By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) It’s taken 16 years since it first bowed at the Public Theatre and 15 years after it became a Broadway smash, but In the Heights has finally arrived, making its regional New Orleans theatre premiere. The first Lin-Manuel Miranda musical to win a Tony Award for Best Musical, In […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic It’s not going to reshape your concept of the Founding Fathers through inventive use of choreography and hip hop music. It’s not going to give you insight into how a fictional visitor from Kansas to a strange and distant land might be reset from her antagonist’s view. Neither will […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) It wasn’t that long ago when theaters were shuttered and charges were leveled at many theatrical institutions for a perceived lack of equity, diversity and inclusivity. While much work still remains to be done in that area, Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts has taken a bold […]
By ALAN SMASON Tennessee Williams’ last play on Broadway was the terribly titled Clothes for a Summer Hotel, which lasted for 14 performances before it shut down. The play bears the explanatory subtitle “A Ghost Play” and that should have given critics and audiences alike an explanation that the historic characters being portrayed – specifically […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) One of British playwright Pam Gems’ early stage successes was Dead Fish, which has since been renamed Dusa, Fish, Stas & Vi. First seen as a part of the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 1976, Dusa, Fish, Stas & Vi was a unique feminist play dealing with real-world issues […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Since its founding, the mission of the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company (TWTC) has been to tell the stories of New Orleans’ best known playwright in bold and expressive ways. In addition to presenting well known pieces from his repertoire, the company’s two artistic directors, Augustin J. Correro […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) One of the funniest comedies of the big screen of 1983 was “Trading Places,” Eddie Murphy’s sophomore vehicle in which he starred opposite fellow “Saturday Night Live” alum Dan Akroyd. Borrowed in part from Mark Twain’s “The Prince and the Pauper,” the premise was simple enough. One […]
By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carré has been trying to bring Janis Joplin to New Orleans for more than two years and, as any music lover can tell you, that’s more than 51 years after she died. Of course, it’s not the real Janis Joplin. It’s actually […]
By ALAN SMASON Jason Petty strides onto the stage of BB’s Stage Door Canteen wearing a classic white country and western suit. On the sleeves and lapels are black musical notes and staffs with similar markings running up and down the seams of his pants. His outfit gives little doubt he is representing the rich […]
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By ALAN SMASON, WYES-TV Theatre Critic (“Steppin’ Out“) When Robert Louis Stevenson penned his classic tale of buccaneers and buried booty, “Treasure Island,” he could not have had a clue that 141 years later he would inspire a raucous comedy by the peerless crew of The NOLA Project, the award-winning troupe of actors who have […]