Arts & Theater
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Why Do We Clap for That? The Strange, Wonderful Things Theatre Audiences Will Always Applaud — OnStage Blog
by Chris Peterson Theatre audiences are a curious species. We pride ourselves on our refined tastes and critical instincts. We dissect performances, praise nuance, and discuss dramaturgy like sommeliers at a wine tasting. But then someone does a high kick, and we absolutely lose our minds. Seriously, why do we clap for that? There’s a long-standing, unspoken agreement among theatre-goers…
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What Do You Want in a Revival? Reinvention or a Redo? — OnStage Blog
by Chris Peterson Let’s ask the question: What do you actually want out of a revival? Do you want a mirror held up to a production you already loved, almost note for note, light cue for light cue? Or do you want something new, even if it means shattering the very thing that made you fall for the show in…
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The Time Has Come for a Broadway Revival of ‘Rags’ — OnStage Blog
The story centers on Rebecca Hershkowitz, a Jewish immigrant who arrives in New York at the turn of the twentieth century with her son and a sense of hope. What she finds instead is exploitation, discrimination, and the messy contradictions of the American dream. Rebecca finds work in a Lower East Side sweatshop. She finds her voice in a labor…
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When Broadway Fandom Becomes Blind Worship — OnStage Blog
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder Let me start with a confession. As someone who loves the theatre, I’ve been guilty of this too. I’ve made excuses for behavior I shouldn’t have. I’ve laughed off stories that were actually pretty cruel. I’ve brushed off bad behavior because of “talent.” But enough is enough. The recent Patti LuPone controversy should be…
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Supporting Theatre, Even When the Lead Makes You Cringe — OnStage Blog
by Chris Peterson, OnStage Blog Founder Here’s the thing: I love theatre. I love it more than most people. I love it more than a good night’s sleep, more than my cholesterol numbers, more than the idea of financial stability. I even love it more than Cheez-Its—and I really love Cheez-Its. And because I love theatre, I go to the…
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My 10 Favorite Halloween Musicals — OnStage Blog
Shannon Gaffney, Guest Editorial Happy October! This is my absolute favorite time of year, and I always find myself blasting the same shows repeatedly to get myself in the spirit. Here are ten of my favorites! 10) The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride Okay, so I’m cheating on #10. The Nightmare Before Christmas and Corpse Bride are films –…
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The Dos and Don’ts of Talkbacks — OnStage Blog
Post-show talkbacks are events that theater artists both love and hate. Connecting with the audience and hearing their feedback is heavenly, but some of the questions and behaviors are hellish. What can you do to keep the experience in the angelic range with the heat turned down? Try keeping in mind the following dos and don’ts. Do…. · Be polite.…
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Actors Deserve a timely “Yes or a No” from Casting Directors — OnStage Blog
by Liz Turner, Guest Editorial Have you ever waited weeks, sometimes months after an audition to hear if you have been cast or not? Cringing by the phone, frantically checking your email every two minutes, even going through your spam and text messages to see if a Casting Director has contacted you about that latest audition. You’re stressed out because…
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