All stories by Howard Shapiro on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 14, 2012

Review: 'Are You There, McPhee?' by Howard Shapiro

John Guare's mix of realism and fanstasy in "Are You There, McPhee?" a world premiere at McCarter Theatre, becomes a tiresome saga. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews from Prince…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 02:13PM
Friday, May 11, 2012

Review: '1 pound 4 ounces' by Howard Shapiro

By Howard Shapiro INQUIRER STAFF WRITER The thought, sound and rhythm of Khalil Munir’s hour-long theatrical memoir, "1 pound 4 ounces" are delivered not just in well-considered words bu…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 04:03PM

Review: 'Robin Hood' by Howard Shapiro

An easy-going "Robin Hood" has its feet in different eras in Arden Theatre Company's smooth production. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 03:53PM
Monday, April 30, 2012

Review: 'My Fair Lady' by Howard Shapiro

Act II Playhouse in Ambler downsizes "My Fair Lady" to mixed results. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 02:06PM
Sunday, April 29, 2012

Breadwinner is just one of versatile Grace Gonglewski’s many roles by Howard Shapiro

Grace Gonglewski, the tall, velvet-voiced actor Philadelphia theatergoers have been seeing on professional stages for two decades, was standing in front of a microphone the other day.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 11:01AM
Saturday, April 14, 2012

Review: 'How I Learned to Drive' by Howard Shapiro

Paula Vogel's "How I Learned to Drive" gets an excellent ride at Theatre Horizon. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews from Norristown.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 01:53AM
Wednesday, April 11, 2012

News: Philadelphia Theatre Alliance folding up shop by Howard Shapiro

The service organization for the region's theaters, which has spearedheaded many projects including the Barrymore Awards, is dissolving. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reports.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 12:24PM

News: Philadelphia Theatre Alliance folding up shop by Howard Shapiro

The service organization for the region's theaters, which has spearedheaded many projects including the Barrymore Awards, is dissolving. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reports.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 12:14PM
Friday, March 30, 2012

News: A burgeoning nontraditional theater scene by Howard Shapiro

Lots of shows, not necessarily in traditiobnal settings or with traditional theater companies, pop up around the region. Howard Shapiro reports.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 07:07PM

Review: 'The Golem' by Howard Shapiro

Ego Po's take on the mythical Jewish protector offers a twist because of the characters' context. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reports from the Prince Music Theater.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 01:10PM

Oddball theater on the rise in Philadelphia region by Howard Shapiro

In Mount Holly, the 10-person audience sits around a séance table. In Society Hill, folks with beers and slices of pizza look on at dinnertime as little one-acts unfold.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 10:09AM
Thursday, March 29, 2012

Review: 'West Side Story' by Howard Shapiro

The national tour of the Broadway revival of "West Side Story" works chiefly for its dancing, just like it did on Broadway. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews from the Academy of…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 01:58AM
Friday, March 23, 2012

Review: 'Steel Magnolias' by Howard Shapiro

It's dated, and full of laugh-lines that sink (among some genuinely funny ones), but "Steel Magnolias" at Bristol Riverside Theatre is notable for its ensemble acting by an excellent cast. I…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 05:08PM
Thursday, March 22, 2012

Arden Theatre Company announces expansion by Howard Shapiro

A new space, three doors from the Arden Theatre Company in Old City, will become the focus of its programs for students and children, and will house an 80-seat theater, the Arden's third. Ho…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 06:08PM
Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Review: 'God of Carnage' by Howard Shapiro

On Walnut Street Theatre's main stage, a funny, fluidly staged production of Yasmina Reza's study of acrimony.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 11:54PM
Monday, March 19, 2012

Review: 'Travesties' by Howard Shapiro

At Princeton's McCarter Theatre, concrete evidence of Tom Stoppard's sprawling intelligence. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 03:20PM
Thursday, March 15, 2012

Review: 'Cyrano' by Howard Shapiro

Michael Holinger's sterling new translation and Aaron Posner's kinetic staging illuminate the great tale of a man with a bulbous nose who lived larger than life. Inquirer theater critic Howa…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 02:23AM
Thursday, March 1, 2012

News: A new surprise ending for 'The Mousetrap' by Howard Shapiro

Wednesday night, the Walnut Street Theatre’s current production of the play had a new surprise ending when Dan Hodge, one of its actors, proposed to his unsuspecting girlfriend at the curt…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 05:57AM
Wednesday, February 29, 2012

News: A new surprise ending for 'The Mousetrap' by Howard Shapiro

It happened Wednesday night at the Walnut Street Theatre production, in front of an audience of about 1,100. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reports from the Walnut.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 11:28PM
Friday, February 24, 2012

Review: 'Ethel' by Howard Shapiro

Terry Burrell offers a girlish, often defiant Ethel Waters in the one-woman "Ethel!" at Walnut Street Theatre's third-stage Independence Studio. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro review…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 02:32PM

Fortifying themselves for an absurdist all-nighter by Howard Shapiro

Slater, five other actors, and director Madi Distefano will be pulling an all-nighter beginning at 8 p.m. Friday at Plays & Players Theatre in Center City. There, they will stage 24 performa…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 05:43AM
Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Tony Braithwaite to lead Act II Playhouse by Howard Shapiro

One of the region's pre-eminent comic talents, Tony Braitwaite, has been named producing artistic director of Act II Playhouse in Ambler, succeeding Bud Martin. Howard Shapiro reports.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 04:35PM
Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Review: 'Educating Rita' by Howard Shapiro

The modern-day British take on "Pygmalion" opens in a crisp production at Hedgerow Theatre. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews from Rose Valley in Delaware County.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 02:11PM
Friday, February 3, 2012

Broadway: Now you see it, now you don't. Oh, wait! Now you do, again. by Howard Shapiro

On, then off, now it looks as is "Clybourne Park" will be back on the Broadway schedule this season, again.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 04:39PM
Thursday, February 2, 2012

Hissyfitting, Broadway style by Howard Shapiro

April's Broadway opening of "Clybourne Park" -- the new play that the Arden Theatre Company opened in its own production Wednesday night -- has been cancelled for now.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 03:33PM
Tuesday, January 31, 2012

News: Service planned in memory of Jiri Zizka by Howard Shapiro

The Wilma plans a service for noon Monday.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 03:34PM

Broadway bound, but not before it's done in Philly by Howard Shapiro

The new play "Clybourne Park," last year's Pulitzer winner, opened in Los Angeles last week in a production that moves directly to Broadway in the spring. But not before the Arden Theatre Co…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 03:17PM
Monday, January 30, 2012

Review: 'Bachelorette' by Howard Shapiro

Raunchy and real, "Bachelorette" does well in Luna Theatre Company's production at the Adrienne. Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 01:59PM
Sunday, January 29, 2012

Trend: The stage, and Black History Month by Howard Shapiro

Artistic directors say they believe that relegating plays about race or African Americans to one month a season minimizes not just the work but the talent pool of black theater artists. Inqu…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 07:28PM
Thursday, January 26, 2012

Jiri Zizka, 58, a force in Philadelphia theater by Howard Shapiro

Jiri Zizka defected from Czechoslovakia, joined a small Philadelphia theater company, and, with his then-wife Blanka Zizka, transformed it into the Wilma Theater — one of the city’s larg…

SOURCE: Philly.com at 08:30PM

Review: 'Microcrisis' by Howard Shapiro

InterAct Theatre Company gives to wacky "Microcrisis" a once-over. Is this satire about the financial crisis as goofy as it seems? Inquirer theater critic Howard Shapiro reviews.

SOURCE: Philly.com at 12:18AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic