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Theater Review: BLUE KISS (Ruskin Group Theatre)
THE KISS OF DEATH A drama overloaded with “dots” that just don’t connect The Ruskin Group Theatre’s production of Stephen Fife’s Blue Kiss starts off with promise. Todd (Casey Morris), a somewhat stuffy, failed poet and depressed academic, has reluctantly agreed to tutor Susan (Carolina Rodriguez), a somewhat manic, wanna-be poet student. We’ve been here…
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Theater Review: HAMNET (Royal Shakespeare Company at American Conservatory Theater)
TO GRIEVE OR NOT TO GRIEVE American Conservatory Theater presents Hamnet, the stage adaptation of Maggie O’Farrell’s historical novel, adapted by Lolita Chakrabarti (Life of Pi) and directed by Erica Whyman. Hamnet, the historical novel by Maggie O’Farrell, reimagines the family life of William Shakespeare in the 16th century. It’s an intimate portrait of his…
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Off-Broadway Review: BROKEN SNOW (Theatre 71)
A PUZZLE WORTH SOLVING A slow-burn puzzle that rewards patience with emotional clarity In the middle of nowhere, in an abandoned house, Broken Snow begins with a promise. Kris (Tony Danza) steps forward and tells us he has a story—“one of utmost significance,” he insists, “a moment where everything changes.” It’s a bold promise, not…
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Theater Review: BEAU JEST (North Coast Rep)
A NICE JEWISH BOY— OR IS HE? Plenty of laughs and genuine feeling power this crowd-pleasing production Sarah Goldman is a young Jewish Chicago teacher in the late 1900s. Her boyfriend is a lawyer named Chris Cringle and they are thinking about getting married. But there is a problem. Chris is not Jewish and Sarah’s…
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Theater Review: FLOWER DRUM SONG (East West Players & JACCC at the Aratani Theatre)
A NEW BEAT ON AN OLD DRUM A vibrant revival powered by talent, spectacle, and cultural pride Crazy Talented Asian Americans! “To create something new, we must first love what is old.”– Mei-Ling from Flower Drum Song I fell in love with East West Players and JACCC’s co-production revival of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Flower Drum…
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Theater Review: THE SECRET SHARER (DNAWorks at Emerson Paramount Center)
TOO MANY HANDS ON DECK An inventive but overstuffed adaptation floods the narrative The world premiere of DNAWorks‘ adaptation of Joseph Conrad’s “The Secret Sharer,” directed by Daniel Banks at Emerson Paramount Center offers a lot of intriguing approaches to this classic tale of two men who strongly resemble one another. Regarded as a novella…
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Broadway Review: THE BALUSTERS (Manhattan Theatre Club at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre)
STOP SIGNS AND SOCIAL SIGNALS Sharp, humane, and richly acted, this new comedy lands with both wit and weight In The Balusters, playwright David Lindsay-Abaire once again proves himself a master of tonal tightrope walking—balancing biting social critique with deep wells of empathy, all wrapped in the polished veneer of a parlor room comedy. Set…
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Theater Review: COCKROACHES (World Premiere at Revolution Stage Company, Palm Springs)
THIS SHOW BUGS ME A Southern Gothic that hints at something deeper but never quite gets there For all its promise, Cockroaches, the 2024 Del Shores Foundation Best Play winner by Emma Schillage, leaves you grasping for clarity—and, at times, patience. Set in a decaying Southern home, the play centers on three sisters—Charlie (Leilani Baldwin),…
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Broadway Review: JOE TURNER’S COME AND GONE (Barrymore Theatre)
FINDING YOUR SONG Debbie Allen’s revival honors Wilson’s depth with a richly realized production The Barrymore Theatre’s revival of August Wilson’s Joe Turner’s Come and Gone, directed by the very talented Debbie Allen, is an exquisitely crafted classic production brought to life by a thoughtfully assembled cast and creative team. Set in 1911, the story…
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Theater Review: BOTH (Teatro Vista Productions at Steppenwolf’s 1700 Theater, Chicago)
TRAUMA, TRUTH, AND THE STORIES WE SELL A taut psychological thriller that cuts deep and lingers “Look at this place. Just how rich did our trauma make you?” Of all the devastating zingers hurled about the posh living room of Xochi’s lake house in Both, the brilliant new play by Paloma Nozicka, that’s the one…
