June 11, 2013 — As is the custom, two days after the Tony Awards, Actors’ Equity Association gathers together its Council for a meeting in which policy is discussed. The “opening acts” of the session, held each June in the Council Room at Equity’s New York offices, are the presentations of The Clarence Derwent Awards […]
Behrman’s Biography, smart and witty at American Century
Sophistication, wit and a vivid leading female character are front and center in S.N. Behrman’s Biography. Thank you, American Century Theater for finding this forgotten gem. If you like your theatre smart and your characters fascinating, Biography is absolutely worth a look. This is high style, handsomely done.
Renee Calarco and Natascia Diaz at Adventure Theatre MTC next season
The Twelve Days of Christmas, Renee Calarco’s new play based on the world’s longest Christmas song, will highlight Adventure Theatre MTC’s 2013-2014 season. It will feature Deidra LaWan Starnes as a partridge who needs to put the Christmas season together despite warring turtledoves, missing golden rings, and geese who have defected to Florida. Forum Theatre’s […]
A champ of a new work – Approaching Ali from WNO
Washington National Opera has given us a “champ” of a new music-theatre work that is as approachable and inspiring as the great American Muhammed Ali himself. Its creators have bypassed taking a biographical approach, which wouldn’t have worked in this medium anyway, but have crafted something lean, impressionistic and emotionally powerful.
A feathery, frolicksome Beaux’ Stratagem at Everyman
Restoration comedy or a leg of lamb jammed up my nose? Tough choice. With that personal disclosure out of the way, in spite of my bias, Everyman’s production of The Beaux’ Stratagem is feathery, frolicsome amusement, as refreshing as an ice cream soda mit schlag on a humid June afternoon.
Mint gives first class production to A Picture of Autumn
The Mint Theatre, under the artistic directorship of Jonathan Bank, produces worthwhile plays from the past that have been lost or forgotten. It’s an invaluable part of the New York theatre scene, for it gives us a look into the tastes and talents of a former generation or two; it reminds us what interested American […]
Broadway celebrates its biggest night with a spectacular Tony Awards
Last night’s Tony Awards show deserves its on Emmy. Right now. In case you missed it, here’s Neil Patrick Harris and the casts of nearly every musical on Broadway doing the opening number: Quick rundown: Kinky Boots won Best Musical and Pippin, Best Musical Revival. Christopher Durang’s Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike won […]
Becky Shaw
It’s been a while since we’ve seen a bonafide femme fatale onstage—the hard-boiled yet pliable dames who dupe guys and dolls alike without messing up their manicures. That’s why Gina Gionfriddo’s romantic comedy, Becky Shaw, seems retro and fresh at the same time.
Love means always hurling the F word in Grieving for Genevieve
If you want a sweet, quiet, sedate time at the theater, keep driving up the highway, because this ain’t it. Grieving for Genevieve is a shot of adrenaline where three rambunctious sisters are thrown back together, for better or worse, to deal with the middle sister’s upcoming wedding.
Short Plays at Source Fest: Afterward
The six short plays which make up the Source Festival collection Afterward lack the individual superstar brilliance of some of the plays in its other two collections, On the Cusp and In the Midst, but all of them are interesting and fun, and some of them are very good indeed.
Far from Heaven
From a warmly remembered film of the same name, Scott Frankel and Michael Korie, together with director Michel Greif, have fashioned a warm and loving musical play.
Ann Hampton Callaway at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club
There’s a new place to hear live music in town and it’s exquisite. Old school movie house, short lived Nederlander venue (The Bethesda Theatre) turned live music venue, the Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club has attracted an array of local and regional talent in recent months and this past weekend, a nationally-recognized artist graced […]