December 17, 2018
By James Bartholomew Writer and performer Max Stossel has a lot on his mind. Politics, gender, love, sapience, addictions to social media and pornography – just
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November 21, 2018
By Alex Miller There’s a keyboard‑and‑mic setup, which is the freshest thing I’ve seen in a solo play. A beautiful panoply of
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November 18, 2018
By James Bartholomew The stressful and steely edge to modern living is enough to get to the best of us occasionally, but thankfully, writer and performer Beverly Elliott
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November 17, 2018
By Kia Standard What makes a better dog? Is it loyalty, integrity, or courage? “Be A Better Dog” chronicles the life of a lovable canine that
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November 17, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Some years ago, Mihal Grass Sherman met with a theatre director to discuss a potential role. The director touched her knee against her
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November 16, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena This absolutely hilarious performance by Amber Topaz had me aching with laughter. Her energy filled the room with liberation and warmth.
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November 16, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Gate 64” starts with an airline announcement. We are soon introduced to Winnie, a self‑described vagrant who spends her
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November 16, 2018
By Kia Standard After nearly two decades of marriage, Jerry and Kate have their coupledom down to a predictable day-to-day routine. Theirs is a marriage of
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November 16, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Sacrifice is a two-sided coin,” shouts Niv Petel, writer and performer of “Knock Knock.” Sacrifice is a crucial part of any
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November 16, 2018
by Carissa Chesanek “The Creeps” is exactly what it sounds like. It will pull you in and leave you feeling creeped out. Catherine Waller plays five characters,
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November 16, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Winnie, played by Jane Watt, is a vagrant performer who lost her comedy partner and girlfriend, Leslie, and performs around a gate at
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November 16, 2018
By Dana Zhang “Clara; Confessions” offers a straightforward, chronological timeline of Clara Schumann’s life. A celebrated pianist and composer beloved
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November 16, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “The Auschwitz Volunteer” tells the story of Captain Witold Pilecki, a Polish intelligence agent who infiltrated the Auschwitz
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November 15, 2018
By James Bartholomew As far as openings go, you can do a lot worse than “Natural Shocks.” The play begins with a raging storm siren as Angela, played by
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November 15, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Wake‑Up Call” is the story of Jerry Franklin and his wife, who dies about ten minutes into the story. Mr. Franklin tells us just
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November 15, 2018
By Chance Morgan “Let’s talk about sex, baby. Let’s talk about you and me.” Amber Topaz captures the audience’s attention, not only with
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November 15, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Grounded,” a play by George Brant, is about a fighter pilot who becomes unexpectedly pregnant and is given the physically safe but
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November 15, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Inner Strength” was a performance soaking in pain, love, and resilience. Kyra Knox, the writer and performer, wrung out
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November 15, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Clara; Confessions” is the story of 19th century Romantic composer Clara Schumann, written and performed by Viktoriya Papayani. Clara’s
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November 15, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena The Greek actress, singer, and politician Melina Mercouri was Greece’s national heroine, so Paola Hadjilambri, the actress and
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November 15, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Being‑On‑Stage” is perhaps the greatest solo theatrical adaptation of a 500‑page early twentieth‑century
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November 15, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Amy Conway’s father introduced her to video games when she was a little girl. Now she explores how gameplay can treat depression.
