Stuart Isacoff
By Stuart Isacoff
-
Culture What Jews Can Learn From ‘Hamilton’
Everything you’ve heard about Lin-Manuel Miranda’s “Hamilton” is true. The musical, which has won 11 Tony Awards, is not merely wonderful. It’s pure genius. The music, acting, dancing, stage direction, and libretto are all simply stunning. Even for a reviewer not especially inclined toward rap — the rhythmically chanted performance style that comprises Miranda’s coin…
-
Culture Gary Graffman’s Journey From Jewish Piano Virtuoso to Civil Rights Pioneer
Recent commemorations of the 50th anniversary of the civil rights movement’s landmark March on Washington might not appear to have much in common with the legacy of American Jewish pianist Gary Graffman, who celebrates his 85th birthday on October 14. But history entwined the two in 1964, when one of this country’s most revered musicians…
-
The Schmooze Broadway ‘Porgy and Bess’ Rests on Lead Roles
The avowed intention of director Diane Paulus and writer Suzan-Lori Parks in “reimagining” “Porgy and Bess” was to invest the opera with a sensibility that would reach modern audiences and “fully realize the characters.” That is, they hoped to achieve a theatrical authenticity they believed was missing in the original. Their statements, which included a…
-
Culture How Authentic Is ‘Porgy and Bess’?
George Gershwin was insecure. He never showed it at high-society parties, where he could always be found perched at the nearest piano like a king on his throne. (He played incessantly. Once, when Gershwin wondered aloud if his music would be performed in 100 years, his friend Oscar Levant quipped, “It will be if you’re…
Most Popular
- 1
Opinion I’m a UCLA professor. Why didn’t the administration stop last night’s egregious violence?
- 2
Fast Forward Marjorie Taylor Greene says she opposed antisemitism bill because it rejects ‘Gospel’ that ‘the Jews’ handed Jesus to executioners
- 3
News The great tent conspiracy theory: Are ‘outside agitators’ supplying protesters’ tents?
- 4
Opinion I teach Israel studies at NYU. We are importing the worst of Israel and Palestine to our campuses
In Case You Missed It
-
Theater Still in the Passover mood? ‘Exagoge’ is your Seder on steroids
-
Fast Forward Biden on campus pro-Palestinian protests: ‘Dissent must never lead to disorder,’ but don’t call federal troops
-
News At UCLA, Jewish students say pro-Israel violence has undercut their advocacy
-
Fast Forward Hundreds of police dismantle UCLA encampment after standoff with protesters