Iris Wiener, Author at The New York Independent, New York City, NY

The Balusters delivers comedy, drama and human pathos in a contemporary take on mondern-day politics.(Photo:

Schmigadoon, The Balusters Win Top Honors at 70th Drama Desk Awards (Photos!)

Iris WienerMay 18, 2026

Schmigadoon! earned Outstanding Musical, while The Balusters took home Outstanding Play at the 79th Drama Desk awards at Town Hall in New York City....

BROADWAYDRAMAMUSICALOFF-BROADWAYTheater

Jessica-Vosk-and-Kelli-Barrett-star-as-Cee-Cee-Bloom-and-Bertie-White-in-BEACHES-A-NEW-MUSICAL

A Shore Thing Gone Wrong: Broadway Musical Beaches Falls Short of Memorable 1988 Film

Iris WienerApril 24, 2026

Broadway musical Beaches arrives with a built-in emotional advantage: audiences already know and love the story. Unfortunately, it struggles to justify its existence....

BROADWAYENTERTAINMENTMUSICALTheater

Division by Design: The Balusters Builds a Riveting Portrait of Conflict on Broadway

Iris WienerApril 23, 2026

The Broadway production of The Balusters arrives at a moment when audiences seem especially hungry for stories that feel both intimate and urgent....

BROADWAYENTERTAINMENTREVIEWTheater

Andrian Brody and Tessa Thompson, Fear of 13.

‘Fear of 13’ Haunts, Despite Miscast Lead; Adrien Brody Never Quite Finds His Footing

Iris WienerApril 21, 2026

A rare kind of theatrical experience doesn’t simply tell a story, but seems to burrow under your skin and stay there long after the curtain call....

BROADWAYDRAMAENTERTAINMENTTheater

Jon Bernthal as Sonny in the Broadway adaption of 'Dog Day Afternoon.' (Photo: )

Rupert Goold Sands Edges of ‘Dog Day Afternoon;’ What You Get Is a … Broadway Comedy?

Iris WienerApril 15, 2026

The Broadway adaptation of the 1975 crime film classic "Dog Day Afternoon" arrives with the weight of expectation....

BROADWAYCOMEDYREVIEWTheater

Spelling It Out: Autumn Best on Politics, Improv, and Joy of ‘Spelling Bee’ in an NYI Q&A

Iris WienerJanuary 15, 2026

Matt Manuel (left) Autumn Best and Justin Cooley in 'The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.' (Photo: Joan Marcus) Autumn Best marked both a return to her theatrical roots and a major milestone in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. ...

COMEDYENTERTAINMENTMUSICALOFF-BROADWAY

Samuel D. Hunter explores minimalism in his plays. (Photo: Samuel D Hunter)

Samuel D. Hunter on Writing Against Spectacle—and Why That Still Matters on Broadway

Iris WienerDecember 20, 2025

Few contemporary American playwrights have so consistently insisted on the power of quiet as Samuel D. Hunter....

BROADWAYDRAMATheater

Stephen Colbert and Conan O'Brien swapped stories at the (Photo: Tony Turner)

Stephen Colbert Slices and Dices Comedian Conan O’Brien at NJ Performing Arts Center

Iris WienerDecember 15, 2025

Stephen Colbert and Conan O’Brien sparred their way through stories during a performance at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center. ...

COMEDYENTERTAINMENT

Paul Rudd poses with some of the kids at the SAY foundation event. (Photo: Jason Steinberg)

Paul Rudd Hosts 12th All-Star Bowling Benefit for Stuttering Association (Photos!)

Iris WienerNovember 30, 2025

Community, compassion, and courage were honored at the event hosted by Paul Rudd, a dedicated champion of the Stuttering Association for the Young (SAY) for more than two decades....

CELEBRITIESENTERTAINMENTEvents

Alex Winter, Michael Patrick Thornton, Brandon J. Dirden, and Keanu Reeves in a scene from Waiting for Godot. (Photo: Andy Anderson)

Finding Light: Brandon J. Dirden, Michael Patrick Thornton Tackle Beckett’s Godot

Iris WienerNovember 18, 2025

two actors describe Samuel Beckett’s work as both a “pleasurable torture” and a “terrifyingly high-stakes assignment.”...

BROADWAYTheater

Jeff Ross Brings Comedy, Sentimentality and Acerbic Wit to New Broadway Show

Iris WienerSeptember 8, 2025

Jeff Ross has a superpower. He's demonstrating his X-factor in his new Broadway show, Take a Banana for the Ride. He sits for an New York Independent Q&A. ...

BROADWAYCOMEDYENTERTAINMENTTheater