MADISON CENTER FOR THE ARTS

by Herbert Paine - March 04, 2026

UNCLE VANYA arrives at Theatre Artists Studio with thoughtful intentions and a capable ensemble, though the results are somewhat uneven. Presented in Conor McPherson’s streamlined adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic, and directed by Carol MacLeod, the production leans heavily into emotional im...

by Herbert Paine - February 22, 2026

A joyful revival that reanimates the spirit of the show that once jolted Broadway....

by Zach Wetzel - February 22, 2026

This is a delightful and fun fairy tale production!...

by Tim Shawver - February 19, 2026

There have been previous stage versions of the Parker Brothers' board game Clue, none that had any connection to the beloved 1985 film or made any significant mark artistically or commercially....

by Cheyenne Lewis - February 17, 2026

Wars of the past are viewed by many as a necessary evil, and certain battles are even thought of as glorious or grand. This perspective overlooks the lives lost on both sides, the trauma so many soldiers have faced throughout history, and that many still face today. Southwest Shakespeare Company’s...

by Herbert Paine - February 16, 2026

Lean and evocative, funny and frightening, tender and profane...reckoning with how to survive trauma....

by Herbert Paine - February 15, 2026

Mounted with in-the-round polish and flair, Hale Centre Theatre’s GUYS AND DOLLS is bright, brassy, and built on rhythm. And for a few hours in Gilbert, the neon-drenched skyline glows, the dice roll, and Broadway’s Golden Age feels very much alive....

by Cheyenne Lewis - February 11, 2026

Although society may have tried to conceal them, bold and daring women have existed throughout history. Sisterhood and the realities of being a woman in the Civil War era are central themes in this musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel. The Bridge Initiative’s concert version o...

by Cheyenne Lewis - February 09, 2026

Audience members who enjoy Shakespeare but are looking for a new take on his classic stories, or those who have struggled with Shakespeare in the past, will enjoy THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR. This trailer-park take on the play is full of fun performances and laugh-worthy moments....

by Herbert Paine - February 07, 2026

The play is suffused with the sympathetic wisdom that defines Wilson’s writing. He looks at lives many would dismiss as small or defeated and finds in them an undeniable nobility....