The conference so far has gone off without a major hitch and conference chair Jonathan Abarbanel deserves kudos and awe. In addition to the worthy productions we’ve seen, there has been a great deal to be learned talking with artistic directors discovering what they have...
Lou Harry, Indianapolis: By accident rather than design, the first three plays of my current Chicago theater jag (where I’m participating in the American Theatre Critics Association conference) focused on (and, in two cases, were created primarily by) African-Americans. And while the results were mixed, collectively,...
Chicago, June 15 — In a series extending back to 1992, Terry Teachout, Wall Street Journal theater critic, delivered the Perspective in Criticism talk at the ATCA annual conference. Its success could be measured by the many conversations (and arguments) it occasioned. “Terry Teachout may be America’s...
Scroll down for news about 2013 conference in West Virginia and award of 2012 Primus Prize to Tammy Ryan. ALSO: read about this ATCA conference on the ATCA Blog (see link at top of page). New ATCA members enjoy their first conference: left to right, Jack Lyons (Desert...
Chicago, June 14 — The American Theatre Critics Association voted today to hold its 2013 conference at the Contemporary American Theatre Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. The festival will be offering two commissioned productions and several other new works and staged readings, to be announced later in the...
After our five hours of O’Neil last night, I delighted in the cool air and bright sun as I walked to our morning meeting in what was designed to be “the most beautiful office building in the world.” In 1922 the Chicago Tribune held a...
If you not here in Chicago with the ATCA conference, you’re missing a terrific time. Gorgeous weather, yes. Good food, sure. But what great theater Jonathan Abarbanel has lined up. Last night, a four hour and fifty minutes (including three intermissions) production of The Iceman Cometh at the...
June 15, Friday - 9:30AM, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Skyline Room (6th floor), continental breakfast. - 10:15AM-11AM, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, welcome from artistic director Barbara Gaines and executive director Criss Henderson; presentation of Osborne and Primus awards to playwrights Darren Canady and Caridad Svich. - 11AM-Noon, Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Perspectives in Criticism: Wall Street Journal critic Terry Teachout discusses The...
Obviously the big (in every way) event of the conference’s first day was “The Iceman Cometh,” a painstakingly rich version of the O’Neill classic. Opinions will naturally differ – hey, everyone’s a critic — but no one can deny the size of the accomplishment, or...
Day 1 featured a reception with the Commissioner of Cultural Affairs (this is not your average city government) and an Iceman Cometh marathon, just the right way to test our mettle. Here’s Day 2: June 14, Thursday * Arrivals contune at conference hotels. * Continental breakfast and General...