Her Honor, Jayne Byrne receives top national play award
By AARON KRAUSE Nicole Brooks describes herself as a playwright who “likes to shove a lot of words into their text.” But recently, Brooks found herself at a loss for words. That’s because Brooks was giving her acceptance speech after winning the 2021 Harold and Mimi Steinberg/American Theatre...
Sparks fly in New Normal Rep’s riveting ‘Lines in the Dust’
© New Normal Rep The cast of New Normal Rep’s production of Lines in the Dust comprises (from left) Lisa Rosetta Strum as Dr. Beverly Long, Melissa Joyner as Denitra Morgan, and Jeffrey Bean as Mike DiMaggio. By AARON KRAUSE All Denitra Morgan wants is for her daughter,...
Perhaps you’ve never heard of this ‘Cowboy.’
Photo courtesy of Christa Ingraham Theater artist Layon Gray directs and stars as deputy U.S. marshal Bass Reeves in M Ensemble’s Cowboy. By AARON KRAUSE If I don’t tell the stories, who will? It’s not just a rhetorical question but an attitude through which multi award-winning theater artist Layon...
Date is set for Tony Awards
Following a 15-month delay, the Broadway League and American Theatre Wing have announced a date for the 74th annual Tony Awards. The celebration will take place on Sunday, Sept. 26 in a ceremony lasting four hours, spread across two separate televised events. Audiences will learn the winners for a...
Area Stage’s ‘Annie’ will be fresh, director says.
Giancarlo Rodaz By AARON KRAUSE For its next professional production, South Miami’s Area Stage Company (ASC) promises the musical Annie “like you’ve never seen before.” Still, ASC Associate Artistic Director Giancarlo Rodaz, who is mounting the production, said the award-winning, nonprofit professional company will present the classic next...
ICS’ ‘The Niceties’ neatly captures the zeitgeist
Photo by Matthew Tippins Zoe (Rachel Michelle Bryant) is clearly unhappy with her professor (Lisa Kay King) in Island City Stage’s production of The Niceties. By AARON KRAUSE “What are you doing to promote equality?” a black college student demands of her white professor in Eleanor Burgess’s taut, intense,...
Lowe shines as poet in ‘The Belle of Amherst’
Photo courtesy Palm Beach Dramaworks and Actors’ Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre Award-winning actor Margery Lowe shines as Emily Dickinson in ‘The Belle of Amherst.’ By AARON KRAUSE If you search Emily Dickinson on Google, one of the photos you’ll find is that of an austere-looking woman dressed...
New Normal Rep. scores a hit with ‘Jericho.’
Photo courtesy of New Normal Rep. Beth (Eleanor Handley) talks to the ghost of her husband, Alec (C.K. Allen) in New Normal Rep.’s inaugural online production of Jericho. By AARON KRAUSE A problem with online theater, especially a taped production, is that performers cannot take bows. In addition,...
‘Compensation’ is a compelling, timely new play
Photo by Matthew Tippins Tara (Gaby Tortoledo), Gabriel (Stephen Kaiser), and Elliot (Israel Vinas) are engaged in conversation in Island City Stage’s world premiere production of Compensation. By AARON KRAUSE If you couldn’t have children the conventional way, how far would you go to form and raise a family...
Watch the world premieres of five short musicals
Could the next Hamilton or Dear Evan Hansen emerge from a musical theater partnership in the Cleveland area? A collaboration between the Beck Center for the Arts and the Baldwin Wallace University Music Theatre Program has existed for 10 years. And this month, the collaborating partners will present five...
