Lynne Collinson News

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. 

Epic Theatre Company is closing out its landmark sixth season with one of the biggest shows to ever hit a Rhode Island stage. Based on the acclaimed novel, 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel, adapted by Mike Poulton, offers a bold perspective on a classic story of faith, greed, and power.

Epic Theatre Company is closing out its landmark sixth season with one of the biggest shows to ever hit a Rhode Island stage. Based on the acclaimed novel, 'Wolf Hall' by Hilary Mantel, adapted by Mike Poulton, offers a bold perspective on a classic story of faith, greed, and power.

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.

Epic Theatre Company proudly presents the Rhode Island Premiere of 'Rasheeda Speaking' by Joel Drake Johnson, a biting and insightful look into office politics and race in America. This one-act, four-person powerhouse of a play packs a walloping punch, and takes a look at what happens when racial identity is turned upside down.

Epic Theatre Company proudly presents the Rhode Island Premiere of "Rasheeda Speaking" by Joel Drake Johnson, a biting and insightful look into office politics and race in America.  This one-act, four-person powerhouse of a play packs a walloping punch, and takes a look at what happens when racial identity is turned upside down.

Epic Theatre Company proudly presents the Rhode Island Premiere of "Rasheeda Speaking" by Joel Drake Johnson, a biting and insightful look into office politics and race in America.  This one-act, four-person powerhouse of a play packs a walloping punch, and takes a look at what happens when racial identity is turned upside down.

LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, a collection of monologues and memories written by sisters Nora and Delia Ephron, based on a book by Ilene Beckerman, will be presented DownStage at 2nd Story for a limited 12-performance run from tonight, February 18 through March 6, 2016.

LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE, a collection of monologues and memories written by sisters Nora and Delia Ephron, based on a book by Ilene Beckerman, will be presented DownStage at 2nd Story for a limited 12-performance run from February 18 through March 6, 2016.

Your intrepid correspondent saw two plays this weekend, Andrew Case's THE RANT at the Gamm Theatre in Pawtucket and NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH by Alan Ayckbourn Upstage at 2nd Story Theatre in Warren. Each of these plays dealt a violent death at the hands of the police. THE RANT is a powerful, drama about the dark recesses of murder and unknowability, while NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH is a light-hearted romp through the dark recesses of middle-class paranoia. I enjoyed them both very much, but then I'm middle-class with dark recesses of my own.

Guests are invited to dress up and party down at 2nd Story Theatre on Sunday, October 18, 2015.  The event will raise funds to support 2nd Story's programming and facilities.  The Guest of Honor is Resident Costume Designer Ron Cesario, who has designed the "play clothes" for more than eighty 2nd Story productions since 2002.

In King Lear, Shakespeare wrote, 'The wheel is come full circle.' The Bard's famous line holds true at 2nd Story where Artistic Director Ed Shea has returned the UpStage theater to its original in-the-round configuration. Shea, well known for shaking things up mid-season, said this about his decision to go back to 2nd Story's in-the-round roots: 'I'd forgotten how intimate, immediate and profoundly simple theatre can be.'

In King Lear, Shakespeare wrote, "The wheel is come full circle." The Bard's famous line holds true at 2nd Story where Artistic Director Ed Shea has returned the UpStage theater to its original in-the-round configuration. Shea, well known for shaking things up mid-season, said this about his decision to go back to 2nd Story's in-the-round roots: "I'd forgotten how intimate, immediate and profoundly simple theatre can be."

'Write what you know' is a phrase writers hear often and have heard for probably a very long time. It's also a hotly debated piece of advice, with some saying it's essential that writers do just that and others saying that writers should ignore it and write about anything and everything. It boils down to the writer's source material, the fountain of their inspiration. Should they draw only from their own lives and experiences? Or should they draw from the lives and experiences of everyone else around them? And is there anyone or anything that is off limits? These are just a few of the central questions in 2nd Story Theatre's emotional and though-provoking production of Collected Stories.

2nd Story Theatre is honored to announce that it has been awarded a $125,000 grant from The Champlin Foundations to assist in the restoration of The Liberty Street School, acquired by the theatre in 2013 for use as a set building workshop and rehearsal studios.

2nd Story Theatre's summer of murder, mystery, and mayhem continues with productions of Agatha Christie's legendary whodunit, The Mousetrap, performed in rep with Jack Sharkey's killer comedy, The Murder Room, opening tonight, July 5, and running through September 1, 2013.

2nd Story Theatre's summer of murder, mystery, and mayhem continues with productions of Agatha Christie's legendary whodunit, The Mousetrap, performed in rep with Jack Sharkey's killer comedy, The Murder Room from July 5 through September 1, 2013.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, adapted by Dale Wasserman from the novel by Ken Kesey, plays 2nd Story Theatre, now through April 7, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, adapted by Dale Wasserman from the novel by Ken Kesey, will play 2nd Story Theatre, tonight, March 8-April 7, 2013.