Twice a month on the Token Theatre Friends video series, theatre critics Jose Solís and Diep Tran bring a POC perspective to the performing arts. They discuss three shows at three different price points, then offer their picks for the best one for the money.
Except this episode, because of the late Nor’easter, they were not able to go out and see the third show. So they huddled in Jose’s apartment and pit two shows against each other: WWE-style. In this episode, they discussed the following productions.
Escape to Margaritaville, by Jimmy Buffett, Greg Garcia, and Mike O’Malley. The first show to open on Broadway in 2018 is a Jimmy Buffett jukebox musical, and Diep and Jose aren’t sure how they feel about it. The musical is about a Type-A scientist who goes on vacation and, with the help of a Buffett-type musician with Matthew McConaughey pecs, learns to let her hair down.
Amy and the Orphans by Lindsey Ferrentino, at Roundabout Theatre Company (through April 22). It’s about a trio of siblings, one of whom has Down Syndrome, who go on a road trip following their father’s death. Secrets are revealed!
So it’s Broadway vs. Off Broadway! Who will win? Who did the Friends think is most worth their money? Watch to find out.
Then the Friends interviewed André Holland about his directing his first full-length play: Dutch Masters by Greg Keller, running April 3-21, from the New York-based ensemble Partial Comfort Productions. André (who has starred in Moonlight and Jitney on Broadway) talks about the importance of young people seeing themselves onstage and the first time he saw himself onstage (psst, it was at Chicago Shakespeare Theater).
But that’s not all! In their (non-singing) 11 o’clock number, the Friends talk about the newest member in the New York theatre criticism game: New York Stage Review. It seems like a good idea! Except the writers on it are all white and mostly male. What is that about? Find out below!
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