NEW SHOW DAZZLES AT BERLIN’S FRIEDRICHSTADT-PALAST by Robert Shuman

(Christine Lebert’s article appeared on DW, 2/2. Photo: DW.) “Falling in Love” is the title of the new show at Berlin’s Friedrichstadt-Palast, Europe’s biggest revue theater. The g…

THE RUB: THEATRE CONFRONTED, JANUARY 27TH – FEBRUARY 2ND, 2024 by Robert Shuman

A look at current issues, challenges, and controversies spilling beyond the proscenium. The following three stories, discussed by prominent stage journalists, provided tension and debate wit…

***** ‘TILL THE STARS COME DOWN’ REVIEW – YOUR INVITATION TO THE WEDDING OF THE YEAR by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar’s article appeared in the Guardian, 2/1/2024; Photo: Heady … Black as Hazel with Derek Riddell as John. Photograph: Manuel Harlan.) Dorfman theatre, London Beth Steel’s n…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (158) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: On the stage there cannot be, under any circumstances, action which is directed immediately at the arousing of a feeling for its own sake.  …

Bi-2 SINGER ARRIVES IN ISRAEL AS BANDMATES FIGHT DEPORTATION TO RUSSIA by Robert Shuman

(Ray Furlong’s report appeared on Radio Free Europe, 1/31; Photo:  Bi-2 production shot.) A Russian singer arrived in Israel while his bandmates remained in detention in Thailand on Janua…

SHAKESPEARE’S SWAN SONG: A BARD’S FAREWELL (A DAY IN THEATRE) by Robert Shuman

On January 31, 1606, the renowned Globe Theatre in London witnessed the final performance of William Shakespeare’s King Henry VIII. The play, co-authored with John Fletcher, marked the Bar…

CHITA RIVERA, ILLUSTRIOUS BROADWAY STAR, DIES AGED 91 by Robert Shuman

The actor, dancer and singer starred in musicals including West Side Story and Chicago (Chris Wiegan’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/30; Photo: Chita Rivera arrives at the 72nd annua…

LEN CARIOU IN SEA DOG’S POIGNANT “TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE” (March 1-23) by Robert Shuman

(via DARR Publicity; Photo: Jeremy Varner) Broadway legend Len Cariou, Sweeney Todd himself, joins Sea Dog Theater‘s Artistic Director Chris Domig (their friendship echoes Morrie & Mit…

‘DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES’ REVIEW – 60s MARITAL DRAMA BECOMES BROADWAY MUSICAL WINNER by Robert Shuman

(Lauren Mechling’s article appeared in the Guardian, 2/29; Photo:  Brian d’Arcy James/Photograph: Joan Marcus.) Studio 54, New York Song-heavy adaptation of the bruising 1962 Blake Edw…

THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, ON STAGE VOICES: 1/21/2024 – 1/28/2024 by Robert Shuman

The past week’s international stage highlights, brought to you via the world’s foremost journalism.  Bard, the large language model from Google AI, provided information, insights, and m…

NOW ON BROADWAY: SUNDAY, JANUARY 22 – SATURDAY, JANUARY 27 (NEW SHOWS ROUNDUP) by Robert Shuman

(Bard, the large language model from Google AI, provided information, insights, and materials for this article.) ON BROADWAY: Days of Wine and Roses: About: A tragic exploration of alcoholi…

KRAPP’S LAST TAPE REVIEW – STEPHEN REA IS HAUNTINGLY GOOD IN BECKETT’S MASTERPIECE by Robert Shuman

(Helen Meany’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/19; Photo: ‘Minute flickers of emotion’ … Stephen Rea in Krapp’s Last Tape, directed by Vicky Featherstone, at Project Arts Centr…

MoMA SUED BY ARTIST WHO PERFORMED NUDE IN MARINA ABRAMOVIC WORK by Robert Shuman

(from The New York Times, 1/24; via The Drudge Report; Photo: The New York Times.) A performance artist has sued the Museum of Modern Art, saying that officials neglected to take corrective …

X testing a by Robert Shuman

CURTAIN RISES ON A CHEKHOV MASTERPIECE (A DAY IN THEATRE) by Robert Shuman

On January 24, 1901, the Moscow Art Theatre unfurled its curtains to an enraptured audience, unveiling Anton Chekhov’s “Three Sisters” in a theatrical crescendo. Directed by the maestr…

THEATER FOR THE NEW CITY PRESENTS CZECHOSLOVAK-AMERICAN MARIONETTE THEATRE IN WORLD’S FIRST PUPPET THEATER ADAPTATION OF “THE GOOD SOLDIER ŠVEJK� by Robert Shuman

