Lynne Collinson News

Despite the fact that Norman Jewison's AGNES OF GOD has existed as both an award-winning play and later film, it doesn't seem to have been produced very often.  That's all the more reason to rush out and see Epic Theatre's well-executed version of a play that is strange, fascinating and heartbreaking. Juxtaposing the mystical with legal is always good fodder for a thorny debate, and this solid cast delivers the layered and complicated humanity needed to make the story resonate.

Epic Theatre Company is has reunited the team from its smash production of Lauren Gunderson's 'The Revolutionists' to produce the first major local revival of John Pielmeier's 'Agnes of God.' This searing story of a young nun faced with an impossible dilemma is sure to be the most talked about drama of the season.

Lynne Collinson, WomensWork's Creative Director says, “Last Lists of My Mad Mother, ticks all the boxes for the type of play WomensWork wants to explore:  a well written script, meaningful material, and a story told from a woman's point-of-view that features women over the age of 40 – an underserved on-stage demographic. The play takes us on an emotional journey of discovery that's ultimately simple, true, and relevant for anyone who has been a caregiver or watched the decline of a loved one.

WomensWork Theatre Collaborative opens its Season of Madness on October 26 with LAST LISTS OF MY MAD MOTHER, by Julie Jensen, a poignant and poetic look at how a primary caregiver struggles to hold on to her humor and humanity as her mother's mind rapidly deteriorates, and as her sister phones in advice from afar.

WomensWork Theatre Collaborative will present a trio of plays about madness in 2019-2020, the Collaborative's first full season of programming. 

Epic Theatre Company continues its season of "Conviction" with a sophisticated and sharp comedy about four famous women in the midst of a revolution. Set during the Reign of Terror, Olympe de Gouges, Charlotte Corday, Marianne Angelle, and Marie Antoinette banter, scheme, plan a murder, and debate their part in history in this fantastical and fabulous play about what we can do to change the world around us and whether we have the conviction to do it.

Epic Theatre Company continues its season of "Conviction" with a sophisticated and sharp comedy about four famous women in the midst of a revolution.  Set during the Reign of Terror, Olympe de Gouges, Charlotte Corday, Marianne Angelle, and Marie Antoinette banter, scheme, plan a murder, and debate their part in history in this fantastical and fabulous play about what we can do to change the world around us and whether we have the conviction to do it.

Epic Theatre Company continues its season of "Conviction" with a sophisticated and sharp comedy about four famous women in the midst of a revolution.  Set during the Reign of Terror, Olympe de Gouges, Charlotte Corday, Marianne Angelle, and Marie Antoinette banter, scheme, plan a murder, and debate their part in history in this fantastical and fabulous play about what we can do to change the world around us and whether we have the conviction to do it.

WomensWork Theatre Collaborative presents My Left Breast by Susan Miller and directed by Lynne Collinson. The play features Rae Mancini, MJ Daly, and Joanne Fayan.

WomensWork Theatre Collaborative presents My Left Breast by Susan Miller and directed by Lynne Collinson. The play features Rae Mancini, MJ Daly, and Joanne Fayan.

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.