Review: Schreck’s ‘Constitution’ Means to Make Its Mark

By Paige Allen August 27, 2019 After seeing What the Constitution Means to Me, one thought was clear in my mind: This play should be required viewing for every single person in the United States of America.  Especially Congress. Heidi Schreck and her play cry out to be heard and heeded. You leave feeling simultaneously… Continue reading Review: Schreck’s ‘Constitution’ Means to Make Its Mark

Advertisement

Review: In ‘Road Show,’ A Brotherly Rivalry Stresses the Flaws in America’s Ideals

By Paige Allen August 27, 2019 Road Show (formerly known as Bounce formerly known as Wise Guys) is one of Stephen Sondheim’s lesser known musicals. Written with John Weidman, the musical joins with the duo’s two other creations, Pacific Overtures and Assassins, to form what some consider a trilogy exploring the flaws of the American… Continue reading Review: In ‘Road Show,’ A Brotherly Rivalry Stresses the Flaws in America’s Ideals

Review: ‘Reborning’ Explores the Persistent Power of Trauma 

By Paige Allen August 27, 2019 Trauma is a tricky thing. It can rise up at times and in ways we least expect. Reborning explores how distressing experiences can leave scars on our bodies, hearts, and minds; how we can discover the depth of those wounds even years later; and how we cope with pain… Continue reading Review: ‘Reborning’ Explores the Persistent Power of Trauma 

Review: Exposed ‘Oklahoma!’ Reveals Its (and Our) Darkness

By Paige Allen July 18, 2019 Director Daniel Fish’s production of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Oklahoma! has developed a reputation as Broadway’s badboy. While the production won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical this June, the gritty take on the Golden Age classic has downright offended some of its viewers with its irreverence… Continue reading Review: Exposed ‘Oklahoma!’ Reveals Its (and Our) Darkness

Review: ‘In the Green’ Fills Medieval Cell with a New Sound

By Paige Allen July 15, 2019 Hildegard von Bingen is one of medieval history’s most enduring figures. A twelfth-century leader in the Catholic Church and a mystic visionary, Hildegard made significant contributions to religion, philosophy, music, science, language, and literature; she is regarded as a saint. But before all that, Hildegard spent thirty years enclosed… Continue reading Review: ‘In the Green’ Fills Medieval Cell with a New Sound

Review: ‘The Prom’ Delivers a Musical Comedy with Heart

By Paige Allen July 14, 2019 A Broadway star sits in the booth of an Applebee’s across from a small town school principal. The principal expresses his love for the theatre and tries to explain to the actress (through song, of course) why people care about musicals: “We need a place to run to When… Continue reading Review: ‘The Prom’ Delivers a Musical Comedy with Heart

Review: Semi-Staged Concerts ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Promenade’ Only Semi-Satisfactory

By Paige Allen July 13, 2019 Two notable concert productions went up in the past week, the Cleveland Musical Theatre production of Into the Woods at The Town Hall (July 8, 2019) and the Encores! Off Center production of Promenade at New York City Center (July 10-11, 2019). Although neither concert fully satisfied me, my… Continue reading Review: Semi-Staged Concerts ‘Into the Woods,’ ‘Promenade’ Only Semi-Satisfactory

Review: ‘Moscow’ Updates Chekhov, Makes Audiences LOL and Cry in the Club

By Paige Allen July 13, 2019 It’s a pretty safe bet to say that when most people think of the works of Anton Chekhov, they don’t immediately think “reality television.” Yet Halley Feiffer’s new play, Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow Moscow (yep, six Moscows: count them), often resembles an episode of Keeping Up with the… Continue reading Review: ‘Moscow’ Updates Chekhov, Makes Audiences LOL and Cry in the Club

Review: Expect the Unexpected in ‘Deathtrap’

By Paige Allen July 5, 2019 “Do you know, this could be a good thriller!” the young playwright exclaims before describing his exact situation: “A young playwright sends his first play to an older playwright who conducted a seminar that the young playwright has attended. Nobody else has read it, and then he comes to… Continue reading Review: Expect the Unexpected in ‘Deathtrap’

Review: In ‘[Veil Widow Conspiracy],’ Time and Truth are Changeable

By Paige Allen July 3, 2019 What do an urban dystopia, a murder mystery, and a documentary film have in common? About as much as Warlord Era Xinjang, a 2010 movie set, and Brooklyn in 2035. Yet in Gordon Dahlquist’s [Veil Widow Conspiracy], a new play developed and produced by the National Asian American Theatre… Continue reading Review: In ‘[Veil Widow Conspiracy],’ Time and Truth are Changeable