Broome Arts Mirror – Local Theatre Reviews
The Broome Arts Mirror is a group of volunteers affiliated with the Broome County Arts Council who write previews and reviews about local performances and arts shows. For inquiries, including having someone review your local production, please contact us at bamirror@broomearts.org.
KNOW Theatre stages strong production of provocative play
Reviewed by George Basler On one level, Ariel Dorfman’s Death and the Maiden is a taut psychological thriller. On another level, it asks some difficult questions, without providing easy answers: Do we need to forgive the unforgivable to preserve our own sanity? What is the morality of vengeance? When [...]
TCO names new conductor
By Barb Van Atta At a press conference today (June 18), Tri-Cities Opera’s interim general director, Judy Berry, announced that Steven M. Crawford has been named TCO conductor and music director. He will be leading the 2014-2015 productions, starting with the Oct. 24 and 26 performances of Verdi’s Rigoletto, [...]
'Another Happy Ending' shows promise but needs work
Reviewed by George Basler Give Santino DeAngelo credit for ambition and boldness. At the ripe age of 23, the Broome County native has taken on the daunting task of writing the music and lyrics for a Broadway-style musical, Another Happy Ending. He brought the musical to the Goodwill Theatre’s [...]
Cider Mill’s 'Spamalot' is silly and splendid
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri About five years ago in New York, I had the pleasure to see Spamalot, the Eric Idle/John du Prez musical based on the cult classic film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, so I think I’m in a good position to say that the Cider Mill [...]
Sondheim fans will find a lot to love in Ti-Ahwaga’s 'A Little Night Music'
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri For a perfect way to end a long week, check out the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical, A Little Night Music, at Owego's Ti-Ahwaga Performing Arts Center. The show, directed by James Osborne, finds its inspiration in Mozart, Shakespeare and the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of [...]
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS: Heart of the Arts Awards 2014
Broome County Arts Council is accepting candidate nominations from the public for 2014 Heart of the Arts and Lifetime Achievement Awards. The awards, nominated by the community and selected by votes of more than 100 BCAC members and the Board of Directors, honor individuals who have made significant contributions [...]
Were the arts part of your week?
What a great time of year! Some arts organizations are finishing up their seasons; others are just getting started. I was too busy performing this weekend -- Downtown Singers on Saturday (May 31) -- to be an audience member. What about you? What did you see, hear, look at, [...]
'Unnecessary Farce' scores solid hit at Chenango River Theatre
Reviewed by George Basler If you go to see Unnecessary Farce, which opened Friday (May 30) at the Chenango River Theatre in Greene, be sure to leave your brain in the parking lot. And that’s not a criticism. The production, which runs through June 22, is a diverting, often hilarious, farce [...]
In memoriam: Dianne Hodak Zeigler
With the passing of Dianne Hodak Zeigler May 25, the arts community has lost a great talent and a brave and generous spirit. Dianne was 47. Read more
Moody Blues’ Hayward, shares BU stage with young, new talents
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri If you went to Binghamton University's Anderson Center Monday night (May 19) to hear your favorites by Moody Blues’ front man Justin Hayward, you weren’t disappointed. I had not seen the band itself in concert since the late 1980s, so I was pretty happy about [...]
Four-hand piano concert at TCO Center brings audience to its feet
Reviewed by Lee Shepherd The concert was erroneously named “Dueling Pianos.” The exact opposite was the case. Pianists Michael Lewis and Cheryl Humes executed an intricate, intimate and ecstatic dance of long-time romantic partners who are perfectly in tune with each other’s emotions and moods. There was no competition [...]
'Women Who Tamed the West' rides into Roberson in uneven production
Reviewed by George and Audrey Basler Hollywood has pretty much cemented the myths of the American West even if the myths have a tenuous connection to reality. There’s John Wayne perched on a horse with six-shooters blazing, or Gary Cooper striding alone down Main Street to confront the bad [...]
BCAC presents 2014 Heart of the Arts Awards on September 22nd
Broome County Arts Council is pleased to announce the 2014 Heart of the Arts Awards Celebration & $10K Challenge to be held Monday, September 22nd at the DoubleTree by Hilton in downtown Binghamton. It's the 10th year for the event, which honors individuals who have made significant contributions [...]
Lively, well-played 'Dance' marks end of BCO's 30th season
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri Before a nearly full house last Saturday (May 3), the Binghamton Community Orchestra presented "Invitation to the Dance," a jubilant program of lively, compelling orchestral pieces for its third and final 2013–2014 concert. The program at Sarah Jane Johnson Memorial United Methodist Church in Johnson [...]
New Cider Mill director shakes up season, sets ambitious goals
EDITOR’s NOTE: BAMirror occasionally chats with recently appointed leaders of local arts organizations. Today we talk with the new executive director of the Cider Mill Playhouse. By George Basler Endicott native Gail Belokur can remember going to the Cider Mill Playhouse and “always thinking it was a unique and interesting setting [...]
