Theatre
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In The Penal Colony Updated by Miranda Haymon
Powerful Kafka in the Present
By: - Jul 18th, 2019At Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop The Hodgepodge Group and Lucy Powis presents, In the Penal Colony, a new and dynamic re-creation of Kafka's story by writer/director Miranda Haymon. What are the personal responsibilities of those who bear witness to the abuse of power? What is the relationship of the victim to the support of breaking institutional norms? What of the admiration for power, and the adulation of murderous solution?. At what point can we shed the reverence for brutal traditions?
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The Skin of Our Teeth
Last Call for Humanity at Berkshire Theatre Group
By: - Jul 18th, 2019Clocking in at three acts and three hours it's a long, tough slog through Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth at Berkshire Theatre Group. Having endured an epic assault on the senses we much appreciated the experience. There is far too much relevance to this grim, Pulitizer Prize winning 1942 play. Then America was facing fascism abroad and now we are confronted by racism and fascism within.
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She Shorts
Inaugural Series of Short Plays in South Florida
By: - Jul 15th, 2019She Shorts is a series of short plays about women, by women.The series was borne out of a collaboration between Miami's City Theatre and Ft. Lauderdale's Thinking Cap Theatre. She Shorts is empowering, funny and thought-provoking. The inaugural series runs through Aug. 4.
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Toni Stone Story of Vintage Baseball Player
Home Run Off Broadway
By: - Jul 15th, 2019April Matthis, as Toni Stone (1921-1996) the first woman to play professional baseball in the Negro League, is knocking it out of the ballpark every night at New York's Laura Pels Theatre through August 11.
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Michael Gordon's Acquanetta at Bard
Texture and Noir Images Engross in Video Opera
By: - Jul 14th, 2019Acquanetta, the video opera by Michael Gordon, a multi-dimensional composer on the contemporary scene, was premiered as grand opera in Aachen, Germany in 2006. Commissioned in chamber form by Beth Morrison Productions, it now is mounted at Bard SummerScape. Grand or not grand, the sound in this version, with members of the Bang on the Can Ensemble, is big. Loud was the word used in warning. The nature of the production, details of which remain closely held, enables the electronic bass and also the string instruments to resound throughout the hall. The music makes the show, as it should in opera.
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Selling Kabul By Sylvia Khoury
Co production of Williamstown Theatre Festival and Playwrights Horizon
By: - Jul 14th, 2019With promises of visas and relocation to the United States the mlitary recruited interpreters in Afghanistan. That promise was reneged on when America started to withdraw and wind down in 2011. The world premiere play Selling Jabul by Sylvia Khoury focuses on the fate of one individual and his family who was left high and dry.
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Time Flies and Other Comedies by David Ives
Great Escape at Barrington Stage Company
By: - Jul 11th, 2019For a change of pace Barrington Stage Company has opted not to give us yet another social justice scolding. Summer escapism with a belly full of laughs is provided by David Ives's Time Flies and Other Comedies. An all star cast of Barington actors are off the leash with total gonzo performances. They are anchored by the comedic genius of Debra Jo Rupp. Just wait till you see her paired with Cary Donaldson. With wings and buggy butts as Mayflys they wll be born, meet, mate, hatch and die all on one hilarious day. And that's just the first of six outrageous skits.
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Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story
Pittsfield's Colonial Theatre Shakes, Rattles and Rolls
By: - Jul 10th, 2019Berkshire Theatre Group and its Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield is producing the world premiere of Rock and Roll Man: The Alan Freed Story. The jukebox musical, rumored to be headed to Broadway, has a book by Gary Kupper, Larry Marshak and Rose Caiola with original music and lyrics by Gary Kupper. A cast of nineteen performs some 47 musical interludes. The music was fun but the long and often slow production needs a lot of work.
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The Good Person of Szechwan
Brecht at California Shakespeare Theater
By: - Jul 09th, 2019So, a Bertolt Brecht play can actually be fun! The play’s central theme is about goodness, something that would seem intuitively straight forward, but the playwright examines the concept from many sides, resulting in more questions than answers.
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The Scottsboro Boys
Playhouse on Park, West Hartford
By: - Jul 08th, 2019The Scottsboro Boys is getting a terrific production at Playhouse on Park through Aug. 4. Previously the show won acclaim, nominations and awards off-Broadway, on Broadway, in London and other places.
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Twelfth Night at Shakespeare & Company
Fun, Fun, Fun in Lenox
By: - Jul 07th, 2019You may have seen Twelfth Night, perhaps a dozen times. But don't miss one more sharply directed by Allyn Burrows at Shakespere & Company in Lenox. What a hoot yet again to see the absurd Malvolio, a love sotted fool, decked out in yellow stockings with crossed garters. Expect a raucous night of fun, fun, fun.
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Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune
Broadway Revival of Terrence McNally Play
By: - Jul 04th, 2019Johnny is sure that he and Frankie should be a couple – after all their names reflect the hold song. So he is going to convince Frankie of that fact, no matter how she tries to resist.
