organization

A Soldier's Play

Author: Charles Fuller
Producers: Roundabout Theatre Company, Todd Haimes, Julia C. Levy, Sydney Beers, Steve Dow

Best Book of a Musical

Jagged Little Pill

Diablo Cody

Moulin Rouge! The Musical

John Logan

Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Katori Hall, Frank Ketelaar and Kees Prins

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theatre

A Christmas Carol

Music: Christopher Nightingale

The Inheritance

Music: Paul Englishby

The Rose Tattoo

Music: Fitz Patton and Jason Michael Webb

Slave Play

Music: Lindsay Jones

The Sound Inside

Music: Daniel Kluger

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Ian Barford, Linda Vista
Andrew Burnap, The Inheritance
Jake Gyllenhaal, Sea Wall/A Life
Tom Hiddleston, Betrayal
Tom Sturridge, Sea Wall/A Life
Blair Underwood, A Soldier's Play

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play

Joaquina Kalukango, Slave Play
Laura Linney, My Name is Lucy Barton
Audra McDonald, Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Mary-Louise Parker, The Sound Inside

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Aaron Tveit, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical

Karen Olivo, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Elizabeth Stanley, Jagged Little Pill
Adrienne Warren, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Ato Blankson-Wood, Slave Play
James Cusati-Moyer, Slave Play
David Alan Grier, A Soldier's Play
John Benjamin Hickey, The Inheritance
Paul Hilton, The Inheritance

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play

Jane Alexander, Grand Horizons
Chalia La Tour, Slave Play
Annie McNamara, Slave Play
Lois Smith, The Inheritance
Cora Vander Broek, Linda Vista

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical

Danny Burstein, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Derek Klena, Jagged Little Pill
Sean Allan Krill, Jagged Little Pill
Sahr Ngaujah, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Daniel J. Watts, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical

Kathryn Gallagher, Jagged Little Pill
Celia Rose Gooding, Jagged Little Pill
Robyn Hurder, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Lauren Patten, Jagged Little Pill
Myra Lucretia Taylor, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Scenic Design of a Play

Bob Crowley, The Inheritance
Soutra Gilmour, Betrayal
Rob Howell, A Christmas Carol
Derek McLane, A Soldier's Play
Clint Ramos, Slave Play

Best Scenic Design of a Musical

Riccardo Hernández and Lucy Mackinnon, Jagged Little Pill
Derek McLane, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Mark Thompson and Jeff Sugg, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Costume Design of a Play

Dede Ayite, Slave Play
Dede Ayite, A Soldier's Play
Bob Crowley, The Inheritance
Rob Howell, A Christmas Carol
Clint Ramos, The Rose Tattoo

Best Costume Design of a Musical

Emily Rebholz, Jagged Little Pill
Mark Thompson, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Catherine Zuber, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Best Lighting Design of a Play

Jiyoun Chang, Slave Play
Jon Clark, The Inheritance
Heather Gilbert, The Sound Inside
Allen Lee Hughes, A Soldier's Play
Hugh Vanstone, A Christmas Carol

Best Lighting Design of a Musical

Bruno Poet, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Justin Townsend, Jagged Little Pill
Justin Townsend, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Best Sound Design of a Play

Paul Arditti & Christopher Reid, The Inheritance
Simon Baker, A Christmas Carol
Lindsay Jones, Slave Play
Daniel Kluger, Sea Wall/A Life
Daniel Kluger, The Sound Inside

Best Sound Design of a Musical

Jonathan Deans, Jagged Little Pill
Peter Hylenski, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Nevin Steinberg, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Direction of a Play

David Cromer, The Sound Inside
Stephen Daldry, The Inheritance
Kenny Leon, A Soldier's Play
Jamie Lloyd, Betrayal
Robert O'Hara, Slave Play

Best Direction of a Musical

Phyllida Lloyd, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical
Diane Paulus, Jagged Little Pill
Alex Timbers, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Best Choreography

Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Jagged Little Pill
Sonya Tayeh, Moulin Rouge! The Musical
Anthony Van Laast, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

Best Orchestrations

Tom Kitt, Jagged Little Pill

Justin Levine, with Katie Kresek, Charlie Rosen and Matt Stine, Moulin Rouge! The Musical

Ethan Popp, Tina - The Tina Turner Musical

IATSE Film and Television Strike 2021

Wednesday, September 22, 2021

A Statement from the Lead Producers of Jagged Little Pill

Sunday, September 19, 2021

WAITRESS First Curtain Call Back & LIVE YOUR LIFE Nick Cordero Tribute feat AMANDA KLOOTS (9/2/2021)

Watch Sara Bareilles and Broadway Waitress Cast Sing "Opening Up" on First Day of Rehearsal

Hamilton's First Night Back on Broadway: Watch Lin-Manuel Miranda's Emotional Speech

Amen Lin-Manuel, amen!

The Lion King on Broadway Re-Opening Night, "The Circle of Life" -- September 14, 2021, TikTok Stream

Wicked- Reopening Night Curtain Call

Wicked Reopens on Broadway: Watch Glinda's Iconic First Line

Sunday, September 5, 2021

Trans People Belong on Stage. Yes, even in the Classics

Monday, August 23, 2021

The Lion King - The Emotional First Rehearsal into Broadway's Return

Wednesday, August 18, 2021

Vicar of Dibley - A Tribute to Alice Tinker

For those who are fans of this wonderful series, a beautiful tribute and touching message for the times we are living in now.

Wednesday, June 9, 2021

In the Heights: The First 8 Minutes

I am so excited for this! This looks so fantastic! I love and adore this musical!

Saturday, May 29, 2021

Dear Evan Hansen Trailer

In The Heights Trailer

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Smiling, Dancing, Singing, Oppression - Tokenization & Inclusivity in Legitimizing the Violence of Gendered Racial Capitalism on Broadway

Steven Spielberg's "West Side Story" | Official Teaser |

I am so excited! This is going to be epic!

Monday, April 12, 2021

My Favorite Musicals: Day 169

Each day, I will post one of my favorite musicals. No particular order or ranking.
Thank you for following along, I have enjoyed sharing my favorite musicals with you. I hope you will take the time to explore some of the lesser-known shows that I have shared with you. You won't regret it! Love to all of you!