STEVEN SUSKIN’S TERRIFIC TIME MACHINE By Peter Filichia
“Drugs?? The Beatles??” So why does Steven Suskin, in his memoir OFFSTAGE OBSERVATIONS, give a pair of question marks after each of those entries? Wouldn’t one suffice? It’s Suskin’s way of stressing that he had no idea why his Baby Boomer contemporaries would relish certain substances and songs such as “Sun King” when they could […]
THE EIGHT WONDERS OF THE MUSICAL THEATER WORLD
At a reading of a spectacular new musical called BROOKYLN’S BRIDGE, a line of dialogue came between one of Ray Roderick and Joseph Baker’s majestic songs – a remark that made me smile. Actually, I was smiling throughout, for this recounting of how the bridge was built was unstintingly compelling. Who’d expect that a woman […]
Not The Who’s Tommy, but Tommy Tune By Peter Filichia
It wasn’t the greatest Broadway resume. In fact, only a quick glance would reveal how far down the theatrical food chain it would rank. Take a look. The role by which he made his Broadway debut was “One of the Killers.” More than a year later, he was billed twice, although “Ensemble Dancer” and “Saw […]
THIS IS THE LIFE By Peter Filichia
All right, so THE LIFE at Encores! didn’t turn out to be a triumph. What was once the Best Musical of the 1996-1997 season (per the Drama Desk Awards) wasn’t what was on stage at City Center. It had been changed, proving once again that change is good when change is good. To glean what […]
BACK TO THE FUTURE IS BACK IN THE PRESENT By Peter Filichia
Yes, tempus does fugit. When BACK TO THE FUTURE debuted in 1985, it sent the time-traveling Marty McFly to 1955 – thirty years earlier. Now, since its July, 1985 debut, more than thirty-SIX years have passed. Time hasn’t flown for Robert Zemeckis and Bob Gale, its Oscar-nominated screenwriters. They would have never believed in 2006 […]