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Theater Review: ERNEST SHACKLETON LOVES ME (Coachella Valley Repertory, Cathedral City)
ICE, LOVE, AND LOOP PEDALS A technically dazzling two-hander that charms with ingenuity Coachella Valley Repertory closes its season with the inventive two-hander Ernest Shackleton Loves Me, a production that reflects the company’s recent pivot toward more musical offerings; it’s a shift that’s paying off. On the surface, the show—with a book by Joe DiPietro—seems…
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Theater Commentary: THE PRICE OF NOT PERFORMING EMPATHY
CRITICISM VS CONFESSION When analysis starts to look like refusal Editor’s note: Jesse Green was reassigned from his role as chief theatre critic at The New York Times in 2025 and now serves as a culture correspondent, continuing to write about theatre alongside broader arts coverage. This commentary reflects on the larger critical and cultural…
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Theater Review: FENCES (The Old Globe, San Diego)
FENCED IN AND LASHING OUT A powerful touring revival of August Wilson’s enduring drama The Old Globe Theatre is presenting August Wilson’s 1987 drama Fences, part of his cycle of plays about African American life in the industrial United States during the 20th century. Each play explores Black life in a different decade, in an…
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Theater Review: TEEN BEAT LIVE | 80s MOVIE MIXTAPE (CineVita, Inglewood)
I LOVE THE NIGHTLIFE A high-energy 80s mixtape that actually leaves you wanting more For The Record has built a reputation on remixing cinematic nostalgia into immersive, high-octane theatrical events—but with Teen Beat Live | 80s Movie Mixtape, they may have finally cracked the code. Easily one of the most successful entries in their long…
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Opera Review: DIE KLUGE (THE WISE WOMAN) (Independent Opera Company, Los Angeles)
A GEM FINDS ITS VOICE A charming, rarely staged Orff opera gets a smart, scrappy revival Did you know that composer Carl Orff wrote more than Carmina Burana? It’s true. While most audiences know “O Fortuna” and its bombastic spectacle, Orff also composed lighter fare such as Die Kluge, a fairy-tale opera that Independent Opera…
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Theater Review: THE PRICE (Pacific Resident Theatre, Venice)
THE COST OF LOOKING BACK With a soaring first act, I’m willing to pay the price for a second that can’t quite keep up Arthur Miller’s The Price has always been a talky, introspective piece—more excavation than action—but when it works, it’s quietly devastating. At Pacific Resident Theatre, director Elina de Santos delivers a production…
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Broadway Review: PROOF (Booth Theatre)
THE MATH DOESN’T ADD UP A starry revival that struggles to convince All the action in the Broadway revival of David Auburn’s Proof takes place on the porch of Robert and Catherine’s home in Hyde Park, Chicago. Teresa L. Williams’s set and Amanda Zieve’s lighting emphasize the sloping lines of the house’s double gables, the…
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Event Preview: FUNDRAISER FOR SENATOR JON OSSOFF (Lin-Manuel Miranda Hosts Virtual Fundraiser)
BROADWAY GOES POLITICAL A starry virtual event blends music, activism, and marquee names If you’re going to tune into a political fundraiser, it might as well come with a Broadway-caliber lineup. On Thursday, May 7, Lin-Manuel Miranda hosts a one-night-only virtual event supporting Senator Jon Ossoff’s re-election campaign—bringing together an eclectic mix of performers and…
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Music Review: BACK TO OZ (MUSE/IQUE at Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles)
FOLLOW THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD—AGAIN A richly curated concert that celebrates Oz across generations MUSE/IQUE’s Back to Oz concert event, presented in partnership with Center Theatre Group at the Mark Taper Forum, brings together music spanning more than a century of storytelling inspired by L. Frank Baum’s beloved world. Led by Artistic & Music Director…
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Theater Review: HOW TO MAKE AN AMERICAN SON (New Conservatory Theatre Center, SF)
PRIVILEGE, PRESSURE, AND GROWING UP A timely coming-of-age story about identity, class, and consequence Even in troubled times, California is still seen by many as the land of opportunity—a place where dreams can come true for those willing to work hard. But in how to make an American Son, playwright christopher oscar peña explores how that promise plays out unevenly,…
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