★★★☆☆ A comedian delivers nice family dish instead of a steaming roast
Broadway
Jeff Ross: Take a Banana for the Ride–An Overly Sentimental Comedic Journey
★★★☆☆ The comedian known as “The Roastmaster General” tells his life story in his confessional Broadway show.
Mamma Mia!: Beloved Tuner Revival Not a Winner Taking It All
★★★☆☆ A strong touring company cast is undone by too-loud versions of Andersson-Ulvaeus Top 40 clicks
Mamma Mia!: Thank You for the Music
★★★☆☆ Two dozen stainless, steely ABBA hits are the stars of a limited engagement
Duke & Roya: Finding Love in a Hopeless Place
★★★☆☆ Jay Ellis and Stephanie Nur are perfectly cast in Charles Randolph-Wright’s romantic drama
Call Me Izzy: Jean Smart Shines in a Dark New Play
★★★☆☆ The ‘Hacks’ star takes the Broadway stage solo, as an abused trailer park wife who just wants to write
The Black Wolfe Tone: Kwaku Fortune’s Forceful Semi-Autographical Solo Click
★★★★☆ The actor, new to the Manhattan Stage, makes himself known, as does director Nicola Murphy Dubey
Dead Outlaw: Rip-Roarin’ Musical Hits the Bull’s-Eye
★★★★★ David Yazbek’s brashly macabre tuner features Andrew Durand as a real-life desperado, wanted dead and alive
Dead Outlaw: Macabre, Morbid, and Wickedly Smart
★★★★☆ David Yazbek and Itamar Moses craft a rowdy tuner about a surprisingly lively corpse
Real Women Have Curves: Plus-Size Crowd Pleaser Hits Home
★★★★★ Based on the Latin-themed play and film, the new musical hits all the right notes delivering a weighty message about immigration in America.