Elisabeth Vincentelli
@evincentelli.bsky.social
Bylines: The New York Times, The Washington Post and more. Co-host Marks & Vincentelli podcast. Latest book: "The Art and Making of Arcane" elisabeth@evincentelli.com
What’s depressing is that AI will win because people use it for the same reason they get everything delivered: ease and convenience without regard for the consequences (waste of resources, huge amounts of waste, increased traffic, decrease of socialization). Hard to fight “But I want it now!”
Loved the show, loved this review. Among my fave things about Cat Cohen are how she both skewers and revels in the attention industry, and how she uses raunchy material to build a public persona. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/27/t...
In ‘Cat Cohen: Broad Strokes,’ a Comic Faces Death (and Being Basic)
After recovering from a life-threatening stroke, a fame-hungry musical comedian contends with a worse fate: She might just be average.
nytimes.com
This is good. An illustrated catalogue of 2,000+ feature films on YouTube, covering 1930-1970. You can search by country and decade. In Spanish but easy to navigate, and you get the fun bonus of learning the Spanish titles of the films ...
Filmoteca Clásica · Cine clásico gratis en YouTube
filmotecaclasica.com
“Because of the way algorithms have taken over everything, we all kind of live in a reality of one that is distinct from everybody else.” — Jonathan Spector, playwright for “Birthright,” on Marks & Vincentelli podcast. (Brilliant.) @petermarksdrama.bsky.social @evincentelli.bsky.social
"Birthright" is the summer's hottest play. Also the most controversial.
Playwright Jonathan Spector joins us for a discussion of his three-act comedy-drama, now at Off Broadway's MCC Theater, about American Jews who bonded in and over Israel.
marksvincentelli.substack.com
Our guest on the podcast this week is Jonathan Spector, whose new play, "Birthright," is at MCC (you may know him from "Eureka Day," which won a Tony last year and often appears on regional stages). marksvincentelli.substack.com/p/birthright...
"Birthright" is the summer's hottest play. Also the most controversial.
Playwright Jonathan Spector joins us for a discussion of his three-act comedy-drama, now at Off Broadway's MCC Theater, about American Jews who bonded in and over Israel.
marksvincentelli.substack.com
Warning: The Apple TV movie “The Dink” is brazen pickleball propaganda. These people will stop at nothing, down to enrolling Mary Steenburgen (only one of the most likable actresses ever) to surreptitiously advocate for their nefarious dreams of kudzu-like spread.
In addition to the pleasures of the show itself, I love that 1) the most popular musical in the world, ie “Les Miz,” is French and 2) I just saw Radio City audience give a rousing ovation to people waving the red flag of revolution.
My latest "what to know about…" tackles "Les Misérables." Personally I'd love to see more modern-dress productions (the Thénardiers in MAGA hats?). www.nytimes.com/2026/07/21/t...
The Never-Ending Life of ‘Les Misérables’
nytimes.com
Car-sitting for a friend means literally sitting in the car for 90 minutes on street-cleaning day.
My completely unscientific survey indicates that French fans are rooting for Spain, even though they kicked us out in the semifinal.
Caroline Calloway, still at it in the NYRB. This has the benefit of being pretty clear.
At long last: Napalm Death's Tiny Desk Concert! Barney in a Crass t-shirt. Final song: "You suffer" (if you know…) youtu.be/e81LZCHhNKQ
Napalm Death: Tiny Desk Concert
YouTube video by NPR Music
youtu.be
The upside of France exiting the World Cup is that I have regained at least four hours of my time.
I don't think Cats: The Jellicle Ball closing is in itself a crisis, but ALW is not wrong in noting that there is no viable economic model for bringing a musical to Broadway in 2026. "We'll break even if we sell out for two years" is not a model. It's a prayer. www.broadwayworld.com/article/Andr...
Andrew Lloyd Webber Says Broadway Is In 'Dire Danger' After CATS Closing
Andrew Lloyd Webber has addressed the closing announcement of CATS: The Jellicle Ball, pleading for 'theatre owners, unions and producers to come together urgently to address what is a crisis coming t...
broadwayworld.com
I’ve been reading my way through the @jesswalter.bsky.social catalogue, in random order and with unflagging delight. Now “The Financial Lives of the Poets.” Published in 2009, has funny, pointed descriptions of being in a financial cul de sac.
We tried to take a bird's eye view of the Arena Stage debacle in the latest episode of our podcast: marksvincentelli.substack.com/p/why-did-ar...
Why did Arena Stage force out Hana Sharif?
Three years into a five-year contract, Sharif, the first artistic director of color in Arena's 76-year history, is out, and the theater company is in turmoil. We're asking: How did this crisis happen?
marksvincentelli.substack.com
The mad inventors of the Minnesota State Fair have been busy www.mnstatefair.org/new/food
New Foods for 2026
mnstatefair.org
It will never not be insane to me that someone could have a billion dollars and still fight tooth and nail to have even more money? Like, you won, it’s over, build a library or help end hunger. Fully fund endometriosis research and become a hero. Real unimaginative loser shit.
Any data center that forces a rate increase should have to cover every penny of it. Why are ratepayers picking up the energy tab for major corporations?
Front page of the French sports daily L’Équipe: All That for This.
I've been watching the World Cup since I was a kid, way back in the 20th century, but I'm pretty much done with it. There have been many egregious FIFA decisions over the decades, but this business with the red card is the last straw. To think of all the extra free hours I'll have every 4 years!
A little perspective for those just tuning in: the US did not suddenly become a soccer world power by beating a country that’s 61st in the FIFA ranking.
The doc on Earth, Wind & Fire saves its strongest card for the end: "September." Watching those shots of happy crowds dancing to that song (inc. at the Governors Ball in 2009), it's hard not to think of the current sad, empty state fair in DC and wonder what happened to this country.
France torched Sweden in World Cup so I’m optimistic for the Liberty game against the Aces tonight since we have more French players than they do. Wait, does karma carry over?
Thread. I cannot stress enough how important it is for people to write to the state but also their representatives.
Darcy James Argue@darcyjamesargue.com · last mo.NYers who buy their health insurance on the state exchange: you have probably recently received a letter from your insurer informing you of the premium hike they are proposing for next year. My own insurer, Fidelis, wants to increase my premiums by over $225/month — an hike of 26% for a Silver plan.
1/2 RIP Harold Wheeler, one of my favorite orchestrator and arrangers: "Dreamgirls," "The Wiz," but also Meco's disco "Star Wars" and Gloria Gaynor's "Never Can Say Goodbye." I talked to him in 2010 and got two articles out of our chat. One was about his job on "DWTS" nypost.com/2010/04/18/t...
A chat with orchestrator Harold Wheeler
Yesterday’s interview with Harold Wheeler focused on his job as musical director/bandleader on “Dancing with the Stars.” But even if they don’t follow “DWTS,” th…
nypost.com
Fantastic tribute from @manohladargis.bsky.social and @jasonzinoman.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
100 Reasons to Love Mel Brooks on His 100th Birthday (Gift Article)
Here are 100 reasons to love the comedy writer, director and star who’s celebrating a milestone on Sunday and who’s changed our culture in surprising ways.
nytimes.com
With REI closing its only NYC store, Paragon is left as the main option to buy quality sporting goods at physical store in Manhattan and Brooklyn (sorry, Foot Locker inventory is narrow). What a sad state of affairs.