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November 15, 2018
By James Bartholomew With a title like “My Dead Wife” it should come as no surprise to find sorrow, grief and tragedy in abundance. But what’s far less
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November 15, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Dare To Claim The Sky” is a spoken word performance by Sharon Nyree Williams about black culture, church, childhood, and social
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November 14, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Being-On-Stage” is a philosophical play about the meaning of being, what it means to be a philosopher,
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November 14, 2018
By Chance Morgan “I was born a Greek, and I will die a Greek.” The powerful words and fiery passion of Melina Mercouri came alive on stage in
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November 12, 2018
By Alex Miller “Swansong,” in which André de Vanny portrays Austin “Occi” Byrne, is the story and the performance of
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November 12, 2018
By Dana Zhang Vincent Clark is the unhealthiest man alive, but he doesn’t want your pity. He doesn’t do drugs or drink alcohol, because he “is already
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November 12, 2018
By Dana Zhang “Super Awesome World” alternates between moments of frenetic energy and deep introspection. At first it treads a cliché path:
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November 11, 2018
By Kia Standard “We all have visions and dreams of where we’ll be when we grow up, but sometimes life doesn’t go as calculated.” Kayla Subica tells
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November 11, 2018
By Dana Zhang Mike Folie tells his story in pauses and starts, as though he is having a simple, intimate conversation with you. As he finishes one
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November 11, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Swansong” is about a man named Occi, whom we meet at the water’s edge where he is feeding swans. He lovingly greets Agnes,
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November 11, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Webbing” is a meditative 35‑minute show in which Eva Petrič, sings soothing music while relaxing images of beaches and dewdrops falling from
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November 11, 2018
By Chance Morgan There are few more intimate ways to glimpse into the intricacies of a culture than through a family story. “Breaking News from
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November 11, 2018
By Christopher Popple Juha Sorola’s “About Heroes” is told from two perspectives. The first is that of a young gay man growing up in an era when
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November 11, 2018
By Austin Kaiser Eliza Martin’s “O” begins with a young woman dancing and throwing flowers in the air. Suddenly a voice over the loudspeaker
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November 11, 2018
By Christopher Popple “Good Standing” begins with Austin Archer looking dejected with a letter in his hand. The letter states that his character’s
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November 10, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Even in non-existence, existence exists. Even in insanity, sanity exists,” sings Eva Petrič, writer and performer of “Webbing.”
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November 10, 2018
By Austin Kaiser In “An Unhealthy Man Lectures You On Medical Issues,” a man with diabetes who’s suffered several strokes offers health advice. His comic
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November 10, 2018
By Austin Kaiser Nick Daly begins “The Truth about Debbie: An Irish Wake” by singing an Irish folk song about a man accepting death, which
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November 10, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Do You Want To See Me Naked?” is about a chubby woman named Liz whose conservative religion and society pull her in one direction,
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November 10, 2018
By Austin Kaiser Written by Asher Kravitz and performed by Miha Rodman, it is a great show with sharp acting, tight writing and a million moments
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November 9, 2018
By Dana Zhang Mary Goggin’s story is nested in an immigration fairytale that recalls Irish folklore. She is a runaway princess stumbling through life
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November 9, 2018
By James Bartholomew Resolution No.1428-326 was the unassuming name given to the eviction notice that Joseph Stalin served to the growing Korean
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November 8, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Do You Want to See Me Naked?” features a deceptively funny performance by Elizabeth Golden that champions body confidence and
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November 8, 2018
By Dana Zhang Ada Cheng describes her sexuality as “first come, first served” as she delves into her encounters with sexuality and feminism, most of which occurred
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November 8, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “The Runaway Princess” is the darkly comic story of Mary Goggin’s escape from her repressive Irish Catholic upbringing, her drug
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November 7, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena Eliza Martin’s “O” examines how the acting world views and treats women. This feminist piece taps into women’s defiance,
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November 7, 2018
By Austin Kaiser DonnaD Lipari began “The Medium, the Music, and Me!” with a song called “The Medium’s Blues.” She wore a dress decorated
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November 6, 2018
By Alex Miller Acid jazz blares into the darkness. Then, a green light. The figure crawling across the floor is Catherine Waller (Bertie’s sister
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November 5, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Et Le Lion,” written and performed by Elizabeth Seldin, is about a woman named Cecilia whose father recently passed away. She must
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November 4, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “One Good Egg” is the story of Elaine Gale, a Midwestern woman who dreams of having a family. She longs to pack the kids’
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November 4, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Mixing comedy with vulnerable truths, Sarah J. Kennedy tells you about her journey with her vagina, and invites you to think about your
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November 3, 2018
By Nadia Asencio Ananda Bena‑Weber’s “Fancifool” is a powerhouse. Dedicated to “all the beautiful souls” she’s encountered on
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November 3, 2018
By Christopher Popple “OTOSOTR” is the second war story I’ve seen at the United Solo Theatre Festival, and it easily outdoes the first
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November 3, 2018
By Alex Miller Saskia Norman is a little girl from Austria with big dreams, and an abiding love for her father. Even at age four, she knows she
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November 3, 2018
By James Bartholomew Not every animal lover is as dedicated as Lisa Wharton, writer and performer of “STRAYS: we all feel a little lost sometimes.”
