by Deirdre Donovan Dael Orlandersmith returns to New York Theatre Workshop with her new semi-autobiographical show Forever. If you have never seen this gifted author-actress on stage, now is your chance to catch her in a tour de force performance. Forget about gilding the lily! Orlandersmith goes for the truth here. She boldly explores…
Richard Zavaglia, Ray Abruzzo and Dan Luria by Nicholas Linnehan What happens when The Sopranos meet The Odd Couple? It’s anyone’s guess. And there you have the premise with Dan Lauria’s dark comedy Dinner With the Boys. Two exiled hit men play house as they “cook up” plans for their futures. Charlie and Dom…
Kylie McVey and Bowdie Photo Credit: Matt Urban Mobius New Media. By David Schultz Because of Winn-Dixie is based on the beloved children’s book penned by Kate DiCamillo. This still morphing show has been kicking around since 2013. It is in its final stages and is Broadway-bound. The simple plot details the warm and emotional friendship between…
Jill Shackner and Karyn Quackenbush photo by Joan Marcus by Barry Bassis Iowa begins promisingly with a self-possessed little girl, Kolette Tetlow, singing. The promise vanishes when the music ends. A ditzy divorceé named Sandy (Karyn Quackenbush) suddenly informs her 14-year old daughter Becca (Jill Shackner) that she is going to marry a man…
Billy Carter, Brittany Vicars, Robert Petkoff, Arnie Burto Photos by Joan Marcus by Dorothy Marcic Going to see 39 Steps at the Union Street Theater is part film noir, part physical comedy, and part brilliant acting, with four characters playing so many parts you shouldn’t even try to count. Spend your time watching them…
Ivette Dumeng and Sergio Castillo photos by Rosalie Baijer. by Deirdre Donovan Theater historians tend to extol the dramatic virtues of August Strindberg’s Miss Julie, The Creditors, The Dance of Death, The Father, and A Dream Play. But Kristina? Hardly. This historical drama, in fact, seems to be more Strindberg’s step-child than one of…
by Deirdre Donovan Christina Bianco impersonates 40 personas in the behind-the-scenes world of kindergarten admissions at a fictive private Manhattan school. Christina Bianco reveals the behind-the-scenes world of kindergarten admissions at a fictive private Manhattan school in Application Pending, now running at the Westside Theatre. Co-written by Greg Edwards and Andy Sandberg, this…
Lupita Nyong’o Photos by Joan Marcus By Ron Cohen It’s a rare work of theater that can transport audiences to a totally unfamiliar terrain and hold them there, transfixed, from start to finish. But that’s exactly what playwright Danai Gurira — with the help of a brilliant cast and director —…
Tonya Pinkins (above) and Dianne Wiest (below) (Photo credit: Monique Carboni) By David Schultz A scintillating cat and mouse treatise combines office politics and race into a frothy mix. Cunningly directed, makes for must see viewing. This new black comedy written by Joel Drake Johnson hits a lot of nerves. The subject of race…
Michael Alcide, Fernand Auguste, Ryan Jillian Kilpatrick, Chima Chikazunga, Darren Jerome Lamb, Cherith Scott. Photos by Gerry Goodstein by Eugene Paul There’s a prideful fervor in this Atlanta Black Theater Festival production of Dutchman which goes beyond the fact that Obie winner Dutchman is having yet another showing in the place that spawned it,…