Arts
Playwright August Wilson's "Pittsburgh Cycle" comprises ten plays about the African-American experience, each set in its own decade of the 20th century. It's a massive, multifaceted saga worthy of the best work from actors, designers, and directors. C. Rosalind Bell, a playwright herself, knew and worked with Wilson and Claude
We Recommend
Trudy hears voices. She's what folks used to call a "bag lady," back before the descriptor "homeless" gained traction, and we meet her at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk in New York City. She ascribes these voices to signals from "space chums," amorphous aliens who
Stage
Few lines of dialogue are surer to bring me to tears than "Miss Jean Louise, stand up. Your father's passing." I'm moved by tales of goodness; if ever there was a novel that pondered the differences between legal, right and good, it's Harper Lee's immortal To Kill a Mockingbird. You've
Stage
Trudy hears voices. She's what folks used to call a "bag lady," back before the descriptor "homeless" gained traction, and we meet her at the corner of Walk and Don't Walk in New York City. She ascribes these voices to signals from "space chums," amorphous aliens who collect human experiences
Stage
I'm this close to giving up on jukebox musicals altogether. For one thing, the people who enjoy them - and those people are legion - do so for reasons that have nothing to do with theater criticism. I like nostalgia, too, which is why I have '80s songs on my
We Recommend
Producing this show is like saddling a dragon. I caught struggles for lines, most adroitly concealed. The blocking isn't great for performance in the round. There are patrons who won't know what to make of all its profanity, carnality and perma-drunk savagery. What unnerves most, though,
Stage
There are roles we actors take on to prove, to ourselves and others, we can bear them. We dash ourselves against the windmills of Hamlet and Lear, Ophelia and Lady Macbeth. We speak of epic, three-hour monsters like Angels in America or August: Osage County with daunted respect. Some scripts,
Stage
We're not awful people, we swear! It bums us out to deflate the work of theatrical colleagues and friends. That's why I was delighted to add the "Carvies," a roster of exceptional work in Olympia, to my review schedule in 2010 and in every December since. Now I've encouraged Joann
We Recommend
First Night Tacoma has always been an enjoyable evening of music and art, but for First Night on New Year's Eve, the shenanigans will be ramped up considerably. It's become a press-release cliché to say an event is "fun for all ages," but this time around there
Arts
First Night Tacoma has always been an enjoyable evening of music and art, but for First Night on New Year's Eve, the shenanigans will be ramped up considerably. It's become a press-release cliché to say an event is "fun for all ages," but this time around there really is something
We Recommend
Sated? Maybe it's time to dig out from under the spent wrapping paper, tinsel and turkey bones to spend a few moments in reflection. In the meantime, here's Christian Doyle doing Frank Sinatra and a beat poet. Here's Amy Shephard in a clown suit and roller
We Recommend
For those just joining us, I'm a C. S. Lewis hater. In the face of all opposition, I remain resolute in my conviction that Lewis's fantasies were incoherent and his nonfiction only slightly more rational. I suspect, therefore, that Jen Ankrum, director of Lakewood Playhouse's holiday retelling of The Lion, the Witch and the
Stage
For those just joining us, I'm a C. S. Lewis hater. In the face of all opposition, I remain resolute in my conviction that Lewis's fantasies were incoherent and his nonfiction only slightly more rational. I suspect, therefore, that Jen Ankrum, director of Lakewood Playhouse's holiday retelling of The Lion,
Arts
Ugh, remember last December, when you and your besties suddenly realized you had no plans the night of the 31st, it was too late to book anything extraordinary and the one place you were able to get into was about as exciting as an Amish church picnic? Weak! Don't let
We Recommend
As show director and company artistic manager Linda Whitney conceded in her curtain speech, the recession has bludgeoned the arts business. I'm not sure Harlequin is thrilled with doing Stardust each November, either, but the show must go on. Save smartsy plays for spring, when attention
Stage
Try as we might, we critics look forward to some productions more than others. From our perspective, the newer, more cutting-edge shows cluster in late spring and summer, as do the Shakespeares and edgier musicals. Autumn ushers in every new theater season with tried-and-true popular favorites, and as for the
Stage
Saturday, Jan. 4 at 6:30 p.m., Tacoma Little Theatre will host a roundtable conversation between theater practitioners and theater audiences. I've arranged it to start a dialogue that'll serve, I hope, to boost attendance community-wide and give artistic directors a better idea what you want your ticket price to buy.
We Recommend
Erin Guinup knows her way around a concert stage. After earning her degree in vocal performance and music education from the University of Puget Sound, she went on to perform some of the best-loved roles in musical theater. She's directed, taught, conducted and acted her way around the entire region,
We Recommend
Irish slang has this wonderful word: craic, pronounced "crack." Its several meanings include "gossipy banter" and "fun," which tells you all you need to know about what constitutes fun for the Irish. A weir, on the other hand, is a dam in a river or stream. It's a
We Recommend
As a critic, actor and theater geek, I've come to cherish those moments when we witness an actor arriving before our eyes. In my review of Julius Caesar last summer, I mentioned the "obvious growth" of Christopher Rocco. Well, he's full-grown now. He plays Mike, a construction worker
