Streaming Theatre

[DiveMilw]

THE THIRD ANNUAL PLAYWRIGHTS LAB (VIRTUAL EDITION)

The MTA Playwrights Lab is a collaboration between MIT students and professional theatre artists. The Lab is a festival of staged readings featuring the work of the writers in the Playwrights Lab workshop (21M.785) taught by Senior Lecturer Ken Urban.

Attendees must secure a space for each evening's reading by RSVPing individually to the specific reading that you wish to attend. Please note: A donation of $5 is encouraged for all attendees. Your financial support will go directly to future MTA Playwrights Labs and other dramatic writing initiatives that bring students and industry professionals together.

All readings at 8pm

SEPTEMBER 18/19

F 9/18

In Absentia by Anisha Agarwal | Directed by Ashley Tata

Sa 9/19

A Foregone Conclusion by Margaret Kosten | Directed by Steve Cosson

SEPTEMBER 24 - 26

Th 9/24

A Futile System by Jake Kinney | Directed by Jaclyn Biskup

F 9/25

Crimson by Jackie Montante | Directed by Kareem Fahmy

Sa 9/26

Mortality Rate: Recalculating by Anupama Phatak | Directed by Shira Milikowsky

OCTOBER 1-3

Th 10/1

Meltdown by Mary Dahl | Directed by Vanessa Stalling

F 10/2

G@M3R GRIL by Jordan Tappa | Directed by Jose Zayas

Sa 10/3

Reset by Elijah Miller | Directed by Kate Bergstrom

[KathyB]

Curious Theatre is presenting Hillary and Clinton by Lucas Hnath, streaming from October 3 through 24. It costs $20.
https://www.curioustheatre.org/event/hillary-and-clinton/

Has anybody seen this play? I'm familiar with the playwright, and am wondering if this is a good way to spend $20.

[scenicdesign71]

I have not seen it, though I've wanted to.  I've only seen two of Hnath's plays, and various friends of mine have expressed wildly varying opinions of his work overall.  The reviews of the B'way production (of H&C) that I read were likewise mixed, but it nevertheless sounded very interesting.

And of course, here, there were Laurie Metcalf and John Lithgow, directed by Joe Mantello -- all very strong factors indeed in my wanting to see that production.  Are you familiar with this company, the cast and/or director?  I might spring for a $20 ticket myself.

[KathyB]

Curious Theatre is one of Denver's most respected companies. They have a reputation for doing the "edgier" material. I saw a production there last year that was very good, but that I had a hard time understanding (Building the Wall by Robert Schenkkan). That production was directed by Chip Walton, who also directs Hillary and Clinton--he's one of the top directors in Denver theatre. The cast includes some well-known regional actors. The cast and director may not be the equivalent of Metcalf, Lithgow and Mantello (a tall order to fill), but they make me want to see it.

I saw A Doll's House Part Two last year also (although it seems like ages ago, it was only last September!).

I think I just talked myself into seeing this production. I am thinking about how much I really miss theatre.

[scenicdesign71]

Thanks for the info, Kathy.  I'm sold!

I think I just talked myself into seeing this production.

And me, too!

I am thinking about how much I really miss theatre.

ME, TOO.

[scenicdesign71]

Len Cariou recently turned 81, and while these might already have been posted on Facebook, I'll link them here too.

"Stars in the House" hosted Cariou and fellow original Sweeney cast members Victor Garber, Sarah Rice and Ken Jennings for a reunion the other day, capped by Cariou's beautiful rendition of "Send in the Clowns":

And his Broadway and The Bard is streaming this weekend only:

(Speaking of missing live theatre,) I managed to catch this on Theatre Row in 2016, and recall it as an altogether delightful afternoon.

[scenicdesign71]

Watch this.  It's making my eyes water uncontrollably:

NYT feature on its making:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/25/theater/glenn-close-angels-in-america.html

[scenicdesign71]

Jesse Green's review of "The Great Work Begins: Scenes from Angels In America":

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/09/theater/scenes-from-angels-in-america.html

As he mentions, and as someone posted on the YouTube comments (citing AmfAR, though I can't find any more-official confirmation of this, on their site or elsewhere), the show is supposedly scheduled to remain viewable online only until this Monday Oct. 12 -- so if you haven't already, clear 50 minutes of your weekend and watch this thing.

