Does Broadway Have a Vampire Musical Curse?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jul 19, 2026
Since The Lost Boys took Broadway by storm this spring, there has been much chatter about the “vampire curse” on Broadway being lifted. In the early 2000s, Broadway received a string of three vampire musicals, which all closed relatively quickly. Dance of the Vampires (2002), Dracula (2004), and Lestat (2006) each received attention in their own right, but they also received attention as a group, since it was remarkable that they came along in such quick succession. But the early 21st century wasn’t the first time vampires thirsted on Broadway. The play adaptation of Dracula was a hit all the way back in 1927 and an even bigger hit in a 1977 revival. And there have been vampires lurking in the theatre district in all sorts of other projects too…
Des Moines Metro Opera Announces 2027 Festival Season
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jul 5, 2026
Des Moines Metro Opera (DMMO)’s Linda Koehn General and Artistic Director, Michael Egel, has announced the repertory for the company’s 2027 Festival Season. It will features a new production of Jacques Offenbach’s The Tales of Hoffmann, a new production and company premiere of Philip Glass’s Orphée, and the revival of the company’s acclaimed 2017 production of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd.
Photos: First Look At ABIGAIL'S PARTY At Theatre Royal Bath
by Marissa Faith Curley - Jun 20, 2026
Theatre Royal Bath Productions has released a first look at production photography for the UK tour and West End transfer of the critically acclaimed Theatre Royal Stratford East production of Abigail’s Party. Check out the photos!
New Box Set Collecting Seven Solo Donna Summer Albums
by Josh Sharpe - May 26, 2026
A new box set is collecting all of Donna Summer's solo albums that were released on Casablanca Records from 1975 to 1979. Donna Summer: The Casablanca Studio Albums will be available on 7CD or 10LP Colored Vinyl on October 2, 2026.
FIFTH OF JULY to Receive One-Night Staged Reading in Carlsbad
by Stephi Wild - May 26, 2026
Carlsbad Play Readers will present a staged reading of Lanford Wilson's Pulitzer Prize-nominated FIFTH OF JULY at Carlsbad City Library, featuring Craig Noel Award winners and performers from The Old Globe and La Jolla Playhouse.
Review: QUARTET IN AUTUMN, Arcola Theatre
by Clementine Scott - May 20, 2026
Despite her relative unpopularity within her lifetime, Barbara Pym always excelled at plumbing the depths in the lives of desperately ordinary people. In her 1977 novel Quartet in Autumn, she is concerned with those who live their lives waiting for something to happen, and what happens when that something never comes.
A History of Broadway Proshots and Screen Adaptations
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - May 31, 2026
What is a pro-shot and how is it different than an adapted film? Pro-shot is an abbreviation for professionally shot, denoting a stage play that was captured in its native habitat: a theatre. In general, a pro-shot seeks to film the exact experience that audience members would have at a live performance of the show, in contrast with a feature film which actually adapts the piece into a new form, including different locations, the removal of theatrical aesthetic, and changes to make the script work as a film as opposed to as a live theatrical show.
Theatrical Outfit Announces 50th Anniversary Season
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 10, 2026
Theatrical Outfit has announced their 50th Anniversary Season with 5 mainstage productions of classics and modern works, 4 new plays, 3 special anniversary events, 2 productions with new and returning community partners and 1 brand new commission.
Student Winners Announced for 2026 Ocean State Star Awards
by Nicole Rosky - Apr 25, 2026
The Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) just announced the winners of the 2025/2026 Ocean State Star Awards (OSSA) program. These winners will be recognized and honored on the PPAC stage during a live Showcase event.
Review: BAT OUT OF HELL: THE MUSICAL at Palace Theatre
by Paul Batterson - Apr 21, 2026
That’s both the draw and the danger of Jim Steinman’s music. While it comes with a built-in 50-and-over audience, jukebox musicals run the danger of relying on nostalgia, being underperformed by its actors, and/or having a paper thin plot. BAT OUT OF HELL avoided two of those three pitfalls. As Meat Loaf, the voice behind the two albums of which the show is based, sings “Two out of three ain’t bad.”
Did you Know that These Broadway Shows Are Inspired by Magazine Articles?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 19, 2026
Musicals and plays based on movies? Many. Based on books? Also plentiful. Based on true stories? Of course. But musicals and plays based on or inspired by magazine articles? These are a rare breed. One recently opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theatre.
Portland State Opera To Present COSÌ FAN TUTTE In Portland
by A.A. Cristi - Mar 25, 2026
Portland State University Opera will present COSÌ FAN TUTTE from April 17 to April 26 at Lincoln Performance Hall. The production, directed by Layna Chianakas, features a modern interpretation of Mozart's classic opera.
Party of One: Broadway’s Solo Show Takeover
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 12, 2026
Broadway has a long history of one-person shows, including many that have been added to the canon in this century. Seeing one actor powerfully create a whole world on stage can be an exceptional experience. Of course, one handers are hardly one-person projects; while there may only be one actor on stage, they are collaborating with an entire team of creatives, designers, and behind-the-scenes personnel to bring a show to life.