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A Human Being, of a Sort
WTF World Premiere by Jonathan Payne
By: - Jul 02nd, 2019A new play by Jonathan Payne, A Human Being, of a Sort, at Williamstown Theatre Festival is based on an historical event. In 1906 a Congolese Pigmy native, Ota Benga, was brought to New York City, placed in a cage along with monkeys, orangutans and other primates for display in the Bronx Zoo. From this Payne has created a social justice drama that explores racism at the turn of the 20th century.
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A Raisin in the Sun at Williamstown
Gilding the Lily of Lorraine Hansberry's Masterpiece
By: - Jun 30th, 2019Six decades later Williamstown Theatre Festival is presenting the Lorraine Hansberry masterpiece Raisin in the Sun. A superb cast is anchored by S. Epatha Merkerson (Lena Younger [Marner]), Francois Battiste (Walter Lee Younger), and Mandi Masden (Ruth Younger). The director Robert O'Hara has stated that he avoided presenting the classic drama as a "museum piece." His improvements and updates, however, are less than judicious
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Mysterious Circumstances at the Geffen Playhouse
Elementary Dear Watson
By: - Jun 29th, 2019So convincing was Conan Doyle’s creation at the turn of the 20th century both Holmes and Watson were believed to be real people. So much so that the city of London actually turned Holmes’ fictional living quarters at 221- B Baker Street into a physical replica in a building located at 221-B Baker Street; due to the demand of tourists wanting to visit the famous detective’s home.
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Ruthless at Desert Rose Playhouse
By Joel Paley, with music by Marvin Laird
By: - Jun 29th, 2019“Ruthless” is blessed with a cast of experienced farceurs and comedy actors who can sing, and singers who act and dance. What more does one need from a musical comedy in order to enjoy a hilarious evening in the theatre?
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Passion by Sondheim and Lapine
Custom Made Theatre in San Francisco
By: - Jun 29th, 2019Passion is a distinctive and less performed work from one of the greatest creators of musical theater, and this production captures its essence. Sondheim enthusiasts will definitely want to see it, and it is well worth experiencing for the broader public as well
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La Voix Humaine Mixes Poulenc and Cocteau
DIVAria Brings Emotion Forward
By: - Jun 28th, 2019The Human Voice/La Voix Humaine by Francis Poulenc and Jean Cocteau melds text from the play by Cocteau with the monologue opera Poulenc was inspired to write. DIVaria and Sergej Productions often work together to present works pared down to their emotional heart. They effectively reach audiences unfamiliar with the opera form by drawing them in to beautiful music and understandable stories.
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Gertrude and Claudius by Mark St. Germain
Rehearsal Break at Barrington Stage Company
By: - Jun 27th, 2019Mark St. Germain met for a lunch break on the first day of rehearsal for his play Gertrude and Claudius based on a 2000 novel by John Updike. Opening on July 31 it will be the thirteenth play by St. Germain to be produced by Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield. The company's second stage is named for him. We discussed the process from Shakespeare to Updike and now St. Germain.
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Outside Mullingar By John Patrick Shanley
Drama as a Cottage Industry
By: - Jun 26th, 2019The Irish American playwright, John Patrick Shanley, crafted a small intimate drama, Outside Mulligar, set in bleak rural Irish cottages. The dark, ironic tale of heritage and inheritance has been given as richly detailed production directed by Karen Allen.
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Monty Python's Spamalot
A South Florida Production By Entr'acte Theatrix
By: - Jun 24th, 2019The semi-professional, educational-oriented Entr'acte Theatrix combines young, promising talent with seasoned veterans in its production of Monty Python's Spamalot. While the results are mixed, this production of the iconic Python musical thoroughly entertains. The Delray Beach-based company's production runs through the weekend.
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One-Act Plays at Ensemble Studio Theatre
Series C Superb
By: - Jun 23rd, 2019The five One-Act plays presented by Ensemble Studio Theatre, Series C, are a crowning achievement in this 37th Annual event.
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Into the Woods Launches Barrington's 25th Season.
Sixth Production of a Stephen Sondheim Musical
By: - Jun 23rd, 2019Barrington Stage always front ends an enticing musical. For the sixth time it's Stephen Sondeim. Into the Woods, with James Lapine, launches the 25th season on the Boyd-Quinson Main Stage in Pittsfield.
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Rusalka by Antonín Dvorák
Produced by San Francisco Opera
By: - Jun 22nd, 2019This production shows Rusalka in all its glory. Yet the opera is not often performed in this country, despite the resurgence of Czech opera. The clock time, a little excessive at 3:40 including intermissions, poses many additional costs and burdens.
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Stonewall the Opera, World Premiere
Iain Bell and Mark Campbell with NY City Opera
By: - Jun 22nd, 2019Stonewall, an opera by Iain Bell with libretto by Mark Campbell, had its world premiere at the New York City Opera. The work was commissioned as part of a commitment by NYCO to produce an LGBT Opera during Pride Month every year. It is a triumph for the artists and the company.
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