A.G.’s journalistic triumphs over 25 years at The New York Times include drinking with Bea Arthur (at a Trump hotel), Wendy Wasserstein (at an Italian restaurant) and Peter O’Toole (in his trailer on a mini-series set near Dublin). It is sheer coincidence that these people are now dead.
At The New York Times, she has been Arts & Leisure television editor and co-film editor, a theater reviewer on WQXR Radio, a film columnist for the Times TV Book and an editor in the Culture, Book Review, Travel, National, Foreign and Metro sections. Her first theater review for The Times appeared in 1997, assessing “Mrs. Cage,” a one-act about a housewife suspected of shooting her favorite supermarket box boy. The review was mixed.
Outside The Times, A.G. has been the author of four nonfiction books; a longtime writer for travel magazines, women's magazines and travel guidebooks; a lecturer at universities and for women’s groups; and a moderator for theater, book, film and television panels at the 92nd Street Y and the Paley Center for Media.
If she were a character on “Mad Men,” she’d be Peggy.
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“Tick, Tick … Boom” (2021) Jonathan Larson’s early work. Somewhat moviefied.
“Springsteen on Broadway” (2018) Actually filmed onstage at the Walter Kerr Theater. Wonder of wonders!
“The Prom” (2020) Moviefied within an inch of its life.
“Mamma Mia” (2008) The movie version.
“Annie” (1982) John Huston’s film version.
“Matilda the Musical” (2022). Conceived as a movie.
Documentaries on Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Barbra Streisand.
“Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken” (2023). An animated film about evil mermaids. The relevance escapes us.
A GOOD GIRL GOES BAD, A CENTURY OR SO AGO .
This article is review-ish, not a review. It contains no references to line readings, blocking, casting or any of the thousand things actors and directors are heir to. Britt Berke directed.
UPDATED ON MARCH 6, 2024
“Are you dying again? To teach your kids a lesson?”
— Pa Nolan (Jeb Brown), to his overwrought wife (Antoinette LaVecchia), “Becomes a Woman,” by Betty Smith, Mint Theater Company.
Theater connection? Total. Streaming through March 18, 2024, free, minttheater.or
“You’re not afraid to be vivid, are you?” — Lee Radziwill (Calista Flockhart) to Ann Woodward (Demi Moore), at La Côte Basque.“Feud: Capote vs. the Swans,” by Jon Robin Baitz and Laurence Leamer, Hulu.
Theater connection?: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” (1966, 2013) and “The Grass Harp” (1952, 1971) were among the Broadway productions based on Truman Capote’s books. Robert Morse won a Tony Award for playing Capote in “Tru” (1989-90). Jon Robin Baitz’s most recent Broadway play was “Other Desert Cities” (2011-12).
But wait! There’s more. Joe Mantello, who plays Jack Dunphy, has directed more than 30 productions on Broadway He won Tonys for “Take Me Out” (2003) and “Assassins” (2004), He played Louis in both parts of “Angels in America” (1993-94). “The Glass Menagerie,” in 2017, was his last starring role. Dunphy himself was a dancer in the original 1943 Broadway production of “Oklahoma!”
“Never trust a socialist with a country house..”
— Colin Quinn , “Red State Blue State,” by Colin Quinn, old comedy special worth rewatching, Netflix.
Theater connection? “Colin Quinn: Long Story Short” (2010-11) was Mr. Quinn’s second Broadway show.
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