Category: theatre

“The show dramatizes that our founding documents weren’t handed down on stone tablets, and the founders weren’t saintly philosophers. They could be vain, petty, self-destructive; they fought each other as viciously as they fought the British.”

“While the play had its world premiere at the National Theatre in London, in collaboration with Headlong, the creative team and cast wanted a future life for the show. When a West End or New York transfer didn’t come together, they tried another way.” NT exec Tim Levy explains how it happened (and might happen again).

The keynote speech at this year’s American Theatre Critics Association conference in Philadelphia.

“You may not care much for the song (‘I wish I was your cigarette, smoked on through your lips/killing you softly with my tar and seeping out your nostrils’), but what’s undeniable is the vocal prowess of Ms. Blanchett.”

“In an ensemble theatre company, often it’s actors and other artists who hold the keys to what type of work is produced and which artists the company chooses to work with in the future. Oftentimes, these companies are made up of wonderfully talented white artists. They hit a brick wall, however, when they aren’t willing to give up opportunities in order to grow diversity in their artistic family.”

“While the most recent critiques of ‘Hamilton’ have focused on race, some scholars have also noted that it’s an odd moment for the public to embrace an unabashed elitist who liked big banks, mistrusted the masses and at one point called for a monarchal presidency and a Senate that served for life.”

“Armed with what she refers to as ‘pedestrian singing’ abilities and ‘passable acting,’ she loved working in the ensemble — standing out in the group as much as possible, but also being protected by the group just the same.”

It had to happen eventually, we guess. A student production at an elite Auckland secondary school used a prop that was, in fact, a real straight razor covered in duct tape and silver paper.

“Some of the most successful actors cite their setbacks and failures as their most formative experiences; experiences that have moved them forward and propelled them to success. … So how can you, as a working actor, become more resilient?”