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Theatre

  • MsTrial at New World Stages

    Can a Lawyer Be Truthful and Succeed

    By: Rachel de Aragon - Dec 05th, 2019

    Dep Kirkland asks us to inhabit the legal world and fathom truth from within the walls of a well appointed law office. The leather sofa, floor-to-ceiling bookcase, long wooden table and oak desk with curtained view of the city, act as silent signifiers.

  • The Music Man

    Meredith Willson Classic in South Florida.

    By: Aaron Krause - Dec 02nd, 2019

    The Wick Theatre in Boca Raton is mesmerizing folks with its production of The Music Man. This mounting features vivacious dancing, credible, energetic performances and solid design. The show runs through Dec. 28 and features the largest cast in The Wick's history. Broadway actor John Tartaglia stars as "Professor" Harold Hill.

  • Groundhog Day

    Me and My Shadow in San Francisco

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 30th, 2019

    The premise of Groundhog Day is that Pittsburgh TV meteorologist Phil Connors is assigned to cover the annual event against his wishes.

  • A Christmas Carol

    At the Lyceum Theatre

    By: Karen Isaacs - Nov 30th, 2019

    Even if you say bah humbug to holiday shows you might want to check out this one on Broadway.

  • Mother of the Maid by Jane Anderson

    Marin Theatre Company

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 30th, 2019

    The playwright’s contribution to the Joan of Arc literature is that her mother, Isabelle Arc, becomes the voice and the central character. Thus, while Joan’s actions are of historic significance and drive the narrative, Isabelle dominates the stage time. The play centers on family relationships, especially between mother and daughter.

  • Cloud 9 by Caryl Churchill

    At Custom Made Theatre

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 30th, 2019

    What makes many of Churchill’s works distinctive and what helps in understanding them is her frequent non-traditional approaches to time representation and to casting.

  • Hansel and Gretel

    At Opera San José

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 30th, 2019

    Opera San José’s production is specifically designed to be family friendly. The opera is sung in English and the supertitles are given in pretty basic vocabulary. Yet, only 15% of the audience is children, so adults, do feel welcomed. It is a quality production, beautifully staged and sung, that will satisfy audiences of all ages and levels of opera understanding.

  • The Interitance on Broadway

    Matthew Lopez, Stephen Daldry and Bob Crowley Truple Team for Brilliance

    By: Susan Hall - Nov 28th, 2019

    The moving two-part drama, The Inheritance, began its stage life at the Young Vic in London. The play transferred to the West End and is now on Broadway. For seven hours, divided into two sessions of theater, the history of gays in American unfolds. At its heart, the playwright Matthew Lopez weaves language of great beauty mixed with humor. Spanish words are sprinkled throughout, ay meo (oh God), la fiesta (the party) and maracon (faggot) among them. These are not phrases but rather exclamations. The word 'faggot' is never used in the play.

  • Critic Herbert Simpson 1934-2019

    Covered Theatre Insight Out

    By: Charles Giuliano - Nov 26th, 2019

    During conferences of American Theatre Critics Association the Rochester based critic, Herbert Simpson, was a raconteur and noble presence. Rooted in the classics he had little patience for current foibles. His opinions were always crusty, witty, scholarly, loquacious and well crafted. As a correspondent we were honored to repost his reviews.

  • A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum

    Classic Sondheim Musical in South Florida

    By: Aaron Krause - Nov 25th, 2019

    A highly physical and playful production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum is on stage at MNM Theatre Company. The West Palm Beach-based nonprofit company features equity and non-equity Florida actors. Cast members shine in their roles, but the sound system needs improvement. The production runs through Dec. 8 in a South Florida theater season featuring several Sondheim works.

  • Jack Lyons on Broadway

    California Critic Covers Three One Act Plays

    By: Jack Lyons - Nov 25th, 2019

    It takes stamina and seven league boots to keep up with my running buddy Jack Lyons. He was my plus one for the recent American Theatre Critics Association annual New York Conference. In addition to a day of panel discussions and lunch with the stars at Sardi's he took in the three plays covered here. When out of breath trying to keep with some affection I call him Jack Rabbit.

  • Lucy Dhegrae at National Sawdust

    Giving Voice to Rape

    By: Susan Hall - Nov 24th, 2019

    Lucy Dhegrae, a superb mezzo soprano, lost her singing voice after an assault. In finding her singing voice again, she follows the sounds of a human from the first grunts and breaths to the glorious free sounds of song. Dhegrae is National Sawdust's Artist-in-Residence.

