Poornima Kirby

Why isn't this show an impersonation of cool even if it falls into some trappings of the dreaded 'regional theatre' scene? I think it's because Praxis Stage is, at its heart, genuinely concerned with the prospects of theatre that every other theatre in this city needs to purport to care about in order to get covered by the Boston Globe and nominated for Elliott Norton Awards. Every facet of the performance seems to be manufactured with an average audience member in mind, and the results are refreshingly un-pretentious. Just as with Coriolanus, I advise any theatre artist who works at one of Boston's theatres with cloudy-dishwater mission statements and haphazardly 'diverse' offerings to engage with Praxis Stage. Even when renting the BCA, their ticket prices are less than $20. For a show of this caliber, thought through down to the details, that's cool enough for me.

Today, August 26th, is Press Night for Plank, a new play by John Greiner-Ferris, directed by Megan Schy Gleeson.

Plank is the funny, thoughtful, irreverent, sometimes sad story about a woman who is happy and content, adrift on a plank of wood in the middle of the ocean. Then she's 'rescued.'

Saturday, August 26th, is Press Night for Plank, a new play by John Greiner-Ferris, directed by Megan Schy Gleeson.

Actors' Shakespeare Project (ASP) has earned its reputation for performing the works of William Shakespeare with clarity and focus on language, emphasis on the characters' journeys, and a commitment to remain actively itinerant. The 13th season will exemplify ASP's vision for presenting Shakespeare, with productions of HAMLET, THE TEMPEST (Directed by Allyn Burrows; December 1, 2016 - January 8, 2017; Willet Hall at United Parish, Brookline), Christopher Marlowe's EDWARD II (Directed by David R. Gammons; February 22 - March 19, 2017, Charlestown Working Theater), and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (Directed by Patrick Swanson, May 10 - June 4, 2017, Multicultural Arts Center, Cambridge). For more information visit actorsshakespeareproject.org.

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's a comedy of good manners, bad manners, and all manner of things in between, kicks off Moonbox Production's 2013-14 season,November 22 - December 14 at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre, 539 Tremont Street in Boston's South End. Performances are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm (no performance Thanksgiving), Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $35 ($30 for students/seniors) plus fees. For tickets call Boston Theatre Scene Box Office at 617-933-8600 or online at www.bostontheatrescene.com. For more company information visit www.moonbox.org. Check out a first look below!

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's a comedy of good manners, bad manners, and all manner of things in between, kicks off Moonbox Production's 2013-14 season, November 22 - December 14 (Press Performance Sunday, November 24 at 2pm) at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre, 539 Tremont Street in Boston's South End. Performances are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm (no performance Thanksgiving), Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $35 ($30 for students/seniors) plus fees. For tickets call Boston Theatre Scene Box Office at 617-933-8600 or online at www.bostontheatrescene.com. For more company information visit www.moonbox.org.

This fall, Imaginary Beasts presents Angela Carter's Hairy Tales, an innovative production of Carter's radio plays for the stage, at the Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, October 4 -26, 2013. The double-bill reimagines fairy stories of yore, challenging audiences' perceptions. The company will use their signature physical style to transport audiences into Carter's unsettling and irreverent imagination. Considered one of the most influential British writers of the post-WWII era, Carter was prolific and adventurous in her art. One of her favorite forms was the radio play. The Beasts will offer audiences the experience of 'hearing' a radio play while witnessing strange, dream-like live performances.

The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's a comedy of good manners, bad manners, and all manner of things in between,kicks off Moonbox Production's 2013-14 season, November 22 - December 14 (Press Performance Sunday, November 24 at 2pm) at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Theatre, 539 Tremont Street in Boston's South End. Performances are Wednesdays & Thursdays at 7:30pm (no performance Thanksgiving), Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays at 2pm & 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. Tickets are $35 ($30 for students/seniors) plus fees. For tickets call Boston Theatre Scene Box Office at 617-933-8600 or online atwww.bostontheatrescene.com. For more company information visitwww.moonbox.org.

This fall, Imaginary Beasts presents Angela Carter's Hairy Tales, an innovative production of Carter's radio plays for the stage, at the Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, October 4 -26, 2013. The double-bill reimagines fairy stories of yore, challenging audiences' perceptions. The company will use their signature physical style to transport audiences into Carter's unsettling and irreverent imagination. Considered one of the most influential British writers of the post-WWII era, Carter was prolific and adventurous in her art. One of her favorite forms was the radio play. The Beasts will offer audiences the experience of 'hearing' a radio play while witnessing strange, dream-like live performances.

Imaginary Beasts announces its 2013-2014 season, Once Upon A…, which will explore the inherent darkness in fairy tales. The Beasts will tackle modern revisions of classic stories, including a world premiere by a local playwright and actor. The 2013-2014 season marks Imaginary Beasts third year as an Emerging Theatre Company at the Boston Center for the Arts. All productions will take place at the Plaza Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts. In addition to regular season productions, Imaginary Beasts will also debut two new programs: The Incubator, a development ground for devising and developing new work in a studio environment, and Wee Beasties, a companion program to our season productions that will offer family-friendly matinees related to their headlining main stage shows.

Imaginary Beasts presents a selection of ten playlets written by Thornton Wilder before his 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning OUR TOWN. An egalitarian ensemble of ten actors and actresses creates a circus-like environment with mime, acrobatics, and clown collars, augmented by atmospheric lighting and original music. The gestalt results in a delightful evening of theater.