There is so much to pay attention to in New York City that sometimes even the most important things can go completely unnoticed. I don’t walk through Union Square too terribly often, since I live 90 blocks north of it, but when I do, I have always tried to stop and look at the Union Square Theatre on East 17th Street, the first New York theatre I ever saw a show in. Apparently, I haven’t been paying as close attention to it as I thought, because walking past it the other day I noticed it’s not there anymore. Oh, the classic marble and red brick Tammany Hall façade remains, being a historic landmark and immune to demolition, but the building has been gutted, it is a hole in the ground. The theatre is gone and it is not coming back. What’s more, the process of its disappearance and the building’s reinvention has been going on for nearly two years. So I want to apologize to the Union Square Theatre for allowing this all to slip my notice and pay tribute to a building that was a key part of my theatre education.

We’ve all been there. Onstage, under the bright lights, with the eyes of a paying audience watching your every move. Daring you to make a mistake… Everything is going perfectly, when suddenly - disaster strikes and suddenly that scene becomes a game of "How much can I recover from what just happened before the audience catches on?" I’ll be taking you through the top 10, in a series of events I like to call ‘Those Moments’

To risk getting political straight away, although often it would be harder not to do so, many aspects of the modern world are becoming too polarised. Perhaps as a response to post-modernist ideas, or maybe just as a subconscious recognition that whether we like it or not, humans like to return to primal thoughts and emotions when we can; certain things have become disproportionately opposed. The apparently antithetical political parties (Republicans and Democrats) in America would probably be the most obvious example for this readership.

Imagine this: You and your friend start out in the theatre industry. You've worked together, struggled together, supported each other when no one else would. 

Then, your friend lands the breakthrough role of a lifetime, and suddenly they ditch you for a more successful, high stature friendship circle. Your friend has become "too good" for you. 

Someone who sexually abuses a teenage girl on multiple occasions should be in jail. 

Someone who confesses to and is convicted of sexually abusing a teenage girl on multiple occasions should be registered as a sex offender. 

Someone who is convicted of sexually abusing a teenage girl on multiple occasions, should not be allowed to return to the very place of work where they committed the crimes. 

Seems pretty straightforward and reasonable right? Can we all agree? If that's the case then,

Someone who is convicted of sexually abusing a teenage girl on multiple occasions, should not be starring as the current Phantom of the Opera. 

This past week I had one of the more infuriating encounters I've had in a while. I was standing among a group of theatre people when a certain actress' name came up in the discussion. 

Rather than talk about her recent performances, members in this discussion began to comment on her parenting skills. 

There is little argument about Jason Robert Brown's talent, impact and influence over the past 20 years in musical theatre. From storytelling to writing the perfect ballad, Brown's work always resonates with listeners at the deepest levels. 

Beyond the content of the lyrics, Brown's compositions highlight the human voice in ways that aren't often seen. It's no surprise that in almost every single audition, one of his songs is used. 

So without further ado, here are my top 10 Jason Robert Brown Songs. 

There was so much that I had to get used to as a first-time actor in a main stage community theatre production. It was pretty nerve-wracking because I was not in on things right from the start and realized that I could be seen on the stage when the lights come up. I was getting measured for costumes instead of being the one doing the measuring. I had to figure out and actually learn the music and the choreography. 

Broadway Diversity Project and We So Hapa have brought together a stunning roster of talented Broadway performers who are generously donating their time and talent to support the more than 3 million American citizens in Puerto Rico still suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria.

Long Wharf Theatre’s Contemporary American Voices Festival gives New Haven residents a rare treat – a chance to see exciting plays that are brand new and, more importantly, still being worked on. From October 20th-22nd, Long Wharf will offer three staged readings of new works by Chris Chen, Jonathan Payne and Jen Silverman. With two days of rehearsal and minimal staging, actors will give voice to new pieces followed by post-show talkbacks with the creative team.