Michael Underhill News

Sex, mystery, and terrible danger lurk just around the corner in NECESSARY MONSTERS, a reality-bending new comedy by award-winning Boston playwright John Kuntz, debuting today, December 5, 2014 through January 3, 2015 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.

Sex, mystery, and terrible danger lurk just around the corner in NECESSARY MONSTERS, a reality-bending new comedy by award-winning Boston playwright John Kuntz, debuting December 5, 2014 through January 3, 2015 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston's South End.

Imaginary Beasts consistently puts out what they call 'adventurous' and I would call 'ludicrous' theatrical productions, pushing boundaries, disregarding conventions (gender bending is a staple of their shows), and twisting reality. Their most recent production was Knock, a devised premiere combining upwards of twenty-five plays, short stories, and poems by Russian author Daniil Kharms.

imaginary beasts invites audiences into the strange and comical world of Russian writer Daniil Kharms, where a simple knock on the door can lead to redemption or the ultimate end. The inventive stage troupe will bring Kharms's work to life this fall in KNOCK! ? THE DANIIL KHARMS PROJECT, a world premiere and once-in-a-lifetime event. Working with carefully curated selections of his micro-prose, short plays, and poetry in new translations by Irina Yakubovskaya

imaginary beasts invites audiences into the strange and comical world of Russian writer Daniil Kharms, where a simple knock on the door can lead to redemption or the ultimate end. The inventive stage troupe will bring Kharms's work to life this fall in KNOCK! ? THE DANIIL KHARMS PROJECT, a world premiere and once-in-a-lifetime event. Working with carefully curated selections of his micro-prose, short plays, and poetry in new translations by Irina Yakubovskaya

Heart & Dagger Productions has announced the arrival of SEX FEST II. This year along with the new short plays focusing on sexual desire and fantasy, we'll be offering a second helping with Charles Mee's JESUS, a performance art piece directed by Joey C. Pelletier.

Heart & Dagger Productions has announced the arrival of SEX FEST II. This year along with the new short plays focusing on sexual desire and fantasy, we'll be offering a second helping with Charles Mee's JESUS, a performance art piece directed by Joey C. Pelletier.

Happy Medium Theatre (HMT) closes its 5th season, themed 'Home is where the horror is', with Lebensraum by Israel Horovitz. Heading up the production is award-winning and widely-praised Boston Fringe director, Brett Marks (Windowmen, Boston Playwrights' Theatre). The production runs for three weeks (May 9th - 24th, 2014) at the Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

In Imaginary Beasts's mission statement, they refer to the art they create as adventurous, non-traditional, and for an eclectic public. I have seen few shows that adhere to their company's mission statement better than this one. This weekend, I attended Imaginary's Beasts's production of Lovers' Quarrels, a fairly unknown Moliere piece, and have to say that adventurous and non-traditional hit the nail right on the head.

The Nominating Committee of the Independent Reviewers of New England has just announced nominees for the 2014 IRNE Awards. The Independent Reviewers of New England (IRNE) Awards, founded by Beverly Creasey of the Journal Newspapers and Larry Stark of TheaterMirror in 1997, recognize the extraordinary wealth of talent in the Boston theatre community.

A panto, I have learned, is a British tradition of a winter musical comedy for the whole family, incorporating a well known children's story, musical numbers, and vaudeville humor. This production, conceived and directed by Matthew Woods, told the story of Rumpelstiltskin, but focused more on the evil plots of the right hand man of the king (who looked a lot like Aladdin's Jafar), the prince's search for a squire and a bride, and something about a magic fox.

Ring in the new year with imaginary beasts when they bring their annual Winter Pantomime back to Boston! What's in a name? Find out, as magic and mayhem mix in Rumpelstiltskin, or All That Glitters, the topsy-turvy tale of a strange little man who helps the Miller's daughter spin straw into gold - but will it cost a happy ending? Add to the classic story a Prince on a quest, a Dame in distress, and a multitude of merry misfits, and you have the perfect way to jumpstart your January!

The miracle in MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET is the ability of Kris Kringle to infuse the holiday with the true spirit of Christmas in the face of raging commercialism, harried shoppers, and cynical doubters. Adapted from the beloved 1947 film, the play at Stoneham Theatre does not fare as well in its stage bound version, despite the best efforts of all involved.

This fall, Imaginary Beasts presents Angela Carter's Hairy Tales, an innovative production of Carter's radio plays for the stage, at the Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, October 4 -26, 2013. The double-bill reimagines fairy stories of yore, challenging audiences' perceptions. The company will use their signature physical style to transport audiences into Carter's unsettling and irreverent imagination. Considered one of the most influential British writers of the post-WWII era, Carter was prolific and adventurous in her art. One of her favorite forms was the radio play. The Beasts will offer audiences the experience of 'hearing' a radio play while witnessing strange, dream-like live performances.

This fall, Imaginary Beasts presents Angela Carter's Hairy Tales, an innovative production of Carter's radio plays for the stage, at the Plaza Black Box Theatre, Boston Center for the Arts, October 4 -26, 2013. The double-bill reimagines fairy stories of yore, challenging audiences' perceptions. The company will use their signature physical style to transport audiences into Carter's unsettling and irreverent imagination. Considered one of the most influential British writers of the post-WWII era, Carter was prolific and adventurous in her art. One of her favorite forms was the radio play. The Beasts will offer audiences the experience of 'hearing' a radio play while witnessing strange, dream-like live performances.

Happy Medium Theatre has announced the first adventure of its 5th season! They are teaming up with Boston native (but now Chicago-based) Krista D'Agostino on a brand new work called For the Falls by Emily Dendinger (Hideous Progeny, Swimming After Dark).

Happy Medium Theatre has announced the first adventure of its 5th season! They are teaming up with Boston native (but now Chicago-based) Krista D'Agostino on a brand new work called For the Falls by Emily Dendinger (Hideous Progeny, Swimming After Dark).

Imaginary Beasts announces its 2013-2014 season, Once Upon A…, which will explore the inherent darkness in fairy tales. The Beasts will tackle modern revisions of classic stories, including a world premiere by a local playwright and actor. The 2013-2014 season marks Imaginary Beasts third year as an Emerging Theatre Company at the Boston Center for the Arts. All productions will take place at the Plaza Black Box Theatre at the Boston Center for the Arts. In addition to regular season productions, Imaginary Beasts will also debut two new programs: The Incubator, a development ground for devising and developing new work in a studio environment, and Wee Beasties, a companion program to our season productions that will offer family-friendly matinees related to their headlining main stage shows.