Helen Shaw

New York Drama Critics' Circle Unearths Long-Lost Award Plaque
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 25, 2025

The New York Drama Critics' Circle has unearthed the plaque that originally accompanied its annual award for Best American Play, and will return to awarding the plaque this year.

New York Live Arts Presents the World PremIere Of FRIDAY NIGHT RAT CATCHERS
by A.A. Cristi - Feb 21, 2025

New York Live Arts' will present the World Premiere of Lisa Fagan and Lena Engelstein's Friday Night Rat Catchers, the latest creation from an experimental duo whose unconventional performative frameworks are rooted in dance-adjacent physicality.

The Best Theater of 2024: Shows that Ruled the Year
by Sidney Paterra - Dec 28, 2024

As 2024 comes to a close, New York City's top theatre critics have been taking stock of this theatre season- deciding on their personal choices for their favorite productions of the year. The season has been full of so many stellar plays, musicals, revivals and new works, both on Broadway and off.

THE TROJANS, A Synthwave Musical By Leegrid Stevens, To Premiere At The Cell Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Dec 12, 2024

Two-time Drama Desk Award-nominated Loading Dock Theatre and Nancy Manocherian's the cell theatre will present the World Premiere of The Trojans, an 80s synthwave musical adaptation of The Iliad. Learn how to purchase tickets.

BWW Q&A: Spencer Whale on KIN at Making Our Space Theatre Co.
by Joshua Wright - Dec 4, 2024

This December, experience the magic of “Kin” as Anna, an Ivy-League poet scholar, and Sean, an Irish personal trainer, fall in love. In this play, however, we rarely see the two lovers together. The story is composed instead of scenes that might otherwise be found on the cutting room floor of a romantic dramedy. Audiences will come to know Anna and Sean’s love through a deeper look into their secondary relationships: Anna’s eccentric best friend, Sean’s agoraphobic mother, Anna’s distant father, and more. Friend and family ties stretch across Ireland and New York, revealing the complexities of connection and community.

Hope for Off-Off-Broadway: How The Tank Is Defying the Odds
by Cara Joy David - Nov 18, 2024

Rumors of the death of off-off-Broadway have been greatly exaggerated. In fact, the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York (the organizing entity, such that there is one, of off-off-Broadway companies) will tell you it has more members than it did twenty years ago. However, there is no doubt that things feel dire.

The Wallis Presents LIFE & TIMES OF MICHAEL K From Handspring Puppet Company
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 6, 2024

Handspring Puppet Company, known for War Horse and stole hearts with Little Amal, joins Cape Town's Baxter Theatre to transform Nobel Laureate J.M. Coetzee's 1983 Booker Prize-winning novel Life & Times of Michael K into theatre.

Temple Theaters to Present IF PRETTY HURTS UGLY MUST BE A MUHf**kA
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 25, 2024

IF PRETTY HURTS UGLY MUST BE A MUHf**kA, a contemporary riff on a West African fable, comes to Temple University with live music and dance in October. Learn more about the production and see how to purchase tickets.

Beverly Emmons Will Receive Ming Cho Lee Award
by Stephi Wild - Sep 18, 2024

Lighting designer Beverly Emmons will be honored with the Ming Cho Lee Award for Lifetime Achievement in Design bestowed by the Henry Hewes Design Awards at the 60th annual ceremony on October 21.

2024 Hewes Design Awards Winners Revealed
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 11, 2024

The 2024 Hewes Design Awards winners have been revealed, recognizing outstanding achievements in theatrical design. Learn more about the honorees.

Audra McDonald, Sara Bareilles, Alan Cumming and More Set For 2024 New Yorker Festival
by Stephi Wild - Sep 5, 2024

This year's New Yorker festival is set to take place next month, and includes a host of Broadway names on its slate. The lineup will include talks with Alan Cumming, Audra McDonald, Ayad Akhtar, Sara Bareilles, and more. Additionally, a screening of the new film adapation of The Piano Lesson will be held.

Review Roundup: CATS: THE JELLICLE BALL Opens Off-Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 21, 2024

Read the reviews for “Cats: The Jellicle Ball” at PAC NYC. As previously announced the limited run has extended now through Sunday, July 28, 2024. Performances began on June 13, 2024. 

Review Roundup: THE WELKIN Opens at Atlantic Theater Company
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 13, 2024

Read the reviews for The Welkin at Atlantic Theater Company.

Raja Feather Kelly's THE FIRES Extended at Soho Rep
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 29, 2024

Soho Rep will present a two-week extension of The Fires, the world premiere play written and directed by Raja Feather Kelly that opened to acclaim last week. Learn how to purchase tickets.

STEREOPHONIC and DEAD OUTLAW Take Top Prizes At New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards
by A.A. Cristi - May 13, 2024

The New York Drama Critics' Circle has named David Adjmi’s Stereophonic best play of the 2023-24 season. The award for best musical went to Dead Outlaw, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna, book by Itamar Moses. The selections were made at the organization’s 88th annual voting meeting.

Untitled Theater Company No. 61's EXAGOGE Begins Tonight at La MaMa
by Stephi Wild - Apr 26, 2024

The world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's Exagoge begins tonight at La MaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre, located at 66 East 4th Street in New York City.

Industry Pro Newsletter: New Study Looks to the Preparedness of Arts Orgs to Face Future Challenges
by Alex Freeman - Apr 8, 2024

In a sign of an industry on the rebound, Center Theatre Group in Los Angeles is getting ready to announce a return of programming at the Mark Taper Forum, where production was paused last year while the organization went through a budget crunch. Additionally, following the casting of a Black actress in the role of Juliet, an upcoming West End production of Romeo and Juliet from the Jamie Lloyd Company started dealing with racist backlash online - we’ll show you how the company responded.

Who Decides the New York Drama Critics' Circle Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards?
by Cara Joy David - Apr 8, 2024

Two groups of critics (or, more precisely, one group of critics and one group of mostly critics) give theater awards each season. In this continuing series on theater’s awards, I look at the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Awards and Outer Critics Circle Awards. 

La MaMa to Present World Premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's EXAGOGE
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 5, 2024

La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61’s Exagoge. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.

La MaMa Will Present World Premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's EXAGOGE
by Stephi Wild - Apr 4, 2024

La MaMa will present the world premiere of Untitled Theater Company No. 61's Exagoge, with original music by Avner Finberg, script and libretto by Edward Einhorn, directed by Einhorn.