Charles Nelson

Charles Nelson, a former professor in theatre, specializes in world theatre history, playscript and character analysis, stage direction, the American playwright and musical theatre, opera history, dance history, and the Great American Songbook. He has an MFA in Opera Direction, and was an Adjunct Professor at Montclair State University. He has been an editorial researcher at "People" magazine, NBC News, and Condé Nast.

Charles Nelson

Articles by this Author:

Club Review: Ann Talman’s “The Shadow of Her Smile”

Unique is the best word—maybe the only word—to describe the song-stacked narrative that Ann Talman has created for her cabaret act at Feinstein’s/54Below. She calls the show The Shadow of Her Smile, after...

Club Review: “To Steve with Love: Liz Callaway Celebrates Sondheim”

Ever feel like you’re Sondheimed-out?  Perhaps, but if it’s Liz Callaway singing the late great master’s songs, as she did recently at Feinstein’s/54 Below in her newest show, To Steve...

Club Review: Klea Blackhurst’s “One of the Girls—The Words and Music of Jerry Herman”

Klea Blackhurst is one of those rare songbirds who can build a show out of intelligent patter and amusing anecdotes. Her act, which she brought to Birdland Feb. 21, is...

The John Pizzarelli Quintet: “Tribute to George Shearing”

John Pizzarelli's weapon of choice is his guitar, and the two have traveled down too many musical roads to list.  As I entered Birdland the other night to hear a...