There are few things that make me happier than young people taking on the responsibility and vision of putting on a theatrical production. Stories need to be told; in these times of school budget cuts, creative outlets need to be there, and there needs to be something for kids to go to and enjoy. Academy Players […]
The diary of Anne Frank is among the most widely read historical documents of the 20th century, but its provenance is often misunderstood. There has been endless debate about why this one particular diary by one seemingly ordinary teenaged girl has become the iconic and most recognizable narrative of the Nazi Holocaust. Hundreds if not […]
Sometimes a play is able to slip in a message unnoticed, all while coming across as light, breezy entertainment. In the case of Gustavo Ott’s snide, yet heartwarming Divorciadas, Evangelicas y Vegetarianas (Divorcées, Evangelists, and Vegetarians), three women’s lives intersect briefly in what could be written off as an almost sitcom-like romp, but greater questions […]
The Gamm wraps up Season 34 (and the first year in their new space in Warwick) with Sam Shepard’s gritty (is there any other way to describe Shepard?) True West. Alternately hilarious and horrifying, Shepard’s script is a study in toxic masculinity — this is Cain and Abel through the lens of modern-day America. Lest anyone […]
When you picture going to the theater, in your mind … what do you see? Some people might imagine a traditional Broadway experience, with huge casts performing on an elevated stage in the front of the room, surrounded by elaborate sets, lights and costumes. Others might picture a more Bohemian scene, with a tiny cast […]
A fundamental but strange and counter-intuitive idea of quantum mechanics is that all possible states are in superposition together until resolved by observation. A quantum bit, or “qubit,” in a quantum computer is both 0 and 1 until observed, at which time it resolves to one state or the other. A cat inside a box […]
This is a golden age of immediate gratification, of binging on serial dramas and Ben & Jerry’s. We can fulfill our every need with ease. So why would we leave the comfort of our pajamas and couches for the theater? Go to Theatre 82 at the Artist Exchange this weekend and find out! Bob Colonna […]
The poster for RISE’s production of Saint Joan features the titular character’s face composed of four different images, posing the question: “Who do you say she is?” This graphic sets the stage for a telling of Joan of Arc’s story that explores the many faces of the simple farm-girl-turned-heroine of France. Often considered one of […]
Our Town by Thorton Wilder is a deceptively simple play to perform, famously requiring neither set nor scenery and few props, and for this reason is popular as a staple of local theater groups – who often perform it badly. Wilder’s stated intent was to strip theater to its essence, meaning that the burden falls […]
The newly refurbished AS220 black box at 95 Empire is still familiar, but very finely polished and cleaned up around the edges. Upon entering, the set is what looks to be a chic New York loft. It’s become part of the experience with any Counter Productions show that the set is a fully fleshed-out character […]