Terrance Afer-AndersonNorfolk, VirginiaPrimary Outlet: The New Journal and Guide Terrance Afer-Anderson Basics first: where do you work (do reviews) and how long have you been there? I have written theater criticism and feature stories, off and on, for The New Journal and Guide, the third oldest African American...
Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel (she/they)ChicagoPrimary Outlet: Chicago Reader Yasmin Zacaria Mikhaiel First, where do your reviews appear, and how long have you been there? I work as the Chicago Reader’s Audience Engagement Manager and previously freelanced with them as a theater critic beginning in 2019. What is your background in...
Martha Wade Steketee New York, New YorkPrimary Outlet: urbanexcavations Martha Wade Steketee, early in the pandemic. Basics first: where do you work (do reviews) and how long have you been there? I have been a freelance critic since 2006, writing for online and print publications based in Chicago, Philadelphia,...
Samantha Baird Idaho Falls, IdahoPrimary Outlet: Samantha Baird Performing Arts Services Samantha Baird Where do you write and how long have you been writing about theater? I don’t review as much as I’d like to be today because of the pandemic, but I was writing for Front Row Reviewers...
Amanda Finn ChicagoPrimary Outlet: Newcity Amanda Finn Basics first: where do you work (do reviews) and how long have you been there? I have been writing reviews for Newcity in Chicago for three years now. What is your background in theater and/or criticism? I’ve been writing theater criticism/journalism since 2014 when...
Thomas Gentile New YorkPrimary Outlet: El Conocedor Thomas Gentile Thomás Gentile is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association, Outer Critics Circle, and Drama Desk. Winner of an ECAS Award for educating Hispanics in the arts. El Conocedor provides reviews in Spanish of Broadway, Off Broadway, and...
Lauren Van Hemert For this edition of Critic Spotlight, Lauren Van Hemert speaks uninterrupted by interviewer questions. Van Hemert, based in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina, has written for Broadway World and now her own website Beltline to Broadway (formerly RDU Onstage). Here is Lauren, in her own...
Richard Oliver Dallas, TexasPrimary outlets: Theater Jones, Texas Classical Review, The Whole Review Richard Oliver How did you get started as an arts critic? When I went to college I knew I wanted to pursue music. But I loved writing, so I made a deal with myself: I would...
David John Chávez San Jose area criticPrimary outlets: BayAreaPlays.com; Mercury News, American Theatre Magazine David John Chávez How’d you get started in this wacky business? Years ago, I had a job on a daily newspaper (the Fresno Bee, a McClatchy newspaper that covered the central San Joaquin Valley) on...
Karen Topham Chicago areaPrimary outlet: ChicagoOnStage Karen Topham How many years were you a high school drama teacher? Overall 37 years. I taught drama in one way or another for most of those years. I always taught units on performance because it made for an interesting switch from just...