Discover the best of theater, music, restaurants, travel, and books through the eyes of our passionate New York City-based group of critics! With their insider knowledge, fresh perspectives, and love for the arts, our reviews are here to inspire your next adventure, helping you find hidden gems and unforgettable experiences. Let us guide you to the extraordinary!
For more information, visit Reviews, and Welcome to Opening Night!
Check out some of our readers’ favorite posts like Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below, A Trip to Beautiful Cyprus, A Tomato Can’t Grow in the Bronx, or The Kat Dave Show at MPAC,
It takes a truly dedicated and passionate person to be a great critic, and that’s precisely who our team is. With a genuine love for the theater, music, food, travel, and books they review, our critics bring not just expertise but also enthusiasm to every review. They work hard to refine their craft, offering thoughtful insights and a unique perspective to help you discover something new and exciting. Their passion shines through in every word, making their reviews informative and inspiring!
At Opening Night, our reviewers are passionate about breaking down complex ideas and sharing them with clarity and precision. Their goal is to make every review insightful and easy to understand, offering expert opinions that are both engaging and informative. With a genuine desire to share their knowledge, they inspire curiosity and excitement in their readers, helping you discover the best in theater, music, dining, travel, and books!
Passion and dedication bring fresh insights that genuinely enrich our experiences. Let’s take a moment to celebrate the incredible authors at Opening Night, who pour their hearts into sharing their love of the arts. Their enthusiasm inspires us to explore new creative expressions and dive deeper into the beauty of the world around us.
Being a critic is a rewarding but challenging job that requires extensive preparation. One must have a deep passion and a solid understanding of the subject to review topics like theater, music, books, restaurants, and travel. That knowledge comes from both learning and real-life experience, and it’s all about embracing curiosity and a love for the arts. Through dedication and hard work, we have developed the expertise to share meaningful and insightful reviews that inspire others to explore the world in new and exciting ways!
At Opening Night, our authors do more than just share their opinions—they dive deep to provide thoughtful insights and meaningful analyses. They take the time to research and explore the venues, artists, and experiences they review. For example, when reviewing an album, our critics listen to the artist’s entire discography to truly understand their journey. This dedication ensures our reviews are rich, informed, and inspiring, helping readers discover new perspectives and appreciate the arts more deeply.
Likewise, critics carefully read the book they want to critique to convey valuable insights that help readers distinguish what worked and what didn’t. Therefore, to become a great critic, one must be fair and thoughtful and continuously keep learning, researching, and analyzing.
We welcome you to enjoy Opening Night Reviews. Be sure to also visit our friends at The Front Row Center and A New Yorker’s Point of View.
Valérie Blanchard possesses a passion for theater, music, fine wines, dining, travel, and literature with a focus on poetry. An admirer of the symbolism of André Gide and the literary grandeur of Marcel Proust’s À la recherche du temps perdu, Blanchard enjoys sensual and evocative prose, often exploring themes of love, desire, and the complexities of human relationships. Her critical insights are well-informed and reveal an ability to identify emerging trends in the arts.
Graduate of Harvard with a Master of Journalism, Victoria L. Dammer is a brilliant writer, world traveler, entrepreneur, sportswriter, and freelance photographer. She currently writes Broadway and Off-Broadway reviews for The Front Row Center and Openingnight.online. She writes the Jets Fan Chatter column for TapInto.net, an online franchised newspaper with over 15 million readers. Her travel pieces will transport you to exotic and exciting places. Her food articles will make you hungry, and her photography will inspire you. She writes book reviews and poetry. Victoria is a member of The Players NYC and The Harvard Club NY, where she is a member of the Shakespeare in the Afternoon Special Interest Group.
Holli is a playwright and screenwriter. She is a Dramatists Guild Fellow recipient, Terence G Hall Fellowship recipient and EST/Sloan Foundation recipient for her play about the first death in space. She is a member of Dramatist Guild, Ensemble Studio Theatre, on the board of Women In the Arts and Media Coalition and a contributing writer with Verbal Supply Company http://www.verbalsupplycompany.com. She lives in Manhattan's West Village with her husband, daughter and dog, Arlo Guthrie Marshmallow.
