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I’m in my seat for the one time “concert” production at Lincoln Center. I’ll update after the production. I saw the original Off-Broadway production with Richard Kiley, a number of Broadway productions (and a great DC production at Shakespeare Theater), as well as overseas productions in Japanese (Tokyo), Hebrew (Tel Aviv), and French (Paris — with Jacques Brel). Have listened to the cast album in Spanish, but never saw a Spanish production. On my bucket list. (By the way, I can still sing The Impossible Dream in Hebrew!) ♥️

Update: production was breathtaking. I hope at least two songs make it to YouTube: The Impossible Dream, by Rolando Villazón; and Aldonza (Look at me, look at me: Aldonza the Whore) by Lindsay Mendez. Mendez was in Merrily We Roll Along, with Jonathan Groff and Daniel Radcliffe. She blew me away as Aldonza/Dulcinea.

Update #2: This was the second “concert” production I’ve seen in two weeks, because last week I saw the Washington National Opera production of West Side Story just outside of DC. Both had full acting, just very little in terms of sets. I was relieved, because I worried actors might just be singing songs at mikes, like at a concert. At the end of Man of La Mancha, where Cervantes normally walks up a huge set of steps, he walked up the steps in the aisle of the theater. The whole production was wonderful, despite the “concert” description for a production without traditional set.

Scheduled my trip around Lincoln Center’s one night performance of Man of La Mancha, one of my favorite plays, ever since I saw the original Off-Broadway production with Richard Kiley. Fully expect to cry again during the final scene when Quixote’s friends are helping him remember his adventures. Then Sancho calls Alfonzo by her name…and she says, my name is DULCINEA. I’ll see that tonight.

Meanwhile, yesterday I was BLOWN AWAY by Becky Shaw. Just blown away. 5 actors, all fantastic. Razor-sharp dialogue, getting me to question everything I think I believe. And that remark about Hillary Clinton…? Wow!

Last night I EXPERIENCED “Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” (Corrected my original mistake: Cats: The Jellicle Ball.” Ha!) Really can’t say I just “watched” it. Didn’t really want to see it when it first came out, but there was so much excitement about it…so I saw and “experience” it. I went to the Ball, and had a ball.

The rest of this week I’ll see Giant, The Lost Boys, and Every Brilliant Thing.

My last visit I saw Death of a Salesman and Schmigadoon, possibly the best day of drama and musical theater I’ve ever had.

Read that the success of Schmigadoon may drive a third season of the TV series, this time focusing on musicals like Les Mis and Phantom. Please let that be true.

If you’re considering a Broadway trip, do it!!!

Just saw West Side Story at Strathmore Music Center, just outside of DC — with the Washington National Opera providing the music. As the American musical based on Romeo & Juliet, it made me think of Kazablan, the Israeli musical also based on that story, with love across Ashkenazi-Sephardi lines. It was the musical that launched the career of Israeli superstar Yehoram Gaon. Now I’m curious if anyone else knows that musical — or other musicals loosely based on the Romeo & Juliet story. (By the way, some songs from Kazablan are on youtube, some in Hebrew and some in English. I particularly like “Yesh Makom” — “There is a place.”

A long time ago, the info was shared that a musical pro-shot of Top Hat would be on PBS Great Performances. This Friday is the date.

A week or two ago, the musical Suffs was aired.

Both will continue to be available in the PBS library, along with many other plays — including Purlie Victorious, which I think is great.

With a PBS passport (which I think requires an $8 donation for a month) the PBS library is available.