Eric Sharp

Guthrie Theater Celebrates 50 Years of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Guthrie Theater has announced the cast and creative team for its 50th production of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, adapted by Lavina Jadhwani and directed by Addie Gorlin-Han, based on the original direction by Joseph Haj. This festive tale of hope and inspiration has delighted Guthrie audiences for five decades and become a beloved holiday tradition for audiences of all ages to enjoy.

Trademark Theater Hosts First 'In The Works' Showcase

TRADEMARK THEATER will end its 2023-2024 season with a collection of scenes from its new works commissions, featuring key scenes of original work from Keith Hovis, Eric Sharp, Artistic Director Tyler Michaels King, and Associate Artistic Director Tyler Mills. 

World Premiere & More Set for Actors Theatre of Louisville 2024-25 Season

Actors Theatre of Louisville has revealed its 2024-25 season. See full programming and learn how to purchase tickets.

Video: Go Behind The Scenes Of Guthrie's THE HISTORY PLAYS Set Design

Watch as Scene Shop Supervisor Jesse Delaney as he breaks down the complex build process happening in the scene shop for the History Plays: RICHARD II, HENRY IV and HENRY V at the Guthrie Theatre. 

Video: Go Inside Rehearsals For Shakespeare Productions in Rep at the Guthrie Theatre

Enjoy a first look into Shakespeare's History Plays and hear from Artistic Director Joseph Haj on the significance of this epic production and the chance to revisit rotating repertory. RICHARD II, HENRY IV and HENRY V make their historic return to the Guthrie stage for the first time in over 30 years beginning March 23.

Guthrie Theater To Present Shakespeare's RICHARD II, HENRY IV And HENRY V In Repertory

Guthrie Theater will present a rotating repertory of Shakespeare's History Plays. Dive into the rich tapestry of historical dramas on stage.

VIDEO: The Guthrie's A CHRISTMAS CAROL Releases Teaser Featuring Choreographer Regina Peluso

Step into the A CHRISTMAS CAROL rehearsal room with choreographer Regina Peluso and hear how movement is used to infuse this timeless holiday tradition with joy and light. Watch the video here!

VIDEO: Watch Rehearsal Footage from The Guthrie's A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Rehearsals for the 49th production of Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL have officially begun. Watch video footage here!

Review: THE CHINESE LADY at Open Eye Theatre

What did our critic think of THE CHINESE LADY at Open Eye Theatre?

The Guthrie Theater Sets Cast & Creative Team for 49th Production of A CHRISTMAS CAROL

The Guthrie Theater has revealed the cast and creative team for its 49th production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Lavina Jadhwani and directed by Addie Gorlin-Han, based on the original direction by Joseph Haj. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Review: CLUE at Syracuse Stage

Syracuse Stage closes its 2022-23 season with the madcap farce, Clue. Based on the iconic 1950’s board game of the same name, Clue spoofs whodunit mysteries, film noir, 1950’s pop culture and gothic horror films. The play is adapted for stage from the 1985 film that was a critical flop but has since become a cult classic. Set during McCarthy’s House Un-American Activities Committee hearings, a time fraught with suspicion and accusation, the mansion owned by Mr. Boddy becomes the gathering point for six invited guests. These guests we find out are all guarded about their pasts, are all being blackmailed and are referred to by aliases that correspond to the famous characters in the board game. Each guest is then gifted one of the six murder weapons. In all, there are six potential murderers, six weapons and nine rooms in the mansion, 324 possibilities for who, what and where; as Shakespeare and Sherlock Holmes agree, now “the game is afoot.” The gothic mansion, the dark and stormy night, the suspenseful reality of the play merge with Parker Brothers’ (now Hasbro’s) rule book and the characters become mashups of villains and game pieces. They punctuate the endings of scenes with comic confusion, mad scrambling and a kind of frantic skipping, like game pieces moving on a board after a dice roll. Scenic designer, Czerton Lim, creates the perfect 3-D version of the original board game. Upon entering the theatre, the audience sees a classic gothic foyer, complete with crystal chandelier, mahogany woodwork, marble stairs and a tiled floor fashioned to replicate the spaces on a game board. As the play progresses, the set becomes a character in itself as it transforms into the rooms of the mansion required by both the game and the play. His design is beautiful and functional. It not only provides a setting but also helps establish the humor and tempo of the play. It always surprises and delights. Likewise, original music by Michael Holland and sound design by Todd Mack create a comically suspenseful mood and punctuate the zany exploits on stage. Along with lighting design by Jared Gooding, the cliché of a dark and stormy night permeates the atmosphere and heightens the tension and anxiety of this mock thriller. The production is at its best when the actors are highly choreographed and in tune with the music, sound and light cues. In fact, the funniest moment in the play is prompted by a single gunshot. Director Benjamin Hanna establishes a fast pace from the very beginning of the play. It is so fast and furious that neither the audience nor the actors are allowed to get their bearings. The characters in Clue are obvious stereotypes but the portrayals all share the same frenetic quality without ever establishing basic, underlying traits and motivations. Characterization, for the most part, has been sacrificed to blatant silliness and camp. (There is nothing in the script that requires the beginning to move at such a pace.) Once the first murder occurs and the stakes are raised the speed can and should pickup through the end. For example, Plum is a stereotypical Professor, haughty and cerebral but cursed with an inflated libido. Beethovan Oden has a nice general feel for the character and indicates his personality traits, but he isn’t able to develop those qualities from the onset of the play. If he had, then as the pace became more frantic the audience could have enjoyed watching him first struggle then ultimately fail to keep his composure. Clearly many of the actors are talented. John Taylor Phillips as Wadsworth has a natural presence on stage as well as crisp comic timing but never fully embodies the stereotypical reserved, unflappable and ultimately arrogant butler. Emily Berman as Miss Scarlet is also clean and precise. Miss Scarlet is a stereotypical Madame but the actress is not allowed to explore the cynism and sexuality of the character who should have a slower, more voluptuous pace than some of the others. Henry Woronicz’s Colonel Mustard vacillates appropriately between being doddering and demanding. He sketches out an interesting frame for his character but again seems to fall prey to the tempo of this runaway train. Claire Wilcher makes a strong acting choice to play Mrs. Peacock with the nervous energy of a bird. Her comedy is broad and eccentric while still grounded in reality. Even when she is in the background of the action, she is always in the moment. When given focus, she commands the stage and rate of action. As a result, her portrayal is very funny and very satisfying to watch. Her least successful moments occur when directed to do something out of character simply for a laugh. Less successfully, Eric Sharp’s Mr. Green and Emjoy Gavino’s Mrs. White just seem lost in the silliness and frenetic mayhem. As lovers of farce and broad comedy, we were disappointed that more care wasn’t taken to create an underlying believability before descending into comic chaos. A stock character when presented by an actor still needs to have specificity. Silliness can be funny, comic bits enjoyable and a fast pace exciting, but they need to be balanced and well executed. By the end of the production, it felt like all 324 murder possibilities were explored, but few realities remained. If you are looking for an evening of fast-paced silliness, screwball comedy and sight gags this production satisfies. As a farce poking fun at human frailty and foibles, Benjamin Hanna’s Clue misses the mark. Clue runs through Sunday, June 25th. Tickets can be purchased by visiting SyracuseStage.org or by calling (315) 443-3275 or by visiting the box office at 820 East Genesee Street. did our critic think of CLUE at Syracuse Stage?

