By: Maria Cieslarczyk
This month has been an incredibly busy one, with the publication of my debut poetry book “Constellations of the Damned” (now available to order on Amazon). But in the midst of book promotions and my 9-5 grind at iHeartMedia, I was lucky enough to see not one, not two, not even three…but FOUR breath-taking Broadway shows in New York City.
My will to live this depressing winter has risen significantly (and I mean, SIGNIFICANTLY!) Therefore, I have to make my most loyal magazine readers #proud and continue my monthly article release. Thank you for all the love and support in my writing journey!
As a #girlinmy20s, I highly recommend making space for art in your lives. No, you don’t need to see four Broadway shows in the span of two days (unless you’re like me and my best friend Lexie, and are absolutely #insane thespians/theatre kids/musical junkies). But art saves lives, and is a gateway for healing (no matter what you’re going through). You’ll be surprised by how much you can resonate with art (theater show or not).
Check out my Broadway reviews (in order of my personal ranking):
1. “Cabaret”
Oh, Wilkommen, oh Cabaret, where do I even begin? I saw this stunning Broadway show at The Kit Kat Club at the August Wilson Theatre in NYC last Saturday afternoon. Sitting at a front row table, we got a pre-show charcuterie meal, along with some delicious champagne, as Cabaret dancers performed and interacted with us. A 10/10 experience already. The show itself was visually stunning, with David Merino as the eccentric Emcee and Auli’i Cravalho (Moana) as Sally Bowles.
The musical focuses on an American writer who falls in love with free-spirited Sally, a cabaret performer, at a Berlin nightclub during the rise of Nazi Germany in the 1930s. It is a highly emotional play with colorful contrasts between love and hate, and freedom and fascism.
I found myself in tears multiple times throughout the show, especially during Sally’s song “Maybe This Time,” while reflecting on my own roller-coaster experiences with love, heartbreak, and finding the courage to move forward. This show is also a haunting remembrance of what it’s like to find your freedoms stripped away from you, and how selfish and violent politics can ruin the lives of innocent people.
Shout-out to my best friend Lexie for snagging us THIRD ROW seats at this iconic closing show of Romeo + Juliet at Circle in the Square. Apart from the cutest hats we received, Rachel Ziegler (Disney’s West Side Story, and the upcoming Snow White) as Juliet, and Kit Connor (Netflix’s Heartstopper) as Romeo, were brilliant.
As a huge fan of Shakespeare, this portrayal of the classic tale did not disappoint. The story centers on two star-crossed lovers from feuding families, whose doomed love story ends in tragedy.
The show’s bright, modern colors and costumes (as well as music by Jack Antonoff!) only added to the allure. The theatre itself was small and intimate, allowing the audience to get fully transported into the world of Romeo + Juliet. It was obvious how close and passionate the cast was (their chemistry was electrifying). I also appreciated how they made use of the space, utilizing the entire theater as their stage.
Okay, hear me out…sitting in the box is WORTH IT. Our view was only slightly obstructed and we were so close to the stage. It was my first time sitting at the box (and yes, I was feeling like #AbeLincoln haha). The Great Gatsby at the Broadway Theatre felt just like how a classic show like this should feel: elegant, fast-paced, and entirely entertaining.
The show follows Nick Carraway (played by Dan Rosales), a young man from Minnesota who moves to New York, and befriends Jay Gatsby, (Ryan McCartan), a self-made millionaire in deep love with Daisy Buchanan, a wealthy woman trapped in a dysfunctional marriage (played by Modern Family’s Sarah Hyland).
The set design and costumes were beautiful, contrasting between the themes of new money vs. old in the 1920s, the reality of the American Dream, and the obsession with the past and future. My favorite song was “The Met.” Furthermore, the dancers were all fabulous. I would gladly see this show again.
P.S…at stage door, SARAH HYLAND CONGRATULATED ME ON MY BOOK! It’s the way I literally cried and had to be led through Times Square in a total daze. Thank you, queen!
Now for this show, I went in totally blind and came out pleasantly surprised.
The show is at the historic Lyceum Theatre, and follows Mary Todd Lincoln (Abraham Lincoln’s wife), as she navigates finding her passion again amidst an affair between her cruel husband and his shocking lover! Of course…not historically accurate, but definitely laugh-out-loud funny.
Betty Gilpin gives a great comedic performance (I couldn’t take my eyes off her). I believe this will potentially be in the running for a Tony Award. I’m thankful I got to experience the lightheartedness of this show.
Overall, if you’re looking for something outlandish and oddly empowering, this play sure is the one.
The Filmscape Reverie 
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