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November 3, 2018
By Alex Miller Meirav Zur (Founder of English On Stage, an English‑language touring theater company based in Israel), looks and sort of
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November 2, 2018
by Carissa Chesanek Ladies, if you aren’t already hailing to your V, Sarah J. Kennedy will help change that quickly. She opens up
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November 2, 2018
by Chance Morgan From the moment director Ozzie Jones took to the stage to address the audience before the show, it was clear that
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November 2, 2018
By Nadia Asencio How does a warrior find her cause? Easy. She takes the long way. Anthoula Katsimatides’ “Warrior Without a Cause” recounts
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November 1, 2018
By Dana Zhang In short interconnected sketches, Monette McLin tells us about Doris Marie Payne, and the intrigue that surrounded
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November 1, 2018
By Alex Miller Once red and blue lights illuminate the stage, we see baby‑sized mattresses stacked three feet high. Motivational speaker and TV/radio
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October 31, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Trifling, obsolete, and flat” is how famed English poet John Dryden described “Hamlet” back in 1664. About three hundred years later,
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October 30, 2018
by Chance Morgan There are few things more ordinary, familiar or versatile than a cardboard box. They are tools for storage, for transportation, and
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October 26, 2018
By Christopher Popple “Raised By Gays and Turned Out OK!” was promoted with a picture of a toddler dressed like a drag queen, so the last person
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October 26, 2018
by Chance Morgan A kiss, to most people, is a simple gesture of love, intimacy and affection. But for Antonio Ligabue, the Swiss‑Italian painter
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October 26, 2018
by Chance Morgan “Inconceivable: The Totally True One‑Woman Semi‑Fertile Quasi‑Musical” is quite a title, and as it turns out, quite
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October 26, 2018
By James Bartholomew Without a doubt, “The Creeps” lives up to its name. Written and performed by Catherine Waller, the show tells
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October 26, 2018
By Austin Kaiser In the very funny “Diary Of A MILF (Mom I’d Love to Follow),” Meshelle is a mother and wife who wants to maintain the carefree
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October 25, 2018
By James Bartholomew School life can be hard, but it was especially difficult for Schuyler Quinn, writer and performer of “Unsatisfactory.”
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October 24, 2018
By Alex Miller The Jackson 5 promises I’m in good hands before the performance even begins. “ABC” plays while I wait for one of the most original
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October 24, 2018
By James Bartholomew It’s difficult to imagine a premise more ridiculous than that of “Song of Seamus and the Psychedelic Squirrel.” The show
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October 23, 2018
by Austin Kaiser When “Ranch Dressing and Other Coping Mechanisms” began, Kelsie Huff was hiding in the bathroom stall of a church. When she saw
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October 23, 2018
by Chance Morgan Driving drums, a passionate poem, and symbols of black culture alongside domestic articles bring the audience into the world of Yvette
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October 22, 2018
By Christopher Popple Growing up in a backwater Colorado town, young Cynthia had only one real passion in life: to play the piano and become every bit the musician her
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October 22, 2018
By Alex Miller Tadeusz von Moltke (“The Blacklist,” DJ Khaled and Jay Z’s “I Got the Keys” music video) presents a poetic
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October 22, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena “Eulalia: A Bedtime Story” is an insightful and emotional performance by Sarah Cuneo. She portrayed the turmoil felt
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October 21, 2018
by Chance Morgan Ms. Horban’s fiery and impassioned performance was something quite memorable to behold. As the show’s own description in the program
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October 21, 2018
by Chance Morgan “Where are you from?” This is a familiar question to many of us, but especially to Amy Mihyang Ginther. She hates the question,
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October 20, 2018
By Chance Morgan “Everyone loves an adventure. Everyone loves to laugh. Everyone loves to feel significant, and to know that they are special.
