Recent Essays

Lauren Smith sits down with Triad Stage’s Preston Lane and PlayMakers Repertory’s Vivienne Benesch to talk about regionalism in theatre.

Heather Jeanne Denyer speaks with Burkina Faso playwright Aristide Tarnagda about the inspiration that comes from where we live, the Récréâtrales Festival in Ouagadougou, women in Burkinabé theatre, and more. / Heather Jeanne Denyer discute avec le dramaturge burkinabé Aristide Tarnagda à propos de l’inspiration qu’on sort de là où on habite, du festival Les Récréâtrales à Ouagadougou, et des femmes dans le théâtre au Burkina Faso.

Kim Whitener, the former executive director of HERE, and theatre producer and consultant Mara Isaacs sit down to talk about moving from institutions to the freelance world (and vice versa), the generosity of other theatre creators, work-life balance, and more.

Costume designer Valerie St. Pierre Smith explores the major issue of cultural appropriation in costume and fashion design, touching on every aspect of the production process, from research to execution.

Egyptian American playwright Adam A. Elsayigh uses the 2018 Cairo Festival for Contemporary & Experimental Theatre as a jumping off point to discuss the state of theatre in the city, censorship, playwriting, and more.

In this installation of A Lover's Guide to American Playwrights, Todd London celebrates Quiara Alegría Hudes.

Bill Rauch, the inaugural artistic director of the Perelman Performing Arts Center, and Diane Ragsdale, assistant professor at the New School, sit down to discuss long overlaps between outgoing and incoming leaders; equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives; the responsibility of an artistic leader is the time of #MeToo and #TimesUp; and more.

Through conversation between Senator Dr. Klaus Lederer and artist-advocate Christophe Knoch, Friederike Landau explores how political decision-makers and artist-activists can work together to create meaningful change for the independent theatre scene in Berlin.

Rachel Grossman and Kirk Lynn announce the JUBILEE, a year-long nationwide festival in 2020/20201 that asks companies to commit to producing a season of work by artists who have been traditionally excluded from the American theatre.

Scott Artley talks about the decision to wind down activities of Patrick’s Cabaret in Minneapolis after over thirty years on the scene and details the steps taken to “sunset” the organization in a respectful, beautiful way.