The Perspectives in Criticism talk at ATCA’s weekend conference in NYC (Feb., 2011) was coordinated by Sherry Eaker (Back Stage), who gathered playwrights Adam Rapp and Richard Nelson, artistic director Tim Sanford and producer-director-playwright Emily Mann to discuss the role of the contemporary critic. It was a stimulating discussion, one of ATCA’s best. Sherry deserves...
Feb. 14, 2011 — At ATCA’s recent New York weekend conference, playwright-director-artistic director Emily Mann, one of the Perspectives in Criticism panel (along with playwrights Adam Rapp and Richard Nelson and artistic director Tim Sanford), preemptively set a high initial bar for all critics by reading aloud Howard Clurman’s 1964 “The Complete Critic’s...
The latest take on the ongoing war of attrition is surveyed in this Feb. 8 NY Times account of some reviews of Spidey’s ongoing previews. Previously, Leonard Jacobs had a juicy take on the “Spider Man” situation in the Jan. 17 Huffington Post (it’s rich in links). He wrote of “the anachronistic...
About 50 ATCA members gathered in NYC, Feb. 4-6, for a weekend conference (aka “mini-meeting”). In between panels and shows and the hurlyburly of The City, a few took a short break to file a comment, and more are expected. ...
Before spending time with my new ATCA colleagues in New York, I was under the impression that most performers/writers/directors shy from reviews, so I was pleasantly surprised with those who confessed to reading them and how many said that both the good and bad live...
Some great moments in ATCA’s mini-meeting in NYC: * At the Sardi’s brunch, celeb guest Dan Lauria sounds like Vince Lombardi: “I like the challenge. I’m a Marine. Come on. Bring it on.” His stage wife in Lombardi, Judith Light, looks ethereal as she allows the winds...
After a day of stimulating panel discussions on the theater experience from the points of view of actors, acting teachers, producers and reviewers, we were treated to the traditional Brunch with the Stars at Sardi’s. What fun it was to sit next to Jeffrey Wright...
Ah, to be in New York City when the sleet’s in bloom! Okay, it’s not April in Paris. Nor Fort Lauderdale in February (one of the most beautiful times of the year back home). But it’s not like we’re standing on an El platform in...
Feb. 1 — The previously announced Bartlett Sher is out, but playwrights Richard Nelson, Adam Rapp and Emily Mann, plus Playwrights Horizons artistic director Tim Sanford are in. As previously announced here, both the Friday and Sunday sessions are at the Baruch Performing Arts Center, entrance at 25th St. between Third and...
Jan. 27 — Monday saw eight new names join more than 400 others in raised gold letters on the walls of the Gershwin Theatre, the 2010 class of the Theater Hall of Fame: Charles Strouse and Fritz Weaver Linda Lavin Previous inductes Willa Kim and William Ivey Long actors Brian...