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October 19, 2018
by Austin Kaiser “Phoenix Payne” is about a jewel thief named Doris Payne. That may already be a spoiler. In the first scene, Doris, played
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October 19, 2018
By Carissa Chesanek Grief can mean many different things to people. Pain, suffering, anger. And sometimes it can even mean freedom. “The Prostitute Upstairs” takes
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October 19, 2018
By Chance Morgan Love, legacy and identity are universal themes and rich veins for artistic exploration. In “Breaking Rules, Broken Hearts: Loving
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October 19, 2018
By Chance Morgan Schuyler Quinn’s “Unsatisfactory” has the sort of title that invites all manner of cheap jokes, but luckily the show itself surpasses
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October 18, 2018
By James Bartholomew Anthoula Katsimatides, the writer and director of “Warrior Without a Cause” introduces herself to her audience. “Destined for
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October 18, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Americans are more divided than ever” has become a common refrain about political discourse in the U.S. Regardless of what news outlet
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October 17, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena In the powerful “Hope,” Hope Salas is an Irish-Mexican divorcée who must come to terms with her mother’s death and their painful
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October 14, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena I have never seen anything quite like this before. The physical performance was encapsulating and forceful while, at the same time,
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October 13, 2018
By Nadia Asencio War shapes the narrative of a nation. The mythology associated with trauma and survival seeps into the psyche of a nation’s
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October 13, 2018
By Dana Zhang Yu Ling Wu slips seamlessly into the roles she plays onstage. One moment, she titters among the audience, greeting friends, and
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October 12, 2018
By Austin Kaiser When boys turn eighteen in Finland, they must enlist in the military. “About Heroes” is about the fear of this obligation.
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October 12, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Judy Garland. Patsy Cline. Edith Piaf. Billie Holiday. Maria Callas. Powerful women with powerful voices and sad life stories.
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October 12, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Frida Kahlo: Long Live Life” takes place in Frida’s room as she drinks alcohol, dances with her prosthetic leg, and curses at
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October 11, 2018
By Kia Standard The opening night of “Rescuers” came with a preshow disclaimer from director Gretchen Cryer, explaining that Kelly Taylor, the show’s
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October 11, 2018
By James Bartholomew On March 3, 1957, British armed forces poured gasoline into the hideout of Greek Cypriot guerilla fighter Grigoris Afxentiou,
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October 11, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena From the moment this performance began to the moment it ended, I was covered in goosebumps. Even writing about it now, I still have
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October 11, 2018
By Nadia Asencio A bare stage. A stool, a music stand, an actress. So begins Kelly Taylor’s “Rescuers,” the story of her struggle
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October 11, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Caitlin Simpson takes and owns the stage as Deborah Kerr, the 1950s movie star who is nervous and excited for her new movie,
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October 10, 2018
By Dana Zhang The show begins with a song performed by Mindy Fradkin and her “wasband” (ex-husband) Roland Mousaa. There are many songs sprinkled throughout,
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October 10, 2018
By Alex Miller On August 5, 1953, Deborah Kerr finds herself pacing across the living room of her recently-renovated home, debating, doubting, questioning her
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October 10, 2018
By Alex Miller Yu Ling Wu (“How the Fuck to Vote: A Voter’s Guide”) is a force of nature. A force you don’t want to oppose.
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October 9, 2018
By James Bartholomew “Inheritance: A Litany” has all the right DNA for a truly spectacular solo performance. Aptly described by writer, performer,
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October 8, 2018
By Christopher Popple “Sixty minutes until showtime,” a woman announces to our main character, Joe, who is getting ready to perform on stage in front of a large crowd
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October 8, 2018
By Kia Standard “Let me tell you a story. My mother was a very white, very blonde, very blue-eyed Englishwoman. My father was a beautiful dark-skinned black man with
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October 8, 2018
By Austin Kaiser Mindy Fradkin wants older people to feel confident and shrug off discouraging remarks they may hear about aging. When Mindy applied for a job, a man at
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October 7, 2018
By Nadia Asencio Alan Altschuler’s “Bigfoot Stole My Wife” promises a comedic and “poignant saga” about a man who delves into his past relationships
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October 7, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena The audience flooded the intimate space, beaming with anticipation. The ASL interpreter was ready for action. But I left Theatre Row
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October 7, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “The Terrible Legend of Victoria Woodhull” is about the first American woman to found a newspaper, address Congress, and run for president. She
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October 5, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “The Things They Carried” was adapted from a book to a performance by Jim Stillwell, who left the stage covered in sweat.
