Essay/Review on History of ‘Yellow Face’, now at The Footlight Club

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Yellow Face,’ at The Footlight Club

The Footlight Club presents Yellow Face by David Henry Hwang. Directed by Michelle Aguillion. Set Design by Nolan DuPont Love. Props Design by Jasmine Santos. Lighting Design by Tim Gregor. Sound Design by Chris Brousseau. Costume design by Nancy Ishihara/Emma Joyce. At The Footlight Club, 7A Eliot Street, Boston, through February 22, 2025.

Linda Chin

Even before stepping foot in the venerable Footlight Club to see their production of preeminent playwright David Henry Hwang’s Yellow Face, a hilarious and thought-provoking farce that explores the complexities theater makers face in casting shows with cultural authenticity and the prejudice and discrimination Asian Americans face in their daily lives, I admit to feeling tickled to be part of history in the making.

Sullivan Rep’s Big-Hearted ‘Hairspray’ Opens Season Two Without Missing A Beat

February 21, 2025February 21, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘Hairspray’ – Music by Marc Shaiman. Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Book by Mark O’Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on John Waters’ 1988 film of the same name. Direction and Choreography by Dan Sullivan. Musical Direction by Jenny Tsai. Costume Design by DW. Hair and Makeup Design by Bridget Sullivan. Lighting Design by Erik Fox. Sound Design by Bridget Donovan, Properties Design by Rick Grenier. At The American Legion Nonantum Post 440, 295 California Street, Newton, MA, through March 1, 2025.

By Linda Chin

Even though the weather outside was frightful and they closed their last show, Annie, just eight weeks before, Sullivan Rep successfully opened Season Two with Hairspray – another ambitious audience favorite with a large cast, elaborate costumes, multiple scene changes, and intricate choreography – without missing a beat. Adding to already complicated production logistics (and my awe and admiration), the still new Newton-based company’s “tradition” is to present each of its season offerings at a “non-traditional” venue in one of the city’s diverse villages. In 2024, Sullivan Rep “popped up” full-scale productions of A Little Night Music at the distinguished City Hall, Blithe Spirit at the cozy Women’s Club of Newton Highlands, and Annie at the family-friendly Windsor Club in Waban.

A.R.T.’s ‘The Odyssey’ Catapults Homer’s Ancient Epic Poem into the 21st Century

February 20, 2025February 20, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Members of the cast in A.R.T.’s world-premiere production of *The Odyssey*.
Photo Credits: Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall.

‘The Odyssey’ – Written by Kate Hamill. Based on the epic poem by Homer. Scenic Design by Sibyl Wickersheimer; Costume Design by An-Lin Dauber; Lighting Design and Projection Design by Jeanette Oi-Suk Yew; Sound Design and Music Composition by Paul James Prendergast. Presented by American Repertory Theater at Loeb Drama Center, 64 Brattle St., Cambridge, MA, through March 16.

By Shelley A. Sackett

“If you’ve gone through something traumatic, can you ever go back to who you were? Can you ever go back home?” is the essential question American Repertory Theater’s Terrie and Bradley Bloom Artistic Director Diane Paulus asks audience members to consider as they experience the world premiere of Kate Hamill’s A.R.T.-commissioned newest work, ‘The Odyssey.’ This spectacularly produced reimagination of Homer’s 8^th/7^th century B.C. epic poem is the latest retelling of a classic tale by Hamill, who, once again, displays her special talent for penning plays that magically remain true to the original while interweaving parallel contemporary issues, culture and language.

Yorick Ensemble’s ‘The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals’ Will Convert Even the Most Ardent of Musical Haters

February 18, 2025February 20, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

The cast of *The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals.* Photo Credit: Toni Photography.

The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals with Music and Lyrics by Jeff Blim. Book by Matt & Nick Lang. Originally Produced by Starkid Productions. Directed by Kari Boutcher, Music Directed by Elias Condakes. Scenic Design by Bradley Boutcher & Josh Telepman. Costume & Prop Design by Josh Telepman. Lighting & Sound Design by Michael Jay. Produced by Yorick Ensemble at BCA Plaza Theatre at 539 Tremont Street, Boston, through February 22nd.

By Charlotte Snow

Whether we like to admit it or not, being surrounded by theater people is a special kind of Hell. We’re overly extroverted, overly annoying, overly… everything! So when I saw that Yorick Ensemble was producing The Guy Who Didn’t Like Musicals, a musical that is self-aware about musicals being a plague to humanity, I was jazzed as a chorus boy’s hands. Despite being about musical theatre and its culture, this show has never made it to Broadway. Although it’s famous, it’s YouTube famous.

Psych Drama’s ‘Stage Kiss’ is Funny – and Surprisingly Touching

February 17, 2025February 18, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Kenny Kelleher and Wendy Lippe in Psych Drama’s ‘Stage Kiss’

‘Stage Kiss’ – Written by Sarah Ruhl. Directed by Rani O’Brien. Artistic Direction by Wendy Lippe. Set Design by Rani O’Brien. Costume Design by Sarah Lima. Lighting Design by Larry Segel. Presented by the Psych Drama Company at the Boston Center for the Arts Plaza Black Box Theatre, 539 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116 through February 23, 2025.

