Statements and Annoucements

ATCA Statement of Solidarity

The American Theatre Critics Association stands in solidarity with those taking a stand against the senseless killings of Black and Brown people across the country. We also support the reporters who are on the front lines covering protests. The theaters and theater makers we cover...

A message to our members and our theater communities

ATCA is concerned for the health, safety and livelihood of our members and artists and audiences across the country. With this in mind, we support actions taken by theaters nationally to close productions to help contain the COVID-19 pandemic. ATCA is committed to advocating for theater as...

Wendi Winters [1953-2018]

The shooting at the Capital Gazette Reporter in Annapolis on June 28, 2018, claimed five lives including that of arts writer Wendi Winters, a contributor to DC Metro Theatre Arts and a colleague of ATCA member David Siegel, who shares the following reflection: “It is with utter sadness that I...

What ATCA is and should be: ATCA chair summarizes the many advantages of membership

We are in the middle of our membership renewal drive, and while this Harold Hill spiel is, indeed, aimed at enticing those who haven’t put renewals high on their “to do” list, this is really a contemplation of what ATCA is and what it should...

ATCA speaks on fair comment, theaters’ rights, diversity and cultural competency

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 16, 2017 ATCA has closely followed the controversy sparked by a review of Pass Overby Chicago critic Hedy Weiss and referred members to articles about the controversy on our website. As the only nationwide organization of theater critics and journalists, we believe issues have...

Criticism is free speech

“In reference to the recent Wooster Group/Harold Pinter situation in Los Angeles and scattered reports of troubling analogs around the country, the American Theatre Critics Association strongly reaffirms our bedrock tenet that arts criticism is journalism,” stated Wm. F. Hirschman, chair, ATCA executive committee. Harold Pinter (1930-2008): What...

ATCA on the move: a comprehensive report

Coming out of productive meetings in New York and drawing on much work beforehand, excom chair Bill Hirschman has a lot to announce: proposals on ATCA’s membership and governance; sharing the NY conference via video; volunteers for international meetings; nominations  for the Steinberg/ATCA and Osborn Awards; Primus...

ATCA condemns selling press comps

NOV. 4, 2015: The American Theatre Critics Association is incensed that a Seattle theater critic for The Huffington Post has offered for sale on Craigslist his second free ticket to events that he was covering. “To be very clear, the writer is not a member of...

ATCA condemns the selling of press comps (in brief)

Mystery miscreant A Seattle critic for the Huffington Post recently advertised his extra press comps for sale to women willing to accompany him. (Howard Sherman has the basic facts.) That’s risible enough, and it may even have been a joke (he advertised them at half face...

Bitter Lemons raises basic issues, and hackles, too

The website Bitter Lemons now allows theaters to pay to be reviewed. You can get an overview on the commentary in the LA Times and an account in opposition in the LA Weekly.  Speaking for the ATCA excom, chair Bill Hirschman has said: “The American Theatre Critics’ Association, the only national organization...