Tagged with Contemporary Theatre of Dallas …

DFW Theatre Critics’ Forum Awards: 2013

Critics’ Forum Awards in 2013: a testament to the diverse, dynamic thespian output produced in our North Texas region, from originals to Classics, contemporary and edgy to the beloved, tried-and-true. In 2013 a youth theatre program figures prominently in the honors, and a 12-year-old member of its dedicated ensemble earns recognition for giving one of … Continue reading →

The Lesser God’s Children at Contemporary Theatre

Contemporary Theatre of Dallas presents a compelling, if often tortured and torturous, production of Mark Medoff’s 1980 Tony Award-winning issue romance Children of a Lesser God. Directed by WingSpan Theatre’s Producing Artistic Director Susan Sargeant, the show features powerful performances by its leads, Marianne Galloway (playing a temperamental, difficult non-speaking deaf woman) and Ashley Wood … Continue reading →

Lizard Love Lite: Iguana Nights at Contemporary Theatre

Gender power games, obsession, self-delusion, manic addiction and self-destructive compulsion, the wilds of nature v. the wilderness of civilization, all taking place in a shaken up world where the Germans have just invaded London.  Scholars and critics consider Tennessee Williams’1961 drama The Night of the Iguanaone of his greatest works. Unfolding on the verandah of … Continue reading →

Best of 2011: On Stage in North Texas

Reflecting on North Texas’ stage performance in 2011, I take pride in recognizing the region’s senior directors. They bring immense creative vision and studied, practiced, pragmatic understanding of their craft to the arts community. They inspire performers, critics, advocates and patrons, alike, to “keep after it”, even as we have less than a 9% share … Continue reading →

Broads in Burka: CTD’s Five Women Wearing the Same Dress

UPDATE: Extended run –through July 17, 2011 After all, most women – frivolous, vain, superficial creatures that they are – exist simply as purely decorative amusement for men’s fickle carnal desire, waste lots of money on uncomfortable shoes and lingerie and worry non-stop about selecting the proper shades of lipstick and fingernail polish, right? Alan … Continue reading →

Brothers Barely Bad-Ass: True West @ CTD

The evening I attended True West at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, Artistic Director Sue Loncar gave the curtain speech and explained why she chose to produce Sam Shepard’s black comedy. She said people kept complaining about “all the women’s plays” at CTD, so she decided to present one with an abundance of testosterone. Now that … Continue reading →

Best on Stage 2010: criticalrant.com

Ten Top Productions: Literary merit. Imaginative staging. Sophisticated direction. Cohesive ensemble performance. Comprehensive technical vision and execution. Delightful, viable realities. Our Town (Water Tower Theatre) August: Osage County (Oklahoma City Repertory Company) Much Ado About Nothing (Trinity Shakespeare Festival) The Dog Problem (Undermain Theatre) Umlauf’s Bicycle (The Ochre House) The 39 Steps (Stage West) Charm … Continue reading →

Holiday Antidote: Diary of a Mad Elf

“If you think you’re boring an audience go slower, not faster”, NPR quotes composer Gustav Mahler. Although he was speaking of symphonic performance, the same could be said of stage acting. Many featured actors on Dallas stages seem to think acting “louder and faster” accomplishes “with energy and focus” and will best hold an audience’s … Continue reading →

Blue Moon Mud Pie @ CTD

What culinary dish does Ed Graczyk’s comedy The Blue Moon Dancing, currently baking in the premiere oven at Contemporary Theatre of Dallas, evoke? Lead character Connie, a dipsomaniac, pill-popping actress tired of playing big catfish in the crawfish pond while romanticizing Dallas, bewails the fact that the local McCarthy, TX, newspaper sent the food critic … Continue reading →