Primed for Fringe by Emily Piro by HowlRound

Against all odds, adversity created an ideal setting for Fringe. GENESIS STORY In 2007, I was a young whippersnapper plunging into St Louis from my semi-cloistered undergraduate life. Eyes b…

Theater review: 'The Blue Iris' and Athol Fugard's self-judgment by Charles McNulty

The play receiving its U.S. premiere at the Fountain Theatre provides tantalizing insight into the South African writer. At 80, South African playwright Athol Fugard is still turning out pla…

Kate McGarrigle’s spirit infused wedding of son Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt by Richard Ouzounian

The most important presence at Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt’s wedding was someone who was most noticeable by her absence — Kate McGarrigle.

Sorrow at the dinner table by Chris Jones

Play is set on 10th anniversary of 9/11 At one point in Richard Nelson's "Sweet and Sad," a rich, wise and emotionally complex drama set around a dinner table on the 10th anniversary of the…

Photo Flash: Broadway Understudies Rock HALF HOUR Concert at Laurie Beechman by BroadwayWorld

BroadwayUnderstudies.com's Half Hour A Last Minute Concert took place on August 19th, 2012, featuring some of Broadway's most talented understudies onstage at the Laurie Beechman Theatre sha…

Review: The Admirable Crichton/American Players Theatre by Brianhey

RECOMMENDED Falling, as it did, at the end of a weekend theater marathon (four plays, three days) and positioned between a sumptuous brunch and a daunting drive back to Chicago, coupled with…

Los Angeles Theater Review: ALL THE KING’S MEN (El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood) by Jesse David Corti

IT’S THE PERFECT YEAR FOR THIS POWERFUL STORY, BUT FOR THIS PRODUCTION..? It must be an election year, as artistic directors all around the nation are presenting Adrian Hall’s meaty …

STAGE TUBE: Ramin Karimloo Performs 'Bring Him Home' and 'Above All' on SONGS OF PRAISE by Stage Tube

On August 19th, West End star Ramin Karimloo performed live on BBC's Songs of Praise, singing Bring Him Home from the musical Les Misrables. Star of musicals such as Phantom of the Opera, it…

BWW TV: CHICAGO Cast Travels Downtown for Taste of Broadway! by BroadwayWorld TV

BroadwayWorld was there for yesterday's festivities, and we bring you 'My Own Best Friend' from the CHICAGO cast below

Review: EL Stories (Waltzing Mechanics) by Scotty Zacher

At just an hour, *EL Stories* tells a plethora of mini true tales from passengers on Chicago’s trademark trains. With few exceptions, the vignettes follow the same path: A “normal” per…

Patrick White, playwright by Alison Croggon

A brief talk on the plays of Patrick White, which I delivered yesterday at the Melbourne Writers Festival as part of the event Remembering Patrick White. My fellow panelists were David Marr,…

Bard's 'Dark Lady' identified at last as a Clerkenwell prostitute

The mysterious "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets has long fascinated readers, with debate raging about her true identity. Now new research adds weight to the theory that the sexually vora…

New evidence supports claim that William Shakespeare's 'Dark Lady' may have been a Clerkenwell prostitute

The mysterious "Dark Lady" of Shakespeare's sonnets has long fascinated readers, with debate raging about her true identity. Now new research adds weight to the theory that the sexually vora…

RAGTIME Plays Strand Theatre, 9/28-10/7; Terrence McNally Accepts ACLU's Beacon of Liberty Award at Boston Gala, 9/15 by BroadwayWorld

Fiddlehead Theatre Company, in collaboration with the American Civil Liberties Union, with the support of Mayor Thomas M. Menino, City of Boston, announce an exciting new production of the T…

Jessica Hendy and Mike Schwitter Bring TAKE WHAT YOU WANT to LA's M Bar, 9/10 by BroadwayWorld

Broadway actress Jessica Hendy brings her cabaret Take What You Want to L.A. for one night only on Monday, Sept 10th, 8 p.m. at M Bar.

‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ at Signature Theatre by Amanda Gunther by Amanda Gunther

There’s trouble brewing at the chicken ranch! But Miss Mona and her girls promises that won’t ruin your good time as you come on down to Signature Theatre to see The Best Little Whorehou…

World Fringe Congress in Edinburgh by Steven McElroy

Fringe festival leaders from several countries exchanged notes in Edinburgh. One thing they learned: Even the Fringe has its fringe element.

‘Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking!’: Shaping a Spoof by Jennifer Schuessler

Gerard Alessandrini is once again feasting on theatrical spoils, shaping his latest spoof, “Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking!,” which anticipates fodder from shows opening in the fall.

Theater Review: ‘The Matchmaker’ at Stratford Shakespeare Festival by Charles Isherwood

“The Matchmaker,” Thornton Wilder’s 1954 farce, has been given a rare and loving revival at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival this year.

