Obies Honor ‘A Strange Loop’ and ‘Heroes of the Fourth Turning’
Culture, Yesterday
The annual awards show for Off and Off Off Broadway theater was prerecorded and streamed after the coronavirus led to cancellation of a live ceremony.
‘Gotham Refuses to Get Scared’: In 1918, Theaters Stayed Open
Arts & Leisure, Yesterday
With an influenza pandemic and a war on, New York’s health commissioner took an unorthodox stand, declining to shutter public entertainment.
Theater Artists of Color Enumerate Demands for Change
Culture, July 10
A 29-page document released this week amounts to a call for wholesale restructuring of the system, onstage and backstage, on Broadway and beyond.
A Legal Battle Over Adoption in ‘The Copper Children’
Culture, July 10
The Oregon Shakespeare Festival’s streaming series begins with a “historical fable” about Catholic orphans and their new families in 1904 Arizona.
Debating ‘Hamilton’ as It Shifts From Stage to Screen
Culture, July 10
Five critics wade into the controversies (like its treatment of slavery) and examine the performances (especially Lin-Manuel Miranda’s) five years after the show debuted.
How André Holland and Company Brought ‘Richard II’ to Radio
Weekend, July 9
What was meant to have opened Shakespeare in the Park’s season has found new life as a four-part audio play with resonance in the wake of Black Lives Matter.
Covid Responders Have Their Harrowing Say in ‘The Line’
Weekend, July 9
A documentary play based on interviews with New York doctors, nurses and paramedics underlines the inequities of a medical system “flawed from its root.”
7 Things to Do This Weekend
Weekend, July 9
How can you get your cultural fix when many arts institutions remain closed? Our writers offer suggestions for what to listen to and watch.
In the Absence of Live Theater, TV Takes, Well, Center Stage
Culture, July 9
“Staged,” a six-episode sitcom, and “Talking Heads,” a remake of a group of vaunted monologues, show what good can come of a bereft theatrical scene in Britain.
Theater’s Next Act? A Show That’s All in Your Head
Culture, July 8
Immersive theater, timed and ticketed, has arrived in virtual reality. Is this a brave new pixelated world for live performance? Or just another app?
This Is Theater in 2020. Will It Last? Should It?
Arts & Leisure, July 8
Our critics discuss the last four months, which thanks to Zoom (and Meryl Streep) have been full of experimentation and playfulness.
Digital Theater Isn’t Theater. It’s a Way to Mourn Its Absence.
Arts & Leisure, July 8
The industry’s show-must-go-on smile masks a harder truth: that there is no substitute for the live interaction between performer and audience.
Hoping for a Theater Bailout? Better Head to London
Culture, July 7
The British government has promised $2 billion to save its cultural institutions, while the American theater, lacking meaningful leadership, is left to fend for itself.
New List of Unproduced Plays Tallies Those Disrupted by Pandemic
Culture, July 7
This year, the Kilroys collective turned a spotlight on work by female and transgender writers whose productions were canceled or postponed.
‘Hamilton’ and the Historical Record: Frequently Asked Questions
Culture, July 6
The Disney+ filmed version has fans wondering what’s accurate. Historians are fans, too, and they have answers, along with caveats.
A Pandemic First: Actors’ Union Will Allow Two Shows, With Testing
Culture, July 6
Theaters in the Berkshires are planning live shows, “Godspell” and “Harry Clarke,” with limited audiences and virus-related protocols in place. One will be indoors, and one outdoors.
The Next Phase of Reopening
Metro, July 6
Nail salons and tattoo parlors reopen, but indoor dining remains on hold, considered too risky given coronavirus outbreaks elsewhere.
Nick Cordero, Nominated for Tony as Tap-Dancing Tough Guy, Dies at 41
Obits, July 5
The Broadway actor’s battle with the coronavirus was followed closely by many as his wife chronicled his experience on social media.
Nick Cordero, Nominated for Tony as Tap-Dancing Tough Guy, Dies at 41
Obits, July 5
The Broadway actor’s battle with the coronavirus was followed closely by many as his wife chronicled his experience on social media.
Nick Cordero, Nominated for Tony as Tap-Dancing Tough Guy, Dies at 41
Culture, July 5
The Broadway actor’s battle with the coronavirus was followed closely by many as his wife chronicled his experience on social media.
‘Les Blancs’ Is an Anguished Play for an Anguished Moment
Culture, July 5
This Lorraine Hansberry play, set in the 1960s in a fictional African country, speaks incisively to the American present.
Beyond Broadway, the Show Does Go On
Culture, July 4
Watching through windshields. Audiences of two. An elbow bump instead of a kiss. Theaters across the country find novel ways to play in a pandemic.
