Nika Garfield

The Problem With ‘Miss Saigon’

November 11, 2022November 7, 2022Nika Garfield

I remember when I saw “Miss Saigon” for the first time; I was five years old, sitting at the front of the Bushnell’s stage about to see my first musical. I was not sure what I was getting into, before being dazzled by flashing lights, stunning costumes, and beautiful songs that still stick with me […]

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘The Phantom of the Opera’: A Treasure of Musical Theatre.

November 11, 2022November 7, 2022Nika Garfield

Based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel of the same name, “The Phantom of the Opera” tells the story of Christine Daaé, a chorus girl plucked from obscurity to sing the leading role when the prima donna is unable to perform. During her time at the opera house, she becomes the obsession of the eponymous phantom, […]

“Last Night in Soho”: A Psychedelic Trip Back in Time

September 30, 2022September 25, 2022Nika Garfield

On Oct. 29, 2022, Edgar Wright’s “Last Night in Soho” was released in theaters after being delayed for over a year due to COVID-19. With its stars Thomasin McKenzie and Anya Taylor-Joy bringing stellar performances to the table, the film was met with mostly positive reviews from critics. I was lucky enough to see it […]

The Brilliance of the ‘Les Misérables’ 10th Anniversary Concert

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022Nika Garfield

Since its original premiere at the Barbican Centre in London in 1985, Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil’s “Les Misérables” has become one of the longest-running and most beloved musicals of all time. Although it originally opened to mixed reviews, it has now become the longest-running West End show, having played over 14,000 performances, and the […]

Thank You For the Music: KO Students and Faculty Speak on ABBA and Their Legacy

November 6, 2020November 5, 2020Nika Garfield

In 2018, former ABBA member Björn Ulvaeus announced that he, Benny Andersson, Agnetha Fältskog, and Anni-Frid “Frida” Lyngstad had reunited after over 35 years to record two new songs, “Don’t Shut Me Down” and “I Still Have You.” The Swedish pop supergroup, whose songs inspired the Broadway hit musical “Mamma Mia!,” are still celebrated as […]

KO students, faculty comment on women’s portrayal in film, television

October 9, 2020October 8, 2020Nika Garfield

KO students and faculty have something to say about how women have been portrayed in television and film. Historically, women have always been portrayed as softer, gentler, second to men. The 1960s and 70s’ efforts to give women the same opportunities as men have shaped television and film in both noticeable and unexpected ways. In […]