Dear theatre friend,
February looks promising, with more than a few plays already booked.
I’ll be seeing “Anatomy of a Suicide” at Atlantic Theatre, by recent Susan Smith Blackburn Award winner, Alice Birch. Despite the title, the show is described as concerning the subject of mothers and daughters– somewhat less intimidating perhaps, except Birch also wrote “Revolt She Said. Revolt Again” about women’s unbridled fury.
“Dana H.” by the wonderful Lucas Hnath ( “Doll’s House Part Two”; “Red Speedo”) at The Vineyard Theatre,sounded unmissable even before I read this review of the Los Angeles production. It will again star the extraordinary Deidre O’Connell, lipsynching the actual words of Hnath’s kidnapped mother.
“Boom” at 59e59 Theatre deserves your attention. This tour-de-force by Robert Lepage associate, Rick Miller, is as delightfully frenetic as it is educational. He’s shrunk the culture, personal stories and the politics of the post-WWII era through the 1960’s to under two hours. I loved it!
Although twenty five years old, I expect “Blues For an Alabama Sky” at Keen will feel as fresh as when it premiered in Atlanta. This story of the Harlem Renaissance in the 1930s is written by Pearl Cleage.
Next Door at New York Theatre Workshop will offer “House Plant” by Sarah Einspanier. Her previous hit, “Lunch Bunch,” will be back next month, courtesy of The Play Company. You may want to book it, too, after reading this New York Times’s review.
Next door to Next Door, on their mainstage, NYTW will be presenting “Endlings” by Celine Song about Korean women– both there and here. Read this enticing review from the original production at Harvard’s A.R.T. Theatre.
Thanks to theMa-Yi Theatre Company and Bushwick Starr, we have another chance to see the previously sold out “Suicide Forest” by Haruna Lee. I was sorry to have missed its premiere, especially after reading this lauditory New York Times review, so I’ll be grabbing it at A.R.T./ New York.
Do not miss “Headlands” by Christopher Chen, coming to the Claire Tow Theatre at Lincoln Center. If it’s half as inventive, immersive, mindblowingly convoluted as “Caught,” you will have an unforgettable experience.
I can’t recall a previous season replete with countless revivals. Of course, for some of us, they might be new! Those listed below are worthy, for first time viewing or not:
“How I Learned to Drive;” “Take Me Out;” “American Buffalo;” “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf;” and “Hangmen.”
If you have time for more plays after celebrating Valentines and Presidents — be sure to sign up for my monthly newsletters:
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Next up: a London recap, mid February.
See you at the theatre!
Carol Tambor publishes a monthly newsletter, which announces worthy shows coming to New York, along with occasional information about London theatre and, of course, the Edinburgh Fringe.