Oct 09

A Stylish, Creepy “Macbeth”

Posted on by

Photo Credit Stratton McCrady Photography

by William Shakepeare
directed by Paula Plum

Actors’ Shakespeare Project
Chevalier Theatre
Medford, MA
Oct 03, 2012 – Nov 04, 2012
Actor’s Shakespeare Project Facebook Page

Review by Gillian Daniels

(Medford) The Actors’ Shakespeare Project’s Macbeth wraps itself in a pleasing 1920’s aesthetic. Opening in the midst of a funeral procession, Latin is chanted for a tiny coffin as the witches follow in nun habits. Lady Macbeth (Mara Sidmore) turns to hush them as the funeral ends and she sits down to listen to the radio. The effect of the historical displacement is gorgeous and creepily off-putting. Continue reading →

Oct 09

Sass, Refined: “9 TO 5”

Posted on by

Photo by Paul Lyden, The lovely ladies of “9 to 5”

Music and lyrics by Dolly Parton
Book by Patricia Resnick
Directored/Choreographed by Richard Stafford
Musical Directored by Mark Hartman

North Shore Music Theatre
62 Dunham Road
Beverly, MA 01915
September 25 – October 7th
North Shore Music Theatre Facebook Page

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Beverly) It seems like a dicey proposition: take a 1979 comedy that has long since been forgotten and make it into a 21st century musical. (I don’t see anyone else lining up to do a musical of other comedies that I watched over and over again on HBO as a child, like Mr. Mom or Police Academy. If you’re a producer, call me.) Yet 9 to 5 has Dolly Parton’s mark all over it, from the opening monologue to the final musical note, and Dolly has a way of turning the ridiculous into credible fun. This endeavor of hers is more Dollyworld than Rhinestone. Continue reading →

Oct 04

Looking for Heaven in All Places: “A Bright New Boise”

Posted on by
Photo by Richard Hall/Silverline Images

Photo by Richard Hall/Silverline Images; The Cast acting the crap out of “A Bright New Boise.”

 

by Samuel D. Hunter
presented by Zeitgeist Stage Company
directed by David J. Miller

Boston Center for the Arts
Plaza Black Box Theatre
September 28 – October 20

Zeitgeist Stage Company Facebook Page

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Boston) A Bright New Boise, is the tale of one man seeking redemption in the break-room of a craft store by reconnecting with his son. It is equal parts hilarious and heartbreaking.  The hero, soft-spoken and prodigal father, Will (Victor Shopov), reconnects with his son Alex (Zach Winston) after a successful interview at Hobby Lobby. Pauline (Janelle Mills), the manager, introduces the two and things start to go downhill, slightly uphill and then furiously downhill. They are joined by characters Anna (Dakota Shepard) and Leroy (David Lutheran), Alex’s brother. Continue reading →

Oct 03

Huntington Thearte Company: OPEN HOUSE! (October 8, 2012, 11am-3pm)

Posted on by

(BOSTON) – The Huntington Theatre Company invites theater-lovers of all ages to its fun-filled, hands-on, behind-the-scenes Open House on Monday, October 8 at its main stage on the Avenue of the Arts / BU Theatre (264 Huntington Avenue) and neighboring facilities.

Join Us For A Hands-On, behind-the-scenes, fun-filled day

  • 11am – 12pm: Exclusive to Subscribers, FlexPass Holders, and Community Members
  • 12pm – 3pm: General public welcome!

Learn more and RSVP at huntingtontheatre.org/openhouse.

