Category: theatre

“We were both winning awards, but we couldn’t come to each other’s [ceremonies] to celebrate each other.”

“Our original goal was, ‘Let’s entertain people who have our sense of humor — who like that wordplay, who like that absurdism,’… But then all these people showed up, as I predicted, who were there out of guilt or curiosity or a sense of ‘I want to learn more about someone in my family.’ We’re not writing for them, but we understand those people come and we’re happy to have them.”

“An AD is only ever a custodian, and a publicly funded theatre should never be a personal fiefdom. Every theatre that is genuinely interested in serving artists and audiences must undergo constant reinvention, and sometimes that will include the need for new blood.”

“Her doctor advised her against returning to the show, and the Cherry Lane Theater decided to end the run, which had been scheduled to continue until July 31.”

“The better playwrights are inevitably drawn more to questions than answers, but in turbulent times a God-like neutrality can seem like an abdication of responsibility. To put the matter in Yeatsian terms: Why should the best among us, our writers, lack conviction, while the worst, a tough call but let’s go with our representatives in Congress, be full of passionate intensity?”

“Until last August, when they engaged a general management company, Ms. Nichols (who makes a part-time salary with the troupe) and Mr. Tucker (who makes a full-time salary) had been shepherding Bedlam’s rise themselves, building a board of directors and gradually hiring people to take on some of their too many tasks. Still on their wish list, among other things: a managing director.”

“One thing that did not get spoken on Monday night – the subject is vast, and the time was brief – is the role that theater people and other artists bring to the telling of stories. Whose stories get told, and whose get ignored? How are the stories told? Who tells them? Who listens? What is the role of theater and other arts organizations in expanding the conversation, in making it emotionally understandable and at the same time spreading more light than heat? Who gets hired? Who doesn’t? These are essential questions that contemporary artists and their followers need to confront.”

“It seemed to be a coup for Theater for a New Audience: Its first summer Shakespeare production would be Hamlet, with the much-lauded Tony-winning director Sam Gold at the helm, and the rising Hollywood star Oscar Isaac in the title role. … [But] last month Mr. Gold, citing insurmountable artistic differences, backed out and took the play – and Mr. Isaac – to the Public Theater.”