JONI MITCHELL PERFORMS IN PUBLIC FOR FIRST TIME IN NINE YEARS by Robert Shuman

PUTIN, CHEKHOV AND THE THEATER OF DESPAIR by Robert Shuman

(Matt Wolf's article appeared in The New York Times, 7/21/22; via Pam Green.) In London, a new play about President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and a revival of "The Seagull" explore undercu…

***** 'BILLY ELLIOT THE MUSICAL' REVIEW " THE BOY WHO JUST WANTS TO DANCE IS BACK IN AN ELECTRIC NEW PRODUCTION by Robert Shuman

(Miriam Gillinsons'article appeared in the Guardian, 7/24.)  Leicester Curve Nikolai Foster's new version is more like a play with dance and songs, giving ideas around love and loss, comm…

'Shut UP, Emily Dickinson' AT ABRONS ARTS CENTER, JULY 28 " AUGUST 13 by Robert Shuman

(Via Andrea Alton/Alton PR; Photo: Tanya O'Debra and Gregg Bellón in Shut UP, Emily Dickinson. Photo by Molly Broxton.) Tanya O'Debra's award-winning play Shut UP, Emily Dickinson, will b…

EXILED ANTI-WAR PLAYWRIGHT WISHES FOR RUSSIA'S 'CRUSHING DEFEAT' by Robert Shuman

(from Radio Free Europe, 7/20/22.) Influential Russian playwright Mikhail Durnenkov fled Russia for Finland shortly after Moscow's February 24 invasion of Ukraine. Durnenkov's opposition to …

***** 'CRAZY FOR YOU' REVIEW " SPINE-TINGLING MUSICAL IS A GIDDY THRILL by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar's article appeared in the Guardian, 7/20.) Chichester Festival theatre Instantly infectious melodies, superb choreography and irresistible comedy are met with astonishing perfor…

CHILDREN'S BOOKS"AWARD FOR 'THE LONG SHADOW' BY PHYLLIS WHEELER by Robert Shuman

(via Phylliswheeler.com)  Phyllis Wheeler's novel The Long Shadow, represented by Marit Literary Agency, has won a Purple Dragonfly Award! These awards are judged by Story Monsters …

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (137) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: The very best that can happen​ is to have the actor completely carried away by the play.  Then regardless of his own will he lives …

A NEW SHAKESPEARE PLOT: GARDEN OF BARD'S DAUGHTER TO BE RECREATED by Robert Shuman

  (Dalya Alberge's article appeared in the Guardian, 7/17; via Pam Green.) Remedies used by healer Susanna Hall and her doctor husband will be planted at Stratford home In Shakespeare's…

ELEANOR METHVEN: A SORCERER OF THE STAGE by Robert Shuman

(Sara Keating's article appeared in the Irish Times, 7/16/22.) For Methven, who stars as Prospero in Rough Magic's The Tempest, the rehearsal room is the beating heart of a theatre productio…

AVIGNON'S 76TH THEATRE FESTIVAL: KUBRA KHADEMI ON AFGHANISTAN'S HEROINES by Robert Shuman

(Oliver Salazar-Winspear's, Natastacha Milleret's, Magali Faure's, and Marion Chaval's report appeared on France 24, 7/14/22.) Avignon may be France's oldest arts festival, but it has a reso…

CHECKING IN WITH… 'CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF' STAR ALISON FRASER THE TWO-TIME TONY NOMINEE PLAYS BIG MAMA IN THE OFF-BROADWAY REVIVAL OF THE CLAS by Robert Shuman

(Andrew Gans's article appeared on Playbill, 7/14.)   This week Playbill catches up with two-time Tony nominee Alison Fraser, cast as Big Mama in Ruth Stage's production of Tennesse…

SWEDEN'S ABBA AND PIPPI LONGSTOCKING MEET AT THE CIRCUS by Robert Shuman

(Torsten Landsberg's article appeared in DW, 7/12.) ABBA's Björn Ulvaeus has adapted a Pippi Longstocking story, written by popular Swedish children's books author Astrid Lindgren, into a m…

REBECCA HUMPHRIES ON LIFE AFTER THAT STRICTLY DEBACLE: 'I FELT AS IF I HAD A VOICE AGAIN. MAYBE ONE THAT MATTERED' by Robert Shuman

(Michael Hogan's article appeared in the Observer, 7/10; via Pam Green.) The actor's breakup with comedian Seann Walsh went viral after he cheated on her with his dance partner and she respo…

JAMES CAAN, 'THE GODFATHER' AND 'MISERY' STAR, DIES AT 82 by Robert Shuman

(Carmel Dagan's article appeared in Variety, 7/7; via Pam Green.) James Caan, whose indelible, Oscar-nominated performance as Sonny Corleone, the recklessly hotheaded son of Marlon Brando's …