Come with the entire family to:

  • Hear about the 2012-2013 Season from Managing Director Michael Maso
  • Learn from our Costume and Props artisans in hands-on demonstrations
  • Take on a role from Our Town and read a scene with other Open House attendees
  • Dress up and pose for a photo in our Costume Corner
  • Explore our production shops on a backstage tour
  • Eat 30th birthday cake
  • Win prizes
  • And more! Continue reading →
Oct 02

The Limits of Pretend: A BROTH OF A BOY

Posted on by

Directed by Richard Smithies
Cead Mile Failte Productions
Arsenal Center for the Arts
in Black Box Theater
Watertown, MA
September 25th – October 7th, 2012
A Broth of a Boy Facebook Page

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Watertown) A one-person production can be an all-or-nothing proposition for theater going audiences. At its best, it can break the limits of human expression; at its worst, it can feel like watching someone tell a terrible joke at a party. Danny Venezia’s production of Broth of a Boy is best avoided unless you are a true lover of Irish history, for it never allows an audience to suspend disbelief that the show is anything but a lone man trying hard for us to believe in what he is seeing. Continue reading →

Oct 01

“The Winter’s Tale” presented by The Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Programs

Posted on by

image credit: Stephanie Bullard

Performances are Friday October 19 – October 21
Citizens Bank Theater, Pell Chafee Performance Center
87 Empire Street, Providence, RI

Trinity Rep Facebook Page

The Brown University/Trinity Rep MFA Programs is pleased to present one of Shakespeare’s most intriguing plays, The Winter’s Tale, directed by Taibi Magar (Brown/Trinity Rep MFA Programs ’14).  With a story that is both epic and intimate, The Winter’s Tale is a roller coaster ride from tragedy to romance to redemption, boasting some of Shakespeare’s most beautiful poetry.

Tickets are now on sale at the Trinity Rep box office, by phone (401) 351-4242, and online at trinityrep.com.

Oct 01

“Ragtime”: Bravo to the Cast and Crew!

Posted on by

The Company in “Till We Reach That Day”
Photos by Matt McKee

Presented by Fiddlehead Theatre Company in conjunction with The American Civil Liberties Union

Book by Terrence McNally
Music by Stephen Flaherty
Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens
based on the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow

Directed by Meg Fofonoff
Musical Direction by Matthew Stern
Choreography by Anne McAlexander

September 28 – October 7, 2012
The Strand Theatre
543 Columbia Rd, Dorchester, MA

Fiddlehead Theatre Company Facebook Page
The American Civil Liberties Union Facebook Page

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Dorchester) Ragtime is an enormous success for The Strand Theatre and Fiddlehead Theatre Company! Bravo to the entire cast and the artistic staff! Your interpretation of the Flaherty/Ahrens/McNally script and music is spot on. You should be very proud of your performances. Continue reading →

Oct 01

UMass Lowell, MRT to Bring Beat Authors, Kerouac Contempora​ries to ‘Beat Generation​’

Posted on by

BOOK-SIGNINGS AND POST-SHOW DISCUSSIONS TO OCCUR AT SELECT PERFORMANCES OF JACK KEROUAC’S ‘BEAT GENERATION‘ Continue reading →

Sep 26

“Immaterial Girl” as an Old-Fashioned Haunted House (Episode 1 of Blood Rose Rising)

Posted on by

Photo Credit: Honest Ghost Productions LLC

Episode 1 of Blood Rose Rising
presented by Honest Ghost Productions
Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, starting September 14 – November 18
NAGA Nightclub, Central Square
450 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139

Blood Rose Rising Facebook Page

Review by Gillian Daniels

(Cambridge) A real gothic story isn’t about tragic romance, torture, or death, but houses. Houses with long histories and dark secrets. In the contemporary setting of Cambridge, Immaterial Girl offers the beginning to an old-fashioned gothic serial centered on the haunted Blackwood Manor. Continue reading →

Sep 25

9/30 Huntington​’s Humanities Forum Features Globe Reporter Billy Baker

Posted on by

Image Credit: Huntington Theatre Co.

Huntington Theatre co.’s GOOD PEOPLE Humanities Forum

September 30 FEATURES Boston Globe REPORTER AND

SOUTH BOSTON NATIVE BILLY BAKER

WHAT: Huntington Theatre Company’s Good People Humanities Forum to feature Billy Baker of The Boston Globe.
WHEN: Sunday, September 30, 2012 at approximately 4pm. Immediately following the 2pm performance of Good People
WHERE:    The Huntington’s main stage on the Avenue of the Arts / Boston University Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston
TICKETS: FREE and open to the public. Tickets to Good People are sold separately at huntingtontheatre.org/goodpeople. Continue reading →