VIEWPOINTS – Mini Retrospectives on the Boards this Fall

I’ve often thought that the best way to appreciate an artist’s output is within the context of the their larger body of work. Fans of Shakespeare and classical music composers, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Visceral Nights with Ivo van Hove

Last night, I was left reeling by a gutsy and revealing performance of Tony Kushner’s landmark epic “Angels in America” at the Harvey Theater, an offering from BAM’s indispensable Next … Continue Reading →

THE STATE OF THE ARTS – October 22, 2014

RECENT RECOMMENDATIONS WHEN JANUARY FEELS LIKE SUMMER – One of the small gems of the fall theater season and a complete surprise from left field. “January” is an uneven play, … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – We’re All In This Together: The Centrality of the Audience in Performance

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been deeply moved by a number of performances that, when considering only the text, have very little to do with one another. Indeed, what … Continue Reading →

VIEWPOINTS – Downtown Divas

You know the New York theater season is in full swing when the boards of the Great White Way are lit up by the glamorous star wattage of the dames … Continue Reading →

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 →