Recent Essays

Summer Banks talks with Jaclyn Backhaus about bringing the story of Men On Boats to life on stage without any men.

Allison Raynor talks with other early-career theatre artists about how the narratives they grew up loving influenced their sense of self.

Michael Rohd and Maureen Towey share an excerpt from their new book The Penelope Project: An Arts-Based Odyssey to Change Elder Care, writing about creating and rehearsing a show in a retirement community.

Frequent overseas contributor verity healey reports on the Belarus Free Theatre workshop exploring the intersection of how a true story about mental illness is portrayed on stage.

Jonathan Mandell looks at some recent plays that explore this wackiest of election seasons in novel ways, and asks: Is mockery proper...or even possible?

Andrew Jacobs discusses his senior theatre project in college, sharing his observations about what it means to create and maintain a socially responsible theatre on a local level. 

David Dower talks with Tony Taccone about his adaptation of It Can’t Happen Here at Berkeley Rep, and what it means for an institution to program a new work that speaks directly to our present moment.

Todd London writes about playwright and performer Taylor Mac, and looks forward to A 24-Decade History of Popular Music.

Amy Brady interviews Michael Arve about Dangerous Theatre, a piece he’s directing based on Hallie Flanagan’s 1938 testimony to the Special Committee to Investigate Un-American Activities.

Shari Caplan on Love’s Labour's Lost as performed by The Commonwealth Shakespeare Company in Boston, Massachusetts.