Chris Richards

What did our critic think of CAT'S PAW at Beck Center For The Arts? William Mastrosimone, the author of CAT’S-PAW, now on stage in the Studio Theatre at Beck Center, states, “In the early 80s I was shocked by the questionable methods of some activists who called themselves environmentalists.

Beck Center for the Arts will present the masterful political thriller, Cat’s-Paw as the opener to the historic 90th season in the intimate Studio Theater. The 90th season will start in the same space the Lakewood Little Theatre began years ago.

There are plenty of ways of describing Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Sophisticated, approachable, elegant, witty. But very few would describe it as wacky... unless those lucky few had seen Kate Hamill's production, as directed by Desdemona Chiang at the Pittsburgh Public Theater. I can't remember the last time I had quite as much fun at a 'classical' period piece, even while realizing that this was certain to be one of the most divisive shows in PPT history. Throughout the evening I heard audiences laughing, clapping, even cheering the production's gleeful ingenuity, while at intermission I heard several people complain that 'it's a wonderful production of a stupid play' and that they 'thought it would be more Masterpiece Theatre.'

Pittsburgh Public Theater begins its 44th season with a new management team - Artistic Director Marya Sea Kaminski and Managing Director Lou Castelli - and the Pittsburgh premiere of Kate Hamill's innovative comedy, Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Desdemona Chiang, Pride and Prejudice runs September 27 - October 28, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District.

The 1950s was a period of racial stress in much of the south. Lynchings, school segregation, separate lunch counters and drinking fountains, blacks to the back of the bus, laws against black and white mixing. Even separate black and white radio stations was the custom, as were black and white musical styles. Patty Page, Perry Como and 'nice music' was the white style. Rock and Roll was for blacks.

Beck Center for the Arts proudly presents the regional premiere of My First Time, March 30 through April 29, 2018 in the Studio Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. There is no performance Sunday April 1.Tickets are now on sale. Buy early and save with promo code: LUCKY to receive $5 off each adult/senior ticket purchased by March 29. This smart comedy contains strong language and content.

Beck Center for the Arts presents the regional premiere of My First Time, March 30 through April 29, 2018 in the Studio Theater. Show times are 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 3 p.m. Sundays. There is no performance Sunday April 1. Tickets are now on sale. Buy early and save with promo code: LUCKY to receive $5 off each adult/senior ticket purchased by March 29. This smart comedy contains strong language and content.

New Repertory Theatre and Boston Center for American Performance present Lonely Planet, performed February 3-March 4, 2018 in the BlackBox Theater at the Mosesian Center for the Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, Watertown. Tickets may be purchased by calling the New Rep Box Office at 617-923-8487 or visiting newrep.org. Lonely Planet will be performed in repertory with Statements After an Arrest Under the Immorality Act by Athol Fugard as part of New Rep's Statements of Survival Series.

On Today, November 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Machine Shop in Minneapolis, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series presents Emily Wells' The World Is Too ______ For You with violinist/composer Michi Wiancko, percussionist Greg Fox and musicians of the SPCO, including violinist Francisco Fullana. This world premiere was commissioned by the SPCO's Liquid Music Series.

On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Machine Shop in Minneapolis, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series presents Emily Wells' The World Is Too ______ For You with violinist/composer Michi Wiancko, percussionist Greg Fox and musicians of the SPCO. This world premiere was commissioned by the SPCO's Liquid Music Series.

The Kitchen presents Greg Fox: The Gradual Progression, a performance by the Liturgy/Guardian Alien/Ex Eye/Zs percussionist celebrating his rhapsodic second solo album.

The Kitchen presents Greg Fox: The Gradual Progression, a performance by the Liturgy/Guardian Alien/Ex Eye/Zs percussionist celebrating his rhapsodic second solo album.

The Kitchen presents Greg Fox: The Gradual Progression, a performance by the Liturgy/Guardian Alien/Ex Eye/Zs percussionist celebrating his rhapsodic second solo album.

On Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 7:30 p.m. in the Machine Shop in Minneapolis, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra's Liquid Music Series presents Emily Wells' The World Is Too ______ For You with violinist/composer Michi Wiancko, percussionist Greg Fox and musicians of the SPCO, including violinist Francisco Fullana. This world premiere was commissioned by the SPCO's Liquid Music Series.

"Really Really" is "murder" mystery without a dead body, but still asks, "Who did it?" It's a must see for anyone interested in thoughtful and well-conceived theater.

Beck Center for the Arts presents the regional premiere of Really Really June 2 through July 2, 2017 in the Studio Theater.

During the late 1920s and into the 1940s, the United States went through the great depression. Unemployment in the U. S. rose to 25%. These were drab times and, as is the case, since the arts represent the era from which they come, the theatre of that time period represented two extremes: heavy drama reflecting the negative mood of the nation and escapism to make people feel better by hiding from their angst-filled reality.

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theater scene. It has been the purpose of the TIMES THEATER TRIBUTES, now known as BROADWAY WORLD-CLEVELAND REGIONAL PROFESSIONAL THEATER TRIBUTES (BWW-Cle Theater Tributes), to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the subjective view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in Delaware, Cleveland, San Diego and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include THE WAR OF THE ROSES in Delaware, ALL THE WAY at Cleveland Play House, and OCTOBER SKY at The Old Globe,  just to name a few.

Our nation is in the midst of a national election, and local theatres have responded with a series of plays that examine various foibles and stories of political intrigue. Ensemble is staging former County Commissioner Peter Lawson Jones' THE BLOODLESS JUNGLE (September 15-October 2) about a rising idealistic political star running for a pivotal Congressional seat. The Musical Theater Project is featuring THE CRADLE WILL ROCK (September 21 & September 25), a play about Unionism with political undertones. Cleveland Public Theatre is presenting 44 PLAYS FOR 44 PRESIDENTS (October 6-29), which showcases the life and times of the 44 Presidents of the United States, featuring an all-female cast. And, Cleveland Play House just opened ALL THE WAY (September 17-October 9), a Tony-Award winning drama that examines the power of one person to transform a country.