Reviews

Erika Dickerson-Despenza’s play shadow/land, presented as an audio production for the Public Theater, is a tremendous new work. As the first installment of an epic 10-play ‘Katrina cycle,’ it signals the beginning of what promises to be a staggering achievement in theatre which concerns itself with race, ecology, queer feminism, and human displacement.

Wad, written by Keiko Green, follows the development of a pen pal relationship between Jim, a prisoner on death row, and teenage Nyce, a high schooler. The Ameenah Kaplan-directed virtual world premiere presented by A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle stands out through its handling of timely topics and unique production among the ever-growing landscape of pandemic theatre.

Company One and American Repertory Theater’s virtual production of "Hype Man: a break beat play" similarly asks for the audience to live up to their responsibility and speak up amidst the long-intolerable face of racial injustice.

Williamstown Theatre Festival ends its season with Audible with a new musical "Row" from Daniel Goldstein and Dawn Landes.

"Blindness" at the Daryl Roth Theatre is the first indoor theatrical experience available to New Yorkers since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Who can you rule out? Which one is guilty? And what does it mean for the community of Boyle Heights? Those are the questions Echo Theatre Company forces us to answer in Under the Freeways of Los Angeles.

Becky Mode’s hilarious "Fully Committed" now steaming through April 11 from George Street Playhouse starring Maulik Pancholy.

Dominique Morriseau’s "Paradise Blue", directed by Ruben Santiago-Hudson is now available on Audible, from Williamstown Theatre Festival.

Emblematic of the blood sport from which the play was inspired, Studio Theatre’s streaming production of Cock exposes the rawness and vulnerability of the self-sparring human spirit.

Last seen on Broadway in 2002, "Amour" is now back in a virtual format.

Javaad Alipoor's "Rich Kids: A History of Shopping Malls in Tehran" is streaming now through April 18 from Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

Once again, Williamstown flaunts an astute ear for material that lends itself beautifully to audio adaptation in partnership with Audible for "Wish You Were Here".

In Romeo y Julieta, the Public Theater’s latest foray into audio plays, she proves that a rose in any other medium (and language) smells and sounds as sweet. Unfortunately, her rose is surrounded by the thorns of misguided intentions.

Out of the Box Theatrics is known for taking theatre and scaling it down to its core of the story, and their latest production of Jason Robert Brown’s "The Last Five Years" is more evidence that even throughout a global pandemic, the young Off-Broadway company continues to produce riveting and gorgeous content — now for the digital audience. 

Turned on its head for our digitally obsessed brains by writer Henry Filloux-Bennett, The Picture of Dorian Gray lives on in an imaginative new adaptation that brings the musings of Wilde right into modern day.

Audible's latest theatrical offering includes Mary-Louise Parker and Will Hochman who star in THE SOUND INSIDE.

Oh bless the Lord, live theatre is certainly back. Sitting through quarantine over the past few months and often dreaming of what my first show back would be, I did not think Godspell in an open-air tent ever crossed my mind.

Theresa Rebeck’s landmark one-woman show Bad Dates has been deliciously translated to the virtual screen as part of George Street Playhouse digital season.

"The Pink Unicorn" at SpeakEasy Stage allows one to step out of their own worldview and learn the power that love and support can have on a child’s life.

The Conjurors' Club is a new interactive experience from the American Repertory Theater which brings magicians right into your living room.

GHBoy’s ambitions are admirable in how it tries to address many misconceptions surround gay culture, and specifically gay hookup culture: drug use, casual sex, the stigma of HIV positivity, and more. But just when you think GHBoy is going to say something profound about any one of these topics we immediately move on

The Barn Theatre, based in Cirencester, is breaking the mold for virtual theatre yet again with their production of The Secret Society of Leading Ladies. Part concert, part choose-your-own-adventure, this short performance packs a punch that will undoubtedly leave audiences satisfied.

As we approach one year of staying at home because of the pandemic it can be hard to see the wonder and amazement in the everyday things around us. Magician Dan White has tried–and succeeded–to bring back that sense of excitement in his virtual magic show The Magician Online.

Part immersive theatre, part computer game, and part choose-your-own-adventure story, The immersive groundbreaking company Les Enfants Terribles present Sherlock Holmes: An Online Adventure. In “The Case of the Hung Parliament,” three members of Parliament have been murdered and it appears as though the Prime Minister is next!

