SINGER LIRAZ BRINGS ISRAELI, IRANIAN MUSICIANS TOGETHER – AND CHALLENGES TEHRAN REGIME by Robert Shuman

(Grégoire Sauvage’s article appeared on France24, 12/3; via Drudge Report;  Photo:  Israeli-Persian singer Liraz recorded her third album, “Roya”, with musicians from Israel and Ira…

‘HENRY V’; ‘VARDY V ROONEY’; ‘¡SHOWMANISM!’–REVIEW by Robert Shuman

(Susannah Clapp’s article appeared in the Observer, 11/27; via Pam Green; Photo: ‘Utterly concentrated’: Oliver Johnstone as Henry V. Photograph: Johan Persson.) Sam Wanamaker Playhous…

LONDON’S THEATER CUTS MATTER, ON BROADWAY AND BEYOND by Robert Shuman

(Matt Wolf’s article appeared in The New York Times, 11/24; via Pam Green;  Photo: Rebecca Humphries and Alex Austin in “Blackout Songs,” directed by Guy Jones at the Hampstead Downst…

‘THE MOUSETRAP’: AGATHA CHRISTIE’S WEST END HIT TO MAKE BROADWAY DEBUT AFTER 70 YEARS by Robert Shuman

(Chris Wiegand’s article appeared in the Guardian, 11/25; via Pam Green; Photo:  It’s a scream … Mary Law in the West End production of The Mousetrap in 1957. Photograph: Mirrorpix/G…

IRENE CARA OBITUARY by Robert Shuman

(Adam Sweeting’s article appeared in the Guardian, 11/27;  Photo: Irene Cara as Coco Hernandez in Fame, 1980, directed by Alan Parker. She also sang the title song, which topped the Briti…

LET’S PLAY ‘BEAT THE BARD’ (46) by Robert Shuman

Can you beat the Bard? Questions by Joyce E. Henry, Ph.D. All rights reserved.

HOW ‘THE LION KING’ GOT TO BROADWAY AND RULED FOR 25 YEARS (SO FAR) by Robert Shuman

(Michael Paulson’s article appeared in The New York Times, 11/16; via Pam Green; Photograph: Julie Taymor, who not only directed the show but also designed its costumes, puppets and masks,…

SHAKESPEARE PORTRAIT SAID TO BE ONLY ONE MADE IN HIS LIFETIME ON SALE FOR £10M by Robert Shuman

 (Nadeem Badshah’s article appeared in the Guardian, 11/17.  Photo:  The portrait is unveiled by conservator Adrian Phippen (right) and Art and Antiques writer Duncan Phillips. Photogr…

IN ‘THE CHINESE LADY,’ PREJUDICE AND EXPLOITATION, SEEN FROM A STAGE (BOSTON) by Robert Shuman

(Don Aucoin’s article appeared in the Boston Glober, 11/14; Photo:Jae Woo (left) and Sophorl Ngin in “The Chinese Lady” at Central Square Theater.NILE SCOTT STUDIOS.) CAMBRIDGE — Whe…

NOT TO BE: SHAKESPEARE FESTIVAL FUNDING PULLED OVER ‘CANON OF IMPERIALISM’ by Robert Shuman

Asia-Pacific (Eva Corlett’s article appeared in the Irish Times–from Wellington–10/14.) New Zealand’s arts council has pulled funding for a Shakespeare festival that has been running…

‘I THREW MY ARMS AROUND BECKETT!’ – ELECTRIFYING FIRST NIGHTS, BY CIARÁN HINDS, EILEEN ATKINS AND MORE by Robert Shuman

(Dominic Dromgoole’s article appeared in the Guardian 10/26; via Pam Green; Photo: A hallucinatory experience’ … Frances Barber with Amanda Abbington and Reece Shearsmith in The Unfrie…

HAPPY HALLOWEEN FROM KURT WEILL AND BERTOLT BRECHT (“ALABAMA SONG”) by Robert Shuman

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (143) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: Plan your role consciously at first, then play it truthfully. At this point realism and even naturalism in the inner preparation of a part is…

RUTH STAGE ‘CAT’ BACK FOR UNPRECEDENTED OFF BROADWAY RE-ENGAGEMENT by Robert Shuman

“(Tennessee) Williams would probably love Matt de Rogatis’ Brick.” – Juan Ramirez, The New York Times “Brilliant…intense…funny!” – Dave Carlin, CBS “An innovative Cat on …

EDDIE IZZARD RETURNS TO NEW YORK WITH CHARLES DICKENS’ ‘GREAT EXPECTATIONS’ (12/9-1/22) by Robert Shuman

(via Kenya A. Williams, BoneauBryanBrown) EDDIE IZZARD RETURNS TO NEW YORK WITH CHARLES DICKENS’ GREAT EXPECTATIONS Performances Begin December 9  Opening Night December 15 Limited Engag…