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (136) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: ​Above all look for what is fine in art and try to understand it. (AP)

THROWN A LIFELINE: 'EVERY WEEK THERE WAS ANOTHER DEATH. EVERYBODY WAS ASKING THE SAME THING: WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT THE RIVER?' by Robert Shuman

(Sara Keating's article appeared in the Irish Times, 7/2.) Your Wellness In response to Galway's high suicide rate, more than 150 participants will tightrope-walk across the Corrib this mont…

PETER BROOK, CELEBRATED STAGE DIRECTOR OF SCALE AND HUMANITY, DIES AT 97 by Robert Shuman

(Benedict Nightingale's article appeared in The New York Times, 7/3/22; He was called "the greatest innovator of his generation," leaving an indelible mark with plays, musicals, opera and a …

'9 CIRCLES' REVIEW " UNFLINCHING APPRAISAL OF A WARTIME ATROCITY by Robert Shuman

(Miriam Gillinson's article appeared in the Guardian, 7/1.)  Park theatre, London Joshua Collins is magnetic as a US soldier awaiting trial for murder in this hard-hitting drama hamstrung…

DONALD TRUMP PLAYED SONG FROM 'CATS' TO CALM HIMSELF DOWN IN WHITE HOUSE, HIS STAFF CLAIM   by Robert Shuman

Adam Gopnik of the New Yorker wrote that Donald Trump's need to be comforted by Broadway music "degrades both the office of the Presidency and a great American institution" (Rachel Hagan's a…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (135) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: ​I was ready to turn myself inside out​, to give [the audience] everything I had; yet inside of me I had never felt so empty.…

A MIGHTY GROOVE: SADLER'S WELLS SETS UP NEW DANCE HOME IN EAST LONDON by Robert Shuman

(Lyndsey Winship's article appeared in the Guardian, 6/26; via Pam Green.) Due to open in Stratford next year, the sibling to the Islington institution will have a special emphasis on local …

PUTTING ON PUPPET SHOWS WITH AN EDGE: DISCOVERING PUPPETEERING CHANGED MARGO LOVELACE"AND THE ART SCENE IN PITTSBURGH. by Robert Shuman

(Susan Orlean's article appeared in the New Yorker, 6/22.) Puppeteering is rarely an obvious career choice, but how Margo Lovelace (1922-2022) came to be a puppeteer is actually quite logica…

OF COURSE THEATRE CRITICS SHOULD SPEAK THEIR MIND, BUT NOT WITH CHEAP SHOTS by Robert Shuman

(Catherine Bennett's article appeared in the Observer, 6/19;via Pam Green.) One irritating theatre reviewer shouldn't hide the fact that too many writers pull punches Legally Blonde at Regen…

JAMES RADO, CO-CREATOR OF BROADWAY HIT HAIR, DIES AT 90 by Robert Shuman

(Benjamin Lee's article appeared in the Guardian, 6/22.) The award-winning writer, whose hit musical originally opened on Broadway in the late 60s, died in New York City of cardiorespiratory…

VERSAILLES CELEBRATES MOLIÈRE WITH A MONTH OF DRAMATIC DELIGHTS by Robert Shuman

(from France24, 6/17.) In this edition we focus on France's foremost playwright. Molière's witticisms and deft handling of the French language still dazzle, four centuries after he was b…

IN 'CORSICANA,' WILL ARBERY PUTS ART, FAMILY AND DOWN SYNDROME ONSTAGE by Robert Shuman

(Jennifer Schuessler's article appeared in The New York Times, 6/15; via Pam Green; Photo:  Will Arbery with Jamie Brewer, one of the stars of his play "Corsicana," which was inspired by …

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (134) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: There is a good side to this period of waiting [to go on stage]. It drives you into such a state that all you can do is to long for your turn…

IRELAND MARKS BLOOMSDAY WITH PLAY ABOUT ULYSSES OBSCENITY TRIAL by Robert Shuman

(Rory Carroll's article appeared in the Guardian, 6/16/22; Photo: James Joyce in Zurich in 1915. Photograph: Granger Historical Picture Archive/Alamy.) 1933 trial that vindicated 'pornogr…

THE KYIV CITY BALLET TO TOUR THE US IN AN AMERICAN PREMIERE…SEPTEMBER " OCTOBER 2022 by Robert Shuman

  (via Scott Klein, Ken Sherman & Associates; Photos: Kyiv City Ballet.)   www.KCBTheater.com The Kyiv City Ballet (www.kcbtheater.com), under the artistic direction of Ivan …

THE IRISH TIMES IRISH THEATRE AWARDS 2022: ALL THE WINNERS REVEALED by Robert Shuman

(Sara Keating's article appeared in the Irish Times, 6/12; Photo: Best actress: Bríd Ní Neachtain won for her role in Happy Days. Photograph: Andrew Downes/Xposure.) Six months ago Ire…