Meaningful connections and deep conversations are something even the most introverted of us crave during this seemingly never-ending pandemic. Social Alchemix Live! aims to remedy this collective loneliness by engaging in thought-provoking and reflective exchanges.

Our review of The Color Purple from Curve Leicester in association with Birmingham Hippodrome.

The first episode of "Tiger Style!" from the Huntington Theatre Company and Boston's GBH dropped this week, Juan A. Ramirez reviewed it for Theatrely.

Patrick Page teaches and performs marvelous villainy in Shakespeare Theatre Company's All The Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented The Villain.

Hi, Are You Single?, from Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company in association with IAMA Theatre Company, is the perfect vehicle for Haddad to take us along his romantic journey in what is one of the most touching and poignant pieces of theatre this critic has seen throughout quarantine. 

Notable filmmaker and cookbook author Sri Rao's "Bollywood Kitchen" is now playing, via Zoom, at The Geffen Playhouse produced in association with Hypokrit Theatre Company. Read what we thought of the immersive cooking experience.

Derek Delgaudio’s In & Of Itself, a Hulu Special Event, arrives on the streaming platform Friday, January 22.

The production, part of The Public Theater’s 2021 Under the Radar Festival, reveals little to its two audience members before it begins. I was told to call a number at a certain time, where I would find a stranger on the other end.

If anything can be said, it’s that this pandemic has fostered creativity like never before, and nowhere is that more apparent than in New Ohio Theatre for the Young Mind’s Journey Around My Bedroom. The downtown venue’s family oriented programming team came together, albeit physically distanced online, and produced a beautiful jewel box of a play.

With a cast of thirteen, it is the most ambitious of Williamstown Theatre Festival’s audio-only season, and the cast and crew pull it off brilliantly.

The LA-based playhouse has seemed to find the perfect formula for pandemic theatre after their recent productions of "The Present" and "Inside The Box".

In Homeschool Musical: Class of 2020, streaming on HBO Max starting December 17, World of Wonder, Benanti, and their team introduce seven talented graduated high school seniors in what is one of the most feel good hours of entertainment I have experienced this year.

Critic Juan A. Ramirez explores Stacy Osei-Kuffour's world premiere play "Animals", part of Williamstown Theatre Festival's Audible season.

After the wildly successful conclusion to "The Present", which closed in October after a six month run, Guimarães has once again teamed up with Hollywood director Frank Marshall to bring what this critic finds to be the most exciting piece of virtual theatre born in this era of COVID-19. 

The play, commissioned specifically for a digital platform, is the latest offering from PlayCo and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, in association with American Repertory Theater, Guthrie Theater, and Oregon Shakespeare Festival.

"Sing Your Hallelujah" might not be the holliest jolliest concert of the holidays, but it might be the balm we need to heal from an eventful year and move into 2021 with a renewed spirit.

Tony winner Susan Stroman directs a talented cast including Anna Chlumsky, David Corenswet, Stephen Kunken and more in Anna Ziegler's "Photograph 51" on chemist Rosalind Franklin.

In socially-distanced lieu of a staged production, the Williamstown Theatre Festival has released what was to be the crown jewel of their season as what is, essentially, a radio play, produced in tandem with Audible.

Game night has officially begun! It’s puzzles galore in The Geffen Playhouse’s latest virtual offering Inside The Box, by magician and puzzler extraordinaire David Kwong.

Check out Lara and Kobi's review of Moulin Rouge now playing at the Emerson Colonial in Boston.

Being a huge rom com and overall Julia Roberts fan, I was so excited to see Pretty Woman, the new musical that just opened at the Nederlander Theater here in New York.

"The Prom" is Ryan Murphy’s love letter to Broadway and musical theatre lovers everywhere. He delivers a wonderful, and at times heart wrenching, tale of acceptance and love. Premieres on Netflix December 11.

Arden and Mays make a dynamic duet of the material, and that’s enough to warm the coldest heart.

As echoed in the opening number, SIX, now playing at the American Repertory Theater, is truly one of a kind.

New Repertory Theatre in Watertown is finding new ways to showcase innovative productions during unprecedented times.

The Arlekin Players Theatre’s interactive performance proves that digital, distanced theatre can be a compelling medium. In fact, it’s a medium with incredibly high stakes.

