David De Almo

Go see 'Angels in America: Perestroika' at Epic Theatre Company. There isn't a more straightforward way to say it. The possibly lesser known 2nd Half of Tony Kushner's Epic play about the AIDS epidemic in 1980's New York is playing currently at Epic's larger space at 82 Rolfe Square in Cranston, and it's superlative. It's shocking how funny Kushner can make the citizens of his New York, without making it seem trite or irreverent.

The premise is that God, as played by the disembodied voice of the legendary Buddy Hackett, has decided to send the Rat Pack back to earth for one final show. From there, it's an impersonation game, with standards and jokes straight through.

Burbage Theatre Company is proving to be a gem of a small company. Last season's "The Liar" was one of the funnier, tighter, and most professional shows I saw all of last year, and this Spring's production of "Orson's Shadow" by Austin Pendleton is every bit as good. The show is the 2nd in a shortened, 3-play season BTC is staging at the Artists' Exchange in Cranston, bookended by the recently closed "Doctor Cerberus" and the about to open "The Bald Soprano," by Eugene Ionesco.

Epic Theatre Company's had a nice run this year, premiering newer works like "The Other Place," "Tribes," and "The Great God Pan," alongside well-received productions of older works like "The Normal Heart," and the currently running "Angels in America." It was a season marked by similar themes and characters, but also by "name value" playwrights and plays. Recently, I sat down with Epic's Artistic Director, Kevin Broccoli, to discuss what goes into the choosing of a season as he readies his choices for next year.

"God of Carnage," the newest production from Mixed Magic Theatre, is the perfect way to christen the company's new space in Lorraine Mills. The space itself is smaller than their old one in the Hope Artiste Village, but is deceptively large: the seating, which is raked in a near-stadium style fashion, goes back a few more rows than you might expect possible, upon first impression.

OUT LOUD's Kira Hawkridge is young for an artistic director - younger even than the slew of still comparatively young AD's elsewhere in the state. Separating her further from those other groups, like it or not, is her gender. There are very few female AD's in this market, but Hawkridge isn't one to let age or gender slow her down -- or box her in.

"Assistance" at Epic Theatre Company, which closed this weekend, had its shortfalls; however, it was still an engaging and energetic night at the theatre.

The 24-Hour Play Festival is an annual tradition at South Kingstown's Contemporary Theatre Company, where for 9 years, 6 plays are written, cast, staged, teched, and put in front of a live audience in a 24 hour span. I tagged along with one of the productions during this year's festival on January 11th, 2014, to see how it's done.

There's a ton of dysfunctional family dramadies in contemporary theatre right now, and even on local stages competing against each other - but nothing is like Epic Theatre Company's latest production, "Tribes."

It's easy to understand why Stephen Adley Guirgis' 2005 Off-Broadway play "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot" draws in young artists. The play addresses big themes: faith, love, and guilt, all while encased within a surrealistic courtroom in Purgatory.

Walking into the Black Box Theatre on the 4th floor of the Mathewson Street Methodist Church, you know you're going to be in for a wild ride. Inside, a full apartment set sits in near complete disarray, giving you a glimpse of what you're about to witness.