Culture Archives - 1 Minute Critic

The shadow of two men staring off into the sunset

Books

In ‘John of John,’ Douglas Stuart returns to familiar and fertile territory

Billy McEntee Jul 30, 2026 0

Douglas Stuart's “John of John” delivers a quietly devastating portrait of a father and son who struggle to tell their…

Books

Before ‘Purple Rain’ hits Broadway, meet the photographer who knew Prince best

Matthew Wexler Jul 28, 2026 0

Broadway is getting ready to resurrect another pop icon when Purple Rain opens at the Majestic Theatre next March. Based…

Ciara Renée at Masquerade's After the Curtain.

Music

Ciara Renée turns the basement lounge at ‘Masquerade’ into a Parisian cabaret

Lindsay B. Davis Jul 27, 2026 0

Ever wonder what happened after Christine and Raoul dash off from the Palais Garnier opera house and the Phantom descends…

Music Take 5

These 10 LA live music venues prove the show starts before anyone takes the stage

Karan Singh Jul 26, 2026 0

The essential guide to the best live music venues in Los Angeles, from the Hollywood Bowl to the Masonic Lodge.

Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead book cover

Books

What is art? What is crime? Colson Whitehead’s ‘Cool Machine’ lets its characters argue it out

By Melissa Iachan Jul 24, 2026 0

Ray Carney returns for one last job in 'Cool Machine,' Colson Whitehead's gritty, funny finale to the Harlem Trilogy.

Books

In Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler,’ a chance reunion never finds its footing

Lauren Emily Whalen Jul 22, 2026 0

Ann Patchett's 'Whistler' promises a complex reunion and settles for a horse that means everything and two people who mean…

Music

15 years in, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway’s ‘Boom!’ hasn’t lost a beat

Matthew Wexler Jul 18, 2026 0

'Boom!' plays 54 Below for its 15th anniversary, with Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway proving sibling harmony still sells out…

Hot Sec Music

Bonnie Tyler dies at 75, leaving behind pop’s most unlikely vampire anthem

Matthew Wexler Jul 9, 2026 0

Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" started as a vampire love song for a shelved Nosferatu musical. Here's the…

An illustrated image featuring author Roshan Sethi and The Simp book cover

Books

Roshan Sethi’s ‘The Simp’ turns Hollywood into one long audition

Karan Singh Jul 7, 2026 0

Roshan Sethi's "The Simp" offers sharp Hollywood satire and perceptive social commentary, though its story never fully delivers.

Spruce Street Harbor Park, Philadelphia, PA.

Music Take 5

Your free summer soundtrack, courtesy of Pennsylvania’s parks and festivals

By Kalena Thomhave, Good Info Newswire Jul 6, 2026 0

From Pittsburgh to Philly, here's where to catch free live music across Pennsylvania this summer.

In ‘John of John,’ Douglas Stuart returns to familiar and fertile territory

Before ‘Purple Rain’ hits Broadway, meet the photographer who knew Prince best

Ciara Renée turns the basement lounge at ‘Masquerade’ into a Parisian cabaret

These 10 LA live music venues prove the show starts before anyone takes the stage

What is art? What is crime? Colson Whitehead’s ‘Cool Machine’ lets its characters argue it out

In Ann Patchett’s ‘Whistler,’ a chance reunion never finds its footing

15 years in, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway’s ‘Boom!’ hasn’t lost a beat

Bonnie Tyler dies at 75, leaving behind pop’s most unlikely vampire anthem

Roshan Sethi’s ‘The Simp’ turns Hollywood into one long audition

Your free summer soundtrack, courtesy of Pennsylvania’s parks and festivals

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In ‘John of John,’ Douglas Stuart returns to familiar and fertile territory

I went to ‘Les Misérables’ at Radio City and came home a singing student revolutionary

Before ‘Purple Rain’ hits Broadway, meet the photographer who knew Prince best

Cat Cohen turns a near-death experience into Off-Broadway’s funniest solo show