Shannon McLoud is a lifelong theater geek. She has been involved in the arts in Rhode Island for almost 20 years, first as an actor, and then finding her way to director and playwright. When Shannon isn't enjoying a show, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their son.
When I first heard that the creators of “South Park,” Matt Stone and Trey Parker, were writing a musical, I have to admit I laughed. And not for the reason you would think — I was sure the show would be funny, but to think that the two who coined such memorable songs as “Blame […]
Once upon a time I was a freshman at Scituate Jr. Sr. High School auditioning for the school play. The play was Sweeney Todd, and I have been in love with not only theater, but Stephen Sondheim ever since. With that background, I was more than a little excited about the Contemporary Theatre Company’s production […]
Playwright Lenny Schwartz delves into a topic we don’t always like to face in America in his play, Our Distance Between Stars. What happens to those left behind in war? Schwartz has written a beautiful script that focuses on the greatest generation, and specifically the women of the Women Auxiliary Corps. It is touching, funny and leaves you thinking. It […]
Have I mentioned that I love black box theater? It is, in my opinion, the rawest and most intimate form of theater. Take a room, some black paint, chairs; fill it with hard-working performers and voila! You have a night of something truly magical. The element of a story, stripped down to the bones. I […]
Sitting down for Trinity Repertory’s production you know one thing: This is not going to be your run-of-the-mill production. We all know the story. Julius Caesar is killed by conspirators in Rome. We know the famous lines uttered by Caesar, “et tu Brute?” and Marc Antony’s famous “friends, Romans, countrymen.” So how does a theater […]
I love Mel Brooks. I can still watch Blazing Saddles and crack up with each viewing! So going into Theatre by the Sea’s production of Young Frankenstein, I had high hopes. I was not disappointed. You are seated and immediately your eyes are drawn to the beautifully painted scrim on stage. It’s painted in black […]
Rhode Island is unique for many reasons — quahogs, bubblahs and our tight-knit theater community. However, if you’re new to this amazing area, you can be overwhelmed with all the choices. From a Theatre by the Sea to a 2nd Story, where are you supposed to begin? Have no fear, dear new Rhode Islander. Rhode Island […]
In the Heights is a Lin Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes Tony award winning musical. I don’t get up to NYC as much as I would like, so I sat down to watch Academy’s production not knowing what to expect. The set was not only fitting, but clever as well, as it doubled as […]
I was more than intrigued when I saw that EPIC Theatre was staging an adaptation of Moliere’s Tartuffe. As nerdy as this sounds, I love Moliere. There is something to be said about theater that has lasted over 350 years and can still make audiences laugh. Tartuffe is about the blind adoration Orgon (Stevie Smith) […]
Jane Eyre, by Chrlotte Bronte, is a beloved classic. It’s on reading lists for English classes, it’s been adapted for stage and screen and it’s on bookshelves in even the tiniest of bookstores. It is one of those pieces that you feel a familiarity with, and can’t possibly imagine someone coming up with a new […]