Happy New Year/2023 in Review!

Happy New Year!

I thought I’d do a little year in review roundup. I’m not one for New Year’s as a holiday. In fact, I hate New Year’s and I wrote a song about it. But I do love taking stock of a specific period of time, and the secular new year cycle provides a nice timeline for that. 

On New Year’s I was busy finishing up my 2023 books, TV, movies, and theater up to the last moment. I am always jealous of folks who post their end-of-year lists in mid-December and then get to relax for the next week or two. I go up to the deadline. Here is each one:
2023 Theater
2023 Movies
2023 Books and Podcasts
2023 TV

Articles!
I had three articles published this year, two for American Theatre magazine and one for Theatermania

  • Itamar Moses: Every Day He Writes the Book. I did this interview in 2019 for a different publication that folded. I then got permission to publish it for American Theatre. I’m so proud of this interview about being a musical theater bookwriter, writing The Band’s Visit, and working on various musicals, including 2023’s An American Tail. And it was featured on the Broadway Briefing (a daily email sent out to everyone in the “industry”).
  • A Composer/Singer Collaboration That’s in the Show’s DNA. There were quite a few articles on the new musical Double Helix, and mine focused on the collaboration between writer Madeline Myers and star Samantha Massell for American Theatre magazine. I loved interviewing these awesome women.
  • Interview: Meet Nitra McAuliffe, Coauthor of Broadway’s Rarely Seen Musical The LieutenantMy Theatermania debut! This was a dream interview of mine. I’d wanted to interview Nitra since I came across her name and this show years ago. A Tony-nominated woman composer with barely any online footprint? That’s right in my wheelhouse. When the York Theater did the show this past year, I had my chance. 
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Countdown to 2024: 2023 TV

Disclaimer: I only rank shows that I watch and I’m not a TV critic. Also, there are some spoilers. Read at your own risk…

Last year I watched 13 shows from 2022. This year I watched 11 shows that aired new episodes in 2023–a little less but not too bad consider last year I had three months off from work and this year I was busy with more writing projects. Last year I also watched 14 seasons of TV from previous years. This year I watched…6. This is where you can see the drop in viewing. There are a few seasons I’m in the middle of but haven’t finished them yet, so they’ll hopefully go on next year’s list. Also, I watched episode 3 of The Last of Us and I’m including that here because I have no desire to watch any more episodes, only that one.

Here are my top 10:

1. Poker Face
This was the year of Rian Johnson for me, having also watched Knives Out twice and Glass Onion this year as well. Poker Face has the same format as Knives Out: we know what happened (or some of what happened) and now we are watching the detective figure it all out. That detective is played by Natasha Lyonne, and she’s not a detective, at least not voluntarily, but a regular woman who knows 100% if people are lying. Each episode was its own contained mystery, and there was also a larger arc–a return to classic television. Seeing a single episode that existed on its own, not just a chapter in one long narrative, was so refreshing, thrilling even. And I felt the guest stars really savoring their opportunity to act their hearts out in these self-contained stories.

2. Firefly Lane
I was worried about how they were going to end this show given that one of the main characters dies, but I should not have been worried. It was done so well, and there was closure, though I wish this show could go on for many seasons. I still feel like there’s so much to explore with all the characters. I need more emotional shows about female friendships like this.

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Countdown to 2024: 2023 Books and Podcasts

Last year, I read 11 books! This year I read 15. Well over my usual goal of 10 books per year thanks to four audio books. I also listened to a lot of podcasts, which I have included at the end of this list. This was the first year I listened to audiobooks! I’m not the best listener, but I realized that if the book is non-fiction and similar in style to the podcasts I listen to, then I can do it, and it’s a good way to experience more books. I’m still primarily a reader, and I usually use my listening time for podcasts, so any audiobooks I choose should have a real reason to do the audio version, such as a specific reader or style.


Stats:
6 fiction books 
(last year: 5)
Broken down into: 2 contemporary, 2 classic, 1 fantasy and 1 historical fiction
2 of these were the first books in a trilogy; 1 was a re-read

7 non-fiction books (last year: 4)
Broken down into: 4 memoirs, 1 academic/history, 1 psychology, and 1 motivational
1 of these was a theater book

2 books of poetry (both in the same collected poems book by the same author, 1 was short)

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Countdown to 2024: 2023 Movies

Last year I saw 30 movies, all at home or on a plane, and this year I also saw 30. I saw 4 new movies (last year it was 2), and 26 older movies streaming/on a plane. I saw 2 of the new movies either in the theater, and 2 streaming.

Notable movie moments this year were seeing two movies in a movie theater again, being introduced to Rian Johnson’s work by watching Knives Out twice and Glass Onion (and watching Poker Face on TV), and our now annual Christmas movie marathon around a series or theme. This year it was the Indiana Jones movies (we watched all but Raiders of the Lost Ark). Our Halloween movie was Hocus Pocus 2 (we watched Hocus Pocus a week or so prior), our Valentine’s Day movie was Nick and Nora’s Infinite Playlist.

