Two thoughts occurred to me as I watched the Academy Players’ latest production of The Lion King: 1) “Circle of Life” is a really fantastic song, and 2) this show works exceptionally well with a young cast of performers. Under the capable direction of Brianna Geyer and Justina Mabrey, the large ensemble of pre-teens […]
Last night, Sep 22, marked the 14th opening of the annual Providence Improv Festival (PIF). With over 40 improv comedy troupes, this weekend’s festivities include shows on Friday from 7 – 11:30pm and Ssaturday from 5 – 11:30pm, all at AS220 (either Blackbox or Mainstage, see website for details ProvidenceImprovFest.com). Thursday night consisted of two […]
Arsenic and Old Lace is one of the most popularly produced plays in the United States. Since its premiere in 1939, it continues to be revived on stages from Broadway to Main Street. The play revolves around the Brewster family of Brooklyn. Mortimer Brewster is the hero of this farcical black comedy. He has to […]
Communication is complicated. These days, we try to fit everything into 140-character statements rather than engaging each other in dialogue. We choose to post on social media rather than sitting down to catch up in person. The number of choices we have to communicate prevents us from really getting to know each other. Instead, we […]
Do you hear the people sing? It’s probably coming from PPAC, where the cast and crew of Les Miserables are preparing to kick off the national tour. Fresh off of its Broadway revival, the beloved musical joins the ranks of the many shows that have chosen Providence as the first stop on their tours over […]
Rhode Island has lost some killer venues. The Living Room, Perishable Theater and Black Rep/Aurora just to name a few. You’re just getting to know the place, and then, blammo; closed forever. So, it’s encouraging, if not a little unexpected, to hear about a venue making a comeback with live theater. This weekend, Epic […]
Francis Beaumont is exactly the sort of obscure playwright of Elizabethan England whom Head Trick Theatre seeks to revive. Who knew the 1600s were such a rich supply of drama that isn’t by Shakespeare? Artistic director Rebecca Maxfield, apparently, who has been mining Elizabethan and Restoration Britain with considerable success. They’ve had notable such productions: […]
There’s a lot to savor in Rhode Island theater over the next several weeks, as most companies are opening their seasons with an array of thought-provoking dramas, twisted comedies, reimagined classics and the usual offering of large-scale musicals. Among all this choice, however, some outfits have been steadily staying the course and providing consistent entertainment […]
A familiar touchstone of the modern age is that the Roman Catholic Church and its Inquisition threatened Galileo with torture for the heresy of asserting that the earth orbits the sun rather than, as several biblical verses imply, that the earth is fixed and immovable. Galileo by Bertolt Brecht starts from this premise and, while […]
As the calendar turns from August to September, many area dancers will be returning to work. While the summer months allow them the opportunity to rest their tired bodies, the fall chill signals the start of a new season, with the next several months brimming with activity. Leading the way is Providence’s resident professional ballet […]