Generational trauma and the Sexual and Women’s Liberation movements provide the canvas for Leslie Ayvazian's Mention My Beauty; playing through June 14th at New York Theatre Works In The Bricks Series. On a bare stage with only a music stand and a script, Ayvazian expertly engages her audience in a very personal story of transcending the things you were taught to believe about yourself and finding your true voice. Born into a complicated Armenian family whose elder members es

Is it possible to include a singalong in a show about the tragic deaths of loved ones? If you’re Chris Grace the answer is a resounding yes. He manages to take one of the most difficult subjects we face as humans and infuse it with humor. Standing in a stark black box of a theatre clad in white with only a white stool, Grace asks us to imagine there is a projector beaming a slide of a picture of a family. This device is one of the most clever in the show by asking us to use o

“Onward!” What started as an email sign-off became a rallying cry, and then the basis of Kathryn Grody’s magical show The Unexpected 3rd at New York Theatre Workshop’s In the Bricks series. Over the course of ninety minutes Grody manages to take stereotypes of aging and smash them under her capable heel. She is not aging gracefully; Grody is aging in full, living color with fierce determination to face her third act with generosity of spirit, curiosity and an open heart; whi

Bent Through Glass is an adventurous production following the story of a father who loses his daughter in a heartbreaking and unbelievable way. Alex Koltchak’s emotional depth forced the audience to relive his internal struggles and I found myself tearing up during the performance. Directed by Michael Sladek, this play serves as a powerful statement on mental illness that leaves a lasting impression. This production deserves a bigger stage and needs to be seen by a wider au

Stories From the Brink, written and performed by award-winning performer Iris Bahr, was an incredible production. I wanted to see another hour of the near-death experiences to be told. From the stories of her mom having dementia and growing up in a Yeshiva in NYC, to witnessing the reasons why people think the way they do, everything spoken and performed on stage was perfect. This production tied into a full circle, and showcased the perfection of storytelling as it should be

A presentation of love in its realest sense. From raging alcoholism taking over a life, to finding solutions through an online life coach, this was a dark, edgy, and stunning performance. David Beck's Old Fashioned Love Story showcased piano playing and thematic bravery regarding the New York City dating scene from the perspective of a gay man in the 2000s Nicola Murphy Dubey directed this tragedy properly, infusing the artwork with soul, providing a great manner in the perfo

Once Upon a Wall Street isn't your typical 9 to 5 show. Starring Jerry Topitzer, this is the funniest investment show about trial and error, and is genuinely entertaining with an appeal to the masses. Topitzer is a well-rounded comedian and actor who knows how to tell a story in the most meaningful and fulfilling way possible. Coming from nothing, Topitzer’s riveting quest for power and wealth becomes a double-edged sword in regards to his morals and standards. It is a story

Three Sisters: Jersey Edition was a well-done piece of theater. The music was spotless and entertaining, and the stories were very funny. This production was filled with both grief and hope. Certain moments, such as the hoarder’s house and its contents, were harmless fun, yet brought deeper meaning to the language of the performance. This was a defining moment for Off-Broadway and the meaning that comes with shaping an artist’s personal journey into an introductory performan

She speaks in refuge and power! Monodrama actress and playwright Lila Kay brings out something our world needs to see, hear, and listen to. I wouldn't have been too daunted by a show that deliberately makes the audience uncomfortable, but in this case it works perfectly. Drug addiction can affect anyone at any given time. When looking at the details behind what makes solo shows work better for storytelling, it isn't about what makes the performance, "the performer's dream"; t

A show about the autism spectrum is a challenging and important topic to handle for both the performer and the audience. In the midst of the production, I found the piece to be more of a spoken-word performance rather than a plot-driven storyline. During the performance, Anton Spivack's personal journey was fairly important to how gracious the character of a failed playwright was, while also teaching us a lesson to be learned. I appreciated the constant story that was spoken

A night of stars, celebrities, celebrations, and searching for yourself.. Stage Mamma: From Child Star to Leading Lady , starring Rheagan Wallace, was an epic of trials and a coming of age. There have been several times I've seen a coming-of-age show that is a journey of adventure, but this one also showed how one could make a production great and euphoric at the same time. This was an amazing production for a new generation of theatrical storytelling—a rare epic that is the

So! So! Funny! This was a great night, and a perfect show for the comedy world. I was in tears for how funny it was, but also impressed by the conversation made about those in power in regards to abiding by respect and accountability. The Honorable Herbert Peabody explores deeply into what we should allow, and what shouldn't be granted. Watching a political comedy is always a mix of expectations as to whether the show might be funny or serious; both of which were within th