Dear Theater Fans, Leslie Odom Jr. — the original Aaron Burr — is back in “Hamilton.” The stage veteran Jeff Hiller has an Emmy. And a cast recording of Gavin Creel’s “Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice” will drop on Sept. 30. Some things, at least, are going well in the world. What else is happening? “Slam Frank,” a satirical take on Anne Frank that promises to draw controversy, begins performances tonight at Asylum NYC. Writing about new kinds of comedy stars, Jason Zinoman explained how this musical “was trolled onto the stage.”
Last night a revival of Yasmina Reza’s “Art” opened with James Corden, Bobby Cannavale and Neil Patrick Harris starring as friends whose relationship implodes over an abstract painting. “For an elegantly vicious play that’s meant to draw pearls of blood,” Elisabeth Vincentelli wrote in her review, “the actors, especially Cannavale and Harris, can come off as guarded, as if they’re fencing with blunted tips.” And last week, Maya Phillips reviewed a revival of Tarell Alvin McCraney’s poetic and fiercely minimalist “The Brothers Size,” at the Shed. “The production is often beautiful to witness,” she wrote, adding that “McCraney’s writing recalls a musical composition.” Quote of the day“In the theater, we often question if what we do has any real value, especially as the art itself is so fleeting — here one minute and gone the next. But in Kyiv I never doubted the importance of theater, its place in society, and its ability to remind us that we are all human.” — Richard Nelson, who presented “When the Hurlyburly’s Done” last winter in war-torn Ukraine. The play is running at the Public Theater through Sunday. Please reach out to me at theaterfeedback@nytimes.com with suggestions for stories or to offer your thoughts about our coverage. And urge your friends to subscribe to this newsletter. Have a wonderful week, Like this email?Forward it to your friends, and let them know they can sign up here.
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