Vanessa Wasche

Last week in the cozy intimate space of Yellow Tree Theatre, in a strip mall in Osseo, I saw a world premiere new play that's unlike anything I've seen before. As someone who sees a lot of theater (and I mean a lot), that's a rare occurrence. While playwright Jayme McGhan's STILL DANCE THE STARS reminds me a little of the Pulitzer Prize winning musical NEXT TO NORMAL, in that it deals with parents grieving the loss of a child in different (and sometimes hallucinatory) ways, the storytelling is completely unique, combining very real and natural dialogue, fantastical dream sequences in which stuffed animals come to life, dance, and music to tell a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of grief, love, and family. It's a great choice of play for Yellow Tree, my favorite theater in the 'burbs, and the cast and creative team do a beautiful job of bringing the play to life with all of its humor, grace, silliness, and beauty.

This pared down adaptation of one of Shakespeare's shortest tragedies moves swiftly from an original opening scene to a disappointing final one. As a contemplation of ambition and ruthlessness and the drive to political power, it is ever timely.

Park Square continues its 42nd season on the Andy Boss Stage with a new adaptation of Macbeth, adapted and directed by Jef Hall-Flavin. Following the recent success of A Midsummer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet, the timeless tragedy of palace intrigue and power grabs continues Park Square's new tradition of reinventing Shakespeare's canon for modern audiences.

The Drama League presents DirectorFest 2014: The 31st Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Elena Heyman, Michael Leibenluft, Michael Osinski, and Caitlin Sullivan .

The Drama League has announced full casting for DirectorFest 2014: The 31st Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Elena Heyman, Michael Leibenluft, Michael Osinski, and Caitlin Sullivan for a limited 5-performance engagement, tonight, December 13 - 16, 2013 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

The Drama League's DirectorFest 2014: The 31st Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Elena Heyman, Michael Leibenluft, Michael Osinski, and Caitlin Sullivan begins its limited 5-performance engagement today, December 13, and continues through December 16, 2013 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

The Drama League has announced full casting for DirectorFest 2014: The 31st Annual One-Act Festival, an evening of four short plays staged by the Drama League Directors Project Fall Directing Fellows Elena Heyman, Michael Leibenluft, Michael Osinski, and Caitlin Sullivan for a limited 5-performance engagement, December 13 - 16, 2013 at TBG Theatre (312 West 36th Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues).

The vulnerability of Witt's recreated Illyria makes the joy in the show shine all the brighter. There will never be a definitive production of any Shakespeare play, but this is one of the truly special ones.

Center Stage announces this week casting for the upcoming production of William Shakespeare's beloved romantic adventure, Twelfth Night. Under the direction of Center Stage Associate Artistic Director Gavin Witt, the production begins rehearsals this week, preview performances start March 5, and the show runs through April 6.

Greater Cleveland is blessed with a vital theatre scene. It is the purpose of the TIMES THEATRE TRIBUTES to recognize theatrical experiences that, in the view of this reviewer, were excellent and deserve recognition.

A psychiatrist, who is credited with naming the act of sadomasochism, stated, 'I feel justified in calling this sexual anomaly 'Masochism,' because the author Sacher-Masoch frequently made this perversion, which up to his time was quite unknown to the scientific world as such, the substratum of his writing.' Yes, this is the same Leopold Sacher-Masoch who is the author of VENUS IN FURS, which is the subject of David Ives VENUS IN FUR, now in production at the Cleveland Play House.

Here in Hartford, it's worth the trip for the excellent, humorous play and a stellar performance turned in by Royce Johnson as Ralph.

TheaterWorks in Downtown Hartford opens its 2011-2012 Season with the United States Regional Theater Premiere of the comic smash, The Motherf----r with the Hat, by Stephen Adly Guirgis.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the return of Firework Theater (formerly Kids with Guns) with the NYC premiere of THE PILLOW BOOK, by Anna Moench and directed by David F. Chapman. THE PILLOW BOOK closes on Saturday, August 20.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the return of Firework Theater (formerly Kids with Guns) with the NYC premiere of THE PILLOW BOOK, by Anna Moench and directed by David F. Chapman. THE PILLOW BOOK begins previews on Thursday, August 4 for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 20.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the return of Firework Theater (formerly Kids with Guns) with the NYC premiere of THE PILLOW BOOK, by Anna Moench and directed by David F. Chapman. THE PILLOW BOOK begins previews on Thursday, August 4 for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 20.