Eric Olson News

Romantic comedies for the straight community abound. But as they say in the current production from Gay City Arts and The Bitter Single Guy Productions, "The Hat", gay stories aren't told much unless they involve AIDS or civil rights. This is what makes "The Hat" so refreshing. It's a simple, cute romantic comedy about a newly single guy in his thirties suddenly trying to date in this modern world of hookup apps and he just happens to be gay. And while the story wandered a bit the dialog is crisp and fresh and the characters could not be more likable and relatable.

Clifford Odets built a career off of writing dramas that dealt with class inequality and social injustice in the depression era. His first ever produced play, "Waiting for Lefty", certainly falls into that category. And while the current production from Theatre9/12 does manage some stirring performances, they can't escape the bleak nature of the play itself as Odets drives home over and over the inescapable nature of the era.

The actors of Theatre9/12 present one of the most important plays of the 20th century: Clifford Odets' Waiting for Lefty first presented by the famous Group Theatre.  Set in the Great Depression and addressing the exploitation of the working classes, the play centers around the 1934 Taxi strike in New York City.

 Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Indiana premiere of American Idiot opening tonight, June 4, 2015 on the Livia and Steve Russell Stage. This production runs through July 5, 2015, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director, Emily Ristine Holloway serving as Assistant Director, Tim Brickley and Jeanne Bowling serving as co-Musical Directors, and Cherri Jaffee and Mariel Greenlee serving as co-choreographers.

 Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis announces the Indiana premiere of American Idiot opening June 4, 2015 on the Livia and Steve Russell Stage. This production runs through July 5, 2015, with Bryan Fonseca serving as director, Emily Ristine Holloway serving as Assistant Director, Tim Brickley and Jeanne Bowling serving as co-Musical Directors, and Cherri Jaffee and Mariel Greenlee serving as co-choreographers.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents the geographical comedy, 'Around the World in 80 Days,' tonight, April 10-26. BroadwayWorld has a peek at the cast below!

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents the geographical comedy, 'Around the World in 80 Days,' tonight, Apr. 10-26. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St.

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents the geographical comedy, 'Around the World in 80 Days,' April 10-26. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast below!

The Des Moines Community Playhouse presents the geographical comedy, 'Around the World in 80 Days,' Apr. 10-26. Tickets may be purchased online at dmplayhouse.com, by phone at 515-277-6261, or at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St.

The world's greatest detective is back in a classic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat in SHERLOCK HOLMES: The Final Adventure at the Coronado Playhouse April 11-May 18, 2014. As Sherlock Holmes seeks to wind down his career through the arrest of Professor Moriarty, he and Doctor Watson are drawn into a blackmail case that involves a king and a world-renowned opera singer, putting them on a collision course with Holmes' greatest enemy.

The world's greatest detective is back in a classic adventure that will keep you on the edge of your seat in SHERLOCK HOLMES: The Final Adventure at the Coronado Playhouse April 11-May 18, 2014. As Sherlock Holmes seeks to wind down his career through the arrest of Professor Moriarty, he and Doctor Watson are drawn into a blackmail case that involves a king and a world-renowned opera singer, putting them on a collision course with Holmes' greatest enemy.

A new work is always a risk even from author Charles Waxberg who gave us the amazing "A Shade of Green" a few years back. In this case from Theatre 9/12 we kind of have two works from Waxberg with his new play "The Equation". And while the performances in the piece were admirable, only one of the stories held together (for the most part) while the other left me completely confused.

THEATRE9/12 presents THE EQUATION, a new play by Charles S. Waxberg author of A Shade of Green, tonight, January 24th - February 15, 2014.

THEATRE9/12 presents THE EQUATION, a new play by Charles S. Waxberg author of A Shade of Green, January 24th - February 15, 2014.

In our time of soaring unemployment, sketchy Wall Street practices, and increasingly vast income polarity, the examination of a capitalistic economy and what it does to humanity asks to be explored. Originally commissioned by the UNITAS Theatre Co. of Los Angeles who felt the plays themes were too controversial for a new company, the workshop was produced nevertheless by the cast and crew and since revised by its author. Told through reverse chronology in Depression-era New York City with layered scenes in a nearby town house one generation later, THE EQUATION engages the audience in a "how-done-it" about a birth rather than a death. This period "play of excavation" reveals a physician and his wife who attempt to adopt the infant son of a Russian woman desperate to give her child a shot at the American Dream glittering impossibly beyond her grasp.

For the 8th year in a row, Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will present the World Premiere of arguably Indy's most original and entertaining holiday offering: A Very Phoenix Xmas. This year's subtitle is Angels We Have Heard While High. Opening the day after Thanksgiving, November 29, 2013 on the Livia and Steve Russell Stage at the Phoenix, this holiday show runs through December 22, 2013 and includes Wednesday (7 pm), Thursday (7 pm), Friday (8 pm), Saturday (8 pm), and Sunday (2 pm) performances. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

For the 8th year in a row, Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will present the World Premiere of arguably Indy's most original and entertaining holiday offering: A Very Phoenix Xmas. This year's subtitle is Angels We Have Heard While High. 'I always ask the staff and cast for ideas for the subtitle and we get lots of great ones each year. The winning one this year comes with a great graphic - and we think it represents our edgy approach to the holidays. (click here to see the image.)

For the 8th year in a row, Phoenix Theatre of Indianapolis will present the World Premiere of arguably Indy's most original and entertaining holiday offering: A Very Phoenix Xmas. This year's subtitle is Angels We Have Heard While High. 'I always ask the staff and cast for ideas for the subtitle and we get lots of great ones each year. The winning one this year comes with a great graphic - and we think it represents our edgy approach to the holidays. (click here to see the image.)

The great thing about a show with a series of short plays is that if the current short play just isn't working for you, wait ten minutes and you'll be on to the next one. The greater thing about David Ives' "All in the Timing" is that most of his short plays included are gems. And the greaterer thing about STAGEright's current production of "All in the Timing" is that, for the most part (there was really only one that left me saying "Huh?"), the cast and directors have woven together such a tight and well paced show that there's bound to be something for everyone and plenty of laughs for all.