NOT TO BE: SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL FUNDING PULLED OVER ‘CANON OF IMPERIALISM’ by Robert Shuman

Asia-Pacific (Eva Corlett’s article appeared in the Irish Times–from Wellington–10/14.) New Zealand’s arts council has pulled funding for a Shakespeare festival that has been running…

‘I THREW MY ARMS AROUND BECKETT!’ – ELECTRIFYING FIRST NIGHTS, BY CIARÁN HINDS, EILEEN ATKINS AND MORE by Robert Shuman

(Dominic Dromgoole’s article appeared in the Guardian 10/26; via Pam Green; Photo: A hallucinatory experience’ … Frances Barber with Amanda Abbington and Reece Shearsmith in The Unfrie…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM KURT WEILL AND BERTOLT BRECHT (“ALABAMA SONG”) by Robert Shuman

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (143) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: Plan your role consciously at first, then play it truthfully. At this point realism and even naturalism in the inner preparation of a part is…

RUTH STAGE ‘CAT’ BACK FOR UNPRECEDENTED OFF BROADWAY RE-ENGAGEMENT by Robert Shuman

“(Tennessee) Williams would probably love Matt de Rogatis’ Brick.” – Juan Ramirez, The New York Times “Brilliant…intense…funny!” – Dave Carlin, CBS “An innovative Cat on …

EDDIE IZZARD RETURNS TO NEW YORK WITH CHARLES DICKENS’ ‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’ (12/9-1/22) by Robert Shuman

(via Kenya A. Williams, BoneauBryanBrown) EDDIE IZZARD RETURNS TO NEW YORK WITH CHARLES DICKENS’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS Performances Begin December 9  Opening Night December 15 Limited Engag…

‘THE MOORS’ REVIEW – DELICIOUSLY DARK BRONTË PASTICHE by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar’s article appeared in the Guardian, 10/16/22; via Pam Green; Photo: Captivating … The Moors. Photograph: Steve Gregson Photography.)   The Hope theatre, London The characte…

TOM STOPPARD’S ‘LEOPOLDSTADT’ (REVIEW FROM NEW YORK) by Robert Shuman

By Bob Shuman Tom Stoppard’s Olivier Award-winning Best New Play Leopoldstadt—his 19th on Broadway–which opened October 2, at the Longacre Theatre, is epic, the English way, with huge …

KAFKA QUIZ: ‘THE METAMORPHOSIS’ by Robert Shuman

Fun, random questions on the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Web site: Stage Voices (www.stagevoices.com) Follow Bob Shuman on twitter: Bob Shuman @Bobjshuman Eastern Europe Watch @WatchEastern

by Robert Shuman

ANGELA LANSBURY, STAR OF FILM, STAGE AND ‘MURDER, SHE WROTE,’ DIES AT 96 by Robert Shuman

(Daniel Lewis’s article appeared in The New York Times,. 10/11; via Pam Green; Photo:  Angela Lansbury; Ms. Lansbury  as Madame Arcati in the 2009 production of “Blithe Spirit” with,…

THE RELUCTANT SOLOIST: UKRAINIAN REFUGEE ROCKER KATYA GAPOCHKA FORGES A NEW FUTURE IN PRAGUE by Robert Shuman

(from Radio Free Europe)  Oct 8, 2022 A Ukrainian rock singer who was forced flee Kyiv at the start of Russia’s invasion of her country has been embraced by audiences and musicians in the…

TO BE OR NOT TO BE CANCELLED: HOW DIRECTORS DEAL WITH SHAKESPEARE’S PROBLEMATIC SIDE by Robert Shuman

(David Jays’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/27; via Pam Green; Photo:  Swerving convention … Olivier Huband (Ferdinand) and Ferdy Roberts (Prospero) in The Tempest at Shakespeare�…

MARÍA IRENE FORNÉS: ‘MUD/ DROWNING’ FROM MABOU MINES—ONLY THROUGH OCT. 9—REVIEW FROM NEW YORK by Robert Shuman

By Bob Shuman and Marit Shuman María Irene Fornés’s Mud/Drowning is playing for only 15 performances, September 28 to October 9, at Mabou Mines, in a double bill, directed by JoAnne Akal…

REVIEW: IN LEA MICHELE, ‘FUNNY GIRL’ HAS FINALLY FOUND ITS FANNY by Robert Shuman

(Jesse Green’s article appeared in The New York Times, 9/29/22; via Pam Green; Photo:  Yes, Lea Michele (with Ramin Karimloo) lights up like a light as the new Fanny Brice on Broadway. C…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (142) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: (Think) about the inner side of a role, and how to create its spiritual life through the help of the internal process of living the part. You…

