Mar 18

Songs, Storytelling, and Riffing on Stupid Movies: UN-SHOWCASE Comes to Arlington April 8

9873_10153275267177294_6276132035994547684_nMarch 14, 2016, Arlington, MA—Unreliable Narrator, the home of strange, homemade theatre in the
Boston area, presents UN-Showcase, Friday April 8 at 8 PM. Performances are at Arlington Center
for the Arts at 41 Foster Street in Arlington, MA, 02474.

Tickets are $10, available at http://www.unreliable-narrator.com or by phone at (800) 838-3006. More information can be found by phone at (617) 386-9595, or online at http://www.unreliable-narrator.com.

UN-Showcase is a grab bag of local DIY artists. See the work of excellent local storytellers, musicians,
and other fine performers, capped off by Unreliable Narrator’s first experiment with a great form of
comedy: live, scripted riffing of bad short films.

This artistically robust evening is also a celebration of Unreliable Narrator’s 2016 season and will feature
scenes from the next UN show Ultimate Things, which comes to Boston Playwrights Theatre in July.
UN-Showcase is an Unreliable Narrator tradition, but the live movie-riffing group is something we’ve
never tried before.” says producer Carl Danielson. “Watching crazy talented people doing their thing is
a great way to spend a spring Friday night.”

The night’s featured performers are:
Folk musician Audrey Ryan.
Author Patrick Gabridge, reading from his novel Moving.
Indie-rock musician The Pluto Tapes, playing songs from his new album ‘The Dawnzer Lee Light.’
Storyteller Jenny Gutbezahl.
Electronic musician JOSS.
The short film-based comedy of the UN Movie Riffing Group: comedians Jenny Gutbezahl, Brian
Rust, and Joye Thaller.

Founded in 2008, Unreliable Narrator produces strange, homemade theater in and around Boston. Their
most recent production was 2014’s Human Contact: Short Sci-Fi Plays at Boston Playwrights’
Theatre. Other productions include 2010: Our Hideous Future: The Musical!, which began at Boston
Playwrights’ Theatre in 2010 and played at several venues across the northeast over the following two
years; 2008’s Schmolitics; 2009’s Paranormal; and 2011’s The Way of the Warrior Bunny.

Feb 16

“Baltimore”: Damn Straight it’s About Race

2/9/16 Boston Center for American Performance and New Repertory Theatre present BALTIMORE, A BU New Play Initiative Production by Kirsten Greenidge - Directed by Elaine Vaan Hogue - After she’s dismissed from her job in the athletics department, Shelby Wilson becomes Resident Advisor to a group of freshmen—after all, it’ll look good on her resume. She soon discovers that a racially charged incident has set student against student, and it’s up to her to mediate the situation. In this world premiere production, playwright Kirsten Greenidge explores the complexities of racism from the perspective of eight culturally diverse college students. Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Ave. (Lane-Comley Studio 210) 2016-02-09-BALTIMORE_033.nef - Photograph By Kalman Zabarsky

2/9/16- Photograph By Kalman Zabarsky

Presented by Boston Center for American Performance and
New Repertory Theatre at the Boston University Theatre
By Kirsten Greenidge
Directed by Elaine Vaan Hogue

February 10-28, 2016
Boston University Theatre
Lane-Comley Studio 210
264 Huntington Avenue
Boston, MA
New Rep on Facebook

Review by Travis Manni

(Boston, MA) I know what you’re thinking. Oh great, another play about race. And yes, this is a play about race. But the problem people don’t see in this thought process is that art exists as a response to society and our experiences living in it. Plays about race would not need to be written if we did in fact live in a post-racial society. So yes, this is a show about race, and if that bothers you then you are exactly the person that needs to see this play. Continue reading

Jan 26

As Exciting as Actual Ice Fishing: “Nice Fish”

Presented by the American Repertory Theatre
Written by Mark Rylance & Louis Jenkins
Drawn from the works of Louis Jenkins
Direction and compositions by Claire van Kampen

January 17 – February 7, 2016
Loeb Drama Center
Cambridge, MA
ART on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Cambridge, MANice Fish pairs the poetry of Louis Jenkins and self-aware post post-modern theatre on the frozen waters of a Minnesota lake. It is a small, white cast with one woman (Kayli Carter taking one for the team) about the humdrum comings and goings of ice fishers and their community. We are invited to experience the quiet contemplations of Erik (Jim Lichtscheidl) and Ron (Mark Rylance) on their technology-assisted jaunt into the wilderness. It’s a story of Man versus Nature versus Man’s Nature. In the end, the winner is always Nature.   Continue reading

Dec 14

Getting to Maybe: EXPOSED

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The TV has no context in this image.