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October 5, 2018
By Alex Miller An unseen narrator. The ominous, low glow of three azure halogen bulbs. A barely visible figure arranging furniture. It’s 1970, and we’re
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October 5, 2018
By Mehr Gunawardena The description for this show reads “Joe Charnitski has given two eulogies in his life. Both were for men named Joe Charnitski.” As Joe recounted
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October 4, 2018
By Alex Miller Confronted with a subject as complex and multifaceted as “the mulatto,” the archaic term that describes a person who is the product of miscegenation,
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October 4, 2018
By Kia Standard Brad Forenza’s play “Squeaky” takes the term “captive audience” quite literally. It opens with a lone figure entering from the back of
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October 4, 2018
By Nadia Asencio Lois Robbins’ “L.O.V.E.R.” begins with a woman climaxing atop a washing machine, setting the tone for the rest of the story. The middle-aged
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October 3, 2018
By James Bartholomew It takes courage to be an actor. Not to mention talent, dedication, and a whole lot of resilience. But as Eleni Kourti, writer and performer of
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October 2, 2018
By Christopher Popple Jim Stowell assumes the role of American war veteran and novelist Tim O’Brien in this theatrical re-telling of his famous book “The Things They
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September 30, 2018
By James Bartholomew How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice. But if you asked Cynthia Shaw, she’d probably tell you something else. She’d say it takes
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September 30, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Madman” is the story of a confused teenager who receives a copy of Nikolai Gogol’s novel, “Diary of a Madman.” The book inspires him to
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September 30, 2018
By Austin Kaiser “Runaway Princess” is about a girl who immigrates from Ireland to a Bronx in a 1970s. As a teenager, Mary Goggin left her
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September 29, 2018
By James Bartholomew On May 7th, 1990, the front page of the New York Post read: “So Long, Angel! Marlene Dietrich is dead at 90.” Twenty-eight years
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September 26, 2018
By Austin Kaiser If I say, “My Mom makes me remove my shoes before I enter the house,” and then step back and expect that to paint a picture for an audience, I’d be
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September 26, 2018
By Christopher Popple Running across the stage in athletic wear, MESHELLE hollers and stretches, enjoying a brief reprieve from her chaotic life as a mother of three
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September 25, 2018
By Alex Miller Based on a series of short stories by Ron Carlson, the title alone sounds like the perfect summer blockbuster. Forget “Jaws” because
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September 24, 2018
By Nadia Asencio To call Jake Austin Robertson’s “Madman” a solo performance is to mislead; it’s a tour de force populated by a vibrant cast of distinct
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September 24, 2018
By James Bartholomew Even before writer and performer Jose Sonera takes the stage in “PRINZE,” there’s a palpable sense of authenticity
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September 23, 2018
By Donasia Sykes Wearing a white and blue floral skirt, Foster Lawrence announced, “When I was 18, I fell from a fifth-floor window in Manhattan, and I don’t know
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September 23, 2018
By James Bartholomew “This was not the plan,” confesses Ryan F. Casey, writer and performer of “What Happens To Boys In Chelsea,” a bold and powerful
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September 22, 2018
By Alex Miller Freddie Prinze, Sr. shot himself in the head in 1977. But tonight, he’s alive. Kurler Warner’s set design is simple: a blue light casts an ominous
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September 17, 2018
By Austin Kaiser This show is about Anne and her twin boys. One has autism and the other doesn’t. Davey, Anne’s autistic son, wouldn’t make eye contact with her. He
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September 15, 2018
By Chance Morgan The United Solo Theatre Festival opened its 2018 season this past Thursday, September 13th, with “A Train” by Anne Torsiglieri, a returning show that
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October 11, 2015
By Michael Miller The sixth United Solo Theater Festival has already been underway for over three weeks, but it will continue on up to November 22, offering an even greater
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