Reviews of current productions by our writers
By JESSICA NEU Directed by Hal Chambers and written and performed by Richard Marsh, Yippee Ki Yay The Parody Celebration of Die Hard is a clever one-man show that brings the iconic 1988 film to life. The film’s status as a Christmas movie is still… Read More ›
By JESSICA NEU Last week, I had the opportunity to tour the Wyoming state capital building, where the Amish handcrafted the building’s woodwork. The Amish believe that the only person who can create something perfect is God, so they intentionally… Read More ›
It’s cozy by the fireside, with the scent of pine trees seeming to permeate the air, as City Theatre invites us to spend the holiday season with the ever-growing canon of Lauren Gunderson Sisterhoods at Christmastime.
The commissioned adaptation of “Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women” unfolds as if it were a graphic novel come to life, with thought bubbles spoken aloud, alongside dialogue, and Anne Mundell’s set design featuring the tangible metaphor of trees carved from the novel’s pages.
By GUILHERME MELETTI YAZBEK The Riverfront Theater Company is currently presenting the production that closes its Sapphire Season, celebrating the group’s impressive 65 years. Next to Normal premiered Off-Broadway in 2008 and, due to its success, entered the pantheon of American theater with… Read More ›
By MINGSI MA Philosopher Slavoj Žižek describes love as “extremely violent,” even “traumatic” and “catastrophic,” because it throws our ordinary lives off balance. He emphasizes the idea of “falling in love” because it is sudden and unconscious, almost like being… Read More ›
What happens when two sets of New York parents seek a civilized response to an act of playground violence: one of their 11-year-old sons whacking the other with a stick, knocking out two teeth?
In the case of barebones’ production of “God of Carnage,” it’s a blast, as outwardly responsible adults take wildly inappropriate dives into their darkest sides, played by Daina Michelle Griffth, Patrick Jordan, Gayle Pazerski and David Whalen.
Extraordinary voices vying for best in show and a vibrant, pulsating production touched down at the Benedum Center this week, as Hell’s Kitchen made Pittsburgh the second stop in the musical’s first national tour.
Featuring more than 20 songs from the catalog of 18-time Grammy-winner Alicia Keys (including best musical theater album), the gritty coming-of-age story, with mother-daughter dynamics front and center, is woven with autobiographical elements of Keys’ own experiences.
By GUILHERME MELETTI YAZBEK Last night was Halloween, and arriving at the opulent Benedum Center was an experience in itself. Zombies, witches, and all manner of creatures roamed freely through downtown streets on their way to parties and bars. Inside the beautiful… Read More ›
So much of the play “Enron” is true to life, that to call it a dark comedy, you must emphasize dark, or as a cautionary tale, a better emphasis would be: beware. Quantum Theatre is retelling the tale right on time for the demon season, with a compelling, kinetic staging of the Lucy Prebble play that looks back on the downfall of a corporate giant. The Texas-based energy company was known to all who lived through the turn of the 20th century for its national “Ask Why” campaign, which portrayed Enron as a pioneering, innovative energy and business company. It was all smoke and mirrors, laid bare in the compelling production, a collaboration with Attack Theatre.
By JESSICA NEU Dancer, Choreographer, and Teacher Aakash Odedra‘s impressive resume features over 300 full-length performance credits across more than 40 countries, all in the past decade. What makes this triumph even more amazing is that Odedra’s performances are solo. Odedra boldly… Read More ›
