Theater is part vision, part imagination, part art, and part craft. Combining those elements results in a magical representation of a well thought out production that transports us to another place. “Kitt’s Picks” is a personal review of New York’s Broadway and Off Broadway theater shows. It is sense and sensibility as well as a seasoned taste for the theater as Kitt provides her perspective on these multifaceted performances.
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| All About Me |  |
Michael Feinstein and Barry Humphries (Dame Edna) combine extraordinary talent in this musical review. The concept of each thinking that the show is simply about them, and not about the two of them stretches the patience of the audience waiting for their talents to shine through. Each should have stayed with their own show as a one man showcase. The infighting is simply a waste of the audience’s time and the performers talents. Once the show does combine, you wish they had done that earlier. |
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| Avenue Q |  |
This is X rated, adults only, no matter how sophisticated you think that your children are; you and the audience will not be comfortable with under 18 year olds. |
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| Billy Elliot |  |
Simply fabulous from every standpoint. High energy, real story line, wonderful acting and great dancing. A must see. This huge cast brings the audience to its feet and everyone leaves happy. The language is what you would expect from coal miners in England and therefore rough going so beware with children under 12. |
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| Chicago | |
A great musical for adults. Ann Reinking's choreography in the style of Bob Fosse is wonderful. The songs have become classics and the show is just as strong now as it was 10 years ago. |
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| Come Fly Away | |
This is a wonderful production for anyone that loves dance and the iconic songs sung by Frank Sinatra. The 19 piece big band provides the music and you feel as if you are in the Rainbow Room years ago with extremely talented dancers floating across the dance floor. The songs are wonderful. The dancers are truly amazing and the choreography by Twyla Tharp is simply sensational. Perfect for anyone that loves the ballet, jazz and modern dance, elegant ballroom, Dancing with the Stars fans and anyone that enjoys the sheer athleticism of the performers. There is no dialogue, just music and dance so international audiences will love this. |
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| Gazillion Fan Yang Bubble Show | |
This is the perfect show for a family with small children. It's a wonderful combination of fantasy and science and incredible talent. Fan Yang holds 12 world records in the Guinness Book of World Records for his creativity with bubbles. At one hour and 15 minutes, it's a great show for even very young children. |
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| God of Carnage | |
Great casting and interesting relationships make a power 90 minute production. Beware that yelling distorts the words so it's easy to miss some of the dialogue. |
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| In the Heights | |
Written by Lin-Manuel Miranda when he was in high school, and re-written in college, this look at immigration into the United States from the Latin American Countries will touch the hearts of the Latino community. The Lyrics are backed by repetitive Latin beats, but tell the story of life in Washington Heights, a tight knit zip code in the northern tip of Manhattan. For groups that speak Spanish, this is a great production by a talented cast. |
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| Jersey Boys | |
The tale of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons will bring back great memories from the 60's. Be prepared for another overly mic'd production and Soprano's language. |
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| Little Night Music, A | |
Sheer delight to see Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury in Stephen Sondheim’s A Little Night Music and worth the price of the expensive tickets. Perfect for couples of all ages, girls weekends, anniversaries, birthdays and of course, Sondheim fans. This production is 3 hours. Make sure that you sit in the orchestra. The seating upstairs is extremely tight and very uncomfortable at most NY theaters, and this is especially true of the Walter Kerr Theater. |
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| Looped | |
Valerie Harper’s extraordinary performance representing the outrageous, crass and feisty Tallulah Bankhead is going to be a Tony nomination for best actress for sure! The audience for this is anyone that remembers Tallulah and those who wonder what one of Hollywood’s first Bad Girl’s was really like. |
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| Mamma Mia | |
Big and bright musical about a woman who can’t determine which of three men might have been the father of her daughter. |
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| Mary Poppins The New Musical | |
Just loved this production from beginning to end. The set design by Bob Crowley and lighting by Howard Harrison are fabulous. George Stiles and Stephen Mear's choreography are wonderful. As with many productions that have been adapted from a movie or book onto the Broadway stage, you might be a tad disappointed but it's good, clean family entertainment. |
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| Memphis | |
Despite a great cast, super set design, wonderful costumes, the story line is simply confusing. Set in the 1950’s this is the story of a white DJ and a black singer who fall in love and try to make the relationship work despite the times. If they can fix the writing, it might work. |
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| Next Fall | |
A beautifully written play about a gay couple’s five year relationship written with humor, honesty about romance, commitment, love and faith. This is a really powerful piece of theater. Best suited to audiences that are comfortable with the subject matter. |
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| Next to Normal | |
This is a thought provoking production and nominated for several Tony's. Well acted, simple and effective scenery but the music level is ear splitting if you are past your 20's leaving you wondering if you are in a Broadway theater or at a rock concert. Interesting production for late teens and mature families who are interested in family relationships. The hard rock music background runs throughout the production as you watch a mother come to terms with grief and the loss of her son. What is "Normal" and how acceptable is living life only Next to Normal? |
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| Our Town | |
This is such an interesting production of a classic story of love, life and relationships. The Off-Broadway venue of the Barrow Street theater offers the story with the audience on three sides. The cast is huge for such a small space and it feels more like a reading than a show. It's powerful story reminds us to take each day we have and cherish it. |
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| Present Laughter | |
Noel Coward’s revival of Present Laughter is delightful with a magnificent set design by Alexander Dodge. Victor Garber is terrific as Garry Essendine.This three act production is perfect for the 40 and over set.
