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THEATRE

Why The “Wizard Of Oz” Story Endures

Artists across genres and mediums have, for decades, found great storytelling potential in Baum’s characters and mythology. But the mode that Oz has continued to lend itself to best is musical theater, a genre predicated on suspension of disbelief and thus well suited to conveying Oz’s odd earnestness. - The Atlantic

London’s Old Vic Theatre Names Rupert Goold Artistic Director

The two-time Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee will assume the role at the beginning of 2026 after what will have been 12 years directing the Almeida Theatre across the Thames — and joining him will be his associate director, Rebecca Frecknall. Goold succeeds another award-winning director, Matthew Warchus. - The Guardian

Janet Suzman On Returning Home To Direct “Otello” In Apartheid South Africa

"It was 1987, three years before Nelson Mandela walked free. ... We saw apartheid lasting till the crack of doom. It seemed impregnable. The law had once banned 'miscegenation'. And here I was directing Othello, a play about miscegenation, at Johannesburg’s Market Theatre." - The Guardian

The Blue Man Group Is Leaving New York, And Chicago Too

It’s been more than three decades and more than 17,000 performances Off-Broadway. But apparently, it’s time to head to Florida. - The New York Times

Discount Ticket-seller TKTS Wants To Boost Theatre Attendance In The City Of Brotherly Love

This will be TKTS’ first U.S. spot outside of New York. “Regional theaters are struggling and ticket costs are a persistent cause of consumer concern,” so the hope is that the kiosk will boost sales for theatre, ballet, and even the Philadelphia Orchestra. - The New York Times

How Marla Mindelle Became The Queen of Queer Off-Broadway

Says the creator and star of hit parodies Titanique and The Big Gay Jamboree, "I liken myself to the homeless man’s Lin-Manuel Miranda. I’m still broke, but I’ve excelled at carving out a little queer millennial piece of the pie." - Variety

Broadway Is Having A Country Music Moment

For the most part, show tunes on Broadway still sound more influenced by Andrew Lloyd Webber than by, say, Morgan Wallen. But country music is making inroads. - Christian Science Monitor

The Secret To Writing A Hit Christmas Panto

"From eliciting boos and hisses from audiences of all ages, to making sure there are enough local jokes and updating old stories for today, Holly Williams hears from playwrights tackling their first pantos and veterans who pen several every year about how they keep the tradition alive." - The Stage

A Short History Of The Actresses Of “Wicked”

Between that obstinate Elphaba and the bubbly Glinda the Good — “Wicked” has grossed more than $1.6 billion on Broadway while enduring as itsfourth-longest-running show. - Washington Post

“Les Miz” Has Never Been A Hit In France. This New Production Hopes To Change That.

Les Misérables was originally written in French by two Frenchmen, based on a classic French historical novel — and the musical has been wildly popular just about everywhere except France. Yet an updated version of the show at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris might just catch on. - The New York Times

Even Northern California Has Issues With Censoring High School Plays

School district officials cancelled Santa Rosa High School's production of Dog Sees God, which depicts the characters of the comic strip Peanuts in high school and deals with themes of bullying, gun violence, and homophobia. A privately-owned theater nearby hosted the production instead. - San Francisco Chronicle (MSN)

How Immersive Dining Shows Became A Popular Art

“Food is a very grounding thing in itself; you want to have a shared experience with people while you’re eating it. When you think about immersive dining, it is very important that that feeling doesn’t get overshadowed by anything else.” - The Stage

Seven Days In The Cultural Life Of A Broadway Stage Manager

“When you create art for a living, sometimes you take for granted how much more art is out there,” says Cody Renard Richard. Still, New York gives him a broad canvas to discover. - The New York Times

The Musical Tammy Faye Feels Like A True Redemption

Tammy Faye "is getting perhaps the gayest tribute a person can have: a Broadway musical,” one composed by Elton John. - The New York Times

Trying To Rebuild The Oregon Shakespeare Festival After Some Extremely Rough Years

What worked in the past, that is, pre-pandemic, is coming around again - more marketing, more membership drives, more discounts, more repertory theatre. Can it work? - Oregon ArtsWatch

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