A FREE SPIRIT AND A FEARLESS ARTIST: COLETTE AT 150 by Robert Shuman

(Olivia Salazar-Winpear’s, Jennifer Ben Brahim’s, Marion Chaval’s, and Magali Faure’s report appeared on France 24, 1/26.) A century and a half after her birth, Colette remains an ic…

40 YEARS SINCE NENA’S ’99 LUFTBALLONS’ BECAME A GLOBAL HIT by Robert Shuman

(Silke Wünsch’s article appeared in DW, 1/23/23; Photo: Singer Nena in the 1980sImage: United Archives/kpa/picture alliance.) Despite the recording company’s initial doubts about the so…

BETTY CAN JUMP AT THE PRAM FACTORY: THE RADICAL 1970S PLAY THAT BUILT A SCENE – AND CHANGED AUSTRALIA by Robert Shuman

(Kath Kenny’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/18; photo: Betty Can Jump was raw and amateurish – but at the time it was so powerful it left women in tears. Photograph: Betty Can Jum…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (146) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: An actor of our type is obliged to work so much more than others, both on his inner equipment, which creates the life of the part, and also o…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CARY GRANT! by Robert Shuman

Get to know the real Cary Grant for his 119th birthday, in Nancy Nelson’s acclaimed biography (he was born January 18, 1904). Recollections in His Own Words and by Those Who Knew Him Best …

‘IT’S A HARD TIME’: WHY ARE SO MANY BROADWAY SHOWS CLOSING EARLY? by Robert Shuman

(David Smith’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/14; via Pam Green; Photo: KPOP, Almost Famous, Ohio State Murders. Composite: Getty; Handout.) A slew of well-reviewed productions have…

VACLAV HAVEL’S ‘AUDIENCE’, AT LA MAMA, Feb 2-19, 2023  (LET’S GO THEATRE) by Robert Shuman

VACLAV HAVEL’S ‘AUDIENCE’ ​February 2–19, 2023 Thursday–Saturday at 7PM Sunday at 2PM Ellen Stewart Theatre 66 East 4th Street, 2nd floor New York, NY 10003 Tickets: Adults: $30 …

BACK ON A HOT TIN ROOF—RUTH STAGE’S ‘CAT’ (STARRING FREDERICK WELLER/STARTING 2/24/23) by Robert Shuman

(via Michael Jorgensen, jorgensenpr.com) “(Tennessee) Williams would probably love Matt de Rogatis’ Brick.” 
– The New York Times 
 “Brilliant…intense…funny!” 
– WCBS…

‘WATCH ON THE RHINE’ REVIEW – LILLIAN HELLMAN’S CALL TO ARMS IS A MUST-SEE by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/11/23; Photo: Channelling Bette Davis … Patricia Hodge in Watch on the Rhine. Photograph: Manuel Harlan.) Donmar Warehouse, London Patr…

SONGBOOK: PAUL ROBESON – OL’ MAN RIVER (SHOWBOAT – 1936) J.KERN O. HAMMERSTEIN II by Robert Shuman

CHARLIE CHAPLIN’S GRANDSON JAMES THIERREE ON LIFE AS A ‘CIRCUS FREAK’ by Robert Shuman

(Helen Pitt’s article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, 1/10/23; Photo: Swiss-French circus performer, violinist and actor James Theirree in Sydney.CREDIT:JAMES BRICKWOOD.) When perfo…

‘IT’S MY MOUSETRAP’: MICHAEL FRAYN ON NOISES OFF, A FARCE TO BE RECKONED WITH by Robert Shuman

(Vanessa Thorpe’s interview appeared in the Observer, 1/8; via Pam Green;  Photo:  ‘A workaday farce’: (from left) Felicity Kendal, Alexander Hanson and Tracy-Ann Oberman in Noises …

MOLI-ÉIRE: LADY GREGORY’S GALWEGIAN TAKE ON THE FRENCH SHAKESPEARE by Robert Shuman

(Michael Cronin’s articl appeared in the Irish Times, 12/20; Photo: Lady Gregory; the Irish Times.) Molière became a mainstay of the early Abbey stage, but not all critics were impressed …

A CONTEMPORARY TAKE ON ‘CABARET’ AT THE LIDO 2 PARIS by Robert Shuman

(Olivia Salazar-Winspear’s, Marion Chaval’s, Sonia Paricelli’s and Gerome Vassilacos’s article appeared on France 24, 1/3.) We take a tour of the spectacular shows illuminating the d…

‘ROMEO AND JULIET’ ACTORS SUE PARAMOUNT FOR CHILD ABUSE IN 1968 FILM by Robert Shuman

(Benjamin Lee’s article appeared in the Guardian, 1/1/23; via the Drudge Report; Photo: Franco Zeffirelli directing Olivia Hussey and Leonard Whiting in Romeo and Juliet. Photograph: REX S…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (145) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: In order to express a most delicate and largely subconscious life it is necessary to have control of an unusually responsive, excellently pre…