When you know you're in the capable hands of a real playwright... by Rolando Teco

Reading a friend's play today, as I reached the bottom of page 1, it occurred to me, this is how you know you're in the hands of a real playwright. What a pleasure! To read a...

Edinburgh Fringe Review: The Company of Wolves by Catherine Love

It is not often that, upon walking into a theatre, you are asked to reveal your heart’s desire. In transforming Angela Carter’s sensual reimagining of the Little Red Riding Hood story fo…

Edinburgh Fringe Review: Love and Understanding by Catherine Love

As hinted at by the title, the theme of Joe Penhall’s play is unspectacular, as familiar as its triangular set up. Stressed young doctors Neal and Rachel are struggling to shield the flick…

Edinburgh Fringe Review: Legs 11 by Devawn Wilkinson

It is not merely a boast when Tom Marshman tells us he has the sixth best legs in the country. In fact, it’s pretty much a proven fact. Last year, Marshman put himself and his l…

Edinburgh Fringe Review: Educating Ronnie by Catherine Love

Charity is never as simple as just giving. It’s certainly not that simple for Joe, a typical gap year traveller who finds himself engaged in a very atypical act of charity following a trip…

Matthew Morrison - AA Kids Day by Matthew Morrison

Edinburgh Fringe Review: A Little Princess by Catherine Love

As consummate storyteller Frances Hodgson Burnett recognised, stories make us feel alive. The best stories can haunt the senses and quicken the heart – an adrenalin shot to the imagination…

Winners announced for The Stage's Edinburgh Awards by Alistair Smith

Nichola McAuliffe has become the first performer to win best actress at The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Fringe for a second time.

The Blue Iris

Legit Reviews||Regional: Athol Fugard's "The Blue Iris" is deceptively simple: A desert farmhouse, just destroyed by lightning, is picked over for its treasures and memories.

New York Review: CLOSER THAN EVER by Toby Zinman

Edinburgh Fringe Review: Tagged by Devawn Wilkinson

High-speed, high-tech, high hopes: Tagged opens strongly with an enjoyably frantic onslaught of likes, pokes and pings – a quick-fire bombardment of disgusting boasts, declarations of love…

More Republican racism (only closer to home); plus - did Mitt Romney make money from dead babies? And did David Koch buy the VP nomination? by Thomas Garvey

Hot on the heels of the racist voter-suppression tactics of Republicans in Ohio, we learn of this recent episode in Vermont:"A county Republican Party chairman in Vermont apologized Monday a…

Sandi Toksvig: 'I don't understand boredom' by Emine Saner

Comedian, playwright, novelist, TV personality: Sandi Toksvig is a one-woman cottage industry. She talks about coming out, panel shows and why she's turned her back on the Lib-DemsA few year…

Leigh Warren – Edinburgh festival review by Alice Bain

Festival theatreLive music provides a strong focal point for this double bill. The didgeridoo is up front in Breathe. Throughout Impulse, a female string quartet actively joins in the b…

Sony Signs Deal To Produce Broadway Versions Of Its Films

Los Angeles Times 08/26/12

Krapp's Last Tape – review by Helen Meany

Ardhowen, EnniskillenWhite-faced, open-mouthed, and spattered with shards of white light, Robert Wilson's Krapp might already have passed over to the other side. His performance, in his own …

Photo Coverage: Carmel Dean, Alysha Umphress and More at THE SWEET SONGS OF CARMEL DEAN at Mr. Finn's Cabaret by Stephen Sorokoff

Barrington Stage Company BSC, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, Mass., presented Carmels Candy Store The Sweet Songs of Carmel Dean at Mr. Finn's Cabaret. Carmels Candy Store…

STAGE TUBE: First Listen - Preview Melanie C's New Album STAGES! by Stage Tube

Spice Girl, singer-songwriter, judge on the ITV1Andrew Lloyd Webber show SUPERSTAR and now Mary Magdalene in the show's upcoming UK arena tour, Melanie C has just released previews of all th…

Berkshire summer finale: a solo about Louis Armstrong by Elyse Sommer

 My  last  review  for the  Berkshire  summer 2012  season is of a  still  in progress  productionSatchmo at the Waldorf - Drama critic Ter…

Review: Satchmo at the Waldorf at curtainup.com/Berkshires by Elyse Sommer

Drama critic Terry Teachout's solo play remains "unfrozen" during its Shakespeare & Co run though John Doughlas Thompas has already found ways to compensate for the absence of other cast mem…

BWW Flashback: SISTER ACT Ends Divine Broadway Run Today, August 26 by BroadwayWorld