Where You Can See the Stars of ‘Hamilton’ Now
Culture, July 4
Since their time in the Broadway show, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Leslie Odom Jr. and company have gone on to movies, TV and theater.
We Got ‘Hamilton.’ Why Can’t We Stream Every Broadway Show?
Culture, July 3
Even in lockdown, it’s still hard to cut a streaming deal for a professional show. Here’s what viewers can expect, for now.
Apple-Picking Time Again, in ‘And So We Come Forth’
Weekend, July 2
Richard Nelson’s fictional family returns, but for the first time this drama of connection in the age of American bewilderment feels smaller than life.
8 Things to Do This Fourth of July Weekend
Weekend, July 2
Our culture writers offer suggestions for celebrating Independence Day, and what to watch or listen to without leaving your home.
Queer Kids, Nerds and Sword Fights: It’s the Hot School Play
Arts & Leisure, July 2
“She Kills Monsters” is hugely popular in high schools and colleges. Even in lockdown, performers have found novel ways to make the battles come alive.
Masks On in a Near-Empty Hall: Germany’s Theaters Return
Culture, July 2
Playhouses are finding ways to keep drama going, despite coronavirus restrictions.
Cultural Life Is Back in Europe. In the U.K., They Talk of Collapse.
Culture, July 1
For weeks, Britain’s star artists have begged the government to rescue the arts sector. Will it listen?
This Theater Plans Dividers to Keep Patrons Socially Distanced
Culture, July 1
The Wilma, seeking to reopen in Philadelphia, says it will erect a new seating structure in which every party is in its own separate box.
Lewis John Carlino, Oscar-Nominated Screenwriter, Dies at 88
Obits, June 30
Remembered for his adaptations of “I Never Promised You a Rose Garden” and “The Great Santini,” he prided himself on knowing his characters inside and out.
‘Hamilton’ Review: You Say You Want a Revolution
Weekend, June 30
The filmed version of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s founding-father Broadway musical arrives just in time — vital and more challenging than ever.
When ‘Tartuffe’ Meets Trump, It’s Revolutionary
Culture, June 29
A streaming production of the Molière comedy, with allusions to the White House as well as Black Lives Matter, tears down walls to rebuild a classic.
Broadway Will Remain Closed Through the Rest of the Year
Culture, June 29
The industry said it would refund tickets through Jan. 3, and hopes that shows would be able to reopen “over a series of rolling dates in early 2021.”
‘Lungs’ Review: Claire Foy and Matt Smith Chase Love in the Dark
Culture, June 28
In Duncan Macmillan’s play, streaming live from the Old Vic, the stars of “The Crown” play a contradictory couple in an age of isolation.
Broadway League Pledges Change Amid National Uproar Over Racism
Culture, June 28
The organization will commission a comprehensive survey to get a handle on diversity onstage, backstage and in production offices.
Elly Stone, 93, Distinctive Singer in ‘Jacques Brel’ Revue, Dies
Obits, June 27
She performed some of the most powerful songs in that show, which ran for more than four years in Greenwich Village and became a theater staple.
Five Years and 100-Plus Stories: What It’s Like Covering ‘Hamilton’
Summary, June 27
From the very beginning, it was clear the musical was going to be a big news story. I’ve been reporting on it, from the East Village to San Juan, ever since.
Five Nonbinary Comics on This Moment: ‘I’m Not Some New Buzzword’
Weekend, June 25
These comedians talk about their experiences in the industry, and wanting audiences to look beyond their gender identity.
The Theater Where Ella Fitzgerald Got Her Start
T Style, June 25
The Apollo in Harlem has had a greater influence on American musical history than perhaps any other venue of the past century.
Theater Streams Make Room for Molière (and Imelda Marcos)
Weekend, June 25
The online bounty also includes a rare Lorraine Hansberry play, two Lincoln Center stagings and black British responses to the killing of George Floyd.
8 Things to Do This Weekend
Weekend, June 25
Our culture writers offer suggestions for what to watch or listen to, and how to celebrate Pride Month as it winds down.
Some of France’s Only Live Theater Right Now Is a Historical Affront
Culture, June 25
A theme park’s whiz-bang performances are an odd mix of high-quality production values and one-dimensional storytelling. Historians have long disputed the narratives.
‘Hamilton’ Is Coming to the Small Screen. This Is How It Got There.
Arts & Leisure, June 25
The film, a live capture of the hit Broadway show, will stream on Disney Plus beginning July 3. That wasn’t always the plan.
Founder of Virginia’s Signature Theater Steps Down
Culture, June 24
In the wake of a sexual harassment allegation, Eric Schaeffer retired after 30 years from a theater that has earned acclaim for presenting musicals.