My rating system for new movies uses stars and equates as follows: 1=bad, 2=ok 3=really good 4=great.

My favorite new movies (4 stars) this year were:
Spider-Man: Across the Spiderverse

Runners up (3.5 stars):
Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

My favorite old movie I saw for the first time:
Knives Out
Party Girl
The Fabelmans

My favorite old movies I loved seeing again:
Adventures in Babysitting
Rosemary’s Baby

The (Not-So) Big List:

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Countdown to 2024: 2023 Theater

Last year I saw 36 showsThis year I saw 34, so a little drop from last year, but not too bad. 24 of those were in person, 10 were streaming, on Zoom, or in a movie theater. I saw two more in-person show than last year, and slightly fewer streaming shows.

I performed/read in the 2 Thornton Wilder Society readings, and one was a reading of my musical. 1 show was connected to an article I wrote. I watched no operas this year, which is odd. Last year it was 3.

I have highlighted my favorites. And after the favorites is the HUGE list of everything I saw. Then, I have listed some fun panels, exhibits, and events I also attended this year.

And shout out to Lincoln Center Theater, who produced 3 of my top 10 favorites, and Michael R. Jackson, whose work appeared twice on my top 10 favorites.

Top 10 Favorites (in no order, I swear):
Here Lies Love (Broadway)
The Bengsons (LCT3)
White Girl in Danger (Second Stage Theatre)
The Goodbye Girl (J2 Spotlight Musical Theater Company)
The Beautiful Lady (LaMama)
Michael R. Jackson (LCT3)
Dark Disabled Stories (Public Theater/Bushwick Starr)
The Immortal Jellyfish Girl (Wakka Wakka/59E59)
The Gardens of Anuncia (Lincoln Center Theater)
Oliver (City Center Encores)

Runners Up (Also in no order):
Here We Are (The Shed)
The Shylock and the Shakespeareans (New Ohio Theater)
Dear World (City Center Encores)
I Can Get it For You Wholesale (Classic Stage)
The Shark is Broken (Broadway)

The Big List:

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Days of Rage Industry Reading

Screenshot of Playbill article: Cast Set for Industry Reading of Days of Rage Musical.

Days of Rage, the musical I’ve written lyrics for, with book and music by Hyeyoung Kim, had an industry presentation on December 4th.

We had a fantastic cast and team, and I’m so proud of everyone involved. Days of Rage has been developed for the last decade and we strongly believe that this show has a bright future. This reading was a major step forward.

Days of Rage explores the experiences of various activist groups during the late 1960s and early 1970s, delving into their struggles, triumphs, and the lasting impact they had on society. How can we stop the cycle of violence? Days of Rage explores this ever-present question. Jean Avery leads a militant protest group that tries to stop the war and bring troops back home, and David Hayward, the leader of the Black Angels, tries to build a community and protect their homes from Urban Renewal. As David and Jean’s paths intertwine, they grow closer and apart in a turbulent time of war, civil rights, and rage.

Shoshana, a white woman with shoulder length brown hair in a black shirt and green skirt. Hyeyoung, an Asian woman in a black shirt, black jacket and red patterned pants. Trey, a white man in jeans, a green collared shirt and a tan cordory jacket.
Lyricist Shoshana Greenberg, Bookwriter and Composer Hyeyoung Kim, Producer Trey Tetreault

It’s about a fever, a passion and conviction to stand up for what is right at home and abroad. And it’s about caring for our community, coming together to collectively nurture what is needed now, for us all.

Read the press release on Playbill.com.

Listen to music on our Soundcloud.

Six cast members rehearsal seated at musical stands. Pictured from the back.
The cast in rehearsal

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The White Lotus Season 2, a mini-essay

I finished The White Lotus season 2 over the weekend. Yes, I know, I’m late to a party where you definitely needed to be there. But it took me a while to get started. I think I was resentful of the show for a while. Creator Mike White’s show Enlightened (2012-2013) with Laura Dern is one of my top favorite shows, and it did not get the audience it deserved. And here comes Mike White’s next show, a show that everyone is talking about though it’s not as good? It was too much. But after everyone’s season 2 chatter I decided to start it earlier this year. I was disappointed in season 1, but friends said season 2 was better, and I must say, it was.

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Countdown to 2023: 2022 TV

Disclaimer: I only rank shows that I watch and I’m not a TV critic. Also, there are some spoilers. Read at your own risk…

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Countdown to 2023: 2022 Books

Last year, I read 10 books! This year I read 11. I am a little over my usual goal of 10 books per year. I also listened to a lot of podcasts, which I have included at the end of this list.

Each book listed in this post laid out on a yellow rug with the New York Magazines and New Yorkers
2022 Books and Magazines
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Countdown to 2023: 2022 Movies

Run Lola Run on TV

Last year I saw 31 movies, all at home, and this year I saw 30, also all at home or on a plane. I saw 2 new movies (last year it was 7), and 28 older movies streaming/on a plane (same as last year).

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