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Opening Night Jitters?

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:58:49 +0000

This Saturday, my cast will be presenting a world premiere version of The Little Mermaid, in front of a crowd of demanding ten-year-olds and their hopeful grandparents. No pressure. At least, there's no pressure for me. I will be backstage pulling curtains up and down. However, some of my actors might very well be sweating bullets and taking a few last glances at the script before they go on stage to present their characters to the world for the very first time.

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LOL on Cue

Sat, 18 May 2013 20:52:46 +0000

For some actors, the biggest challenge is not how to cry on cue, but how to laugh on command. When you think about it, laughter is pretty darn strange. It's a spontaneous, often subconscious reaction to social situations. Typically, we laugh more when we are around others. We might only exhibit when by ourselves watching a funny movie on television. However, if we were to watch the same film with a large audience, we let loose the belly laughs.

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Theater Patron VS. Cell Phone

Thu, 16 May 2013 23:58:22 +0000

We've all been there. Sitting at the theater. Mesmerized by the brilliant actors. Caught up in an incredible story. Then, all of a sudden, we hear that ring tone. Maybe it's that familiar marimba sound. Maybe it's a funky hip-hop jam. Maybe it's just a good, old-fashioned ring. Whatever the sound, it's annoying, not just to the audience but to the actors on stage. For those of us who always remember to turn off our cell phones before the curtain goes up, you'll get a kick out of this story:

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Christopher Durang Plays

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:47:30 +0000

The Tony Award buzz for best new play has been echoing the names Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, the title of Christopher Durang's latest comedy to tackle Broadway. Rumor has it, anyone even vaguely familiar with the characters of Anton Chekhov's plays will find Durang's new work hysterical. And if even you've never seen The Seagull or Uncle Vanya, you'll still get a kick out of this show, simply because it's so refreshingly oddball.

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"The Testament of Mary" - Theater and the Scriptures

Sat, 11 May 2013 20:15:28 +0000

Want to watch a controversial play for Mother's Day? Then consider the one woman show: The Testament of Mary, written by Irish author, Colm Tóibín. It's one of the ...

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Mother's Day Musicals

Thu, 09 May 2013 15:19:00 +0000

From Cinderella's step-mother to the dream-stealing Mama from Gypsy, mothers are not often portrayed in a positive light. Sophocles, Tennessee Williams, and many others have all taken pot-shots at matriarchs. Fortunately, positive mother characters can be found some terrific musical theater productions. Here are some perfect examples:

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"Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" - 5 Nominations

Sun, 05 May 2013 13:37:57 +0000

If you want to virtually guarantee a host of Tony Award nominations, it seems all you have to do is revive Edward Albee's classic, caustic drama: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Less than ten years ago the show was on Broadway, starring my favorite clown turned tragedian, Bill Irwin (who, by the way, took home a Tony Award for Best Actor that year). This latest incarnation of Woolf? is a product of the uber-cool-Chicago-based-theater-troupe, Steppenwolf Theatre. The current production features Amy Morton as Martha and Tracy Letts as George, both of whom are nominated.

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Kinky Boots - 13 Tony Nominations

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:56:56 +0000

The Tony Award nominations have been released, and Kinky Boots takes the lead with an impressive thirteen nods. This musical is a breath of fresh air in several ways. Sure, it's based on a movie -- like a lot of other Broadway shows these days -- but at least it's based upon a lesser known movie, a British indie most Americans probably haven't seen or heard about. But here's the totally awesome part: Cyndi Lauper. Yes, I just said "totally awesome," reverting back to my 1980s heritage. Before you gag me with a spoon, allow me to explain. Ms. Lauper has truly re-imagined herself as a songwriter/artist, using her distinct musical style to tell the audacious yet heart-warming story of a young man who wants to save his family business. How? By no longer making boring old dress shoes and instead making "kinky boots" for drag queens!

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Playwright Profile: Tony Kushner

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 00:24:11 +0000

Tony Kushner was born on July 16th, 1956. He wrote and directed plays during his college years and developed several projects with professional theater companies throughout the 1980s. His early work features fascinating plays such as A Bright Room Called Day, set in the early days of the Third Reich. However, it was not until the early 90s that he wrote his most famous work to date, Angels in America. ...

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Cowboys and Idiots - More Scenes and Monologues

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:08:38 +0000

Looking for free-to-use scenes that combine the twang of the old west with the comedic sensibilities of modern theater? Cowboys and Idiots is a stage play written by Wade Bradford. It is the humorous tale of two idiotic cowboys who are coerced into robbing a bank, only to discover that their best friend, the man who put them up to the robbery, has disappeared with all the loot they "rightfully" stole for themselves. As they wander around the desert, running away from the law and seeking revenge, Tucker and Heck learn a bit more about each other as they contemplate life's big questions: what is the nature of love, does God exist, and why is it so dang hot out here?

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