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No Time Like the Peasant
You’ll remember that Katy Rubin of New York’s Theatre for the Oppressed came to town over the summer to lead workshops having to do with a planned production of Peter Gould and Stephen Stearns’ politically conscious parable A Peasant of El Salvador, in which a poor farmer who sees everything he holds dear swallowed up … Continue reading
Arts & Ideas & Times
Always canny at making its presence felt year-round and not just for two weeks in June, the International Festival of Arts & Ideas has announced its second annual “Visionary Leadership Award” recipient. It’s New York Times Executive Editrix Jill Abramson, first female to hold that post in the Old Gray Lady’s history. The ceremony is … Continue reading
Another Season, another reason…
Who’s gonna be in Jersey Boys when it trucks to Hartford for a return engagement Oct. 19-Nov. 6? The same Frankie Valli who’s been with the touring company since it first hit the road four years ago, Joseph Leo Bwarie. John Gardiner, who was in the ensemble when Jersey Boys last visited Hartford in 2009, … Continue reading
Play in a Day Returns Friday
This is my own project: a kids’ theater funtime where I choose a classic work of theater, tell the children about it, and then we all adapt, design, rehearse and stage it in the space of three hours. I’ve given Play in a Day its own page on this site, here, with videos of previous … Continue reading
The Molly Sweeney Review
Molly Sweeney By Brian Friel. At the Long Wharf Theatre through Oct. 16. Directed by Charlotte Moore. Set design by James Morgan. Costume design by Linda Fisher. Lighting design by Richard Pilbrow and Michael Gottlieb. Sound design by Zachary Williamson. Stage manager: Katrina Olson. Performed by Jonathan Hogan (Mr. Rice), Simone Kirby (Molly Sweeney) and … Continue reading
New Ron Jenkins play being read at Wesleyan TONIGHT!
Wesleyan Center for the Arts in Middletown is premiering a new play by Ron Jenkins tonight. The reading is held at 7 p.m. tonight, Sept. 28, in the center’s CFA Hall, for free. Must be cool to go to school where Ron Jenkins teaches. I never studied with him, but I followed Jenkins for … Continue reading
Theater-related “New Arrivals” on Netflix
Airplane: “What’s his problem?” “That’s Lieutenant Hurwitz. Severe shellshock. Thinks he’s Ethel Merman.” (The misspelling of Merman’s surname in the YouTube clip above is not my fault.) Some Like It Hot: Features an actual vaudevillean, Joe E. Brown. Plus Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in drag. Plus Marilyn Monroe playing a ukulele. Of course … Continue reading
The Three Sisters Review
Three Sisters By Anton Chekhov. A new version by Sarah Ruhl. Based on a literal translation by Elise Thoron with Natalya Paramonova and Kristin Johnsen-Neshati. Directed by Les Waters Scenic Designer: Annie Smart. Costume Designer: Ilona Somogyi. Lighting Designer: David Budries. Dramaturg: Rachel Steinberg. Stage Manager: James Mountcastle. Performed by Natalia Payne (Masha), Wendy Rich … Continue reading
Sinthea Starr Shines on Westville’s Lyric Hall: An Interview with Her Muse Joel Vig
“I first met Sinthea Starr aboard the Theatre Guild ship when Joy Behar was supposed to join us but got snowed in in New York. We had 25 minutes, but needed to get 55 ready, while sailing. “Sinthea Starr had performed before, a single number. So I had seen her perform at that time. Since … Continue reading