I’m a big fan of Shakespeare-adjacent theater, as a category. That can either mean plays by Shakespeare’s contemporaries (Dr. Faustus), or plays about Shakespeare’s life (Shakespeare’s Sister), or plays in response to Shakespeare’s plays (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead) or, as in the case of Red Velvet, plays about people performing the works of Shakespeare or his contemporaries. These plays can […]
I spent my birthday week in Montclair, New Jersey, helping to organize and run the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival for Region 2. It’s my last year as the workshops coordinator, and I’m proud to say we had over 100 workshops, in every area of theater. We had to cancel a few due to weather issues (we […]
It’s been a good week in the critical acclaim department. Not only did our remount of Pigeon Creek’s Much Ado earn slot #16 in Shakespeareances “Top 25” list, but Eric also posted a wonderful review of the show. You can read the full thing on his website, but here are some of my favorite observations (emphasis mine). Director Alisha Huber embraces many textual advantages the space offers her. In his gulling scene, Benedick (Brad Sytsma) hides among the groundlings (though there’s only a few people down there—the galleries are the preferred seating for this NPR audience). Borachio (Josh Fremer) comes through one of the entrance’s curtains but […]
Katherine recently sent me a review by Bridgette Redman of Encore Michigan, which for some reason didn’t end up getting published. Bridgette said we could share some of it on our own websites and promo materials, so here are some of my favorite bits. Running now at Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company’s multiple locations, their “Antony and Cleopatra” is a love story and Katherine Mayberry and Scott Lange as the titular couple sizzle with tempestuous passion. Let the whole world make their demands, let armies and navies clash, these two are meant to be together and nothing […]
I’ve been wanting to get over to West Liberty University for ages, to see what Michael Aulick is doing. I know Michael because we’re both on leadership for KCACTF Region 2, and I’ve been impressed with the work his students have brought to the festival, as well as with his intense recruiting. At a time […]
Since I’m getting ready to direct Richard III at the Pigeon Creek Shakespeare Company, I want to see a few productions of it. I try to pay attention to where I feel lost as an audience member, what parts speak to me, what bits feel extraneous. So I saw one of the last performances of Richard III […]
Harrisburg Shakespeare, at the Gamut Theater Group, invited me to come check out their performance of Pericles. It’s not often performed, which is too bad, because it’s a fun show. Some of the performances in this production were very strong, especially Marina. The cast was very diverse in age, gender, and ethnicity, which is always nice […]
I’ve heard about Faction for a while now, but I hadn’t been able to catch one of their shows until a couple weeks ago, when I saw their Henry V. Faction of Fools is a commedia dell’arte troupe. Some of their members have actually gone to Italy to train with people who have received that tradition […]
The other day, Silas asked me what the first show I directed was. My go-to answer is a pair of one-acts, selected by my high school drama teacher, when I was 14 (tenth grade). They were Sorry, Wrong Number and What Button to Press. The former was a radio drama adapted for the stage, and the latter–all I remember is […]
TW: Rape, murder. It’s not every day I get to see an early modern play that I haven’t seen or read before, but somehow I missed The Changling. Lucky for me, Brave Spirits was on that. The Changling is a rape and murder story. Fun times. The direction, by Charlene Smith, who I believe also went […]