Iconic Board Game CLUE Closes Syracuse Stage Season

Syracuse Stage closes its 2022/2023 season with a production that celebrates the pure joy and simple fun of live theatre, the fan favorite and ultimate whodunnit, CLUE. The production runs June 7 to 25 in the Archbold Theatre at Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St., Syracuse.

Review: OLIVER! at Osceola Arts

'Please, sir. I want some more.' These words, spoken by Oliver Twist at the beginning of Lionel Bart's  musical OLIVER! kick off a tumultuous journey for the young boy, hurling him into a world destined to change his life forever. It’s a story familiar to many, and one that continues to inspire, even today. In its latest production, Osceola Arts presents this classic tale with a dedicated and energetic cast that entertains and excites.

Guthrie Theater to Present A CHRISTMAS CAROL Starring Matthew Saldivar This Holiday Season

The Guthrie Theater has announced the casting for its 48th production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, adapted by Lavina Jadhwani and directed by Joseph Haj. Matthew Saldivar (Guthrie: A Christmas Carol, The Royal Family, The Canterbury Tales) stars as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Guthrie Theater Produces Qui Nguyen's VIETGONE, Directed By Mina Morita

The Guthrie Theater (Joseph Haj, Artistic Director) has announced the cast and creative team for Vietgone by Qui Nguyen, with original music by Shane Rettig and directed by Mina Morita. Vietgone will play September 10 – October 16, 2022, on the Wurtele Thrust Stage and kick off the theater's celebratory 2022–2023 Season.

Special Offer: CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND Reviews Are In!

Special Offer: CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND reviews are in!

See the Twin Cities Premiere of CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND!

Special Offer - See the Twin Cities premiere of CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND!

BWW Interview: Danielle Troiano of CAMBODIAN ROCK BAND at Theater Mu

Cambodian Rock Band begins as a father returns to Cambodia for the first time since he fled the Khmer Rouge 30 years ago. The reason for his homecoming? His daughter is prosecuting one of the political party's most notorious war criminals. From there, the story goes back and forth in time, showing how the past affects who we are today, even when we try to hide it.

Casting Announced for Bard at the Gate's CHARLES FRANCIS CHAN JR.'S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY

Casting has been announced for BARD AT THE GATE’s production of Lloyd Suh’s comedy about Asian-Americans in popular culture, CHARLES FRANCIS CHAN JR.’S EXOTIC ORIENTAL MURDER MYSTERY with FREE access for 24 hours starting JANUARY 26 at 7:30 p.m., according to the series producer Rosey Strub.

Guthrie Theater to Present World-Premiere Adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL Starring Matthew Saldivar

The Guthrie Theater today announced casting for its 47th production of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, featuring a world-premiere adaptation by Chicago-based theatermaker Lavina Jadhwani, directed by Joseph Haj.