Theater Thursday - Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon

We received complimentary tickets to Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon for review purposes. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own. 

What: Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon

Where: Marjorie S. Deane Little Theatre

             10 W. 64th St.

              New York,  NY

Who: Recommended for Ages 8 and Older

When: Through February 22, 2026

There is something irresistibly catchy about a Burt Bacharach song. They all sound so simple and easy to sing. Yet, when you really look closely into their structure, they are often quite surprisingly complex. Bacharach was a songwriter whose career spanned numerous genres, including general pop songs, songs written for movies or Broadway shows, and more. 

Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon is a new musical that covers the songs of this iconic composer. The show is more of a revue than a traditional book musical. This allows as many of his songs as possible to be crammed into the approximately 2-hour running time, something that any true Bacharach lover should appreciate.  

Even so, with such a prolific catalogue, there are still going to be a large number of songs left out, although quite a few popular favorites do appear in the show. "Close to You," "Walk on By", and a medley of songs from the stage musical Promises, Promises is just a small sampling of songs included. A few more favorites are jammed in with a medley toward the tail end of the show. 

Cast member John Pagano spent numerous years as a vocalist touring with Burt Bacharach himself. He is joined by the lovely-voiced Hilary Kole and Ta-Tynsia Wilson.  The three take turns singing solos and duets. There is also an occasional trio. Musical director Adrian Galante also sings in addition to playing piano and clarinet. The four also share tidbits about Bacharach's career and particular songs throughout the show. 

If you can't get enough of Burt Bacharach's songs, you're going to love this show.  If you are unsure if you are familiar with his music, check out his catalogue, and you may be surprised by how many of his songs you actually know and love. 

And that's our view. For more about Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon or to purchase tickets, go to goingbacharach.com

Tune in Sunday for this week's Sunday Scoop.

Photo credits: 

All Going Bacharach: The Songs of an Icon production photos by Russ Rowland

Images used in this post were sent by publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms and are used by permission.  Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Where-To--Go Wednesday - ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics

What: ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics 

Where: New York Public Library 

             Stephen A. Schwartzman Building

             476 Fifth Ave.

             New York, NY

Who: All ages

When: Through March 8, 2026

The current exhibit at the New York Public Library, Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics presents an overview of a large number of Puerto Rican artists now working in the genre, as well as at least one or two who previously worked in the genre. While many of them were born and raised in Puerto Rico, others were born and/or raised in New York but are of Puerto Rican descent.  Through their work, many of these artists share and explore cultural, historical, and political, as well as other facets of their heritage.

Other included artists explore and address such universal issues as the historic exclusion of women writers from the world of comics and the need for positive LGBTQ+ representation.  Some artists' work is more nonsensical, lighter in tone, and mainly meant to amuse. The latter includes comics featuring cute anthropomorphic animals and other objects, among other things. There is even one artist who rebooted Wonder Woman and gave her a new origin story.

And that's our view. For more about ¡Wepa! Puerto Ricans in the World of Comics, visit www.nypl.org/events/exhibitions/wepa

Tune in tomorrow for Theater Thursday.

All pictures used in this post are our own. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.

Tips for Tuesday - Books: You'll Never Forget Me & The Future Saints; Movie: The Good Fight

We may have been given complimentary copies and/or access for review purposes to any books, products, and/or any other visual or audio media mentioned below. Any and all opinions expressed here are our own.

Books: You'll Never Forget Me & The Future Saints

Today, we are discussing You'll Never Forget Me by Isha Raya.  Dimple Kapoor has always been struggling to get her big acting break. Then, she accidentally ends up killing her rival, except that may not be the first time she's committed a murder or the last. However, she doesn't think of it that way. She thinks of it as taking advantage of opportunities. 

Saffi is the detective hot on her trail, and she is not so easy to fool as those other guys looking into the case. However, Saffi also has dark secrets in her past, and she may not be as different from Dimple as she thinks. Plus, she finds herself strangely attracted to Dimple.

This book is very dark.  Dimple starts out fairly unlikable and remains that way throughout the book. She shows no growth, and she learns nothing (at least nothing positive) over the entire course of the story. Saffi, on the other hand, is the opposite. She starts out more likable and becomes less likable.

If you have a strong sense of right and wrong, believe in karma, and prefer your books to be uplifting, you won't enjoy this book. However, if you love an antihero story and you don't care if a character gets redeemed in any way or learns anything over the course of a story, you might enjoy it.

Today, we recommend The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead. After the death of their manager, Ginny, The Future Saints' sound begins to evolve in a new, unexpected, and not necessarily welcome direction. Lead singer and Ginny's sister, Hannah, is really struggling with her grief and trying to hold on to her sister through her music. 

The head of their record label sends out Theo, known as the fixer, to work with the band. It is his job to help them record their last album and then release them from their contract. However, it won't be so easy when Theo really begins to care about the band and Hannah in particular.

This is a really moving story. It does an excellent job of representing both grief and the bonds of sisterhood that stretch even beyond death.  Although you are probably not going to want to read it when you are in the throes of grief yourself, after some time has passed, it may even help you through your own grief.

The relationships feel very relastic. The bandmates don't agree on everything, and don't always get along perfectly, but beneath it all, they are a family. They are protective of each other in a really moving way, and Theo becomes a part of that as well. It's hard to believe he is a fixer who usually has no problem cutting bands loose when necessary. It does not seem like he could be cold or calculating enough for that especially when in the book he is portrayed as such a sweet, kindhearted and caring character, which is much preferable anyway.  The Theo that exists in the story is a character that you can love. In fact, that is one of the great things about the book, there are so many characters that you can really love and only one truly unlikable character, the obnoxious head of the record company. 

Movies: The Good Fight

Today, we are discussing The Good Fight. Even after his second DUI, a retired boxer refuses to believe he has a drinking problem, but for those he loves and cares about, it's a breaking point, so he can either get his life together or lose everything.

If you are looking for a sports-oriented redemption story, you may be disappointed. This is not a film about a man being redeemed through sport; rather, it is a film about a man redeeming himself, and the sport is secondary at best.  Even the big fight at the end seems anticlimactic and comes after the story has mostly already been resolved.

And that's our view. You'll Never Forget Me was published last Tuesday, January 13, 2026. The Future Saints was published today, Tuesday, January 20, 2026. The Good Fight is available now digitally for purchase or rental.

Tune in tomorrow for Where-To-Go Wednesday. 

All images except film images used in this post are our own.  Film images have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and/or  PR firms. Address any concerns regarding image usage here.