Presented by Boston Center for American Performance and Boston Playwrights’ Theatre
Written by Robert Brustein
Directed by Steven Bogart
Compositions by Mark Bruckner
Musical direction by Catherine Stornetta

Dec. 10 – Dec. 18, 2015
Boston Center for the Arts
Wimberly Theatre
Boston, MA
BPT on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Boston, MA) Normally, I adore a good potty-mouthed political satire.  I feel less alone knowing that my fellow humans also think that the Govt., its politicians, and processes are broken. As Republicans, Democrats, Independents, etc, we can all agree that the system needs an overhaul. Satires give me a modicum of hope for the future. Continue reading

Dec 04

I Missed “The Wiz” for This: THE SNOW QUEEN

Photo by Andrew Brilliant / Brilliant Pictures.

L-R: Nick Sulfaro as Kai, Aimee Doherty as the Snow Queen, and Victoria Britt as Gerda. Photo by Andrew Brilliant / Brilliant Pictures.

Presented by New Rep Theatre
Book by Kirsten Brandt and Rick Lombardo
Music by Haddon Kime
Lyrics by Kirsten Brandt, Rick Lombardo, and Haddon Kime
Additional music, stage direction and choreography by Rick Lombardo
Associate choreographer: Kelli Edwards
Musical direction by Emily Intersimone

Nov. 28 – Dec. 20, 2015
Arsenal Center for the Arts
Charles Mosesian Theater
Watertown, MA
New Rep on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Watertown, MA) We critics want to write positive reviews. For the most part (I can’t speak for everyone), we enter a performance space sincerely hoping that the performance that follows will blow us out of the water with its exceptional talent, creativity, ingenuity and expression of the human condition. We want everyone to do well. Writing a negative review is a draining experience for a critic. The truth can be a bitter pill to swallow. Continue reading

Nov 16

Royal Humanity: “Who Would Be King”

Photo credit: Liars & Believers

Photo credit: Liars & Believers

Presented by Liars and Believers
Conceived and Directed by Jason Slavick
Music and Lyrics by Jay Mobley
Dramaturgy by Amanda Martin
Fight choreography by Ted Hewlett

November 5 – 22, 2015
The Oberon
2 Arrow Street, Cambridge MA
Liars and Believers on Facebook

Review by Danielle Rosvally

(Cambridge, MA) I saw something extraordinary at Oberon last night.  Liars & Believers’ Who Would Be King is a beautiful patchwork of physical performance, storytelling, and boundless humanity.  An original work by artists in residence at the LAB, Who Would be King is a re-mixed trove of biblical tales told in a compelling and timeless way with great humor, and great humanity. Continue reading

Nov 09

“Next to Normal” a Next to Average Production

Photo provided by CCT Publicity

Photo provided by CCT Publicity

Presented by Curtain Call Theatre
Music by Tom Kitt
Book & Lyrics by Brian Yorkey
Directed by Jim Sullivan
Musical direction by Jose Merlo

November 6-8, 12-14, 2015
Braintree, MA
Curtain Call Theatre on Facebook

Review by Travis Manni

(Braintree, MA) From my own upbringing, I thought I understood the definition of dysfunctional, but nothing could have prepared me for the family dynamic put on display in the rock musical Next to Normal. Continue reading

Oct 08

Goddess Dumps “Kansas City Choir Boy”: A Love Story

Photo: Evgenia Eliseeva

Photo: Evgenia Eliseev

 

Presented by A.R.T.
Music and Lyrics by Todd Almond
Directed by Kevin Newbury
Choreography by Sam Pinkleton
Musical Direction by David Bloom

October 1 – 10, 2015
Club Oberon
Cambridge, MA
ART on Facebook

Review by Gillian Daniels

(Cambridge, MA) Courtney Love stars as Athena, the idealized, former girlfriend of the titular Kansas City Choir Boy (Todd Almond). The show begins when he sees a news story on TV that she’s been found dead in a New York City park.This touches off either a series of memories or a fantasy in which the two spend the show singing love songs to each other. Continue reading

Oct 05

COEUR DE PIRATE at Brighton Music Hall: World Music/CRASHarts

Presented by World Music/CRASHarts in collaboration with Crossroads Presents
COEUR DE PIRATE
Wednesday, October 21, 8:00 pm
158 Brighton Ave., Boston, MA.
General Admission, 18+
Cœur de Pirate (French for pirate heart) is the stage name for award-winning French-Canadian singer/songwriter and pianist Béatrice Martin. Her whimsical, magical pop songs blend cabaret music, French lyrics, and playful indie sensibilities. After releasing two albums to international acclaim, Cœur de Pirate returns in 2015 with a new album that finds her boldly expanding her horizons and modernizing her approach, cradling her beloved piano within a swirling ensemble of synthesizers, carefully crafted string arrangements, and layers of dynamic drum sounds. Opening act to be determined.
Biography can be read here.