Photo by Haris Lefteri; pictured: Adjovi A. Koene
Presented by Ya Bird? Productions
By Greg Hovanesian
Directed by Haris Lefteri
October 30, 2016
The Rockwell
255 Elm Street
Somerville, MA
Ya Bird? Productions on Facebook
Review by Travis Manni
(Somerville, MA) I love a show with a holiday theme to get me in the right kind of festive mood. And what better way to let the Halloween spirit possess me than going to see Thirsty, a show about online dating and vampires. Continue reading
© 2016 The Players; poster for the concert on Oct. 28, 2016
Presented by The Players
Concert featuring Alice Ripley and music director/accompanist John Fischer
Oct. 28, 2016 at 9PM and 10:30PM
16 Gramercy Park South
New York, NY 10003
The Players on Facebook
“Live From 16 Gramercy Park” concert series on Playbill
Review by Kitty Drexel
A special thank you to Joe Gehring for securing tickets to the event and a private tour of The Players (which was super cool).
(New York, NY) Over the weekend, I had the privilege of catching one of two intimate concerts performed by Alice Ripley at The Players social club in NYC. They are the first in a new series called “Live From 16 Gramercy Park.” Ms. Ripley sang a fine set of her own songs and performed, to great applause, a set of musical theatre repertoire. With a 10:30PM start time, It was a glorious (and late) night. Continue reading
Nile Hawver / Nile Scott Shots; The ensemble getting down.
Presented by SpeakEasy Stage Company
Music and Lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb
Book by David Thompson
Original Direction and Choreography by Susan Stroman
Directed by Paul Daigneault
Musical Direction by Matthew Stern
Choreography by Ilyse Robbins
October 21 – November 26
Calderwood Pavilion, Boston Center for the Arts
527 Tremont Street
Speakeasy on Facebook
Review by Danielle Rosvally
(Boston, MA) It’s difficult to know what to say about The Scottsboro Boys. The piece is uncomfortable to watch not because of its incredible talent or flawless direction and design, but rather because it’s meant to be uncomfortable to watch. The show is a remixed account of the historical case of The Scottsboro Boys, nine young black men who in 1931 were accused of raping two white women on a train, told through the lens of American Minstrelsy. Performed with gusto and amazing energy, SpeakEasy’s production is a triumph that should be mandatory viewing for any American (particularly in an election year as fraught with the urge to “just give up” as this one has been). Continue reading
Photo courtesy of CST Facebook page.
Presented by Underground Railway Theater
Written by Cori Thomas
Directed by Benny Sato Ambush
Oct. 20 – Nov. 13, 2016
Central Square Theater
Cambridge, MA
CST on Facebook
Review by Kitty Drexel
(Cambridge, MA) Spoiler alert: No one dies in When January Feels Like Summer. No one even gets beaten up. In fact, everyone gets a happy ending. Thomas’ play is extraordinary because sweet but nosy Indira gets to be happy. Thomas’ POC characters get to live their lives without some white person causing unnecessary trouble. It shouldn’t be unusual that a play about POCs or a trans woman isn’t about the violence inflected on them, but it is. It shouldn’t be revolutionary for a person to go about their business. Yet, here we are. Continue reading
Photo credit: Puppet Showplace Theater; childhood relics.
Presented by Puppet Showplace Theater
Written, Directed & Performed by Paul Zaloom
October 21 & 22, 2016
32 Station Street
Brookline, MA
Puppet Showplace Theater on Facebook
Puppets at Night
Review by Travis Manni
(Boston, MA) As a young, gay, white male, I try to be aware of my privileges. I experience them a great deal on a daily basis, and what I wanted White Like Me to do was remind me of this in a way that was both poignant and humorous. And while I did have a good time at this show, I was surprised that only the latter turned out to be true. Continue reading
Presented by Company One Theatre
Written by Alice Birch
Directed by Summer L. Williams
Dramaturgy by Jessie Baxter
Compositions by Allyssa Jones
Choreography by Misha Shields
October 21 – November 19, 2016
Plaza Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts
Boston, MA
C1 on Facebook
Post-Show Chats Following Every Thursday Performance
Review by Kitty Drexel
(Boston, MA) Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. is what one gets if feminist theory, on trend “feminist” media marketing, Hollywood, and the theatre are whirled in a blender until lumpy but delicious. Add speed and tequila, to taste. It’s wild but it’s solid. Feminist scholars will love it. Those new to feminism may not fully grasp the nuances but should attend for educational and entertainment purposes. MRAs will hate it because they lack a sense of humor. People seeking a stronger male voice can go to any of the other theatre in town. Continue reading
Produced by Boston BeauTease
October 20 – October 31, 2016
The Wrathskellar
288A Green Street (Lower Level)
Cambridge, MA
Boston BeauTease on Facebook
Review by Danielle Rosvally
(Cambridge, MA) Immersive, site-specific theatre is notoriously difficult to execute. It is complicated to envision, a nightmare to rehearse, precarious to time, and overwhelming to build. Audiences familiar with Punchdrunk’s Sleep no More will understand just how many details go into the completion of a successful immersive theatre project. The Wrathskellar Tales is surprisingly thorough and impressively complete in its scope. Continue reading
Photo credit: Kalman Zabarsky
Presented by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre & Boston University College of Fine Arts School and Theatre
By Livian Yeh
Directed by Kelly Galvin
October 13-23, 2016
Boston, MA
Boston Playwrights’ Theatre on Facebook
Boston University New Play Initiative
Review by Travis Manni
(Boston, MA) I’ve never seen the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and never been to DC for that matter, but the storytelling in Livian Yeh’s Memorial is strong enough to make me believe I have. Continue reading
Presented by Unreliable Narrator
Written and Directed by Carl Danielson
Violence Design by Matt Arnold
October 21 – 29, 2016
Arlington Center for the Arts
41 Foster Street Arlington, MA
Unreliable Narrator on Facebook
Review by Danielle Rosvally
(Arlington, MA) In a world where a race of unkillable, honor-bound warrior bunnies roam the galaxy, there is only one bunny with the adventurous spirit of Luke Skywalker, the might of Obi Wan Kenobi, and the sheer awesomeness of Han Solo: K’tharr. Planet of the Warrior Bunnies is a campy sci-fi tale of what happens when one bunny stands up to the forces of evil that threaten not only his home, but also that of his truest friend (the earth psychic Krista). Continue reading
Presented by The Boston Circus Guild
Script written by Tim Ellis, Ricky Hawkins, and Jeremy Warren
Circus direction by Michael “Mooch” Mucciolo
Choreography of finale by Ellen Waylonis
Band lead by eHawk
Online Program for More Credits
October 21 – 26, 2016
The Oberon
2 Arrow Street, Cambridge MA
Boston Circus Guild on Facebook
This show is 18+ only, due to graphic / disturbing content. Strobe lights are used in this production.
Review by Danielle Rosvally
(Cambridge, MA) Few things are as fun as a circus show, except perhaps a Halloween-themed circus show with zany scientists, colorful cohorts of demons, a jammin’ band, and a mid-show filked-up sing-a-long. Cirque of the Dead is back for its third year at Club Oberon and it’s ready to wow you. This thoroughly entertaining evening has your usual thrills, not terribly many chills, and a few non-lethal spills. Continue reading