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| Race | |
Loved this David Mamet thought provoking play starring James Spader, David Alan Grier, Kerry Washington, and Richard Thomas. If you loved James Spader’s character on Boston Legal, you will love the transition as a character playing an attorney deciding to defend a man accused of raping a black woman. The writing is wonderful and the cast is terrific. |
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| Rock of Ages | |
This the perfect for those of you that loved Urinetown set to loud music with it’s stupid dialogue and jokes. The target groupie is those of you that lived through the music of the late 80’s and actually liked it. The content is simply not for those under 18. Almost anything else on Broadway is better. |
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| South Pacific | |
Classic Rodgers & Hammerstein deserves to wine 7 Tony's. Kelli O'Hara is a darling Ensign Nellie Forbush Paulo Szot is a perfect Emile de Becque. The casting, lighting, set design make this a perfect evening. |
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| Stomp | |
Perfect for the whole family, especially international groups where language is not an issue since the production is entirely percussion based. |
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| The Addams Family | |
Charles Adams quirky characters have been adored in books, magazines, on TV, movies and now come to life on the Broadway stage. This is a production that you either love the campy dialogue or not. It’s poignant one minute and just downright silly they next. Nathan Lane is over the top fabulous in this production! The set design, special effects, puppetry and lighting are wonderful. The minute the orchestra began to play the Addams Family theme song, the audience was already clapping in time and cheering with the music. It’s perfect for families with children around 6 and over and will probably have a huge cult following. |
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| The Lion King | |
Still attracts audiences of all ages but can’t hold a candle to Beauty and the Beast as far as I am concerned. |
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| The Miracle Worker | |
This is a wonderful evening in the theater! The cast is amazing with Abigail Breslin as Helen Keller, Alison Pill as Annie Sullivan, Matthew Modine as Captain Keller and Jennifer Morrison as Kate Keller. This theater is the round at Circle in the Square uses terrific set design. Beautifully written it’s one of the year’s best revival’s. |
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| The Phantom of the Opera | |
| A classic after all these years and if you have seen the hot new shows, maybe it is time to see this one again. | |
| The Temperamentals |  |
Despite a small theater, the cast simply does not draw you into the production. Michael Urie, from Ugly Betty fame mumbles and is impossible to understand. Take a pass on this one. |
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| West Side Story | |
Leonard Bernstein's music and Stephen Sondheim's lyrics are back and Broadway in this fabulous revival. The original Jerome Robbins' Choreography is beautifully reproduced by Joey McKneely. Matt Cavenaugh's Tony is charming, Josephina Scaglione's Maria is just adorable and her operatic trained voice is lovely. Karen Olivo portrays a strong Anita. Many of the songs and script are in Spanish and will be a wonderful choice for Spanish speaking audiences. A great theater event for ages 12 and over. |
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| Wicked | |
One of the hottest tickets in town now, it is perfect for an audience that grew up with the Wizard of Oz and will see the humor in the twists that the story line takes. The production is extremely loud and long at 2 hours and 45 minutes. |
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