Category: theatre

Ten years ago, theatre about neuro conditions or neuroscience was rare. Now it’s everywhere, and sparking all sorts of innovation. There is a new emphasis on neuroscience as opposed to specific neurological conditions.  – Howlround

“This joyful staging is the first by Theater 55, a new Twin Cities company that celebrates elders as artists. And it requires more than an average suspension of disbelief. The 26-member cast singing about the Age of Aquarius is distinct for its abundance of unapologetic wrinkles, dad bods and artificial joints. … And that, they might tell you, is the point.” — The New York Times

The real-time telecast of the classic counterculture musical had been scheduled for May 19. In a statement, NBC executives emphasized that “live musicals are a part of this network’s DNA and we are committed to continuing that tradition with the right show at the right time. Since these shows are such enormous undertakings, we need titles that have a wide appeal” — meaning that they’re safe for the kids. — Deadline

“Essentially, Bennett is creating a contemporary Theatre of Cruelty, giving the visceral and ritualistic techniques that Antonin Artaud advocated 80 years earlier a pyro, DayGlo twist. … He delights in designs that ‘bombard the audience with information, whether that’s sonic or physical or visual’. This is a director who abhors theatre ‘that doesn’t go beyond the cerebral’ … and for whom theatre has to make itself felt.” — The Guardian

“James Haskins, managing director of the Wilma Theater in Philadelphia, will take the same title at the Guthrie,” and new development director Mollie Alexander Hogan comes from Kansas City Rep. “Both the development and managing director positions have been vacant since Danielle St. Germain-Gordon left the former job in May and Jennifer Bielstein left the latter position in June. Another member of the Guthrie leadership team, production director David Stewart, also resigned last summer. Rebecca Cribbin was hired to replace him in December.” — The Star Tribune (Minneapolis)

Mamet’s upcoming play Bitter Wheat centers on a very Harvey Weinstein-like studio head, and Steven Berkoff is preparing a one-man show about Weinstein himself. Lyn Gardner is not having it: “Because women own this story. Not a couple of middle-aged playwrights whose recent hits have been sparse, and who are fascinated by male ‘monsters’ and want to give them more stage time. They have had quite enough.” — The Stage

There are about 30 of these tiny theatres in the city, and they seat 25 to 50 people and can run as small as 170 square feet. And they, along with every other private sector venue, have to pay a 3.5% sales tax on every ticket. But that money goes into a fund to assist members of a 58-theatre association that refuses to admit the smallest companies. — The Stage

It’s not just the portrait of Hamilton that has drawn fire. Critics also say Miranda’s portrait of Burr is horribly distorted and argue that Hamilton’s sister-in-law, Angelica Schuyler, was in no way a feminist, as she is portrayed in the musical. – The Star-Tribune (Mpls)

Synetic Theater, for instance, has had its stage right in the Crystal City complex that Amazon is taking over. “That catapulted Synetic back to its start-up roots, scrambling for places to perform. But as the Amazon deal proved, real estate near downtown has become more desirable than ever, and prices are only going up. For small and midsize theater companies, that means affordable performance space is harder than ever to find.” — The Washington Post