Articles by Brett Singer

About Brett Singer (15 Articles)

Brett Singer was the founder of the theatrical PR firm Brett Singer & Associates, where he represented shows featuring artists like Alan Cumming, Andre De Shields, Criss Angel, John Rubinstein, Tovah Feldshuh and Estelle Parsons. As a writer, Brett’s work has appeared in Time Out Kids, the AV Club, the Daily Beast, AOL and Forbes Woman.

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Exiles

March 4, 2025

"Exiles" has a complicated history: it was published before it was produced, and was rejected by theaters in the UK and Ireland, most notably by W.B. Yeats on behalf on the Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It was first produced in Munich and received mostly negative reviews. The play never really got its due until a 1970 production in the United Kingdom directed by Harold Pinter. [more]

The 7th Voyage of Egon Tichy [redux]

January 12, 2025

The fun is in the technological achievement of the piece, which is impressive. Gelb performs center stage while his image is broadcast to screens on either side of the theatre. What happens on those screens is extraordinary – Gelb, as Tichy, interacts with himself flawlessly in perfectly choreographed scenes. You kind of feel like you're on a ship roaming the space-ways. The screens make things feel cramped, in a good way, and it's surprisingly believable when a wrench floats in outer space. [more]

Tender Napalm

December 3, 2024

"Tender Napalm" is a poetic play that doesn't so much tell a story as it does evoke feelings. What is love? What are relationships between men and women really about? Set (sort of) on a desert island, the play contains powerful language memorably brought to life by Ahlers (Man) and Pedretti (Woman). Both actors are young up and comers and it's a pleasure to see them in the intimate TheaterLab space. With seating on both sides and staging that takes full advantage of the intimacy of the room, there isn't a bad seat in the house. [more]

Woof!

October 21, 2024

Comedian Hannah Gadsby became an international sensation with their Netflix Special "Nanette," in which they revealed traumatic episodes from their past along with a slew of jokes. Gadsby's latest, "Woof!," now at the gorgeous Abrons Arts Center, is more focused on laughs than serious matters, but it still has some serious moments. [more]

Ashes & Ink

October 20, 2024

"Ashes & Ink," a new play by first time playwright Martha Pichey, is getting an excellent production at the AMT Theater in Manhattan. Tony-nominated actress Kathryn Erbe leads a strong cast smoothly directed by Alice Jankell. [more]

Soup in the Second Act

October 7, 2024

Barry Primus’ "Soup in the Second Act" is described in press materials as a "dramatic comedy" but it's more drama than comedy. The humor comes from old-fashioned actor jokes such as this one: "Two actors bump into each other on Times Square. 'God, where have you been? I haven't seen you in such a long time.' 'I'm doing a one man play all over the country.' So the other says, 'That's great. That's great. Anything in it for me?'" If you like that sort of thing, you'll enjoy "Soup in the Second Act" (which is itself the punchline for another actor joke). [more]

Observant

September 16, 2024

Rebecca Hoodwin, Arielle Flax, Fady Demian, Arielle Beth Klein and Melissa Woolf in a scene from [more]

Jimmy Tingle: Humor and Hope for Humanity

May 21, 2024

Watching Jimmy Tingle is like encountering a fascinating guy at a bar : you listen, you're engaged, you're just enjoying the ride. Tingle has been at it a long time, and he has stories to tell as well as political takes on events past and present. In his 60 Minutes II segment, he discusses the possibility of a presidential candidate Donald Trump, sounding prescient since this is many years before it actually happened. [more]

October 7

May 13, 2024

The play, taken by Phelim McAleer from witness accounts in interviews performed by Ann McElhinney and McAleer in Israel in the immediate aftermath of the attacks, is incredibly powerful, if a bit relentless. It opens with people dancing at what we learn is the Nova festival, one of the sites of the October 7 attacks. Told mostly in direct address monologues, the cast is uniformly excellent, and quick costume changes keep things moving (the simple but effective costume design is by Sara Tzipi bat Devorah). It's difficult to call out any cast member in particular but Paul Louis and Jeff Gurner do nice work as people who go out of their way to help others. Geoffrey Cantor, best known as an actor, does a terrific job staging a complicated narrative. He should get more directing work. [more]

Fingers & Spoons: The Ins and Outs of an Open Marriage

May 5, 2024

"Fingers & Spoons" does have its titillating moments, with descriptions of sex and even mild simulations. (The show is sexual enough that it would probably be a hit at the Edinburgh Fringe.) You will leave knowing that Pascale Roger-McKeever, the author and star, likes to be called a slut, at least under the right circumstances. You will not, however, leave with a greater understanding of open marriage. [more]

Helen.

October 20, 2023

"Helen." is a new play by Caitlin George based on Greek myths that is being given a terrific production at La MaMa by SuperGeographics in association with La MaMa and the storied company En Garde Arts. The acting is top-notch, the direction excellent, and the lighting (by Jackie Fox and Connor Sale) is atmospheric and evocative. [more]

Saw The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw

October 6, 2023

"Saw The Musical: The Unauthorized Parody of Saw" begins with a picture perfect recreation of the disgusting bathroom from the first movie in the iconic horror franchise. Then the puppet (Billy) shows up, wishing us a hearty "Wilkommen, bienvenue, welcome." (Note: this review has spoilers for "Saw" the movie as well as "Saw The Musical.") The show is impressively done with a cast of three (with the exception of Detective Tapp, played via voiceover by Donnel Johnson). Danny Durr plays Gordon and Zepp, Adam Parbhoo plays Adam and Gordon's daughter Diana, and on opening night Gabrielle Goodman played Amanda, Ali and Jigsaw. Goodman in particular stands out with a lovely voice and excellent dance skills, but all three turn in solid performances. (Durr's wig is so good it deserves its own program credit.) [more]

No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh

September 13, 2023

Everyone loves a good immigrant story, from The Godfather on down. 'No Good Things Dwell in the Flesh" doesn't reach that high, but it succeeds in what it tries to do, which is to be an accurate portrayal of a specific experience. Agata (played by reliable veteran Kellie Overbey) is an aging Russian tailor with a shop in Queens who wants to retire. She's 64 years old and hasn't had a vacation in 12 years. She'd like to give the shop to her young assistant Janice (Carmen Zilles). Janice is interested but also boy crazy and generally doesn't have good judgment. [more]

Cowl Girl

August 12, 2023

Pee-Wee Herman looms large in Cowl Girl, now playing through August 27 at the Steve & Marie Sgouros Theatre of The Players Theatre. The play, written by Anna Capunay, began its life back in 2013 and this Off Off Broadway production started around the time Paul Reubens passed away. How could the playwright or the producers (Unattended Baggage) have known that their show would have extra resonance for fans? In fact, anyone with a deep fandom for nerd culture in general will be able to relate to this play, and most will be envious of the incredible collection of memorabilia on display. [more]

In Corpo

June 30, 2023

Press materials promise a work that is inspired by Kafka's "The Castle" and Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener." Both are name checked – the lead character is called K, played by a clear-voiced Zoe Siegel, and there is even a Bartleby (Austin Owens Kelly, doing triple duty on synthesizer and later acoustic guitar) who says "I prefer not to" very often – but "In Corpo" also owes something to Vaclav Havel's "The Memorandum" with its depiction of bureaucracy gone mad. Of course, not even Havel could have envisioned the tyranny of the complex password, something "In Corpo" uses to excellent comic effect. The show is at its best when it satirizes things that everyone has to deal with, such as passwords and inane tasks. [more]