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Lauren Yarger - Page 5

Lauren Yarger

Lauren is a theater producer (Gracewell Productions), a playwright (member of The Dramatists Guild of America) and a theater critic -- The Connecticut Arts Connection (http://ctarts.blogspot.com) and Reflections in the Light (http://reflectionsinthelight.blogspot.com). She formerly covered all of Connecticut theater for BroadwayWorld, Curtain Up and American Theater Web as well at the Journal Inquirer newspaper in Connecticut. She is a member of The Outer Critics Circle and Executive Producer of its annual awards dinner in New York.  She is a former voting member and Vice President of The Drama Desk. She is Co-Founder of the CT Chapter of The League of Professional Theatre Women.and a member of the Board of DIrectors in New York. 






BWW Reviews: Swordplay Highlights THE THREE MUSKETEERS at Connecticut Rep
BWW Reviews: Swordplay Highlights THE THREE MUSKETEERS at Connecticut Rep
November 30, 2013

It's the age-old story: young D'Artagnan (Will Haden) arrives in Paris looking for adventure and to pursue his father's place as one of the king's special guard. He is befriended by The Three Musketeers, Athos (Thomas Brazzle), Porthos (Anthony J. Goes) and Aramis (James Jelkin) and soon finds himself in the middle of swashbuckling swordfights, treason and romance.

BWW Reviews: Anchored in '50s, SEVEN YEAR ITCH Fails to Find Sea of Humor
BWW Reviews: Anchored in '50s, SEVEN YEAR ITCH Fails to Find Sea of Humor
November 4, 2013

Publisher Richard Sherman (David Conaway) is left on his own at their Gramercy Park apartment when his wife, Helen (Emma O'Donnell) and son, Ricky (Carson Waldron) leave for to the summer at the beach....

BWW Reviews: OWNERS at Yale Rep Makes Us Want to Foreclose
BWW Reviews: OWNERS at Yale Rep Makes Us Want to Foreclose
November 4, 2013

The conflict of two perspectives on ownership: the "western imperative to own everything: meets the "Eastern acceptance of owning nothing.

BWW Reviews: TheaterWorks' MRS. MANNERLY Causes Audiences to Guffaw in Public
BWW Reviews: TheaterWorks' MRS. MANNERLY Causes Audiences to Guffaw in Public
October 25, 2013

Dale Hodges and Raymond McAnally reprise roles as etiquette expert Mrs. Mannerly and her 9-going-on-10-year-old student in Jeffrey Hatcher's brisk and funny memoir play opening the 2013-2014 season at TheaterWorks, Hartford.

BWW Reviews: A Most Happy Production of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Entertains at Goodspeed
BWW Reviews: A Most Happy Production of THE MOST HAPPY FELLA Entertains at Goodspeed
October 11, 2013

This revival is a sweet romance made delightful by Nolte's portrayal of Tony Esposito and a strong performance from Mamie Parris as his love interest, Rosabella.

BWW Reviews: CT Rep's BIG LOVE Finds Modern Themes in Ancient Play
BWW Reviews: CT Rep's BIG LOVE Finds Modern Themes in Ancient Play
October 11, 2013

Marisa Desa as Olympia (lower left), Briana Maia as Lydia (right) and Olivia Saccomanno as Thyona (rear). Photo: Gerry Goodstein.

BWW Reviews: Couples Explore What Makes Relationships Happen in I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at Ivoryton
BWW Reviews: Couples Explore What Makes Relationships Happen in I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE at Ivoryton
September 30, 2013

A lighthearted musical romp through relationships gets a nice production as Off-Broadway's longest running music revue, I LOVE YOU YOU'RE PERFECT, NOW CHANGE, comes to Ivoryton Playhouse.

BWW Reviews: Yale Rep's STREETCAR Driven By the Women Jumps Stanley Off the Track
BWW Reviews: Yale Rep's STREETCAR Driven By the Women Jumps Stanley Off the Track
September 30, 2013

As directed by Mark Rucker and fueled by a strong performance by Sarah Sokolovic as Stella and a fascinating characterization by Rene Augusen that takes Blanche utra deep, this production ends up being more of a study of the relationship between the sisters. Stanley, despite the display of his very finely chiseled abs and physique several times, seems to have fallen off this streetcar.

BWW Reviews: A Dark, Unforgettable MACBETH Creeps Out of the Fog at Hartford Stage
BWW Reviews: A Dark, Unforgettable MACBETH Creeps Out of the Fog at Hartford Stage
September 26, 2013

Director Darko Tresnjak focuses on the darkness of evil and the psychological depths of the pit it offers to anyone choosing to follow it. It's dark -- literally.

BWW Reviews: LA DISPUTE Transports Hartford Stage to 18th Century France
BWW Reviews: LA DISPUTE Transports Hartford Stage to 18th Century France
September 23, 2013

Just who was unfaithful first: Man or Woman? If that's a burning philosophical question you can't wait to have answered, then Marivaux' 18th century play LA DISPUTE, opening Hartford Stage's 50th anniversary season, is just the ticket for you.