Misery and Megalomania: How David Adjmi Became a Playwright
Culture, June 24
His new memoir “Lot Six” traces the Syrian-Jewish enclave that spawned him, the instructor who unnerved him, and the biting comedy that made his name.
For the Actors of ‘Take Me Out,’ a Coming-Out Party Is Postponed
Arts & Leisure, June 24
Five were slated to make their Broadway debuts. Now? They’re bunking with family, grappling with unemployment and fighting injustice.
A 1978 Play Plucked From the Slush Pile Gets a Timely New Reading
Culture, June 23
With its themes of white privilege and black rage, Kermit Frazier’s “Kernel of Sanity” resonates powerfully today. That’s why Paula Vogel is giving it a boost.
‘The Whole Audience Was Vibrating’: Your Memorable Performances
Arts & Leisure, June 22
They’re never gone: Star turns from Ralph Fiennes, Meryl Streep, Gregory Hines and Christopher Plummer still live in the mind’s eye of readers.
The Flea Will Begin Paying All Its Artists
Culture, June 19
The theater’s dependence on a troupe of volunteer actors has drawn criticism for years. An angry public letter prompted a promise of change.
Juilliard’s Secret Weapon Keeps Actors on Their Toes
Culture, June 19
Moni Yakim has taught movement at Juilliard since 1968. A new film captures his impact on scores of actors. “He’s not a coddler,” says Jessica Chastain.
Ian Holm, Malleable Actor Who Played Lear and a Hobbit, Dies at 88
Obits, June 19
A character actor who eventually took leading roles, Mr. Holm had a range that went from the sweet-tempered to the psychotic.
Missing Those Old Familiar Places
Dining, June 18
Takeout and delivery are fine, but there’s no substitute for getting to eat and drink inside your favorite New York City restaurants and bars.
While Theaters Are Dark, These Virtual Stages Deliver Actual Fun
Weekend, June 18
From shows based on children’s books to productions that introduce children to global cultures, companies are offering a range of options.
Seeking Shakespeare in the Park This Summer? Turn on Your Radio
Weekend, June 18
The Public Theater, prevented by public health concerns from performing in Central Park, has joined forces with WNYC to turn “Richard II” into a four-part radio play.
Heard Any Good Plays Lately?
Culture, June 18
Caryl Churchill and Simon McBurney are among the British theater talents contributing to “The Lockdown Plays,” a series of new works you can listen to, but can’t see.
A Bracing Trial by Zoom in ‘State vs. Natasha Banina’
Culture, June 17
Anchored by a charismatically off-kilter performance, this one-woman show asks viewers to judge a young Russian accused of a crime of passion.
Theater Kids Trade a Big Stage for Highlight Tapes and Heartache
Arts & Leisure, June 17
Thousands of students should have been gathering to cheer on the year’s best shows. But this isn’t a typical year.
Starry New Coalition Vows to Fight Racism in Theater
Culture, June 17
Among its founders: Audra McDonald, Phylicia Rashad, Billy Porter and Wendell Pierce. Among its plans: mentorship programs for young black artists.
Theaters for Young Audiences Say They Need to Be More Diverse
Culture, June 17
A new sector-wide study finds programming and creative teams are far more white than the audiences.
First the Play. Then the Soul Searching. But What Comes Next?
Culture, June 16
An Atlanta theater company addresses racial inequity in a series of virtual dinners that mix drama with discussion.
Kristin Linklater, Who Made Actors Their Vocal Best, Dies at 84
Obits, June 16
Her methods went beyond mere diction and emphasized getting the whole body (and inner self) involved in speaking the words.
The Only West End Show Still Standing
Culture, June 15
“Horrible Histories” was meant to be in the West End next month. It’s still happening, just in a castle parking lot 200 miles away.
After A.L.S. Diagnosis, Rebecca Luker Is ‘Proud I Can Still Sing’
Culture, June 15
The Broadway soprano can no longer walk. But by propping herself up on the arms of her wheelchair, she can deliver a song. And on Wednesday night, she will.
The Creative Circles Defining the Culture
Interactive, April 13
Whether united by outlook or identity, happenstance or choice, these communities have shaped the worlds of art, fashion, film and more.
How the 2005 Revival of ‘Sweeney Todd’ Inspired a New Wave in Theater
Interactive, April 13
A minimalist staging by John Doyle of the tale of the barber of Fleet Street emphasized the raw talents of its cast.
Why ‘Hair’ Has Endured
Interactive, April 13
An appreciation of the 1967 love-rock musical, which, against the odds, won over audiences across the world.