  • West Side Story

    Classic Musical In South Florida

    By: Aaron Krause - Nov 23rd, 2019

    Broadway in Broward series kicks off strong with a heartfelt production of West Side Story. Broadway Palm's inaugural series production features talented triple threat performers. The production runs through Dec. 1.

  • Teodor Currentzis Brings Verdi to The Shed

    Dramatic Performance Accompanied by Jonas Mekas Images

    By: Susan Hall - Nov 22nd, 2019

    The Verdi Requiem conducted by Teodor Currentzis with the musicAeterna Orchestra and Chorus is performed at The Shed through November 24. The McCourt is a grand space and can seat 1,250 and hold 2000 standing. Designed to be flexibly conformed, this performance has bleacher seats extending from the floor before the stage up to the rafters, or heavens if you will. This program's music is both other-worldly and very much in the now.

  • Tootsie On Broadway

    Musical Adaptation Continues Through Jan. 5.

    By: Aaron Krause - Nov 19th, 2019

    Tootsie features a Tony-winning performance by actor Santino Fontana. The musical adaptation of the popular 1982 film continues through Jan. 5. The stage show is a big, splashy and funny musical comedy.

  • Ain't Too Proud

    Jukebox Musical About The Temptations On Broadway

    By: Aaron Krause - Nov 16th, 2019

    Ain't Too Proud: The Life and Times of The Temptations is playing in Broadway. This show, while a jukebox musical, does more than string a series of hits together. The dancing is electric and the singing is expressive.

  • Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall

    Joyce Di Donato Superb as Cleopatra

    By: Susan Hall - Nov 16th, 2019

    Thrilling moments of the New York fall music season include the arrival of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall. They do not disappoint. The first concert brought forward the superb brass section of the Orchestra in an unjustifiably overlooked early work by Georges Bizet, Roma. No one knows where the title came from.

  • Bull in a China Shop By Bryna Turner

    At Aurora Theatre

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 16th, 2019

    What surprises about Bull in a China Shop is the tone that the playwright Bryna Turner adopts, despite the fact that it is a biographical sketch focused on serious events

  • Don Juan

    Westport Country Playhouse

    By: Karen Isaacs - Nov 16th, 2019

    Westport Country Playhouse is giving us a delightful performance of a new adaptation of the Molière play written by Brendan Pelsue and wonderfully directed by David Kennedy.

  • A Broadway Holiday

    Thumbnails of Recent Shows

    By: Charles Giuliano - Nov 15th, 2019

    Recently, while attending the New York Conference of American Theatre Critics Association we saw six shows. What follows are capsules of those experiences.

  • Mallon’s Fellow Travelers

    Boston Lyric Opera

    By: Doug Hall - Nov 15th, 2019

    Boston Lyric Opera has once again successfully adapted and tackled politically and socially topical subjects in “Fellow Travelers”, an opera by Gregory Spears with Libretto by Greg Pierce. It is based on the best-selling novel by Thomas Mallon.

  • Linda Vista By Tracy Letts

    Broadway at Helen Hayes Theatre

    By: Karen Isaacs - Nov 15th, 2019

    It may not be totally successful, but a Tracy Letts play, particularly one performed by members of the Steppenwolf company, is always an interesting evening in the theater.

  • Ain’t Too Proud by Dominique Morisseau

    Temptations on Broadway

    By: Victor Cordell - Nov 15th, 2019

    Ain’t Too Proud could not exist without high energy performances of the Temptations songs, and they are so authentic, you’d think you’re seeing the actual group. The mix of voices backed by an 18-piece orchestra along with Sergio Trujillo’s exciting choreography hit the mark.

  • Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma

    Broadway's Circle In The Square Theatre

    By: Aaron Krause - Nov 14th, 2019

    Revival of Oklahoma unearths a darker tale.Brightness and tension combine to create a memorable production. The production, directed by Daniel Fish, runs through January.

  • Verdi's Requiem with Tedor Currentzis at The Shed

    New Views on a Great Work

    By: Susan Hall - Nov 14th, 2019

    A hundred-member orchestra and an 80-member chorus from Perm Russia perform Verdi's Requiem at The Shed in Hudson Yards, New York. Direct from Salzburg where it received rapturous reviews this re-imagining has been eagerly awaited. For ten days prior to the performances on November 19-24, Jonas Mekas' filmed response to the music was screened. It was at first a shocking take, beautiful images of flower blossoms one after another. The Requiem is a work of sublime beauty. It also has Dylan Thomas's rage at death. Mekas shows this in black screens and sometimes winds raging through branches and dessicating leaves.

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