BWW Reviews: New MISS SAIGON Tour Hovers Over Hartford's Bushnell for One of Only Four Stops
BWW Reviews: New MISS SAIGON Tour Hovers Over Hartford's Bushnell for One of Only Four Stops
September 18, 2013

This new tour makes the second of four stops in Hartford, at the Bushnell, one of the production's producers.

BWW Reviews: When TheaterWorks Looks Through the Lens of Love and War, TIME STANDS STILL
BWW Reviews: When TheaterWorks Looks Through the Lens of Love and War, TIME STANDS STILL
August 19, 2013

Director Rob Ruggiero brilliantly focuses on the domestic tension between Sarah and her long-time, live-in boyfriend and fellow foreign correspondent, James (Tim Altmeyer), giving the play depth beyond its obvious question about the ethics of journalists being voyeurs on the sidelines of tragedies.

BWW Reviews: Little Theatre of Manchester Takes a Tour of the American SONGBOOK - with Some Detours
BWW Reviews: Little Theatre of Manchester Takes a Tour of the American SONGBOOK - with Some Detours
August 12, 2013

Music Director Kim Aliczi puts together a selection of more than 30 musical numbers from members of the great American Songbook like Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin with medleys featuring tunes from one composer or themes, like songs about trains.

BWW Reviews: Strong Cast, Big Band, Profusion of Costumes Turn Ivoryton's DREAMGIRLS into a Dream
BWW Reviews: Strong Cast, Big Band, Profusion of Costumes Turn Ivoryton's DREAMGIRLS into a Dream
August 12, 2013

Director Lawrence Thelen proves himself up to the challenge, however, with the casting of terrific nonEquity actress Sheniqua Denise Trotman from Huntsville, AL. Her 'I'm Not Going' puts focus on the emotional pain felt by the character and is a powerhouse exploration of the lyrics. In between all that belting. Kudos.

BWW Reviews: Well, Hello, Klea! Blackhurst Creates a Charming, Feisty Dolly
BWW Reviews: Well, Hello, Klea! Blackhurst Creates a Charming, Feisty Dolly
July 23, 2013

t's one of those old musicals with a few memorable tunes and a ridiculous plot that would find it difficult to stand on a modern stage otherwise, but solid performances anchored by Blackhurst make Goodspeed's production an enjoyable romp through turn-of-the-century New York. Goodspeed announced a week's extension to the run before it even had begun.

BWW Reviews: THE MUSIC MAN Always Was Robert Preston, Till There Was You, Barrett Foa
BWW Reviews: THE MUSIC MAN Always Was Robert Preston, Till There Was You, Barrett Foa
July 15, 2013

In a break from playing Eric Beale on the CBS television series "NCIS: Los Angeles," Barrett Foa is spending part of his summer charming audiences and a certain librarian as The Music Man, which wraps up CT Repertory Theatre's Nutmeg Series on the UConn campus.

BWW Reviews: Good Message, Strong Vocals Shake Out Enjoyabe Entertainment in Ivoryton's FOOTLOOSE
BWW Reviews: Good Message, Strong Vocals Shake Out Enjoyabe Entertainment in Ivoryton's FOOTLOOSE
July 8, 2013

A predictable plot and disjointed musical elements might have brought FOOTLOOSE down, but deeper messages, good character development and -- at least in the production running over at Ivoryton Playhouse -- a strong vocal ensemble, turn the show around into an enjoyable romp through rebellious youth and overprotective parents.

BWW Reviews: The American Dream, Immigration Woes, Super Heroes Converge in a STUCK ELEVATOR
BWW Reviews: The American Dream, Immigration Woes, Super Heroes Converge in a STUCK ELEVATOR
June 25, 2013

They tell the story (based on a true one) of Guang (Julius Ahn), an illegal immigrant who gets stuck in a Bronx elevator for 81 hours while making deliveries for the Happy Dragon Chinese Restaurant.

BWW Reviews: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM: CT Rep Makes it Funny Again
BWW Reviews: A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM: CT Rep Makes it Funny Again
June 25, 2013

With its sexist plot, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM is one of those shows that probably was a riot in 1962, but seems like something is lacking when presented a half century later - until the CT Repertory version running as part of the Nutmeg Summer Series. This one, thanks to some solid performances, is funny again.

BWW Reviews: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Festival of Arts & Ideas Includes Some Nightmarish Elements
BWW Reviews: MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM at Festival of Arts & Ideas Includes Some Nightmarish Elements
June 19, 2013

You know that dream where you find yourself naked on a stage with everyone laughing at you? It's an unfortunate reality for Miltos Yerolemou, the actor who plays Bottom in Bristol Old Vic's production ofA MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM as part of New Haven's International Festival of Ideas.



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