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...
Diep Tran New York criticOutlets: American Theatre; Broadway.com Diep Tran What made you decide you wanted to become a critic in the first place? I've kind of fallen into this career. When I was young, I wanted to be a dentist. I have no idea why; I really liked...
Kelundra Smith Atlanta criticOutlets: American Theatre, Atlanta magazine, ArtsATL Kelundra Smith You've been incredibly active in your career, and hustle like nobody's business. Where do you get your drive and motivation? I think there's a competitive part of me that wants meritocracy to be real. I like proving that...
Recent senseless and barbaric attacks on our Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities are attacks on all of us. These communities have been an integral part of this nation’s fabric for centuries, and these injurious and harmful incidents are heartbreaking and infuriating. As members of...
Kitty Drexel New England area criticOutlets: New England Theatre Geek, HowlRound Kitty Drexel How long have you been a critic, and how did you get started? In 2011, Becca Kidwell, who used to live in the Boston area and is now in New York City, ran a blog called...
Jerald Raymond Pierce Chicagoland criticPrimary outlet: American Theatre Jerald Raymond Pierce When you took the position as associate editor of American Theatre magazine, what stories did you want to prioritize? I spent about my first five years in Chicago dabbling in stage management, sound design and lighting design. I...