Tag Archives: SpeakEasy Stage

This past week I was able to see The SpeakEasy Stage Company world premiere of a the new comedy, KURT VONNEGUT’S MAKE UP YOUR MIND.  The play was assembled by Broadway playwright Nicky Silver from eleven different versions of the script penned by Mr. Vonnegut before his passing in 2007.

The show opens in New York City in 1986.  The 90-minute performance without intermission is filled with fast paced, witty dialog interspersed by occasional breaks where Richard Snee pulls double duty, also playing the role of Kurt Vonnegut talking to the audience. I preferred the powerful drama TRIBES that opened the SpeakEasy Stage Company 2013 / 2014 season, but fans of Mr. Vonnegut’s cutting wit will like this performance and enjoy the repartee.

KURT VONNEGUT’S MAKE UP YOUR MIND runs thru Nov-30. You may purchase tickets at the Calderwood Pavilion box office or online here.

photo credit: Craig Bailey/Perspective Photo

Erica Spyres and James Caverly in a scene from the SpeakEasy Stage Company production of TRIBES, at the Stanford Calderwood Pavilion at the Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End.

The SpeakEasy Stage Co. first play of their 2013-2014 season, TRIBES, opened last week, and  I had the opportunity to see a performance this past weekend. I was genuinely surprised by how touched I was and would encourage you to put this on your calendar.

British playwright and director, Nina Raine, who wrote this play is obviously incredibly talented but The SpeakEasy Stage Co. deserves credit for their production.  The staging is great and creates an intimate connection with the audience.  The cast works well together, and at different moments each of them shine without stealing the other’s spotlight.

The show centers around Billy (played by James Caverly), a deaf son born into a dysfunctional English family that certainly loves but mostly overlooks him.  I’ll admit that the story didn’t speak to me when I read about it but I’m so happy that I went to see this show and I’m confident you’ll feel the same way too.  Tickets start at $25 and can be purchased at the Box Office, by phone 617-933-8600 or online, SpeakEasyStage.com.

Pick ad date and order your tickets today.

In The Heights, the winner of four 2008 Tony Awards, is the current production from The SpeakEasy Stage Company that opened May 10th and runs through June 16th.  The musical will grab your attention with large dance numbers set to rap and hip hop rhapsodies all set in NYC’s Latino neighborhood, Washington Heights, in the summer of 2003.  The story centers around members of this closely knit neighborhood and how their lives are entwined with the neighborhood they all call home.

If you require a bit more incentive to purchase tickets to this show, I’ll give you three reasons: Diego Klock-Perez (Usnavi) and Jorge Barranco (Sonny) who’s lives center around their barrio bodega.  Their rap and dance scenes are among the best in the show.  However, I was distracted every time the incredibly handsome actor, Jared Dixon (Benny), stepped on stage and his shirtless scene on the balcony at the opening of the second act alone makes this show worth its money, but fortunately there is more to offer than these three men and the entire cast really does deserve credit for pulling off some intricate dance and musical numbers.  This is a great date option or night out with friends.

You may purchase tickets at The Calderwood Pavilion box office on Tremont Street in the South End or by phone, 617-933-8600 or online at SpeakEasyStage.com.

On Friday, the SpeakEasy Stage will open their 100th production with the 80s cult movie classic, Xanadu, and I will be front and center to see this movie from 1980 that was later turned into a Broadway musical.

Xanadu’s performances will run through Saturday, June 9th so be sure to get your tickets while they remain available. You can do this by visiting the Calderwood theater box office on Tremont Street or purchasing them online here.

Xanadu from The SpeakEasy Stage May 11th – June 9th

Starring Ryan Overberg as “Sonny”
Photo by Glenn Perry Photography

Here’s a little something to put you in the mood while you log-on to buy your tickets… Who can resist a little Olivia Newton-John?

The SpeakEasy Stage included a quote from my review of Next to Normal, the rock-musical currently playing at the Calderwood Pavilion, that rocked my world when I saw it last weekend. I’m no Joyce Kulhawik (sorry its a local reference for those who grew up in Boston) so I was pretty darn flattered.

You may read my full review of Next to Normal here and purchase your tickets here.  Get a few friends together and check it out.

Next to Normal, The SpeakEasy Stage’s latest production, explores a family that is anything but what its name implies. This rock musical centers around a  mother who struggles with bipolar disorder, and how she and her family are impacted. This musical which opened on Broadway in 2009 and went on to receive 11 Tony nominations is making its Boston premiere  at the Calderwood Pavilion on Tremont Street in the South End.

SpeakEasy Stage’s production is compelling.  Kerry A. Dowling’s performance as Diana – the housewife struggling with bipolar disorder – is reason enough to see the show.  However, Dowling is not forced to carry the show on her own, the entire cast comes together. In particular, I found myself extremely sympathetic to the high school daughter, Natalie, played by Sarah Drake who’s struggling to make sense of her life which lacks love and attention from her ill mother and her father too obsessed with “saving” his wife to notice her.  More than once I could hear sniffles from the audience so I know I wasn’t the only one touched by this performance.

Next to Normal was extended and now runs through Sunday, April 15th.  I dare you to step out of your “normal” routine and make date to check out this new show. Be sure to bring along some friends, because after the curtain drops you’ll want to talk about what you just saw. You can read more about the show and purchase tickets online here.