Contemporary American Theater Festival's 26th season

Road tripping: Five new American plays in one unexpected place

Contemporary American Theater Festival's "Thinktheater" repertory of five plays offers a rich variety of new plays by American playwrights. Our critic Mark Cofta saw them all.

Mark Cofta

Jul 18, 2016 · Articles · 8 minute read

1812 Productions' JillineFest, celebrating 10 years of the Jilline Ringle Solo Performance Program

Caroline Dooner's Possible Memoir Titles (& Songs) chases a momster

As part of JillineFest, in Caroline Dooner's 'Possible Memoir Titles (& Songs)' the solo performer looks at herself and sees her mother.

SaraKay Smullens

Jul 17, 2016 · Articles · 3 minute read

PlayPenn's Rent-a-Dramaturg program

It's dramaturgy to go at PlayPenn

Who needs a script doctor when you can rent a dramaturg? Martha Steketee looks at one of the new play development conference's newest developments.

Martha Steketee

Jul 12, 2016 · Articles · 4 minute read

New City Stage Company's world premiere of 'Roseburg,' by Ginger Dayle

'Roseburg': At the intersection of theater and reality

When our entertainment and our news overlap, we are left bewildered by both, but can theater really bring about change? New City Stage's world premiere 'Roseburg' looks at past and present U.S. gun violence.

Naomi Orwin

Jul 11, 2016 · Articles · 3 minute read

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 'Julius Caesar'

A political tale for today

Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 25th season features an enthralling 'Julius Caesar' with a splendid veteran cast.

Mark Cofta

Jun 27, 2016 · Articles · 3 minute read

Phenomenal Animals's 'The Bacchae,' at Walnut Street Theatre Studio Five

Filthy minds, female power

In Phenomenal Animals's 'The Bacchae,' are frenzied women killing men a political metaphor or a cautionary tale (or both)?

Naomi Orwin

Jun 23, 2016 · Articles · 3 minute read

Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey's 'If/Then' at the Academy of Music

A star vehicle drives on without its star

'If/Then' was written for and based on the talents of Idina Menzel. To Steve Cohen's surprise, the show has appeal even without her.

Steve Cohen

Jun 23, 2016 · Articles · 5 minute read

Josh Piven's 'Muddled' at Drexel University's URBN Annex

An all-too-accurate title

Bestselling author Josh Piven's comedy 'Muddled' tries to be funny but doesn't succeed.

Mark Cofta

Jun 23, 2016 · Articles · 2 minute read

Reject Theatre Project's 'SHREW' adapted by Christine Freije

The taming of the beast

Reject Theatre Project exposes the misogyny of Shakespeare's 'The Taming of the Shrew,' which most productions try to obscure, with 'SHREW.'

Mark Cofta

Jun 21, 2016 · Articles · 5 minute read

Zak Berkman's world premiere 'The Harassment of Iris Malloy' at People's Light and Theatre Company

The politics of the personal

Zak Berkman's world premiere 'The Harassment of Iris Malloy' suggests a tabloid situation, but reveals a genuine drama.

Mark Cofta

Jun 20, 2016 · Articles · 2 minute read