Tag Archives: Theater

Yesterday, The Boston Globe reported here that the long dormant Colonial Theater now owned by Emerson College will reopen in June 2018 with a world-premiere musical stage adaptation of the film “Moulin Rouge”, which could go on to Broadway following its run here in Boston.

The Colonial, which closed back in October 2015, has had millions of dollars spent renovating the beautifully historic 117-year old theater; with construction expected to be done by the spring. The international producer, Ambassador Theatre Group from London entered into a long-term lease with Emerson to operate the Colonial Theatre so Bostonians can expect a full line up of excellent shows following Moulin Rouge.

Rendering from Ambassador Theatre Group & Elkus Manfredi Architects

I wanted to give a quick shout out to a Boston-based theater production company here in the South End that you may not be aware of called, Zeitgeist Stage Company. The theater company opened their 2017/18 season with a provocative New England premiere, Faceless. the play revolves around two women, 18 year-old Susie Glenn who is on trial for conspiring to commit acts of terrorism, as well as Claire Fathi, a recent Harvard Law grad and practicing Muslim, who has been brought on to prosecute Susie.  

Faceless performances run through October 7 at the Plaza Black Box Theater at the Boston Center for the Arts in the South End.  Performance are Wednesday and Thursday at 7:30 PM, Friday at 8:00 PM, Saturday at 4 PM and 8 PM, and Sunday at 4 PM with talkbacks following the Sunday matinees.  

Click here for more information and tickets to Faceless

Earlier this month I shared a post about some of the great plays and musicals local  theater production companies have rolled out for the start of their 2017/2018 line up. There are also a number of shows that will be coming to the area that don’t have big marketing budgets and you may not know about but might enjoy seeing. Check out one or more of these shows.

18th Boston Comedy Festival runs from Wednesday, September 20 – Sunday, September 24 at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square.

John Kelly – Time No Line At The Oberon for one show only, Thursday, September 21st. Kelly’s solo show is a non-linear narrative about his life and work in the East Village in the 1980’s; he touches upon gender performance, the AIDS epidemic, the culture wars, LGBT and queer history, gentrification.  Tickets start at $25.

5 to 9 which played at the Art House in Ptown this summer  comes to The Ramrod on Thursday, September 21 thru Sunday, September 24. If you didn’t see this spoof on the 1980 hit, grab tickets to see Ryan Landry, Varla Jean Merman and Kiki Samko update this story with their evil boss, Donald Trump.

Home At Emerson’s Paramount Center runs from September 27  – October 1 HOME combines illusion, live music, home-spun engineering and an inventive use of audience interaction to compose an experience that asks, where is home? If it is not a place, what is home?

David Sedaris is back in town on Wednesday, October 18 to talk about his latest book, Theft by Finding, when the Celebrity Series brings him back to Boston’s Symphony Hall.

September brings back more than tens of thousands of students to Boston. Most of Boston’s local theater companies return with new productions and this year local theater companies have an impressive line up.

Probably the best known local theater  The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) continues to raise the bar with engaging shows and often times big name actors. September 9th is the opening for a new play from the ART called, WARHOLCAPOTE.

The play is based on the well documented friendship between Andy Warhol and Truman Capote. Using the hundreds of hours in conversation (some of it published), the ART has created the play, WARHOLCAPOTE.

The Lyric Stage Co. of Boston present the musical Gypsy: A Musical Fable. Performances start tonight,  Friday, September 1st and run through October 8th at their theater in the Back Bay. Tickets Available Here.

Over in Cambridge Central Square Theater will open their new season with Constellations.  A mesmerizing romantic journey that looks at the infinite possibilities directed by Scott Edmiston, six-time Elliot Norton Award-winner for Outstanding Director. The show runs from Thursday, September 7th through October 8th. Tickets Available Here.

The SpeakEasy Stage Company opens in September with Men On Boats. Opening September 8th the show tells the story of an actual 1869 expedition led by John Wesley Powell to chart the Colorado River. Comical but never camp, pointed but never political, this rousing historical saga is a provocative meditation on gender and historical memory that offers a new lens through which to view our shared past. Tickets Available Here.

Next week on Friday, September 8th The Huntington Theatre opens their season with the musical, Merrily  We Roll Along, with music from Stephen Sondheim. Be sure to get your tickets before the musical closes on Sunday, October 15th. Tickets Available Here.

Zeitgeist Stage Company presents, Faceless, a drama about 18 year-old Susie Glenn who is on trial for conspiring to commit acts of terrorism, and recent Harvard Law grad and practicing Muslim, Claire Fathi, who has been brought on to prosecute her. The play opens on Friday, September 15  and runs through October 7th. Tickets Available Here.

The theater companies shared above are just a sampling of locally produced shows underway or soon to open. Check out one or more of these productions and support the local arts scene. You’ll be impressed by the caliber of talent, the variety of shows and how much more affordable these tickets are than the national traveling productions playing in the Theater District.

Many of Boston’s local theater companies get a well deserved rest during the summer months as they ramp up for their new season which starts in the Fall. However, The Hub Theatre Company of Boston is bucking that trend and performing the classic, Waiting for Godot, at Club Cafe, starting tomorrow, July 14th with performances running through Saturday, July 29th.

Waiting for Godot
July 14-29th at Club Cafe
Buy Tickets Here

If you’re looking for something different to do, check out this madcap love letter to theater and homage to Samuel Beckett’s classic drama which is making its Boston debut after critically acclaimed runs in both New York and London.

Boston’s Lyric Stage Company closes their season with a fresh new adaptation of the romantic classic musical, Camelot. The well known tragic tale of King Arthur, Guenevere, Lancelot, and the Knights of the Round Table is brought into sharper focus and promises to shine brighter in the intimate setting of the Lyric Stage Company of Boston.

The Lyric Stage Company presents Camelot
May 19 – June 25, 2017 (Wednesday – Sunday)
At The Lyric Stage – 140 Clarendon Street in Back Bay

The show which opens this Friday runs for 2 hours and 15 minutes with one intermission. Shows will run Wednesday through Sunday with tickets starting at $25, which makes this roughly the price of a movie ticket so skip the movie theater for a night and check out what live entertainment is like – I can guarantee you’ll enjoy yourself and you’ll also be helping to support Boston’s growing performing arts community.

Camelot Tickets Available Here

SpeakEasy Stage Co. presents The Bridges of Madison County May 6 – June 3

This week I was able to attend SpeakEasy Stage Co.’s final production of their 2016/2017 season, The Bridges of Madison County. The musical which is based on the best selling novel and popular movie that starred Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood, comes to life on stage thanks to a talented group of actors.

Boston native, Jennifer Ellis, who plays Francesca is a beautiful counterpart to the handsome out of town photographer, Robert, played by Christiaan Smith who spends much of the second act shirtless. It wasn’t hard to get swept up in their romance, considering how beautiful Ellis voice is and the fact that half the audience was gushing whenever Smith stepped on stage (yours truly included).

Christiaan Smith is one reason to see this excellent musical from The SpeakEasy Stage

In addition to the great casting, the stage’s deconstructed design of an Iowa farmhouse and their creative use of lighting was so well thought out and executed it really deserves a mention. I wholeheartedly recommend making a point to get tickets to see this show. Assuming your other half isn’t put off by how much you’ll drool over Smith, the show makes for a great date night. In case you think I’m being overly complimentary, read The Boston Globe’s rave review, which loved Ellis and the production as well.

The Bridges of Madison County
SpeakEasy Stage at The Calderwood Pavilion
Get Your Tickets Here