By Judy Katzman

The concept of immersion for Stage Kiss – the Psych Drama Company’s production that employs a play-within-a-play – is cleverly achieved as soon as your ticket is ripped and you walk downstairs to the waiting area. Outside the closed doors of the theater sits a table with information about a casting call for a production of ‘The Last Kiss,’ the title of the play within the Stage Kiss play. While waiting for the theatre doors to open, patrons can read a summary of ‘The Last Kiss’ as well as a description of each character. Meanwhile, Stage Kiss actor Kevin (David Kleinman) enthusiastically walks through the waiting crowd collecting names of volunteers who would like to “read” for a part. When everyone is seated in the theatre, the auditions for ‘The Last Kiss’ begin, starting with the audience member volunteers and then transitioning to the actual cast of Stage Kiss.

Merrimack Rep’s ‘Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill’ is a Testament to the Power of Music and Resilience

February 12, 2025February 12, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Jenece Upton in Merrimack Rep’s ‘Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill’

‘Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar and Grill’ by Lanie Robertson. Directed by Candice Handy. Music Direction by David Freeman Coleman. Scenic Design by Tony Hardin. Costume Design by Yao Chen. Lighting Design by Brian Lillienthal. Sound Design by David Remedios. At Merrimack Repertory Theatre, Lowell, Massachusetts, through February 23, 2025.

By Linda Chin

Merrimack Repertory Theatre’s mesmerizing revival of Lady Day (last produced in 1998 and “one of MRT audiences’ favorite plays of all time”) transports us back to 1959 to the fictional club in South Philly, where jazz legend Billie Holiday gave one of her last concerts about four months before her passing at 44 years young. Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill serves up slices of American music history peppered with pieces of Holiday’s personal history and blends in some lesser-known facts (e.g. the origin of the nickname “Lady Day” is attributed to prominent saxophonist Lester Young from Count Basie’s Orchestra). Audience members, young or old, and familiar with her music and life story (or not) will find this production (ninety minutes without intermission) entertaining, educational, and engaging.

Central Square Theater’s ‘SPACE’ Explores A New Frontier Of History

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Catharine K. Slusar, Kaili Y. Turner, Hui Ying Wen, MK Tuomanen in ‘Space’ at Central Square
Photo by: Nile Scott Studios

‘SPACE’ — Written by LM Feldman. Directed by Larissa Lury. Scenic Design by Qingan Zhang. Costume Design by Charlotte Snow. Lighting Design by John R. Malinowski. Properties Design by Julia Wonkka. Sound Design by Nate Tucker, Movement direction and intimacy coordination by Lindsay Torrey. Presented by Central Square Theater, 450 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02139 through February 23^rd.

by Helen Ganley

In an interview dated October 22, 2022, NASA historian Jennifer Ross-Nazzal asked Dr. Sally Ride what the agency needed to add to the flight kit, considering that women would be in space for the first time. Dr. Ride recalled, “I remember the engineers trying to decide how many tampons should fly on a one-week flight; they asked, ‘Is 100 the right number?’”

Tap and Piano Fuse Magically in the Unique ‘Counterpoint’

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Conrad Tao (L) and Caleb Teicher in *‘Counterpoint*, presented by Celebrity Series of Boston
Photo by Richard Termine

Celebrity Series of Boston presents Caleb Teicher & Conrad Tao in ‘Counterpoint.’ At the Boston Arts Academy Theater, Feb. 7-8.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Counterpoint, the 75-minute collaboration between pianist and composer Conrad Tao and choreographer and dancer Caleb Teicher, is a magical journey that explores the interplays between two seemingly divergent art forms — tap and solo piano.

A Formidable Foursome in ‘Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole A Song’

February 10, 2025February 10, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Forbidden Broadway’ at Emerson Colonial Theatre
Chris Collins-Pisano, Nicole Vanessa Ortiz, Jenny Lee Stern, John Wascavage

Forbidden Broadway: Merrily We Stole A Song by Creator, Writer, Director Gerard Alessandrini. Choreography by Gerry McIntyre. Graphics & Onstage Projection Design by Glenn Bassett. Costume Design by Dustin Cross. Hair & Wigs by Ian Joseph. At Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston Street, Boston, February 8-9, 2025.

By Linda Chin

“Old farts” who may have seen the original Forbidden Broadway during its seven year run at the Park Plaza in the ‘80s and ‘90s, theatergoers of all ages – especially those of you who spell theatre with an -re instead of -er, and fans of the late composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim were treated to an evening of belly laughs as the Emerson Colonial Theatre brought the newest version of the Forbidden Broadway franchise, Merrily We Stole a Song, for a limited run this past weekend.

‘Life & Times of Michael K’ is ArtsEmerson’s Latest Must-See Marvel

February 3, 2025February 3, 2025 michaelhobanLeave a comment

‘Life & Times of Michael K’ at ArtsEmerson. Photos by Fiona McPherson

‘Life & Times of Michael K’ — Adapted and Directed by Lara Foot in collaboration with Handspring Puppet Company. Based on the book written by J.M Coetzee. Adaptors and Puppetry Direction by Basil J.R. Jones and Adrian P. Kohler. Puppetry Design by Adrian P. Kohler. A Baxter Theatre Centre and Düsseldorf Schauspielhaus Production. Presented by ArtsEmerson at the Emerson Paramount Center, Robert J. Orchard Stage, 559 Washington St., through February 9.

By Shelley A. Sackett

In substance, Life and Times of Michael K tells the extraordinary story of an ordinary man. Adapted from the 1983 Booker Prize winner, written by South African novelist J. M. Coetzee, it details the life of the eponymous Michael K and his ailing mother during a fictional civil war in South Africa.