Eric Wright News

The most touching, delicately nuanced and beautifully realized work in The Public Theater's premiere production of Compulsion is, quite honestly, a wooden performance.   Rinne Groff's fictionalized tale of the Broadway dramatization of Anne Frank's diary begins with a life-sized marionette depicting the young girl, pencil in hand, innocently writing down thoughts that she most likely never dreamed would be so immortalized.  As a voice quotes how the adolescent feels, 'in spite of everything,' Matt Acheson's creation, manuevered by Emily DeCola, Daniel Fay and Eric Wright, moves with remarkably understated detail, her frozen face and stiff body nevertheless communicating heartbreaking sincerity through Anne Frank's words.  Unfortunately the rest of the evening seems freakishly overplayed by comparison.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) has added two additional performances to the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis and featuring Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian and Mandy Patinkin. COMPULSION, which opens on Thursday, February 17 and must close on Sunday, March 13, has added two additional weekend performances on Friday, March 4 and Saturday, March 5 at 8 p.m. Tickets for the added performances are on sale now at (212) 967-7555 or www.publictheater.org.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Interim Executive Director Joey Parnes) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) with an official press opening on Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) with an official press opening on Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will begin previews Tuesday, February 1 for the world premiere production of Rinne Groff's COMPULSION, directed by Oskar Eustis. The cast features Hannah Cabell, Matte Osian, and Mandy Patinkin, with puppet design and puppetry supervision by Matt Acheson. COMPULSION runs through Sunday, March 13 at The Public Theater (425 Lafayette Street) with an official press opening on Thursday, February 17. Tickets are on sale now.

Puppet Playlist # 9: One Hit Wonders plays Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7:30pm and Friday, November 12, 2010 7:30pm & 9:30pm - $7/$8 at The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Puppet Playlist # 9: One Hit Wonders plays Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7:30pm and Friday, November 12, 2010 7:30pm & 9:30pm - $7/$8 at The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Puppet Playlist # 9: One Hit Wonders plays Thursday, November 11, 2010, 7:30pm and Friday, November 12, 2010 7:30pm & 9:30pm - $7/$8 at The Tank at 354 W. 45th Street, New York, NY 10036

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Even as its shows reach New York and London, Berkeley Repertory Theatre begins another season of fearless theatre here at home: Emmy- and Tony Award-winning actor Mandy Patinkin stars in the world-premiere production of Compulsion on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage. Acclaimed director Oskar Eustis returns to the Bay Area with Rinne Groff's latest play, a kaleidoscopic collision of history and culture that combines stellar acting with marvelous marionettes. Compulsion, a world-premiere co-production from Berkeley Rep, The Public Theater, and Yale Repertory Theatre, begins previews on September 13, opens September 16, and closes October 31.

Every once in a while, a band comes along that changes the course of human history. And that band is THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. This is that Playlist. Puppet Playlist takes talented puppeteers and brilliant musicians and slams them together into an evening of live theater to stir the senses.

John Tartaglia's IMAGINOCEAN, a new family musical adventure, created and written by Emmy and Tony Award nominated actor John Tartaglia, opened at the NEW WORLD STAGES last night, March 31, 2010. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the evening.

Every once in a while, a band comes along that changes the course of human history. And that band is THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS. This is that Playlist. Puppet Playlist takes talented puppeteers and brilliant musicians and slams them together into an evening of live theater to stir the senses.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28.

Yale Repertory Theatre (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) running through February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4. COMPULSION is a co-production with The Public Theater and Berkeley Repertory Theatre.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director), THE PUBLIC THEATER (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director), and BERKELEY REPERTORY THEATRE (Tony Taccone, Artistic Director; Susan Medak, Managing Director) present the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4.

Frank Rizzo of the The Hartford Courant recently sat down with Mandy Patinkin for a dinner-interview while the actor was between rehearsals for the world premiere of Rinne Groff's 'Compulsion' at Yale Repertory Theatre. During the interview, published in the Arts Section of Sunday's Hartford Courant and in Rizzo's blog, Patinkin discusses what drew him to tackle the role of Sid Silver, a writer who dedicates himself to bringing the writings of Anne Frank to the stage - a dedication which turns to an obsession.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) presents the world premiere of COMPULSION by Rinne Groff, directed by Oskar Eustis, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street, New Haven) January 29-February 28. Opening Night is Thursday, February 4.