Eye On the Arts

                     DANA H. Reviewed by Celia Ipiotis                                      Photograph by Chad Batka: Deirdre O'Connel in Dana H. at the Lyceum Theater Astonishing to hear how a life is manifestly altered in the space of 5 months. It only takes one unexpected, transformative act to steer a life into the underside of society and that's exactly what happened to Dana Higginbotham in 1997. In 2015, Dana's unbelievable story was recorded, and that audio interview by Steve Cosson became the basis of the riveting and very disturbing Broadway show  Dana H  written by Lucas Hnath. Seated in a cushioned turquoise blue chair positioned next to a large lady's handbag on the floor, Deirdre O'Connell moved her lips to Dana's recorded words describing a harrowing journey. A chaplain on the psychiatric floor of a hospital, Dana Higginbotham communicated with disturbed people, and she was good at it. When a former inmate, Jim, tired to commit suicide, she was cal

  CHICKEN & BISCUITS Reviewed by Celia Ipiotis                                                      Cleo King and family. Photograph by Emilio Madrid. A strong cast gamely pushes through the new Broadway show  Chicken and Biscuits  at the Circle in the Square. Led by the awesomely talented Norm Lewis and Michael Urie, the ensemble invests 100% of their energy in Douglas Lyons' production directed by Zhailon Levingston. Set on the day of Baneatta's (Cleo King) father's funeral, and presided over by her husband Reginald Mabry (Lewis), the day is filled with congregating family members. In a very clever twist, set designer Lawrence E. Moten III converts pews into vanity tables or kitchen cabinets while costume designer Dede Ayite makes some of the funniest and most sophisticated statements through the costumes and topped by Nikiya Mathis' Hair/Wig & Make-up Designs. Read more .

FALL FOR DANCE PROGRAM #2  Reviewed by Mary Seidman (Photograph by Robert Altman: Ephrat Asherie) Fall For Dance Program #2 launched the evening with Stephen Petronio’s 2019  American Landscapes.   The curtain opened with a view of three side-by-side box-type projected images on the backdrop (Robert Longo and Don Cieslik) that changed throughout the work from forest, to moon, airplanes, American flag, Earth, and animals. Petronio’s ensemble work featured nine dancers executing modern/balletic movement vocabulary in Cunninghamesque tightly choreographed quartets, duets, and interchangeable group work, with twisting torsos atop legs of exquisitely performed traveling steps, jumps and leaps. The dancers were costumed in grey leotards by designer H. Petal. Lighting (Ken Tabachnick), changed from stark black and whites to sepia shades at the end supporting warmth and community as the dancers held hands while performing unison, interdependent partnering. Next came  Sons de L’Ame  (2013), tra

                                                SW!NG OUT Reviewed By Celia Ipiotis                                 Caleb Teicher in SW!NG OUT. Photo by Kathryn Landefeld. The delightful  Sw!ng Out  is a throwback to the days when instead of liquor stores or banks on every corner, dance clubs dotted NYC streets--particularly in Harlem. The spirited Caleb Teicher, salutes the grand dance ballrooms of the past in  Sw!ng Out --an  energetic Lindy Hop jam at the Joyce Theater. Famous for it's integrated clientel and the home of the "Happy Feet" the Savoy Ballroom attracted film stars and Whitey's Lindy Hoppers--the most blockbuster talented dancers of their time. Back in the 1930's and 40's, the dance halls were open for business most of the day sporting some of the swingingest bands in the land including Chick Webb, Count Basie and Jimmie Lunceford. At the Joyce dance club, clusters of dancers partner up: men with men, women with women, men and women -- not unlik

  BROADWAY's  SIX reviewed by Celia Ipiotis                 Cast of Six. Photo by Joan Marcus. Ready for some high powered singing and nonstop action? Then  SIX  is for you. Meet 6 glam queens of all time. One after another belts out a pop-styled song demanding who of all the wives was most beautiful, cleverest, sexiest, and deserving of His love. Bits from each queen's bio filters through the solos filling out an existence solely determined by a male's whims. According to the wives, Henry XVIII owes his celebrity status to them. And from the sound of the cheering audiences, these blazingly talented women are right. Toby Marlow and Lucy Moss's ebullient musical pits the queens in competition with one another and the one who wins the audience with the most potent sob story takes all the glory!  Despite the wicked lyrics, a woman's lack of agency in the 15th century resounds loud and clear despite the nonstop hilarity. Tautly regal in a futuristic, high-collard 16th c

  NEW YORK CITY BALLET COMMISSIONS 2 NEW BALLETS BY ANDREA MILLER AND SIDRA BELL: Review by Celia Ipiotis                                 Sidra Bell's "Suspended Animation" with photo by Erin Baiano. October 2, 2021 NYCB continues to take bold steps encouraging commissions by choreographers outside of the traditional ballet community. In keeping with a Spring Gala tradition, NYCB paired 2 choreographers with 2 fashion designers. Andrea Miller collaborated with Esteban Cortazar and Sidra Bell (the first African American female to choreograph for NYCB) connected with Christopher John Rogers. Click here to read more. #NYCB, #ballet, #Andrea Miller, #Sidra Bell

  "Eye on Dance” 200th Episode Live Stream and Q&A (Virtual Event)   October 4, 2021 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM   Save to Calendar Join us for this free online screening of the “Eye on Dance” 200th Anniversary Program and live Q&A. In this webinar, presented by the Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee Theatre Research Institute, attendees will get to know “Eye on Dance,” the ground-breaking weekly interview television show created by Ohio State alumna Celia Ipiotis and videodance artist Jeff Bush. Featuring a diverse range of dance artists in lively discussion with Ipiotis, “Eye on Dance” excited the public about dancers’ creative work and stories during its run from 1981-2004. The resulting episodes and video footage comprise a distinctive research collection that catalogs dance in America during the time of the AIDS epidemic. This virtual event will live-stream the 200th program special, initially aired in 1986. The episode features clips from the first five years of the program wit