Left to right: Harold Surratt and April Nixon; Photo credit: Kevin Berne
Presented by The Huntington in co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre By Lynn Nottage Directed by Taylor Reynolds Intimacy and fight consultant: Yo-El Cassell
BOSTON, Mass. — The Huntington reopens its doors to the public after a long hiatus for renovations with Clyde’s. It is written by Lynn Nottage and directed by Taylor Reynolds. Performances run through April 23.
The facade of the Huntington Ave theater remains largely the same. It is as pristine and classic as Symphony Hall across the street, but there are some changes: the new front door is to the right of the old one. It is accessible to wheelchair users! A glowing sign lights the way to the new front door. Continue reading →
(L to R) Stephanie J. Block and Sebastian Arcelus Credit: Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade
Presented by Emerson Colonial Theatre A New York City Center Encores Production Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim Book by James Lapine Directed by Lear deBessonet Music directed by John Bell Choreographed by Lorin Latarro Music Supervisor: Rob Berman Puppet design by James Ortiz
BOSTON, Mass. — The Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine’s Tony-winning musical Into the Woods is on tour and is now performing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre through April 2. Broadway stars reprising their roles are Montego Glover as The Witch, Stephanie J. Block as The Baker’s Wife, Sebastian Arcelus as The Baker and Gavin Creel as Cinderella’s Prince/Wolf. Lear deBessonet directs this New York City Center Encores Production. John Bell music directs; Lorin Latarro choreographs; the puppet design is by James Ortiz.
Boston audiences saw Into the Woods grace the regional stage via the Lyric Stage Company’s 2014 production. It was directed by our own Spiro Veloudos and music directed by Catherine Stornetta. It coincided with the release of the Disney movie in movie theatres that year. The 2023 touring production has the same magic and pizzaz but on a much larger scale. Continue reading →
Presented by The Huntington Produced in association with Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Pasadena Playhouse Written by Mike Lew Directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel
Assistant direction and movement coordination by Ashleigh King Choreography by Jennifer Weber Fight choreography by Robb Hunter
Content warning: Disabled people exist everywhere 24/7. If this play “expands your world,” you should know that’s ableist, and it’s really not about you.
BOSTON — This one time, in the Before Times, I was taking an ashtanga-style yoga class, and a random woman told me I was “inspirational.” I was dripping in sweat after having performed 60-minutes of intermediate poses with only one arm, and a brunette Karen in Athleta and Lululemon compression wear decided it was super important to tell me that I inspired her. She didn’t say what I inspired her to do, just that I was “inspirational.”
I wish I could say that I told the Karing Karen she inspired me to vomit a little in my mouth, but I was too shocked to say much of anything. I picked up my mat, and I skedaddled out of the studio to fume inspirationally in peace.
This horse can’t even do yoga.
I live with brachial plexus palsy, a permanent paralysis of my left arm from my shoulder through my fingers. (Coincidentally, it’s also the sexiest of the palsies.) Sometimes complete strangers find my ability to do completely normal, everyday things Inspirational. Showing up to yoga is difficult for everyone, Karen.
Abled people have a nasty habit of deriving inspiration from the inabilities of disabled people. We aren’t inspirational just because you find relief from not being disabled. Your inability to see us as people with lives is a You problem. As Buck says in Teenage Dick now at The Huntington, “Please don’t involve me.”Continue reading →
It’s almost May. Most of us have been in lockdown for nearly two months. There is a great amount of streaming content available online. Theatre companies aren’t providing us with this content solely out of some altruistic mission of heroic proportions. They are also sharing their work in order to stay relevant.
If you are a person who is consuming content and you can afford to, DONATE. If you can’t donate now, buy a ticket/tickets when the theatres reopen. If you can do both, DONATE now and BUY A TICKET later.* Consuming streaming content without making a donation means that our theatres might not exist when the economy reopens. Artists deserve to be paid. DONATE.
We wish you all the best! Please wash your damn hands, get enough exercize, Zoom your friends, and stay home as much as you can.
All our love from six feet away,
Kitty, Queen of the New England Theatre Geeks
*P.S. It should go without saying that if you don’t have the cash/are unemployed/are an essential worker, don’t donate.