The Broadway musical SISTER ACT will play its final Broadway performance today, Sunday, August 26, 2012, prior to kicking off a North American tour on October 2 at Torontos Ed Mirvish Theatr…

Les Naufrages du Fol Espoir (Aurores), Lowland Hall, Royal Highland Centre, Edinburgh

This French play about silent movie-making in Paris has charm, dynamism and breathtaking ambition, writes Griselda Murray Brown

Confessions from the Road: Dressing Room Gab by BroadwaySpotted

Hey there, Broadway Spotted readers! Sorry for the hiatus…we have been busy, busy in one of our favorite cities! We’re leaving tomorrow though so we’ll catch you up before …

Becoming Butch by Theasy.com

The Steve and Marie Sgouros Theatre, FringeNYC By Joseph Samuel Wright BOTTOM LINE: Becoming Butch is a funny, heart warming coming-of-age story about self acceptance. Premiering in …

Ten Minute Plays: A Breath of Fresh Air or. . . .? by Barry Martin by HowlRound

Seems you can’t swing a dead cat or any other metaphorical animal these days without knocking into a ten-minute play. How the devil did this happen? Isn’t a play supposed to be at least …

Broadway Book Club: Book 5, Week 1 by BroadwaySpotted

  Welcome Broadway Book Clubers old and new. I know last week when we announced this book we picked up a couple of new participants (WHICH IS AWESOME!) so I wanted to take a moment to r…

And Then There Was One...The Musicals of Whoopi Goldberg by JK

By the time this blog posts, there will be only one left.  Just one.   Two weeks ago, there were three.  Now, it will be 147 days until there are two again.  It sounds li…

BWW TV: New Cast of MAMMA MIA! Performs 'Dancing Queen' at Taste of Broadway! by BroadwayWorld TV

BroadwayWorld was there for Thursday's festivities, and we bring you 'Dancing Queen' from the MAMMA MIA cast below

David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver team in Christopher Durang’s latest play by Ronni Reich

It’s 'Chekhov in a blender'

Fuse Theater Review: “Satchmo at the Waldorf” — An Off-Key Portrait of a Jazz Giant by Helen Epstein

As Louis Armstrong, the gifted actor John Douglas Thompson is working with a script whose lines and contours are as woefully predictable as a profile in the old Life Magazine.

LoveSick by Theasy.com

Connelly Theatre, FringeNYC By Adrienne Urbanski BOTTOM LINE: This fanciful, surreal play explores what happens when a gloomy, graveyard dwelling man falls in love with a sunny, flowe…

Which Broadway Fall 2012 Shows Are You Most Looking Forward To? by Jonathan Mandell

In this poll, you can pick more than one choice. For details about the shows, see Broadway Fall 2012 Season Preview

BWW's On This Day - August 26, 2012

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on August 26 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events

Baldwin Wallace University's Victoria Bussert has molded talent, lighted the way for Broadway-bound actors by Andrea Simakis

"For my money, Vicky Bussert is running the finest musical theater program in the country," said Broadway talent agent Chris Nichols. "And I'll tell anybody who'll listen"

Spotlight On: Maxwell Golden by Sophia Milone

Sophia Milone finds out more about this solo comedy performer, and his current show CountryBoy's Struggle, finishing its run at the fringe on Monday!

Top 10 New York stage events week of Aug. 26, 2012 by Joe Dziemianowicz

1. Tonya Pinkins (54 Below) The Tony winner for one night: Monday.

Stars set to brighten up Broadway’s fall by Joe Dziemianowicz

Broadway’s fall sampler of plays and musicals is stuffed with stars. On deck: Al Pacino and Debra Winger in dueling David Mamet dramas, Jessica Chastain and “Downton Abbey” heart-stirr…

Path to professional future as music critic began in childhood by Zachary Lewis

I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for my musical parents, who implanted in me a respect for the arts that later blossomed into a genuine love.

Los Angeles Theater Review: THE BLUE IRIS (Fountain Theatre) by Tony Frankel

A LITTLE BLUE More than a few friends recently mentioned that there are many “great” things on the boob tube. Since I don’t watch TV, it came as a surprise because I assumed it was mos…

Los Angeles Theater Review: UNDER THE DESERT (The Lounge Theatre in Hollywood) by Jason Rohrer

A MOUTHFUL OF SAND Kiff Scholl’s production of Raymond King Shurtz’s new play, Under the Desert, is a show that’s impossible to discuss without equivocation.  It’s n…

Sterling's Upstairs Presents Ilene Graff in 'First You Dream' at The Federal Tonight, 8/26 by BroadwayWorld

Sterlings Upstairs at The Federal presents television and Broadway star Ilene Graff in First You Dream tonight, August 26.

