Sharon Carpentier

Juliet was traditionally played by a boy. A man played Medea. For centuries, women have been consigned to play lesser parts in the creation and production of theater. And even as progress is being made, gender and age parity, onstage and off, continues to be a major issue in the theater. 

America's Oldest Little Theatre, The Players at The Barker Playhouse, will open their 109th season with ECLIPSED, Patricia Burke Brogan's fact-based drama about penitents confined to one of Ireland's Magdalene Laundries.

Burbage Theatre Company opens their sixth season with 'Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief' a feminist retelling of William Shakespeare's 'Othello' by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel, directed by Allison Crews, which opens previews Friday September 16.

Burbage Theatre Company opens their sixth season with 'Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief' a feminist retelling of William Shakespeare's 'Othello' by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel, directed by Allison Crews, which opens previews Today September 16.

Burbage Theatre Company opens their sixth season with 'Desdemona: a play about a handkerchief' a feminist retelling of William Shakespeare's 'Othello' by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Paula Vogel, directed by Allison Crews, which opens previews Friday September 16.

One might argue that Titus is the perfect kind of play for a bold young company like Burbage Theatre Company. Willing and able to take risks, to go places other theater companies might not be so interested in going. And while there are some high points for Burbage and their production, it seems that they've fallen into the trap of focusing too much on one thing, to the detriment of other important aspects of Shakespeare's work. Primarily, they seem to have spent most of the time perfecting all of that carnage, all the blood and gore, while not spending enough time on perfecting the actual text, the words and language that make up the work and create its true life. As a friend and Shakespearean scholar noted to me, “That's always the danger with Titus, I'm afraid,” and her fears would have been realized in this production.

After their sold-out run of 'Happy Birthday, Wanda June', Burbage Theatre Company presents the Rhode Island Theatrical Premiere of TITUS ANDRONICUS, the first tragedy written by William Shakespeare, directed by Jeff Church, which is the second and final play in the Burbage Theatre Company's winter series, This Winter's War. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the company onstage below!

After their sold-out run of 'Happy Birthday, Wanda June', Burbage Theatre Company presents the Rhode Island Theatrical Premiere of 'Titus Andronicus' the first tragedy written by William Shakespeare, directed by Jeff Church, which opens previews tonight, February 18, as the second and final play in the Burbage Theatre Company'swinter series, This Winter's War. 

After their sold-out run of 'Happy Birthday, Wanda June', Burbage Theatre Company presents the Rhode Island Theatrical Premiere of 'Titus Andronicus' the first tragedy written by William Shakespeare, directed by Jeff Church, which opens previews February 18 as the second and final play in the Burbage Theatre Company'swinter series, This Winter's War. 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, WANDA JUNE the only play by the great American satirist Kurt Vonnegut Jr, directed by Wendy Overly, begins previews January 7 as the first play in the Burbage Theatre Company's winter series, This Winter's War. Happy Birthday, Wanda June runs through February 5 at Aurora Providence, 276 Westminster Street, Providence, RI. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

For a writer, whether writing theatrical reviews or anything else, words are everything. Words are the lifeblood of the writer, that which provides a means for expression, revelation or catharsis. In Lee Blessing's Eleemosynary, presented by 2nd Story Theatre, words are also how one character lifts her soul and strives for excellence. The play as whole demonstrates Blessing's own skill with words, as he crafts a poetic yet accessible play that deals with a number of very relatable human experiences.

Eleemosynary, meaning charitable or benevolent, relates to a young girl's determination to win a national spelling bee. But it also applies to the ever-changing, always challenging, ultimately rewarding relationship between a girl, her mother, and her grandmother.

Eleemosynary, meaning charitable or benevolent, relates to a young girl's determination to win a national spelling bee. But it also applies to the ever-changing, always challenging, ultimately rewarding relationship between a girl, her mother, and her grandmother.

If there was an award for Rhode Island's current busiest man in show business, one of the nominees would absolutely have to be 2nd Story Theatre's Ed Shea. The company's Artistic Director is currently performing in the Downstage production of Freud's Last Session. Last night, in the Upstage space, he made an appearance and gave the curtain speech for Agatha Christie's And Then There Were None, which he directed. During his visit upstairs, Shea spoke about summer stock theaters and how they once dotted the landscape in these parts. No longer as much of a presence as they once were, they featured a certain kind of theater experience, something lighter, more whimsical and fun than the weighty, thought-provoking works seen throughout the winter months. That sense of offering something entertaining and fun permeates his entire production of Christie's play, a perfect summertime treat of mystery and murder, tempered with the right amount of wit and whimsy.

Tickets to the first extension of AR Gurney's Sylvia were snapped up faster than a dog chasing a bone, so 2nd Story Theatre has added more performances to meet unprecedented demand. Best availability is for newly added performances May 24 through June 1.

To meet demand for tickets, 2nd Story has scheduled three additional performances. Newly added performances are: Sunday May 11 @ 7PM, Wednesday May 14 @ 7PM, Sunday May 18 @ 7PM. Tickets are $25. Tickets for Ages 21 & Under are $20.Sylvia runs DownStage at 2nd Story Theatre through May 18.

One of the tricks to great satire, and great comedy in general, is the ability to play it straight. The ability, or talent, of acting as if what's happening is perfectly normal. As if the zany craziness is just another typical day, nothing out of the ordinary. There is much zaniness to be had, and a lot of playing it perfectly straight, to hilarious effect, in 2nd Story Theatre's production of The Murder Room. 2nd Story is spending the hot summer months showcasing some cold blooded murderers. The two plays they are showcasing in repertory, Mousetrap and The Murder Room, are prime examples of their type. One, Mousetrap, is a taught, suspenseful whodunit, written by the master of mystery herself, Agatha Christie. The other, The Murder Room, is a spot-on spoof of murder mysteries just like the one it shares a stage with. As dark, suspenseful and tense Mousetrap is, The Murder Room is equally hilarious and endlessly fun.

2nd Story Theatre presents THE GOAT OR WHO IS SILVIA? by Edward Albee, now running through October 21. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Ed Shea directs one of Alan Ackbourn's lesser-known comedies; Communicating Doors, through October 23, 2011

The Warren, RI theater finishes up it summer with a light, breezy comedy