World traveler Timothy Harty is a gifted photographer artist known for his travelogues, landscapes, and nature portraiture. His particularly keen, insightful visions of nature's beauty and mystery come alive in his work, delivering to the viewer unique and memorable perspectives. His work is breathtaking! Instagram @tsharty. Please note that if you use one of his photos you must include the full attribution in the caption as follows (Photo credit: Timothy Harty)
Melissa Heche, Au.D is dually certified as a Doctor of Audiology and a Certified Speech Pathologist. She is the Director of New York Speech and Hearing, Inc. – a private practice based in NYC that focuses on the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of hearing loss, tinnitus, and voice disorders. She completed her Doctorate of Audiology at Salus University and earned dual Master’s degrees (Speech Pathology/Audiology) at Hofstra University. She holds a CAOHC certificate as a Professional Supervisor in Hearing Conservation; she works with special populations in hearing conservation and is a specialist in musician’s hearing healthcare. She is active with the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) organization, with whom she participates in lobbying events promoting music education and early hearing conservation. Certified Sound Engineer with particular experience in live music venue sound systems. This experience has made her a resource for hearing healthcare in the music industry.
Dr. Heche provides informational seminars on topics including vocal health practices, public speaking, musicians’ hearing healthcare issues, general communication, and business practices. She has been published in national trade journals, discussing increased access to audiological services, noise-induced hearing loss, and musician’s hearing healthcare.
She is a stage performer and musician with a presence in both the cabaret/theatre and rock music circuits. She holds a bachelor’s degree in musical theatre and performance and continues to step onstage in the metro NY area for small concerts and show runs.
For my money, the theatre is up there in the ten top reasons to be human. I leave my home and go sit in a dark room with complete strangers and watch actors do their stuff because I want to be inspired. I’m asking to be involved. I’m volunteering to be led down any old path they choose as long as they don’t let go of my hand. And if I see a show, and it is NOT so very good – I will try to divert you, because I don’t want you to come to the temple when the preaching isn’t up to snuff. I will bar the door, I will swing from rafters, I will yell FIRE just to set your feet on a path that does not lead to disappointment. Do something different with your evening I will say. Save your money for dinner with a friend you haven’t seen in months because you are too frigging busy. Go take a walk with your dog or your child or your significant other. Go to bed early, I will say. Don’t come to the theatre when it is less than it can be. I’m an usher snob, and that’s all there is to it.
Edward Kliszus is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, the International Association of Theatre Critics, The Players Club in Manhattan, the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers, and the American Federation of Musicians Local 802. Former director of the New Jersey-based Union Music School and music director and conductor of the Union Symphony Orchestra. Trumpet studies with Mel Broiles, principal trumpet of the New York Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. M.M. Manhattan School of Music (Trumpet Performance and Music Education), Ph.D. New York University (Music Composition). He currently focuses his artistic and creative endeavors on writing, music composition, piano jazz, and as a critic for TheFrontRowCenter.com and OpeningNight.Online.
Insightful author, journalist, blogger, world traveler, and Best-Selling and Award-Winning Author of Eat What You Want! Stop When You Want! found at A No-Diet, Weight-Loss Program at www.nodieting.net or Amazon. She has taught hundreds of unhappy dieters to use her eat and stop yourself weight-loss program to lose weight and find peace with food. Sora Vernikoff holds two Master’s Degrees, the first in Teaching and the second in English as a Second Language. She taught in the New York City Public School System in East New York, Brooklyn for 30 years and has traveled the globe. For many years she was also the New York City Charity writer for Examiner.com. An avid blogger, her own www.anewyorkerspointofview.com shares all things fun and entertaining in New York City while posting her interesting trips under the blog’s Travel tab. She is currently immersed in writing her next book, which teaches a Positivity Program letting you immediately zap negative or self-doubting thoughts in one session with but one question.
Henry Williams is a modern rock guitarist who embodies the spirit of classic rock while infusing it with a fresh, contemporary edge. Born into Generation Y, he grew up listening to rock ‘n’ roll legends—Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, and Pink Floyd—artists who shaped his love for guitar and the transformative power of music. But Henry isn’t just an imitator; he channels these influences into his unique style, blending searing blues-rock riffs with modern tones and storytelling that resonates with today’s audience. A self-described "child of rock 'n' roll and peace," Henry believes music can unite people and transcend generational boundaries. He often incorporates themes of peace, love, and rebellion into his songwriting, staying true to the ideals that fueled the rock revolution of the ‘60s and ‘70s. Whether on stage or jamming in small, intimate settings, his energy is undeniable. Henry plays a vintage Fender Stratocaster, paying homage to the greats, but he’s not afraid to experiment with new gear and effects to push the boundaries of his sound. For him, rock is more than just a genre—it’s a way of life, a message of freedom, and a call for peace.
