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Josh Kornbluth talking about his latest solo show Citizen Josh 
interviewed by Joel Markowitz 

Monologist Josh Kornbluth (Haiku Tunnel, Love and Taxes) has returned to Arena Stage with his newest solo show, Citizen Josh, (more…)

 

 Josh Kornbluth on Citizen Josh [17:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1344)

Citizen Josh
written and performed by Josh Korbluth
directed by David Dower
produced by Jonathan Reinis at Arena Stage
reviewed by Tim Treanor

Before I attempt a neutral observation of monologist Josh Kornbluth’s political meditation, Citizen Josh, I must lay a barrier upon the table: Kornbluth and I are not, shall we say, of the same political practice. It’s not that we are in different pews; it is that we are in different churches, and his church is on Mercury while mine is on Pluto. (more…)

Wishful Drinking
created and performed by Carrie Fisher
directed by Tony Taccone
produced by Arena Stage
a Jonathan Reinis Production in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre
reviewed by Gary McMillan

Carrie Fisher has a subtly smoky, whiskey voice (more on the Brenda Vaccaro or Lauren Bacall end of the Whiskey Voice Scale spectrum than Elaine Stritch or Patricia Neal) (more…)

Resurrection
By Daniel Beaty
Produced by Arena Stage in collaboration with Hartford Stage
Directed by Oz Scott
Reviewed by Tim Treanor

The gifted poet/playwright Daniel Beaty here presents us with a meditation on the self-empowerment of men, and in particular African-American men, which is earnest, perceptive and - dare I say it - a little preachy. Beaty clearly knows what he means to say (more…)

Oz Scott on Directing Daniel Beaty’s Resurrection

Interviewed by Joel Markowitz 
Recorded August 21, 2008  (more…)

 

 Oz Scott [21:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (1425)

• The Mystery of Irma Vep
• Written by Charles Ludlam
  Directed by Rebecca Bayla Taichman
  Produced by Arena Stage
• Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

The Mystery of Irma Vep is a silly spoof of legendary movie characters and literary themes, filled with madcap antics, satire, and whirlwind costume changes.  Similar to Noises Off, it’s filled with silly sight-gags, mind-twisting analogies, drop-dead funny double and triple entendres, while pushing from the sublime to the truly ridiculous.  (more…)

• 33 Variations                                                  
• Written and Directed by Moisés Kaufman
• Produced by La Jolla Playhouse, La Jolla, CA
• Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

The world premiere of 33 Variations at Arena Stage last year intrigued me so much that I followed it to its West Coast debut at La Jolla Playhouse to see how an original production stands on new legs with a different cast and crew, discover first hand what was different and changed, and compare the results.  (more…)

• A View from the Bridge
• Written by Arthur Miller
• Directed by Daniel Aukin
• Produced by Arena Stage
• Reviewed by Rosalind Lacy   

A View from the Bridge is a must see. Great ensemble acting, the best and juiciest I’ve seen at Arena Stage, seamless production values .. it all works together like a well-tuned symphony. Start with the unsettling music composed by Michael Keck that warns like fog horns of a dangerous collision ahead. We don’t see the Brooklyn Bridge-that engineering marvel of an American Dream-but we sense its power. Just as we sense Eddie Carbone’s muscular energy.

(more…)

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• Delaney Williams and Naomi Jacobson in Arthur Miller’s A View from the Bridge
• Interviewed by Joel Markowitz

(more…)

 

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• Death of a Salesman
• By Arthur Miller
• Directed by Timothy Bond
• Produced by Arena Stage
• Reviewed by Tim Treanor

Arthur Miller was the best playwright of his generation. Death of a Salesman was his best play. And Arena’s production of it … brothers and sisters, it doesn’t get much better than this.

It should come as no surprise that Rick Foucheux is superb as Willy Loman, thick with false hopes and the lies he tells himself. (more…)