VIEWPOINTS – The Play’s Not the Only Thing: Theatergoing in 21st Century America

Last weekend, I finally had a chance to explore the game-changing Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. What struck me most about this breathtaking theater complex was its awesomely stubborn insistence that … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Those Summer Nights: New York Performing Arts Festival-ing

Now that summer has officially come to a close, it is a good time to look back and recap the highs and lows of the numerous performing arts festivals that … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/28/14): Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble

Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble I spent all day this past Saturday with a series of inspired Alan Ayckbourn comedies under the umbrella the “Alan Ayckbourn Ensemble” at 59E59. The productions, which … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/26/14): A River to River Afternoon; “Fly by Night” at Playwrights Horizons

A River to River Afternoon I spent yesterday afternoon fully immersing myself in the LMCC’s River to River Festival, where I saw three performances over the course of four hours. … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/25/14): John Douglas Thompson in “Satchmo at the Waldorf”; “Tick, Tick… Boom!” courtesy of Encores! Off-Center

John Douglas Thompson in “Satchmo at the Waldorf” Better known as the theater critic for the Wall Street Journal, Terry Teachout is also the author of a number of plays. … Continue Reading →

THE NOTEBOOK (6/24/14): NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven; Robert Wilson’s “The Old Woman” at BAM

NY Phil Rehearses More Beethoven The NY Philharmonic’s open rehearsal yesterday morning was a bittersweet occasion in a number of ways. Firstly, it was the great orchestra’s final open rehearsal of … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – My 20 Pet Peeves When Attending Live Performances

We’ve all experienced it. You treat yourself to a Broadway show at $150 a pop. And then. The annoying cellophane candy wrappers. The theater patrons who chat amongst themselves as … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – If These Walls Could Talk, and They Do

Setting aside Brecht, one of the key tenets of attending theater is the act of suspending disbelief. Indeed, the stereotypical theater is designed to accommodate this surrender to the world … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – A Recap of My London Performing Arts Adventures

Over the past week-and-a-half, I had the great privilege of re-immersing myself in the rich, varied performing arts scene in London and beyond. What still strikes me about the scene … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – The Collateral Damage of Getting Things Done (or the US Two-Party System)

Change is a bitch. This is especially true of American politics in the modern era. This season, two solidly-built new American plays effectively dramatize the painful swings of the pendulum … Continue Reading →