I got an email from the restaurant Five Napkin Burger this morning that today is National Onion Ring Day. But June 22 always pops out on my calendar because I’m aware of it being the date significant artists of all kinds made their entrances into this world. Born as cancers, it can be said that this astrological sign creates “hard workers who don’t mind sacrificing free time if it means moving up the ladder of their career.” Ain’t that the truth? Especially when you look at a

Self-portrait of Al Hirschfeld at his drafting table in his Koken barber chair. The artist Al Hirschfeld, a theatrical treasure of the highest order, was born 119 years ago today. Chronicling shows and stars for close to 80% of the twentieth century, he was a true show business immortal; proof being a career that checked all the boxes. 1) he was known throughout the world solely by his last name (check); 2) he was the recipient of not one, but two special Tony Awards (check)

On this day twenty-two years ago, a new production of Shakespeare’s Macbethopened at the Music Box Theatre. Directed by former director of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Terry Hands, it was roughly the 40th Broadway production in the 20th century of this notoriously troubled play that has plagued producers, directors and actors alike going as far back as Shakespeare’s time. As appealing as the tragedy is on the page, many have become justifiably gun-shy over the years when it

Jaquel Spivey, John-Michael Lyles and James Jackson, Jr. at the first Broadway preview curtain call for A Strange Loop (Photo: Jeenah Moon for The New York Times). I’ve been handicapping the Tonys since they first aired on national television in 1967. Sure, I was ten-years-old, but a savvy ten-year-old. Does this make me an expert? No. Did I see near to all of the nominees this season? Yes. Will I let history guide me as to who will win? No, because no one cares about history

During the height of my teenage theatergoing years, which occurred between 1969 and 1973, I was never happier than when I would pore over the New York Times’ ABC’s Directory in order to plan out my schedule, topped only when I had an actual ticket in hand while heading to Up in the Cheap Seats. Dated June 2, 1972, the twenty shows listed above are what Broadway looked like fifty years ago today. I saw nineteen of them at an average ticket price of around $3 bucks. I would hav