The title of August Wilson’s 1995 drama Seven Guitars represents the seven characters in this Tony, Pulitzer and Drama Desk Award nominated play. Each strums a different life tune – resonating in different keys and telling unique stories through the lyric and melody in Wilson’s sonorous text. When all seven play as a well-orchestrated ensemble, … Continue reading
Tagged with jubilee theatre …
Jubilee Theatre welcomes William (Bill) Earl Ray as Artistic Director
Jubilee Theatre proudly announces the appointment of nationally respected stage director and stage and film actor William (Bill) Earl Ray as the company’s new Artistic Director, after a year’s intensive search. An Austin area native, Bill Ray earned his theatre degree from Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington. A seasoned professional as an actor, director … Continue reading
Criticalrant’s Final “First Choices” of 2015
2015 unfolded as a stunner of a thespian year, from classics to new work, dynamic paradigm-shifters to re-invigorated audience favorites, ensemble achievements to compelling solo work. Youth to senior artists. And music? Glorious music! Performance art in our region thrives with energy, respect, initiative and genuine variety. Dedicated, impassioned creative people form the backbone … Continue reading
From mountaintop to gutter: Dallas Theater Center strikes gold and out
Running through November 15 at the Studio Theatre at the Wyly Theatre, Katori Hall’s Broadway hit and 2010 Olivier Award winner The Mountaintop demonstrates how a properly mounted, carefully-crafted work of fantasy based loosely on real life events can manifest as some of the finest dramatic entertainment on a local stage. Dallas Theater Center came … Continue reading
Best on the Boards: DFW Theatre Critics Forum 2015
Another year of outstanding D/FW thespian endeavor rolls by. Herein I post the decisions arrived at by the Dallas-Fort Worth Theatre Critics Forum after three hours of deliberation, negotiation, advocacy and munching David Novinski’s delicious gluten-free brownies to finish our potluck meal at Martha’s. I’m stoked by the diversity and quality of performance art in … Continue reading
2013-14 DFW Theater Critics Forum Awards
Some of these shows I did not see. A number I would not honor with awards. EVER. I am disappointed that neither Ochre House’s Christhelmet (directed by Matthew Posey) nor Diana Sheehan’s Full Gallop or her sophisticated cabaret, Searching for Gertrude Lawrence at WaterTower Theatre met the critical popularity threshold. I am quite thrilled for other wins. Call it a draw…. Direction: … Continue reading
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
Diverse, Dynamic, Dramatic Dallas Welcomes the TCG Conference
“It’s death by art,” she grins, ruefully. Referring to her killer arts schedule as Kitchen Dog Theater’s Co-Artistic Director, Tina Parker welcomes Theatre Communications Group’s annual national conference descending this week on Dallas TX in stride. Multi-tasking? No problemo for this canny, creative, ‘wondrous’ woman…. She just opened two major productions at her unique theatre … Continue reading
Mirror, Mirror: Culture’s Voice
Round II Critical Rant entry in Spring for Music’s 2012 “Great Arts Blogger Challenge”: voting resumes on Monday April 2: VOTE HERE DAILY, YALL: for Critical Rant, representing Texas! http://springformusic.com/2012-great-blogger-challenge/ Question: We live in an aggressively visual age; images dominate the popular culture. But which art form has the most to say about contemporary culture, … 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
criticalrant.com Alexandra Bonifield 