It's one of those rare events that left me with no desire whatsoever to analyze or nitpick, though both are certainly possible.  If you want a review, Green's is right on-the-money (though, just to nitpick him, I'd question his need to keep reminding us that a handful of excerpts can't capture the scope and complexity of the entire seven-hour work, as though this plainly-obvious caveat really bore stating, much less repeating).

But for now I'm happy to just re-watch the piece a few more times while it remains available.

[scenicdesign71]

After adding two additional performances this weekend, Jack Was Kind now has only one remaining -- but I finally had a chance to watch it tonight and am regretting not having done so, and then sung its praises, much sooner.  If you've got ten bucks and 90 minutes to spare tomorrow evening (starting 8pm EST, performed live via Zoom), I highly recommend:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/jack-was-kind-by-tracy-thorne-tickets-117018927763

The NYT's lukewarm review had me nervous, but -- as with the last AFO show I saw -- I happily found the experience itself far, far better than advertised, the writing and performance (both by Tracy Thorne, new to me but well worth keeping an eye on) and direction (by my rogerandtom colleague Nick Cotz) all top-notch.

I've got several other plays I need to catch online this weekend before they, too, "close" (though at least two of those are streaming on-demand, which helps).  But this one grabbed me strongly enough that I might just make time to go back and watch it again tomorrow night.

[scenicdesign71]

I've been watching more of the Spotlight On Plays series, and have recently enjoyed Gore Vidal's The Best Man and Kenneth Lonergan's This Is Our Youth.  I've marked the series's remaining shows for the year on my calendar and am looking forward to them.

I also caught the Curious Theatre's Hillary and Clinton last weekend, so I've been watching a lot more of these online readings lately after tapering off in recent weeks.

And finally, there's another chance to see my friend Kareem's new play A Distinct Society in a reading produced by Chicago's International Voices Project in association with the Canadian Consulate, Silk Road Rising and Citadel Theatre. 

They're keeping this online through this Saturday, and there's a separate talkback that was also recorded after last night's premiere.

[DiveMilw]

This (Friday) evening I am going to try to watch "Russian Troll Farm: A Workplace Comedy" by Theaterworks Hartford.  I'd like to see the live stream if I can.  I recommend clicking the link just to see the poster art!  

Live Streaming October 20th – 24th
Recorded Streaming October 25th – November 2nd

ZOOM into the office of a Russian troll farm bent on impacting the 2016 U.S. election. If the provocative play proves too appalling, the absurd laughs will keep you glued to your screen.

approx. run time: 2 hours and 15 mins.

This play was created for streaming.

TheaterWorks Hartford & TheatreSquared
In association with The Civilians

[scenicdesign71]

Thanks for this, Tom!  I love The Civilians, so this is going on my weekend watchlist (probably tonight)!

Speaking of companies I love, Manual Cinema has a new short piece up on YouTube, just in time for Halloween:

(It's charming and spooky, brief but bittersweet — hits the spot).

They'll also be streaming Ada/Ava for free again next weekend, so if you still haven't seen this melancholy, Gothic-tinged, thoroughly bewitching early work of theirs (or want to check it out again), now's your chance.

And finally, tickets are on sale for MC's new Christmas Carol, streaming live from December 3-20.

[scenicdesign71]

After missing it both Off- and on Broadway, I finally got to see What The Constitution Means To Me on Amazon Prime last night.

And at some point soon I'll be watching David Byrne's American Utopia on HBO Max.

Neither of these shows precisely fits the standard definitions of, respectively, "play" or "musical" — both veering towards the vaguer genre of "performance piece" (and, in Byrne's case, "rock concert").  But amid all the Zoom theatre that's happening these days — much of it very good indeed, for what it is — the occasional chance to glimpse Broadway's very-recent past, in highly-polished recordings of the live-in-person original stage productions (perhaps most notably Hamilton a few months ago) carries an outsized charge.

[scenicdesign71]

From the folks who brought you Raúl Esparza and Samira Wiley in Tartuffe — namely, Molière in the Park and the French Institute/Alliance Française — comes Tonya Pinkins in The School For Wives, with even more Zoom-tastic (if still slightly janky, in terms of timing and sound-sync) videography!

Streaming on demand until 2pm this coming Wednesday 10/28.

[scenicdesign71]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/11/04/movies/broadway-movie-adaptations-prom.html