Shakespeare Shephard Sondheim Sorkin Stoppard Springsteen

I moved to NYC in the mid 70s, joined a theater company and saw a Sam Shepherd play at La Mama. I did other things but nothing quite like that Shepherd play; standing in a dark hole, assaulted by ideas I didn’t really understand and sounds that I was certain the entire neighborhood was enjoying for free. It all began that night, when my notion of play as a three-act event with proper costumes and proper seats was happily dislodged.

Also.

One evening my pre-teen daughter suggested we play a game called What is Your Favorite Sondheim Song from Each of His Musicals? Do you know how a child becomes that geeky? Once when she was 13, I took her to see Audra McDonald sing at Joe’s Pub. Twice that night the brilliant Ms. McDonald went up on lyrics. Twice that night my little geek shouted them out to her. Do you know how many friends a little geek like that has?

Also.

When I was young, I thought I might go into politics. Later I watched The West Wing with breathless enthusiasm. It came to me that I might not be smart enough to work in the White House. Then it came to me I might not be smart enough to watch The West Wing.

Same goes for cable Newsrooms.

It would be absurd to suggest that I’ve seen or read everything Tom Stoppard has written. No one has. But I’ve seen a lot. Some plays many, many times. With Shakespeare and Stoppard you must just come to the conclusion that this is genius. The rest of us keep busy trying not to despair.

How is it possible to not grow tired of Streets of Philadelphia? Or Wait for Me?

Is it even worth exploring why I’m drawn to the S men?