‘THE MOORS’ REVIEW – DELICIOUSLY DARK BRONTË PASTICHE by Robert Shuman

(Arifa Akbar’s article appeared in the Guardian, 10/16/22; via Pam Green; Photo: Captivating … The Moors. Photograph: Steve Gregson Photography.)   The Hope theatre, London The characte…

TOM STOPPARD’S ‘LEOPOLDSTADT’ (REVIEW FROM NEW YORK) by Robert Shuman

By Bob Shuman Tom Stoppard’s Olivier Award-winning Best New Play Leopoldstadt—his 19th on Broadway–which opened October 2, at the Longacre Theatre, is epic, the English way, with huge …

KAFKA QUIZ: ‘THE METAMORPHOSIS’ by Robert Shuman

Fun, random questions on the Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka. Web site: Stage Voices (www.stagevoices.com) Follow Bob Shuman on twitter: Bob Shuman @Bobjshuman Eastern Europe Watch @WatchEastern

by Robert Shuman

ANGELA LANSBURY, STAR OF FILM, STAGE AND ‘MURDER, SHE WROTE,’ DIES AT 96 by Robert Shuman

(Daniel Lewis’s article appeared in The New York Times,. 10/11; via Pam Green; Photo:  Angela Lansbury; Ms. Lansbury  as Madame Arcati in the 2009 production of “Blithe Spirit” with,…

THE RELUCTANT SOLOIST: UKRAINIAN REFUGEE ROCKER KATYA GAPOCHKA FORGES A NEW FUTURE IN PRAGUE by Robert Shuman

(from Radio Free Europe)  Oct 8, 2022 A Ukrainian rock singer who was forced flee Kyiv at the start of Russia’s invasion of her country has been embraced by audiences and musicians in the…

TO BE OR NOT TO BE CANCELLED: HOW DIRECTORS DEAL WITH SHAKESPEARE’S PROBLEMATIC SIDE by Robert Shuman

(David Jays’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/27; via Pam Green; Photo:  Swerving convention … Olivier Huband (Ferdinand) and Ferdy Roberts (Prospero) in The Tempest at Shakespeare�…

MARÍA IRENE FORNÉS: ‘MUD/ DROWNING’ FROM MABOU MINES—ONLY THROUGH OCT. 9—REVIEW FROM NEW YORK by Robert Shuman

By Bob Shuman and Marit Shuman María Irene Fornés’s Mud/Drowning is playing for only 15 performances, September 28 to October 9, at Mabou Mines, in a double bill, directed by JoAnne Akal…

REVIEW: IN LEA MICHELE, ‘FUNNY GIRL’ HAS FINALLY FOUND ITS FANNY by Robert Shuman

(Jesse Green’s article appeared in The New York Times, 9/29/22; via Pam Green; Photo:  Yes, Lea Michele (with Ramin Karimloo) lights up like a light as the new Fanny Brice on Broadway. C…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (142) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: (Think) about the inner side of a role, and how to create its spiritual life through the help of the internal process of living the part. You…

‘MUD/DROWNING’: PERFORMANCES LIVE NOW by Robert Shuman

MUD/DROWNING     ONLY 15 CHANCES TO SEE THIS NYT CRITIC’S PICK! LIMITED AVAILABILITY!   GET TICKETS NOW! MABOU MINES AND WEATHERVANE PRODUCTIONS  IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE DAYS AND NI…

‘THE PRINCE’ REVIEW – PLAYFUL ROMP THROUGH SHAKESPEAREAN ROLES by Robert Shuman

(Kate Wyver’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/22; via Pam Green; Photo:  Exploration of transgression … Corey Montague-Sholay (Prince Hal), Joni Ayton-Kent (Sam), Mary Malone (Jen) …

‘PHANTOM OF THE OPERA’ CLOSING NEXT YEAR AFTER HISTORIC RUN ON BROADWAY by Robert Shuman

(from Eyewitness News 7, 9/16; via Drudge Report..) NEW YORK (WABC) — “Phantom of the Opera,” Broadway’s longest-running show and an icon of New York City theater, will close early …

***** ‘MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, REVIEW – HILARIOUS, HEARTFELT SHOW IS EVERYTHING by Robert Shuman

(Nick Ahad’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/14; Photo: Compelling … Guy Rhys (Benedick) and Daneka Etchells (Beatrice) in Much Ado About Nothing at the Crucible, Sheffield. Photogr…

ON STAGE AND WHEN WE MET AT THE THEATRE, THE QUEEN WAS A FIGURE OF QUIET WISDOM AND HUMOUR by Robert Shuman

(Michael Billington’s article appeared in the Guardian, 9/9; via Pam Green; Photo: Marion Bailey as the Queen in Handbagged at the Tricycle theatre (now the Kiln), London, in 2013. Photog…

CONSTANT STANISLAVSKI (141) by Robert Shuman

The words and wisdom of Constantin Stanislavski: Aside from the fact that it opens up avenues for inspiration, living the part helps the artist to carry out one of his main objectives. His j…