OPENING NIGHT REVIEWS

The critic arrives before the performance begins. Digital Art by Edward Kliszus
The critic arrives before the performance. Digital art by Edward Kliszus

Opening Night Reviews are born of a critic and author who inspires and appreciates the arts. Indeed, with a passion for theater, classical music, and jazz, they approach every performance with an open heart and a curious mind. Likewise, their knowledge of these art forms is deep and nuanced, and they unquestionably seek to explore new facets of each one.

The critic’s dedication to research is admirable, taking into account the performers, the work to be presented, and the broader cultural context. Morevoer, they understand the importance of understanding the audience and the significance of the performance.

Evaluate Thoughtfully

During a performance, the critic is fully engaged, taking notes and observing every minute detail. Secondly, they evaluate thoughtfully and examine technical skill, emotional depth, and the artists’ ability to connect with the audience. Similarly, the critic also considers the setting, acoustics, and audience demographics in their overall assessment of a performance.

A Conversation

After a performance, the critic reflects on their observations, creating a comprehensive and insightful review that educates, informs, and inspires their readers. Therefore, the best critics create a conversation around the performance, honor the artists, and contribute to the broader discourse of the art form itself. Undeniably, this critic’s commitment to the arts is truly inspirational. Finally, Opening Night Reviews readers may be interested in Authors at Opening Night, Welcome to Opening Night, A New Yorker’s Long Weekend in London, and Rhythm in Music. Be sure to visit our friends at The Front Row Center and A Yorker’s Point of View.

THE LATEST OPENING NIGHT REVIEWS

New York Restaurant Reviews
Chumley’s NYC
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Chumley’s NYC was a prohibition restaurant and speakeasy near The Cherry Lane Theatre in Manhattan's West Village frequented by illustrious writers like Ernest Hemingway.
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NYC NonProfits
Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Announces the Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive
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Kaatsbaan Cultural Park is pleased to announce the Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive (KBI) from July 1 - August 24, 2024.
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Cabaret
Music Reviews
Seth Sikes Come a Little Closer
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Seth Sikes is one of the most prolific contemporary artists of our time with unlimited talent, magnetism and the absolute exhilaration he casts across whatever space in which he performs. ...
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New York Restaurant Reviews
BG at Fifth Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman
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At BG at Fifth Restaurant at Bergdorf Goodman I ordered something light to ensure I had room for a dessert--fluffy Deviled Eggs accompanied by delicious bread.
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New York Restaurant Reviews
Lokal Mediterranean Restaurant
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Lokal Mediterranean Kitchen was an all-around nice, comfortable dining experience with fresh, well prepared dishes and a sunny kind of casual ambiance.
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New York Restaurant Reviews
Cathédrale French Restaurant
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I loved the spaciousness of Cathédrale French restaurant with its delicious Mediterranean cuisine that painted a picture of the coastal cuisine of Southern France, with brushstrokes of Italy, Spain, and ...
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ALL OPENING NIGHT REVIEWS

Ari Axelrod’s show, A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway.
Cabaret
Holli Harms
Ari Axelrod’s A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway

Ari Axelrod’s show, A Place for Us: A Celebration of Jewish Broadway, is billed as a performance that spotlights Jewish cultural influences on the songs of Broadway composers, focusing specifically on that link. I went because I love musicals, love the musicals of the past, love the songs featured in the evening, and couldn’t wait to celebrate the remarkably gifted magical composers and their beloved creations.

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Holli Harms October 27, 2023
Heather Massie in her solo play, "HEDY! The Life and Inventions of Hedy Lamarr," at Morningside Players, 100 La Salle Street, Manhattan. Photo by Jonathan Slaff.
Off Broadway
Edward A Kliszus
HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr

As the audience gathered for HEDY! The Life & Inventions of Hedy Lamarr, we were transported through time by a captivating blend of visuals and sounds. Simple props from the era and film clips of Hedy Lamarr added to the allure. As we watched, we heard music like Cole Porter’s You Do Something to Me (1929) and Wang Wang Blues (1920) performed by Paul Whiteman and His Ambassador Orchestra.