With the current state of the world, live theatre starting to come back is like a hope-filled, sweet dream come true, just like Sleepless: a Musical Romance.

Loosely based on the movie of the same title from 2000, the musical follows two rival high schools on their way to Nationals for competitive cheerleading.

When looking into Theatre Talk Boston’s bi-annual London trip we always search for what immersive theatre the city has to offer and dotdotdot never disappoints.

Back on the road touring the UK, this new production is celebrating its 30th year wowing audience since its premiere in 1988.

Your favorite mystery-filled board game has come to life in a hilarious new play. Clue: On Stage opened last night at the Cape Playhouse here in Dennis, Massachusetts.

Get your tissues folks, and prepare for a realistic look at life, love, and loss. Writer Calvin Trillin’s About Alice takes a look at a grieving husband, Calvin (played by Jeffrey Bean) as he reminisces about the unforgettable times he had with his wife, Alice (played by Carrie Paff).

Written by Bess Wohl and beautifully directed by SpeakEasy regular M. Bevin O’Gara, Small Mouth Sounds brilliantly redefines silence not as a barrier, but rather a catalyst for introspective knowledge.

Theatre Talk Boston made the trip out to Cape Cod to catch opening night of Little Shop of Horrors at the Cape Playhouse...and boy are we glad we did.

I do believe the tea has gone luke-warm; that being Tea At Five which opened last night at the Huntington Avenue Theatre here in Downtown Boston.

“Life is good eh...even in Dublin” - well I would say life is great right here on Cape Cod! Of course that line comes from Once, the 2012 Tony Winning Best Musical now playing at the Cape Playhouse.

Things are getting a little Freaky up in Beverly, MA. We are talking about Freaky Friday, a new musical now playing at North Shore Music Theatre until July 21st.

Never has the saying “The Show Must Go On!” rang truer than with opening night of A Chorus Line now playing at the Cape Playhouse until August 3rd.

Curtain up…or down..or should I say up for Noises Off now playing at the Cape Playhouse until August 17th.

The Cape Playhouse closes their 93rd season with one of Broadway’s most successful comedic thrillers of all time.

Everything old is new again...that saying rings truer than ever in Cherry Docs now playing at The Rockwell.

SpeakEasy Stage Company opens their 29th season with Tarell Alvin McCraney’s coming-of-age drama Choir Boy.

The Lyric Stage Company opened their 45th season with the cult-classic, Little Shop of Horrors, which continues to delight audiences of all ages.

Evil is alive and well and living in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Before the curtain even rose on American Utopia playing at the historic Emerson Colonial Theatre, the sounds of birds and thunderstorms filled the space - I knew we were in for a unique night.

I can’t remember the last time I had this much fun at an opera.

Moonbox Productions has knocked it out of the park with The Rocky Horror Show now playing in Harvard Square until November 2nd.

Harmon, no stranger to Boston audiences–Bad Jews and Significant Other–has struck gold with his latest play, unpacking what exactly it means to be a white liberal in today’s society.

I have said it time and time again, college theatre in Boston is continuing to create some of the most experimental and thought-provoking productions we have in the city.

It is not everyday that Dolly Parton premieres a new musical here in Boston, so the buzz around Dolly Parton’s Smoky Mountain Christmas Carol, now playing at the Emerson Colonial Theatre, has been the talk of the town.

What would you do for immortality? Natalie Babbitt’s 1975 children’s novel is vividly brought to life in Umbrella Stage Company’s production of Tuck Everlasting, playing now through December 22.

We are all in the belly of the whale, er should I say the Loeb Drama Center here in Cambridge.

It has been three days since I attended Pass Over at SpeakEasy Stage Company, and the powerful images of this new drama are still stirring inside my head.

“Why is this night different from all other nights?” It’s a question that you would most likely be asked by your English professor if you were writing a play that took place at night, but also one of the four questions that the youngest child at the Seder table must read aloud on Passover.

“Never be too good, nor too bad. The world will punish you for both. Try to pace right with the rest of us in the unnoticeable hypocritical middle.”

Often, an efficacious story is one that is veiled in a series of satirical jokes. Such describes the brilliance behind Second City’s She The People at the Huntington Theatre Company.

At its core The Stone is a story about how we as human beings recount history and how history changes as it’s retold to protect people. It explores what happens when parts of history get buried and what happens when the truth comes to the surface.