Author: ATCA

Theater Hall of Fame inducts 8 + 4

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...

Latest info on N.Y. conference, Feb. 4-6

Jan. 22 — Normallly our Perspectives in Criticism speakers are critics; but at our N.Y. conference, Feb. 4-6, they will be playwrights and directors. Upload Registration Form here. Latest schedule follows. ATCA New York Weekend Conference, Feb. 4-6, 2011 For developing details (names of more participants, tweaks in schedule),...

‘Defy the Elite!’

Thus the headline to A.O. Scott’s Jan. 16 NYT column on the death/change/whatever of criticism. Having resolved “no panels on the State or Future or Death of Criticism … no thumb suckers for the Sunday paper on the history or the essence of the critical...

Dana Ivey, Stacy Keach, Paxton Whitehead join ATCA Brunch with the Stars at Sardi’s, Feb. 5

Jan. 20 — Stacy Keach (Other Desert Cities), Dana Ivey and Paxton Whitehead (the improbable lovebirds in The Importance of Being Earnest) are the latest participants in the Brunch with Stars at Sardi’s (Feb. 5), joining Linda Lavin, Lily Rabe (Portia opposite Al Pacino in The Merchant of Venice), Colin Quinn, Andre De Shields, Dan Lauria (title...

Critical scuffle over ‘Spider Man’

Jan. 18 — Leonard Jacobs has a juicy take on the “Spider Man” situation in the Jan. 17 Huffington Post (it’s rich in links). He writes of “the anach-ronistic kabuki of theatre journalism,” compares protests to “dinosaurs roaring in denial about the asteroid that detonated in their feeding ground”...

NY Conference schedule as it stands

Jan. 9 — New participants or other details will be added every few days. Following are schedule and registration form. ATCA New York Weekend Conference, Feb. 4-6, 2011 For developing details (sites of meetings, names of participants, any changes in schedule), watch the ATCA website at http://www.americantheatrecritics.org/. SPECIAL $99 HOTEL...

4 weeks to NY conference; more plans announced; make your own plans now

Co-chairs Sherry Eaker and Ira Bilowit announce the “Perspectives on Criticism” panel will feature two directors and two playwrights. Already interested is Marsha Norman, with some other big names in our sights. (Hint: Read the lively remarks by a well-known playwright a couple of items down on our...

David Hare: mere fact, mere fiction

In The Guardian, 17 April 2010, the playwright replied to his critics by arguing that good theater should never be confused with journalism. A few quotes: “Journalism is life with the mystery taken out. Art is life with the mystery restored.” …“If we accept the simple...

A holiday present – and support for Foundation ATCA, too

At last summer’s ATCA/O’Neill Theater Center conference, the necktie sporting both versions of the logo of our Daumier critic and playwright Eugene (with and without the seagull), quickly sold out. Now we have a limited new supply in time for the holidays. Just send a check...

ATCA meets in NYC, Feb. 4-6

Full info on our annual weekend conference (aka Mini-Meeting) is due in your email box shortly and snail mailbox shortly thereafter. But it isn’t too soon to make travel and housing arrangements. The full program starts at 10 am Fri. and ends Sun. at noon. ...