Aerialists Jennifer Bricker and Nate Crawford. Photo by Chris Ash. Last weekend, from June 16-18th, La Mama Moves! 2011 presented choreographer Heidi Latsky‘s brave piece entitled, IF. Composed of three sections — each featuring a quartet, ensemble and duet — IF challenges notions of what it means to be different in today’s society. The piece is part of an ongoingContinue reading “Beauty in the Breakdown: The GIMP Project’s ‘If’”
Author Archives: Jessica Taghap
A Conversation with…THE ORANGE HATS’ Benjamin Lundberg
Ben Lundberg talks about wearing that famous hat._____________________________ I first met Ben Lundberg and his colleague (and Culture Future blogger) Guy Yedwab at the Theater Tweetup back in March, which some of you may remember reading about. It was there they first told me about their project called The Orange Hats, which archived audience response toContinue reading “A Conversation with…THE ORANGE HATS’ Benjamin Lundberg”
A Mad World: The United States Theatre Project’s ‘columbinus’ Goes Inside the Typical All-American High School — And Tears it Apart
This past weekend’s viewing of A Shot Away had me reminiscing about other docudramas I’ve enjoyed over the years. Jonathan Mandell noted how Red Fern’s production had reminded him of Jessica Blank and Erik Jensen’s The Exonerated, and I definitely agree; it had a lot of the same elements, including a lot of quote-worthy dialogue.Continue reading “A Mad World: The United States Theatre Project’s ‘columbinus’ Goes Inside the Typical All-American High School — And Tears it Apart”
An Argument for Consciousness: Red Fern Theatre’s ‘A Shot Away’ Gives a Voice to Those Silenced
Photo by Brittany Duck “The Few, The Proud.” “Be All that You Can Be.” These are just some of the ways the military uses to attract the many that enlist each year. However, beneath the handsome and dutiful men in uniform shown on television and moviehouse screens lies a darker side of the military thatContinue reading “An Argument for Consciousness: Red Fern Theatre’s ‘A Shot Away’ Gives a Voice to Those Silenced”
Let’s Pick up the Pace and Go to Hell in a Fast Car: Kander & Ebb’s Chicago Serves Up Some ‘Razzle Dazzle’
Imagine this: a steamy jazz club. A saxophone whining and groaning into the smoky air. Dancers in their racy costumes, warming up. All of a sudden, the song segues into a rag-tag big band number, and under a single spotlight stands headliner Velma Kelly in a rendition of a familiar song. Well, stop dreaming, becauseContinue reading “Let’s Pick up the Pace and Go to Hell in a Fast Car: Kander & Ebb’s Chicago Serves Up Some ‘Razzle Dazzle’”
The Death (and Life) of American Theatre Criticism
In continuation of many retrospective blogposts (which include this one), I want to start off my saying that lately, I have been re-assessing my love (and place) in the theatre — mainly, where criticism is concerned. This past year has given me both positives, as well as negatives, and it was those negative times thatContinue reading “The Death (and Life) of American Theatre Criticism”
The Play(s) That Changed My Life
So, I’m about a month late into this, but in conjunction with the American Theatre Wing’s release of their book, The Play That Changed My Life, in which various playwrights recount their own first theatrical experiences that inspired them. I may be no theatre legend, but I thought I’d do my take, anyway. Here’s myContinue reading “The Play(s) That Changed My Life”
In Our Bedroom After the War: Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ Explores War at Home
Reed Birney and Marin Ireland, as Ian and Cate, in “Blasted.” Photo © Simon Kane (Playbill) Soho Repertory Theater‘s production of Sarah Kane‘s chilling play, Blasted — helmed under artistic director Sarah Benson — is a daring, bold take on the venerated British playwright’s inaugural play. While still very much a work in progress, Benson’s direction and LouisaContinue reading “In Our Bedroom After the War: Sarah Kane’s ‘Blasted’ Explores War at Home”
Welcome to The Real: From Amsterdam to Berlin, The Public Theatre’s ‘Passing Strange’ Breaks Stereotypes and Crosses Boundaries
So, like three weeks later, here’s my review. Oh. My. God. I know — not very articulate of me in what is supposed to be a review, but suffice it to say that these are the only words that could describe my immediate reaction upon leaving the Belasco Theatre late Saturday night (5/31/08). Before IContinue reading “Welcome to The Real: From Amsterdam to Berlin, The Public Theatre’s ‘Passing Strange’ Breaks Stereotypes and Crosses Boundaries”
Jessica Taghap 