City of Boston Arts and Culture – The Mayor’s Office of Arts and Culture for the City of Boston is tasked with ensuring equity in the storytelling and the distribution of resources related to COVID-19. There is now a survey designed, in partnership with MassCreative, to gather information about creative workers and artists in Massachusetts> It will help advocate for freelancers, gig workers, and the self-employed in our cultural communities and to ensure that artists and creative workers are getting the support they need. ACCESS THE SURVEY
Exiled Theatre – Exiled Theatre is proud to present it’s Living Room Series. Hanging Tree and Nurse Call are up on its site now.
Flat Earth Theatre – Flat Earth is bringing its collaboration with the Cambridge Science Festival into outer space. A. Lehrmitt’s new sci-fi radio play Fine-Tuned Universe will stream for FREE on Saturday nights at 7pm, April 25th – May 30th. Each week brings a new 20-minute chapter. Fine-Tuned Universe: a radio play< by A. Lehrmitt. Directed by Jake Scaltreto. Saturdays, April 25th – May 30th, 7pm EST; Streaming on Facebook Live Featuring: Juliet Bowler, Kristen Heider, James Hayward, Chris Chiampa, Melissa de Jesus, and Liz Salazar with sound design by James Rossi.
Gamm Theatre – Gamm Theatre is offering classes online as well as “Study Breaks with Susie Schutt, Gamm Education Director.” Please go to the site to learn more.
Gamm Classes include Online Script Analysis, Online Scene Study, Online Comedic Monologue Workshop. ALL are online
“Study Break with Susie Schutt” Description & Details>: Catch this ongoing series of educational, energizing, and inspirational study break activities with Gamm Theatre Education Director Susie Schutt on the Gamm’s YouTube Channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/gammtheatre/. Each Study Break is between 1-5 minutes long and focuses on a different theater game, technique, or exercise. Past Study Breaks are also available on The Gamm’s YouTube Channel.
HowlRound– So busy! Please check the site for more information and current listings.
Lemon Punch Theatre Lab – Inspired by the One Minute Play Festival’s Coronavirus Plays, Lemon Punch Theatre Lab presented the LEMON LIVE MICROPLAY FESTIVAL on March 31st. It was so successful, we are doing it again! The 2nd Lemon Live Microplay Festival will be held via Zoom on Tuesday, May 12th at 7 pm, with an additional performance on Sunday the 17th at 2 pm (for those who prefer matinees!). SUBMISSION GUIDELINES are HERE: The Deadline is Monday, MAY 4 AT 7 PM!
New World Theatre presents Snow Fall, Episode 2: Nor’Easter by Donald Tongue, As the storm intensifies, Ashley reaches out to her friend, Peggy, for help. An audio play on YouTube.
Luminarium Dance – Their latest TEN4TEN Performance is titled “The Beginnings.” The performance is available to view now through May 4. Luminarium presents its TEN4TEN Performance Series celebrating its tenth anniversary season with curated shows every two weeks, highlighting its award-winning repertory spanning 2010 to present. Be sure to tune in soon, as every two weeks the current “performance” will be removed, with a new one in its place!
North End Music & Performing Arts Center – NEMPAC has started FREE online programming for its community. From Open Mic Nights to Live Stream Classes and a variety of Educational Programs, they have something to offer everyone. Weekly virtual programs take place through its social media Instagram account. Tune in this Friday for the next NEMPAC Open Mic Night! To perform, please email Allie Meek-Carufel ameek@nempacboston.org by Thursday at 5:00 p.m.
Open Theatre Project – OTP Core Members Alexandra Smith, Cathy Messier, and Sarah Jacobs introduce TP’s “Community Write.” It unites some of OTP’s favorite Playwrights with the community, to create something new and uplifting with their online community every week. Playwrights select writing prompts from the community and write short, 1-2 minute plays. Playwrights will choose favorites from OTP actors to perform digitally.
The Company Theatre – On Friday, May 1 at 7:30PM, The Company Theatre will livestream its 2019 production of Paragon Park: The Musicalon its YouTube page. From the YouTube page, “Join The Company Theatre as we relive the heydays of Nantasket Beach with Paragon Park: The Musical! Streamed live on our YouTube channel- enjoy our dynamic 2019 production, professionally produced for your viewing pleasure. Take “One Last Ride” with Paragon Park: The Musical!”
Elsewhere, Outside of New England: Streamed content to view!
