Saturday, December 21, 2024
A club remix of the Nutcracker theme that melts, like chocolate candy on the tongue, into a sultry live rendition of "Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)"? That's entertainment, baby. My love told me that I’m falling asleep during performances recently. One show last week she clocked me falling asleep 12 times in one hour. So from now on I’ll be rating productions by “Nods” or how many times I “Nod Off”. Let us begin. It's the first of many holiday gifts Company XIV offers up in Nutcracker Rouge, the Brooklyn burlesque troupe's flagship show now in its 13th year. A
Author: DB Frick
D.B. is a long time writer and performer. He's had the opportunity to work alongside such greats a Martin Scorsese and Jesse Eisenberg. Most recently D.B. was a writer and performer for the podcast The National Lampoon Presents The Final Edition run by comic icon Tony Hendra, whom D.B. has also written with. D.B. was Senior Comedy Writer for The NY Theatre Guide, interviewing many greats and reviewing NYC Comedy. D.B. also has a script used as material in an NYU Tisch writing class taught by mentor, D.B. Gilles. D.B. has also taught Improv and Writing at UCLA and Cambridge University in the United Kingdom.
Immersed In Santa’s Secret In Chelsea
As someone who has never attended an all out burlesque event before, I was initially unsure about what to expect when my love insisted we go to Santa’s Secret Immersive Holiday Experience. From the moment we arrived, it became clear I was in for a delightful surprise that would change my perspective on holiday celebrations entirely. Set in a beautifully transformed West Chelsea location, the event takes you on a whimsical journey through a stunning winter wonderland filled with eight unique interactive installations. Each installation is elaborately designed and offers a blend of cheeky holiday cheer—from naughty snow angels to Santa's
A Christmas Carol At The Players Theater
What A Wonderful Show: Louis Armstrong at Studio 54
The Broadway premiere of “A WONDERFUL WORLD: THE LOUIS ARMSTRONG MUSICAL” has made its sparkling debut at the electrifying Studio 54, and it’s a musical that serves up laughter alongside soul-stirring melodies. Starring the immensely talented James Monroe Iglehart as Louis Armstrong, this production takes audiences on a delightful journey through the life of the jazz icon—complete with romance, musical arrangements by Bradford Marsalis, Armstrong marital misadventures, and a dash of comedy that will leave you grinning from ear to ear. Iglehart shines as Armstrong, channeling the legendary trumpeter's signature raspy tones and magnetic personality with infectious energy. The show leans
Jazz: The Heartbeat of My Life and a Journey with Gavin Gregory as King Oliver
Gavin Gregory who stars as King Joe Oliver Growing up, jazz transcended mere entertainment; it formed the very rhythm of my existence. My childhood was a mosaic of rich, soulful sounds, emanating from the vinyl records my father, a talented jazz pianist, lovingly played in our home. He opened my ears to the greatness of legends like Charlie Parker and Big Mama Thornton, their resonant melodies lingering in my mind long after the music stopped. Inspired by John Coltrane's innovative spirit, I was encouraged to think beyond the conventional, while the unmistakable voice of Louis Armstrong, the epitome of jazz's essence,
Prepare for a Culinary Whodunnit: “Speakeasy Die Softly” Stages Glamour, Grit, and Gluten in Times Square!
A mere 365 days ago, I found myself stepping onto the productions of America’s largest theatrical conglomerate, The American Immersion Theater (AIT). Specializing in delightfully twisted Murder Mystery shows, this company has become the crème de la crème of the immersive theater landscape. My journey with AIT over the past year has been nothing short of an odyssey, an exuberant escapade through the realms of drama and deception. Little did I know that AIT was scaling the heights, culminating in a brand-new, audacious endeavor tucked away in the resplendent heart of Manhattan! This September, the iconic Carmine’s—a culinary monument of family-style
BroadwayCon 2024: A Celebration of Theater and Conversation
I had the pleasure of attending BroadwayCon this past week at The New York Hilton. This marked my sixth review of the event since it was founded by Anthony Rapp in 2016. It’s hard to believe we’re approaching the ten-year anniversary of this spectacular gathering for theater enthusiasts, especially since BroadwayCon will return in February, back to its original time slot. D.B. Frick Giving Improv Seminar This year was particularly special for me, as I had the incredible opportunity to lead a presentation. I hosted an Improv Seminar titled "Improv: A Brief History and How to Create Your Own Show in Under
Will “Suffs” Have Enough To Snuff Out The Competition This Season
Suffragette!!!! Ohhhh!!! Ohhhhh!!! As Sir Paul McCartney once sang or thereabouts. “Suffs,” is the latest Broadway sensation nominated for 6 Tony Awards and executive produced by Hillary Clinton. “Suffs” transports audiences back to the heart of the suffragette movement in 1917. This bombastic and poignant musical, led by Shaina Taub, a multifaceted talent who wears many hats as the writer, composer, and star, shines a bright light on the historical journey of the courageous women fighting for the right to vote. In the spirit of Lin Manuel Miranda’s groundbreaking work with “Hamilton,” Taub showcases her brilliance, promising a masterpiece that
The Great Gatsby Grants A Gratuitous Look At The On Going Wealth Gap
The new musical adaptation of "The Great Gatsby" on Broadway seems to be in a race to outdo other shows that feature more rain than you can shake a stick at and more cars than Jerry Seinfeld could handle. Jay Gatsby, the self-made enigma and party king of West Egg, Long Island, is a man of insecurities hidden behind a facade of wealth, constantly teetering on the edge of exposure. Like all men. In this dazzling Jazz Age production, Gatsby’s grand gestures to impress the high society, from showcasing his Oxford photo like a desperate salesman to transforming his neighbor Nick's
Rachel McAdams shows us how to do it in “Mary Jane”
As if I didn't have enough reasons to not have children. “Mary Jane” written by Amy Herzog (who once again hardens the fact that she is America’s premiere playwright) gives us the best reasons for living a childless life. The economic climate, wealth disparity, food shortages. The future seems nothing but despondent so any effort to have children at this point strikes me as particularly selfish from a parental viewpoint (and I’ve raised both animals and other people's children). That being said, I currently work with and have worked with many students who were wheelchair-bound and on inhalation devices which is never a sight one wants to behold for their child. The loss of a three-year-old by a mother is