Corey Hawkins was nominated "for leading actor in a play alongside co-star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II. The duo played brothers in Suzan-Lori Parks’ Topdog/Underdog. 'We had to trust each other implicitly, because there’s no other lifeline on that stage.'" - Variety
Rehearsal, of course. And then, one photographer of a thousand Broadway shows says some of her favorite shots are never seen. "It's not just reporting what the show is. It's like what's going to sell the show, too. So, it's not a totally pure aesthetic." - NPR
"The Representation, Inclusion, & Support for Employment (RISE) Theatre Directory is meant to serve as a resource for theater producers, directors and other managers across the country and promote the hiring of more underrepresented producers, crew members and theater employees." - The Hollywood Reporter
"In response to the ever-growing anxiety around technology, they conjured up characters who were eager to learn and discover the tactile world around them. ... The trio imagined a show that would capture the feeling of a painting come to life, full of vibrant colors and pantomime." - Mental Floss
Why are new plays about historical trans and queer folks important? "These queer stories give us reassurance that we’re not alone now, and we haven’t ever been alone. These stories remind us that queer people have always been and will always be a part of humanity." - American Theatre
Oskar Eustis, the Public's artistic director, said proudly that bringing Under the Radar to the theater was "the first artistic choice I made" in his then-new job. Yet the pressures that led the Public to stop hosting the festival are serious, and they aren't going away. - The New York Times
I think it’s not an accident that after his passing, the gravitational pull toward his work and what he left us with, and the way it has changed us as artists, is so strong. I also I think it’s not an accident that they’re happening at the particular societal moment that we’re in. - American Theatre
As if coaxing people back to the theater wasn’t difficult enough — weekly Broadway ticket grosses are still millions of dollars short of pre-pandemic levels — the ceremony has had to adjust to labor strife of a magnitude that will affect what viewers see Sunday night. - Washington Post
"At the heart of the 10th festival stands the divisive figure of Attila Vidnyánszky, artistic director of the Theatre Olympics and director of the National Theatre in Budapest" — and a strong supporter of Viktor Orbán. And, of course, the Russian invasion of Ukraine looms large. - The Guardian
This may be surprising in a genre that's both deeply Japanese and family-based — but it's less surprising than you might think. Maholo Terajima Ghnassia's father is French, but his mother is well-known actress Shinobu Terajima, and his grandfather is the current leader of an eminent Kabuki dynasty. - AP
The Black American playwright was inspired to adapt Lennon's In His Own Write by her son's Beatlemania. To her initial surprise, Kenneth Tynan picked up the play, and she watched the first performance next to Olivier, her hero. Most of the rest of the experience, though, was more dispiriting. - The Guardian
"Tim Sheader …, who currently runs Regent's Park Open Air theatre, will take over from Michael Longhurst in March 2024 and will also be the Donmar's joint chief executive alongside executive director Henny Finch." - The Guardian
"The union is demanding a 19-piece live orchestra, as mandated by contracts, barring 'special situation' exemptions. Producers want the show as it has been for 10 years, with actors singing mostly to pre-recorded backing tracks, which they say is an inherent reflection of the karaoke culture of the Philippines." - Variety
Attention must be paid to the core audience that has stuck it out and been filling these doddering old venues with their seasoned laughter and empathy. The Tony Awards on Sunday really ought to add one more prize to the evening’s roster — a special award to the stalwart Broadway theatergoer. - Los Angeles Times
