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.
'Eleemosynary' is ode to language and love
By Lory Martinez Gabriela Mrvova’s directorial debut this past weekend of Eleemosynary by Lee Blessing transported Binghamton University audiences across the years with the story of three generations of Westbrook women, whose brilliant minds bring them both happiness and misfortune. The play showcased the talents of Stephanie Naru as [...]
'Deathtrap' shows its age in Cider Mill production
Reviewed by George Basler Pity poor Sidney Bruhl, the main character in Ira Levin's Deathtrap. After four straight flops, the once successful playwright has become a burnt-out case whose talent has long grown cold and stale. Alas, based on the Cider Mill Playhouse’s production, which opened this past weekend, [...]
Anne Serling talks 'Twilight Zone,' childhood
By Lory Martinez Anne Serling, author of As I Knew Him: My Dad, Rod Serling gave a talk-back this past Sunday (March 16) after Elizabeth Mozer’s final staging of The Twilight Zone in Binghamton University's Watters Theatre. The author discussed her childhood and some of the things that inspired [...]
BROOME COUNTY ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS $233,000 IN 2014 UCF GRANTS
BC ARTS COUNCIL AWARDS $233,000 IN 2014 UCF GRANTS The Broome County Arts Council (BCAC), located at 81 State Street, Stephens Square Bldg Suite 501, Binghamton announced United Cultural Fund (UCF) Grants for 2014 of more than $233,000, during a Wednesday morning news conference. Grants went to sixteen arts [...]
Snarky Puppy gets standing ovation at BU
Reviewed by Lory Martinez Grammy Award-winning jazz fusion/rhythm and blues group Snarky Puppy came to Binghamton University’s Anderson Center this past Thursday(March 13) and brought audience members to their feet in praise of the band's irreproducible progressive jazz tunes. Band leader Michael League introduced the group, which can only be described as a [...]
Were the arts part of your week?
Did you catch an opening weekend performance of The Twilight Zone at BU or Miss Saigon at EPAC as BAM reviewers Nancy Oliveri and George Basler did? Were you gallery-hopping during First Friday? Or perhaps you just caught a good act playing at a bar? How were the arts part of [...]
EPAC scores a solid success with 'Miss Saigon'
Reviewed by George Basler Miss Saigon is a story of love and sacrifice set amidst one of the ugliest and most misbegotten wars in American history. It’s a credit to the Endicott Performing Arts Center Repertory Company that both the sacrifice and ugliness come through clearly in a production that [...]
Enter a dimension of sight, sound and mind with BU's 'Twilight Zone'
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri Let me be clear: I love The Twilight Zone. But I think a part of creator Rod Serling’s genius is that his one-act plays, written specifically for television, play best on the small screen. These plays work well on television because the settings themselves are contained, usually an [...]
Cider Mill packs them in for its first-ever 'Comedy Night' fundraiser
By Nancy Oliveri With comedians from New York City, Syracuse and Binghamton, the Cider Mill Playhouse presented its first-ever fundraiser and stand-up comedy night on March 1. Thinking I had all the time in the world to secure a seat, assuming stand-up might not be that large a draw [...]
'Colorblind — A Musical' takes shape in Binghamton
Reviewed by Nancy Oliveri Colorblind — A Musical had a tenuous start Feb. 20, when one of the leads was unexpectedly delayed by about an hour. This, however, gave the rest of the actors, the writers and the director a great opportunity to conduct an impromptu Q & A [...]
TCO head Smith resigns
By Barb Van Atta Dr. Michael Bogdasarian, chairman of the Tri-Cities Opera board of directors, announced today (Feb. 25) that the company's general director, Reed W. Smith, has resigned to pursue other interests. Smith, according to a TCO press release, has been involved with the opera company for more than 33 years, starting as a resident artist [...]
What have you been doing in the arts lately?
BAMirror writer George Basler attended the Broome County Music Educators Association’s All-County Music Festival last Saturday (see Reporter's Notebook commentary below). What have YOU been doing in the arts? Please share.
Student concert at Anderson Center deserves credit
By George Basler Just when you start to despair about the next generation, something comes along to renew your faith. That’s what happened to me this past Saturday (Feb. 22) at Binghamton University’s Anderson Center. The event was the annual Broome County Music Educators Association’s All-County Music Festival, which featured [...]
DC's Corcoran Gallery of Art to be taken over by NGA & GWU
The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.'s oldest private art museum, and its venerable college of art and design would cease to exist as an independent institution, and its key components — artwork, historic building and school program — would be taken over by the National Gallery of Art [...]
'7 Deadly Sins' showcases dance talent at BU
Reviewed by Lory Martinez 7 Deadly Sins, choreographed by JoEllen Kuhlman, premiered on Valentine's Day (Feb. 14) to an adoring audience. The program, which featured more than a few standout performances, showcased Binghamton University's talent in a way that can only be described as picturesque. The ladies representing each [...]
