Previews
Coffee with the Carlotta Playwrights: Christina Anderson, Dipika Guha and Meg Miroshnik
Tonight marks the start of the sixth annual Carlotta Festival of New Plays at the Yale School of Drama. I had coffee this morning at Willoughby’s on York Street with the three playwrights for whom the festival marks the end of their three years in the School of Drama program. No tech-week anxiety or opening-night … Continue reading
Stark Expression
This site’s still just days old, but Sanaa Lathan, estimable Yale School of Drama grad, has already been mentioned on it a couple of times. Now I see that she’s appearing in the Second Stage production of Lynn Nottage’s new play By the Way, Meet Vera Stark, which begins performances tonight. (2st.com for details). Other … Continue reading
The Yale Rep Season Announcment
This site is still brand new, so there’s some catching up to do. Back on March 10, the Yale Rep announced five-sixths of its 2011-2012 season: While it doesn’t exactly stream light into the room after so many dark, downbeat shows over the last couple of seasons, the slate promises much amusement—of the introspective, culture-satire … Continue reading
Into the Woods
Westport Country Playhouse announced last week that it’s staging a new production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods in May of 2012. The WCP season follows the calendar year rather than the school- year model which so many other regional theaters prefer. The theater’s 2011 season is just about to begin, with Christopher Durang’s Beyond Therapy … Continue reading
Hello Yellow
Dael Orlandersmith’s two-character drama Yellowman is playing at Trinity Rep through April 3. It played at Long Wharf’s Stage II nine years ago this month. I recall that production well. I liked it quite a bit, but could only praise Orlandersmith’s own performance through backhanded compliments, since I’d felt she’d improved so much as a … Continue reading
Fast and Lewis
The Off Broadway run of Mark St. Germain’s drama Freud’s Last Session has been extended, and not for the first time. The dual analysis of Freud and C.S. Lewis now is not slated to leave the Marjorie S. Deane Little Theater on West 64th St. until July 3, with the current cast of Martin Rayner … Continue reading
Where Did Death Sting First?
Death Takes a Holiday is becoming a musical, opening June 10 at the Roundabout in NYC. The NY Post shorthands the Albert Casella play on which it’s based as the basis for the Brad Pitt film Meet Joe Black, but theater junkies know it as a legendary, too-seldom-revived romantic drama from the 1930s. Connecticut theater … Continue reading