‘IT’S VERY TOUGH’: UK CASTLES, MUSEUMS, THEATRES TO CLOSE AS ENERGY PRICES HIT by Robert Shuman

(Dalya Alberge’s article appeared in the Guardian 12/31;  via Pam Green; Photo:  The gatehouse at Nottingham Castle. The site has been forced to close, despite a three-year, multimillion…

READERS’ FAVOURITE STAGE SHOWS OF 2022 by Robert Shuman

(The Guardian readers’ article appeared 12/19 in that media; via Pam Green; Photo: ‘It managed to surpass my expectations’ … Davina De Campo in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Photograph…

PUSSY RIOT SONG PROTESTS AGAINST WAR IN UKRAINE AND CALLS FOR PUTIN TO BE PROSECUTED by Robert Shuman

(Laura Snapes’s article appeared in the Guardian, 12/24; Photo:  ‘A desperate cry’ … (L-R) Diana Burkot, Taso Pletner, Maria Alyokhina and Olga Borisova of Pussy Riot performing in …

IN THIS SHOW, MACK THE KNIFE IS A WOMAN by Robert Shuman

(David Belcher’s article appeared in The New York Times, 12/23; Photo: Members of the cast of “The Threepenny Opera” at the Volksoper in Vienna. The production’s cross-gender casting…

M+ GROUP PARTNERSHIP LIFTS CROATIAN NATIONAL THEATRE TO THE NEXT STAGE by Robert Shuman

(PJ Cresswell’s article appeared in TimeOut, 12/22; Photo: Croatian National Theatre.) New backing and expertise to transform the experience for audiences at this venerable Zagreb landmark…

CITIZEN KANE ON IN OUR TIME by Robert Shuman

Listen  In Our Time Melvyn Bragg and guests discuss Orson Welles’ film, released in 1941, which is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest, if not the greatest, films yet made. Welles pla…

THEATRICAL VERSION OF A LITTLE LIFE ‘IS DELIBERATELY PHYSICALLY INTENSE’ SAYS DIRECTOR by Robert Shuman

(Steve Dow’s article appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald, 12/20; Photo: Ivo van Hove’s four-hour Dutch-language play A Little Life is based on Hanya Yanagihara’s bestselling 2015 nov…

‘LEOPOLDSTADT’ EXTENDS BROADWAY ENGAGEMENT THROUGH JULY 2, 2023 by Robert Shuman

(via Michelle Farabaugh, Adrian Bryan-Brown) BEST THEATER OF 2022 The New York Times   THE BEST PLAY OF 2022 Los Angeles Times LEOPOLDSTADT Extends Broadway Engagement Through July 2, 2023 …

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (144) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: Our aim (as actors) is not only to create the life of a human spirit, but also to ‘express it in a beautiful, artistic form.’ An actor is…

‘SHE’S WRITING IN A STATE OF EMERGENCY’: LILLIAN HELLMAN’S THRILLING ‘WATCH ON THE RHINE’ by Robert Shuman

(David Jays’ article appeared 12/12 in the Guardian; Photo: ‘Action, activism and engaging with the world’ … Lillian Hellman in 1945. Photograph: AP.) As Hellman’s 1941 play is re…

BULGARIAN MUSICIANS LAUNCH COLORFUL INSTRUMENT FOR DEAF AND BLIND CHILDREN by Robert Shuman

(Boyan Tonchev’s and Will Tizard’s report is  from Radio Free Europe, 12/16.) (The report is by Boyan Tonchev and Will Tizard,  from Radio Free Europe, 12/16.) Musico is a glowing, ver…

‘DOGS OF EUROPE’: A THEATRICAL ‘WARNING SHOT’ ABOUT GROWING AUTHORITARIANISM • FRANCE 24 ENGLISH by Robert Shuman

(from France 24, 12/13.) The Belarus Free Theatre has been banned in its own country. Its artists now live in exile making powerful, political work like their latest play “Dogs of Europe�…

‘ALICE IN WONDERLAND’ REVIEW – SPECTACULAR CLASS-FLIPPED ADAPTATION by Robert Shuman

(Clare Brennan’s article appeared in the Guardian, 12/12; via Pam Green; Photo:  Eleanor Fransch, ‘sassy’ in the role of Alice. Photograph: Andrew Billington.) New Vic, Newcastle-unde…

TALES OF THE BROTHERS GRIMM REVIEW – SPARKY JOURNEY THROUGH FAIRYTALE WORLD by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar’s article appeared in the Guardian 12/6; via Pam Green; Photo: Shines in every role … James Ifan in Tales of the Brothers Grimm. Photograph: Photo by Mark Douet.) Sherman t…

CAROLINES COMEDY CLUB TO CLOSE DEC. 31 by Robert Shuman

(FOX 5 NY Staff, 12/6; via the Drudge Report.) NEW YORK – The comedy venue mainstay Carolines on Broadway will close at the end of the year, FOX 5 NY has confirmed. The club’s owner,…