Rocco George as Svejk. Photo by Jonathan Slaff. Formative antiwar story is a hilariously subversive depiction of the idiocy of war and the men who wage it February 1 to 18, 2024 Theater for …

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (157) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: On the stage do not run for the sake of running, or suffer for the sake of suffering. Don’t act ‘in general,’ for the sake of action; a…

THE MANY FACES OF FALSTAFF: SHAKESPEARE’S TRAGICOMIC KNIGHT IS AS COMPLEX AS HAMLET by Robert Shuman

(Michael Billington’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/18; Photo: Fine performance … David Warner as Falstaff and Geoffrey Streatfeild as Prince Hal in Henry IV Part I in 2008. Photo…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARY GRANT by Robert Shuman

Read his amazing story . . .   Recollections in His Own Words and by Those Who Knew Him Best Nancy Nelson’s Evenings with Cary Grant, which uses the icon’s own words—and is enhanced …

RUSSIA’S QUEER ARTISTS FIGHT GROWING PERSECUTION by Robert Shuman

(Stuart Braun’s article appeared on DW, 1/16/24.) Russia under Vladimir Putin is again demonizing LGBTQ persons, calling them “extremists.” But Russia’s queer artists are finding way…

‘VILLAGE OF VALE’ MUSICAL RELEASES FIRST SINGLE by Robert Shuman

(via Jane Dubin) Hi friends, I have shared many projects over the years. But I have a special place in my heart for my current work, the original musical, The Village of Vale. We are curren…

HE SINGS A CAPPELLA. THEN HE DESTROYS QUARTERBACKS. by Robert Shuman

(Andrew Beaton’s article appeared in The Wall Street Journal, 1/10/2024; Photo: The Wall Street Journal) Before Kobie Turner emerged as standout defensive tackle for the Los  Angeles Rams…

EXILED EXPRESSION: A RUSSIAN STREET ARTIST’S DEFIANT POLITICAL ACTIVISM FROM ABROAD by Robert Shuman

(Neil Bowdler’s report appeared on Radio Free Europe, 1/9.) A street artist known as Philippenzo has left his native Russia after authorities issued arrest warrants over his stance against…

THE PLAYWRIGHT HAS A FEW MORE CHANGES (BRANDEN JACOBS-JENKINS) by Robert Shuman

(Julian Lucas’s article appeared in the New Yorker, 1/9; Jacobs-Jenkins, whose drama “Appropriate” is now on Broadway, has a gift for matching ugly feelings with sophisticated forms.Ph…

SEEKING MICHAEL HASTINGS, THE MISSING MAN OF BRITISH THEATRE by Robert Shuman

(Michael Billington’s article appeared in the Guarian, 1/5;  Photo: Michael Hastings, aged 18, working at his mother’s council flat in Brixton, London, in February 1957. Photograph: We…

GLYNIS JOHNS, WHO PLAYED IN SONDHEIM AND MRS BANKS IN MARY POPPINS, DIES AGED 100 by Robert Shuman

(Maya Yang’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/4; Photo: Glynis Johns in A Little Night Music.) British actor and star of 1964 film died at an assisted living home in Los Angeles of natu…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (156) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: On the stage you must always be enacting something; action, motion, is the basis of the art, followed by the actor. On the stage it is necess…

AT CARNEGIE HALL: HANDEL’S MESSIAH BY THE ORATORIO SOCIETY OF NEW YORK by Robert Shuman

(Edward Kiszus’s article appeared on Opening Night Online, 12/19/2023; Photo: Handel’s Messiah performed by the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall.. Photo by Edward Kliszus.) …

BBC RADIO 4, “IN OUR TIME” ON ‘TWELFTH NIGHT, OR WHAT YOU WILL’ (DISCUSSION PROGRAM, LINK BELOW) by Robert Shuman

Twelfth Night, or What You Will Listen In Our Time Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss one of Shakespeare’s great comedies, which plays in the space between marriage, love and desire. By conve…

UKRAINE WARTIME MEMOIR AND PLAY NAVIGATES LOSS AND PRESERVING MEMORY OF FALLEN SOLDIERS (VIDEO) by Robert Shuman

(Kate Tsurkan’s article appeared in the Lyiv Independent, 12/30; Photo:  LVIV, UKRAINE – NOVEMBER 1: Graves of Ukrainian soldiers during the memorial day at the Lychakiv military cemete…

BLACKLISTED LYRICIST YIP HARBURG: THE MAN WHO PUT THE RAINBOW IN THE WIZARD OF OZ by Robert Shuman

(from Democracy Now!, Dec 25, 2023 Latest Shows .) Support our work: https://democracynow.org/give His name might not be familiar to many, but his songs are sung by millions around the world…