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Edward A Kliszus October 27, 2023
Hays Street Hart at Smoke Jazz. Photo by Edward Kliszus
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus
Hays Street Hart at Smoke Jazz Club

Hays Street Hart at Smoke Jazz Club presented tunes from their Bridges Record Release tonight. As I sat in the sold-out performance the sounds I heard reminded me of the incredible importance of the jazz trio (aka rhythm section). From the first few bars, I imagined the work of Bill Evans, bassist Scott LaFaro, and drummer Paul Motian—or perhaps Oscar Peterson with bassist Ray Brown and drummer Ed Thigpen.

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Edward A Kliszus October 26, 2023
Liz Cheney. Courtesy of MPAC
Theater Reviews
Victoria L. Dammer
A Conversation with Liz Cheney at MPAC

It was Liz Cheney at MPAC with the President of Drew University, Hilary L. Link. Link moderated The Drew Forum Presents A Conversation with Liz Cheney at the Mayo Performing Art Center (MPAC) in Morristown in a one-hour talk about policy, leadership, and bipartisanship.

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Victoria L. Dammer October 26, 2023
The Bacon Brothers. Courtesy MPAC
Music Reviews
Victoria L. Dammer
The Bacon Brothers at MPAC

It was the Bacon Brothers at MPAC! Michael and Kevin Bacon, also known as The Bacon Brothers, served up some sizzling music at the Mayo Performing Art Center (MPAC) last week to a full house of enthusiastic followers.

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Victoria L. Dammer October 26, 2023
Conrad Herwig. Photo from ConradHerwig.com
Jazz
Edward A Kliszus
Conrad Herwig and The Latin Side All-Stars at The Django

Conrad Herwig and The Latin Side All-Stars at The Django brought forth classic, expressive jazz. Herwig enriched it with the syncopation, excitement, and complexity of Latin rhythm, the pathos of Coltrane, and a dash of the rhythmic drive of Bebop. After the band played the head, solos didn’t just follow the tune’s melody, a technique common with jazz players. Solos inhabited the structure of bar lines, chords, and powerful rhythms in personal contexts. The complex relationships between improvised melodies, structures, and rhythm resulted in rich, abstract, and contextual meanings for listeners. It was fantastic!

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Edward A Kliszus October 25, 2023
From Petra to the Dead Sea. Photo by Sora Vernikoff
Travel Reviews
Sora Vernikoff
From Petra to the Dead Sea

The last leg of my Jordan trip was from Petra to the Dead Sea. We stopped in Madaba and Mount Nebo on our drive to the area. Madaba was our first stop, and famous for its beautiful mosaics. Or, instead, the Madaba mosaics are famous. This small town in Jordan, nineteen miles southwest of Amman and on the King’s Highway, houses one of the oldest maps of the Holy Land, built out of two million pieces and embedded in the floor of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church.

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Sora Vernikoff October 24, 2023
The old and the new in Petra Jordan. Photo by Sora Vernikoff
Travel Reviews
Sora Vernikoff
Wow! to Petra, Jordan

On my trip to Jordan, after my one night in Wadi Rum, it was off to Petra, Jordan. I had yet to learn what Petra was about, but knew it would be very interesting. By the time we got to Petra, about a 3-hour drive plus lunch, we got to Little Petra. Little Petra is an ancient city like the famous Petra (which we’ll soon talk more about), but only on a much smaller scale. Although this site looks similar to Petra (which you’ll soon see), its purpose is slightly different. Historians believe this place was built during the 1st century when the Nabatean city thrived, and Little Petra was a type of suburb. Thus, you will not find tombs here but houses used by rich citizens or travelers arriving in Petra for their lucrative trade business. Here is an image of Little Petra, and you’ll soon see how similar but much larger Petra (the city) is.

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Sora Vernikoff October 24, 2023
Saraya Rum Private Luxury Camp. Photo by Sora Vernikoff
Travel Reviews
Sora Vernikoff
Saraya Rum Private Luxury Camp

We took in more of Amman the next day, and it was time for an even more exciting adventure at Saraya Rum Luxury Camp. It was off to Wadi Rum, which took about 4 hours. Wadi Rum, also known as The Valley of the Moon, is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, near the border with Saudi Arabia and east of the city of Aqaba.

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Sora Vernikoff October 24, 2023




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