Needs Must

Playwright Lauren Gunderson gives France’s Reign of Terror a riotous, sharp-tongued makeover with The Revolutionists, opening June 12 at International City Theatre. I spoke with director Jamie Torcellini about the play and why he thinks its message is so relevant today.

At the height of its fame, the musical Les Misérables was the Dorsia of Broadway, a hot-ticket event that reached Hamilton levels of excessive prices, elite A-list attendees, and legions of fans who’d revisit the show through repeat viewings, memorization of the cast recording, and fierce debates of West End vs. Broadway performers.

Heads are going to roll with the presentation of The Revolutionists, the irreverent, girl-power comedy, running from March 18th-April 3rd at Farmers Alley Theatre. The show is set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. Written by Lauren Gundernson. BWW Detroit spoke with the show’s director, Dee Dee Batteast, about the amazing show!

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts today announced new artistic commissions, creative community, and civic collaborations, and more this coming June at Restart Stages—the new outdoor performing arts center constructed on the Lincoln Center campus.

The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center has announced their Spring season of digital offerings from April 1 to July 1, which is dedicated to the late Gustave M. Hauser.  CMS presents 28 digital programs, with concerts premiering on Thursday evenings at 7:30 and educational and hybrid talk-and-performance programs premiering on Monday evenings.

Providence theatre-goers have the opportunity to spend considerable time in 18th century France this spring--both at Trinity Rep's A Tale of Two Cities, and now at Brown/Trinity's MFA production of MARIE ANTOINETTE.  Seeing both productions back-to-back makes for an interesting juxtaposition as Tale of Two Cities takes us into the lives of the over-taxed working class, and MARIE ANTOINETTE takes us into the opulent palace that those taxes built.  While Marie Antoinette is not exactly an empathetic figure, it's easy to see why movies and plays are produced about her life. Excess -- in fashion, wealth, and consumption of all kinds -- makes for a visually spectacular extravaganza, and this production leans into that in the most delightful way.