‘MUD/DROWNING’: PERFORMANCES LIVE NOW by Robert Shuman

MUD/DROWNING     ONLY 15 CHANCES TO SEE THIS NYT CRITIC’S PICK! LIMITED AVAILABILITY!   GET TICKETS NOW! MABOU MINES AND WEATHERVANE PRODUCTIONS  IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DAYS AND NI…

‘THE PRINCE’ REVIEW – PLAYFUL ROMP THROUGH SHAKESPEAREAN ROLES by Robert Shuman

(Kate Wyver’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/22; via Pam Green; Photo:  Exploration of transgression … Corey Montague-Sholay (Prince Hal), Joni Ayton-Kent (Sam), Mary Malone (Jen) …

‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ CLOSING NEXT YEAR AFTER HISTORIC RUN ON BROADWAY by Robert Shuman

(from Eyewitness News 7, 9/16; via Drudge Report..) NEW YORK (WABC) — “Phantom of the Opera,” Broadway’s longest-running show and an icon of New York City theater, will close early …

***** ‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, REVIEW – HILARIOUS, HEARTFELT SHOW IS EVERYTHING by Robert Shuman

(Nick Ahad’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/14; Photo: Compelling … Guy Rhys (Benedick) and Daneka Etchells (Beatrice) in Much Ado About Nothing at the Crucible, Sheffield. Photogr…

ON STAGE AND WHEN WE MET AT THE THEATRE, THE QUEEN WAS A FIGURE OF QUIET WISDOM AND HUMOUR by Robert Shuman

(Michael Billington’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/9; via Pam Green; Photo: Marion Bailey as the Queen in Handbagged at the Tricycle theatre (now the Kiln), London, in 2013. Photog…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (141) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: Aside from the fact that it opens up avenues for inspiration, living the part helps the artist to carry out one of his main objectives. His j…

RUSSIA BLACKLISTS ARTISTS AND POP STARS CRITICAL OF UKRAINE WAR | FOCUS ON EUROPE by Robert Shuman

(via DW)

MARÍA IRENE FORNÉS’ MUD/DROWNING RETURNS TO MABOU MINES, SEPTEMBER 21 – OCTOBER 9 by Robert Shuman

 Fornes returns after a sold-out run at Mabou Mines!  15 PERFORMANCES ONLY    MABOU MINES AND WEATHERVANE PRODUCTIONS  IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DAYS AND NIGHTS FESTIVAL PRESENT MUD/…

ROBERT LUPONE, A CHORUS LINE TONY NOMINEE & MCC THEATER FOUNDER, DIES AT 76 by Robert Shuman

(Caitlin Moynihan’s article appeared on Broadway.com. 8/29/22.) Robert LuPone, founder and artistic director of MCC Theater and Tony-nominated A Chorus Line cast member, died on August 2…

RITA MORENO & EDWARD JAMES OLMOS ON THE DISCRIMINATION LATINX ACTORS FACED by Robert Shuman

(via Pam Green)  Despite Raúl Juliá’s talents, opportunities for Latino actors were scarce. Rubén Blades, Andy Garcia, and others discuss how Raúl Juliá overcame discrimination to m…

UNDERGROUND CULTURE: UKRAINE THEATER REOPENS IN BOMBARDED CITY by Robert Shuman

(By AFP, from Radio Free Europe, August 26, 2022.)   In the war-ravaged city of Mykolayiv, actors have reopened their theater in the safety of an underground bunker. These actors were photo…

JULIE ANDREWS AND EMMA WALTON HAMILTON TALK ABOUT TAKING THEIR CHILDREN’S BOOK EMPIRE TO THE STAGE by Robert Shuman

(Harry Haun’s article appeared in the Observer, 8/22; via Pam Green.) ‘The Great American Mousical’ — one of the 31 children’s books written by the mother and daughter team — tak…

DRUID’S ‘THE LAST RETURN’ BY SONYA KELLY WINS AWARD AT EDINBURGH FRINGE by Robert Shuman

(Deirdre Falvey’s article appeared in the Irish Times, 8/12.) Fringe First Award for play about conflict, peace and the pursuit of territory at any cost follows rave reviews Druid theatre …

TWO UKRAINIAN PLAYS REVIEW – MASTERFUL FRAMING OF A NATION’S TRAGEDY by Robert Shuman

(Mark Lawson’s article appeared in the Guardian, 8/12; via Pam Green.) Finborough theatre, London A ghostly tale and a potent monologue form a double bill that uses the 2014 conflict to re…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (140)  by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: You may play well or you may play badly; the important thing is that you should ​play truly (Shchepkin to Shumski). To play truly means to …