Bennett Stars, But Belasco Steals The Show by David Dow Bentley III

For leading lady, Tracie Bennett, the role of Judy Garland was not a new one. But it must be said her performance in the just concluded Broadway run of End of the Rainbow was certainly a tou…

Tour Whore, August 26, 2012 by The Charlebois Post

Night of the Living Deedby Cameryn MooreI don’t like to make sweeping generalizations about Fringe artists’ experiences. We have different ways of living and working and playing out here…

The Sunday Read: Op-ed - What do we want actors to do? by The Charlebois Post

What do we owe?Should actors expect poverty?by Stuart MunroAt the end of July, Tony award winner Daisy Eagan tweeted the following: “I have a job interview tomorrow for a temp job packagin…

ON THE RECORD: Betty Buckley's "Ah, Men!," Plus "Scott Alan Live" and Call Me Madam by Steven Suskin

This week's column discusses Betty Buckley's new CD, "Ah, Men!"; the reissued cast album of the 1950 Irving Berlin musical Call Me Madam; and the two-disc set, "Scott …

Elephant Room, Evening of Magic, Mystery and Comedy, Opens in West Coast Premiere by Kenneth Jones

The West Coast premiere of Elephant Room, a unique entertainment about three semi-pro magicians — starring magicians Louie Magic, Daryl Hannah (not that Daryl Hannah) and Dennis Diamon…

Patina Miller, Kara Lindsay, Taylor Louderman, Ali Stroker, Zak Resnick Take Part in St. Jude Benefit Concert Aug. 26 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Patina Miller (Sister Act), Newsies' Kara Lindsay and Bring It On's Taylor Louderman are among the performers taking part in a benefit concert for St. Jude Childre…

Kevin Spirtas, Debbie Gravitte, Bryce Ryness and More Sing Love Songs at Feinstein's Aug. 26-30 by Michael Gioia

Steven Cagan's Love Songs — A Musical, featuring Tony winner Debbie Gravitte and Kevin Spirtas, is presented Aug. 26-30 at Feinstein's at Loews Regency.

Faith Prince and Jason Graae Take Their Show to Hudson Valley Aug. 26, Launching Broadway Series by Kenneth Jones

Helsinki Hudson, the upstate New York venue that offers eclectic music programming in a complex that also serves drinks and fine dining, gets a dose of Broadway star quality starting Aug. 26…

Broadway's One Man, Two Guvnors Offers Special Actors Fund Performance Aug. 26 by Andrew Gans and Kenneth Jones

The Broadway company of One Man, Two Guvnors, the acclaimed London import that recently announced it had recouped its $3.25 million capitalization, offers a special performance to benefit Th…

Kyle Dean Massey Joins Evita's Rachel Potter for NYC Concert Aug. 26 by Andrew Gans

Rachel Potter, who is currently portraying the Mistress in the Broadway revival of Evita, performs in concert Aug. 26 at Hill Country BBQ Market in Manhattan.

Brenda Braxton and Catherine Porter Are on the Prowl in Cougar the Musical, Opening Off-Broadway Aug. 26 by Andrew Gans

Cougar the Musical, which is directed by Tony nominee Lynne Taylor-Corbett, officially opens in its Off-Broadway premiere Aug. 26 at 2 PM following previews that began Aug. 10 at St. Luke…

David Schwimmer and Amy Ryan Ponder the Importance of Friends in Lisa D'Amour's Detroit by Harry Haun

Former "Friends" star David Schwimmer teams up with Amy Ryan for Playwrights Horizons' production of Detroit, about neighbors in an age of isolation.

Recipe Reading, With Cloris Leachman, Amy Madigan, Wendie Malick and Jean Smart, Held Aug. 26 by Adam Hetrick

Cloris Leachman, Amy Madigan, Wendie Malick and Jean Smart lead a staged benefit reading of the new comedy Recipe Aug. 26 at Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga, CA.

Broadway's Sister Act, Starring Raven-Symoné, Closes Aug. 26 by Adam Hetrick

The Tony Award-nominated musical Sister Act, based on the 1992 film of the same title about a nightclub singer who goes into hiding in a convent, ends its Broadway run Aug. 26 at the Broadwa…

Eden Espinosa, Chad Kimball, Caissie Levy, Nick Adams and More Take Part in Aug. 26 Concert to Benefit Carly Jibson's Mom by Andrew Gans

Friends of singer-actress Carly Jibson gather Aug. 26 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre to raise their voices in song for an evening benefiting Jibson's mother, who is suffering from stage-…

PLAYBILL VAULT'S Today in Theatre History: AUGUST 26 by Ernio Hernandez and Robert Viagas

1880 Broadway director-producer Philip Moeller is born today in New York. Among his greatest theatrical achievements are productions of Biography, Elizabeth the Queen, Mourning Becomes Elect…