THIS LOCKDOWN, ENGLAND'S THEATERS KNOW WHAT TO DO ONLINE by Robert Shuman

(Matt Wolf's article appeared in The New York Times, 11/26; Tamzin Outhwaite, left, and Fiona Button in "What a Carve Up!"Credit…via Barn Theatre/Lawrence Batley Theatre/New Wolsey Theatre…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (102) by Robert Shuman

The charming delicacy of the scenic artist's sketch is always uglified on the stage. . . . And no matter what the artist might do, he will never be able to conquer materiality and coarseness…

THEATRE COMPANIES IN UK TIER 3 AREAS DESCRIBE 'SHOCK AND HEARTBREAK' by Robert Shuman

(Lanre Bakare's article appeared in the UK Guardian, 12/3; Photo: Nottingham Playhouse says its Cinderella pantomime and Jack and the Beanstalk family show will now only be available to stre…

IRELAND: COVID-19"ANGER AS THEATRE SECTOR PONDERS WHY IT'S NOT ALLOWED REOPEN by Robert Shuman

(Ronan McGreevy's article appeared in the Irish Times, 12/2: Photo: Abbey Theatre directors Graham McLaren (left) and Neil Murray: Calling on the Government to "look again at the reopening o…

LET'S PLAY 'BEAT THE BARD' (21) by Robert Shuman

 Can you beat the Bard? Questions by Joyce E. Henry, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

ANITA DURST, CHASHAMA, TALKS WITH BOB OST AND THE TRU COMMUNITY by Robert Shuman

On 11/27 at 4:30pm, Anita Durst talked with Executive Director Bob Ost and the Friday TRU Community Gathering about an organization she founded twenty-five years ago, one that supports artis…

DEPENDING ON THE KINDNESS OF SOUND ENGINEERS by Robert Shuman

(Alexis Soloski's article appeared in The New York Times, 11/25; Photo: Carla Gugino, left, and Audra McDonald planned to share a stage this summer in "A Streetcar Named Desire," but ended u…

MEET THE REAL-LIFE GANGSTERS WHO INSPIRED GUYS AND DOLLS by Robert Shuman

(Mathew Lyons's article appeared in the Spectator,  11/24; Photo: Braodwaymusicalhome.com.) Guys and Dolls, the musical loosely based on the Broadway stories of Damon Runyon, premiered on…

EAT UP! DRAMA IS SERVED AT THESE FAMILY DINNERS by Robert Shuman

(Maya Phillips's article appeared in The New York Times, 11/25; Photo:  The ultimate hellish family gathering: Dinner with the Westons in Tracy Letts's "August: Osage County."Credit…Sar…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (101) by Robert Shuman

[Our] conscious laws [of acting] exist for the purpose of awaking another and higher superconscious region of creativeness. This latter is outside of our comprehension, and we are helpless i…

TREVOR NUNN TO DIRECT LISA DWAN IN BECKETT'S HAPPY DAYS by Robert Shuman

(Chris Wiegand's article appeared in the Guardian, 11/18; Photo: Astonishing … Lisa Dwan in No's Knife at the Old Vic in 2016. Photograph: Tristram Kenton/the Guardian.) Dwan will play …

LET'S PLAY 'BEAT THE BARD' (20) by Robert Shuman

  Can you beat the Bard? Questions by Joyce E. Henry, Ph.D. All rights reserved.  

5 EXTRAORDINARY SOVIET CLOWNS by Robert Shuman

(Valeria Paikova's article appeared in Russia Beyond the Headlines, 11/16.)   Yuri Belinsky/Sputnik; Yevgeny Ivanov, Semyon Mishin-Morgenshtern/MAMM/MDF/russiainphoto.ru Just like any oth…

ARE STREAMED PLAYS THEATER OR TV? UNIONS SETTLE A DISPUTE by Robert Shuman

(Michael Paulson's article appeared in The New York Times, 11/19; Actors' Equity and SAG-AFTRA's agreement clears the way for more entertainment during the pandemic winter; via Pam Green.) T…

WB YEATS, THE SPANISH FLU AND AN EXPERIMENT IN QUARANTINE by Robert Shuman

(Joseph M. Hassett's article appeared in the Irish Times, 11/20.) The elixir of love is potent medicine for all locked in by pandemic or the virus of hatred WB Yeats's December 14th, 1918 le…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (100) by Robert Shuman

It is only through a strongly developed outer and inner technique that one can reach . . . the complete concentration of one's inner life on the stage, the ability to fire one's passions and…

DOLLY PARTON HELPED FUND MODERNA'S VACCINE. IT BEGAN WITH A CAR CRASH AND AN UNLIKELY FRIENDSHIP. by Robert Shuman

(Timothy Bella's article appeared in The Washington Post, 11/18; Photo: Today.com; via the Drudge Report.) As Dolly Parton tells it, her first-ever car accident in October 2013 was minor, bu…

LET'S PLAY 'BEAT THE BARD' (19) by Robert Shuman

  Can you beat the Bard? Questions by Joyce E. Henry, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

FOR GERMANY'S THEATERS, A RELUCTANT INTERMISSION by Robert Shuman

(A. J. Goldman's article appeared in The New York Times, 11/12; Photo: Carolin Conrad, left, and Lukas Rüppel in "Danton's Death" at the the Residenztheater in Munich.  Credit…Sandra T…

ANCIENT STATUE OF HERMES DUG UP IN ATHENS by Robert Shuman

(via AFP. Photo:  © Provided by AFP This handout picture released by the Greek Culture Ministry on November 15, 2020, shows the head of an ancient statue of the Greek god Hermes,…

EMILY WILSON ON AESCHYLUS' ORESTEIA by Robert Shuman

(Wilson's article appeared in the London Review of Books, 10/8; via Norm Silverman.) Aeschylus'​ Oresteia begins with the story of a grieving, righteously angry woman seeking ju…

BLACK LIVES MATTER IN "TITUS ANDRONICUS" (INTERVIEW WITH DAVID STERLING BROWN) by Robert Shuman

Shakespeare Unlimited: Episode 155 (Folger Shakespeare Library) In his classes at Binghamton University, David Sterling Brown and his students examine Shakespeare's plays through the lens of…

LET'S PLAY 'BEAT THE BARD' (18) by Robert Shuman

PLAY WITH THE FORMAT: HOW THEATRE SHOWS ARE DISPENSING WITH THE STAGE by Robert Shuman

(Natasha Tripney's article appeared in the Guardian, 11/7.) Undeterred by Covid, theatre-makers are beaming innovative plays into people's homes via Zoom, WhatsApp and Minecraft Since mid-Ma…

10 SOVIET ACTRESSES YOU SHOULD KNOW (PHOTOS+VIDEOS) by Robert Shuman

Vasily Malyshev/Sputnik; Sputnik (Valeria Paikova's article appeared on Russia Beyond, 11/6.)   These committed movie stars became symbols of their era, setting silver screens alight with…