Where is he? I just posted about him on the B'way magazine thread and it got me thinking that he hasn't posted any "Insider" colmuns on THE OTHER SITE in a long time. Anyone know where he is? Did he retire? Die?
Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?
He doesn't write for Broadway.com anymore. He's not writing for any publication currently, but I for one miss his reviews: love him or hate him: he certainly knows a lot about musical theatre history...
Though, I beleive in one of the recent "broadway.com has gone to the dogs" threads, someone mentioned that he posts on this board, and a few people know who he is.
I have several names, one is Julian2. I am also The Opps Girl. But cross me, and I become Bitch Dooku!
Mandelbaum's column was the thing that kept me going to the other site so often that my friends started calling me Miss Broadway.com. He is sorely missed.
"You're the worst thing to happen to musical theatre since Andrew Lloyd Webber!" --Family Guy
"Shut up! It's been 29 years!!!" --the incomparable Patti LuPone in her MUCH DESERVED Tony acceptance speech for Gypsy.
Kitzy's Avatar du Jour: Kitzy as Little Red Ridinghood in her college's production of "Into the Woods"
Personally. I think Mandlebaum is totally overrated, and obviously has no musical training, and in my opinion, no one without musical training can be qualified to talk, much less write about MUSICAL theater
"Fenchurch is correct, as usual."
-Keen on Kean
"Fenchurch is correct, as usual."
- muscle23ftl
I heard that Ken had been quite ill with chronic fatigue syndrome and has been not been writing. Pity since he was always able to articulate what the trouble was.
I miss Ken! I would JUMP on Broadway.com after every opening to read his reviews...and I loved his column. Once he vanished, I haven't enjoyed their reviews anywhere as much. And no The Nobodies are PAINful.
Variations on a Theme blog: http://panekattack.blogspot.com/
What I wouldn't give for an hour of conversation with that man...he is the one and only reviewer or historian with whom I have agreed on virtually everything.
I miss him too. One of the (many) reasons I usually dismiss "critics" is that their reviews are generally poorly written, and rather than objectively discussing the elements of the show, they simply spill out a personal opinion -- which is NOT the same thing.
Ken's reviews were insightful, VERY well-educated, well-written, passionate, and more often than not, I agreed with them.
Wow - I was just thinking about him after the reviews of "Spring Awakening." "What would Ken think about it?" But, come to think about it, I say that after EVery opening. Ditto all the great things that have been said.
Ken, if you're out there, give us something, man --- it's been TOO long and you're TOO good . . . .
Does anyone what Mandelbaum has been doing as of late? A new book? A new column? Teaching? Anything?
I hope he's well. He is truly my favorite theatre historian.
After re- reading A Chorus Line and the Musical of Michael Bennett for the umpteenth time, I felt helpless that I wasn't up to date on his current work...