Spotlight
Stories that deserve your attention
Holding Room Hacks: How to Keep Your Cool and Not be a Jerk
“There’s nothing worse than showing up to an audition fully prepared to be brilliant and then letting the holding room jungle sabotage you.”
Should Schools Perform Shakespeare if They're Not Learning Shakespeare?
“Is it worth having middle schoolers and high schoolers do Shakespeare shows when they are not introduced to the opportunity of doing the scansion and leaning into poetry correctly?”
Please Be Honest When Saying You'll Accept "Any Role"
“Folks, most of us in community/school theatre know this, but please be honest when letting a director know that you’ll accept any role. It can be a huge help in casting a show and throw an enormous kink into it if someone is lying about that.”
Audience Member Charged After Fight During 'Swan Lake' performance
“It is believed the violence was triggered by someone in the audience asking another to stop talking.”
Why a Campy Musical Comedy about the Salem Witch Trials is in Poor Taste
“While I’m sure there are plenty of those who think this is a great idea or don’t see a problem with developing a campy musical surrounding events from more than 300 years ago, it doesn’t sit well with me at all.”
Chita Rivera Passes Away at 91
“It’s hard to find the words to describe such a legendary career and the impact that she made for generations of performers. But I’ll try.”
Why is one of the best theatre schools getting rid of one of their theatres?
“This wacky and confusing action is being considered at Montclair State University where college president Jonathan Koppell is considering closing the L. Howard Fox theater.”
Alan Joyce Steps Down as Sydney Theatre Company Chairman Amid Controversy
“This decision comes a month after the company faced a controversy due to an onstage protest by actors supporting Palestinian rights during the Israeli-Gaza conflict.”
Theatre's Mt. Rushmore: Andrew Lloyd Webber Shows
“With the closing of The Phantom of the Opera and the announced closing of Bad Cinderella, Broadway will not have an Andrew Lloyd Webber show playing for the first time in over three decades. It feels only fitting to kick this series with the Mt Rushmore of Andrew Lloyd Webber shows.”
We All Need More Christopher Durang In Our Lives
“Durang’s brilliance lies in dichotomy. He takes the nastiest bits of the human experience and lets us in on the joke of it all.”
Don't Let the Door Hit You on the Way Out, Charlotte
“While there will surely be tribute and platitudes to celebrate Charlotte St. Martin’s work, I could not be more happy to see her go. Seriously, if she needs someone to come and help pack up her office, I’ll gladly volunteer.”
The MFA Audition Isn’t Important
“Actors are so super focused on all the things they can control - their audition, their application, their letter of intent, etc. They lose sight of the interview because they believe that they can simply regurgitate what they wrote in their Letter of Intent. Having that mindset is actually hurting them more than helping.”