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Criticism

Here, you’ll find content about the art and practice of theatre criticism. Many pieces grapple with questions of how to diversify the field, making it more accessible for young people, queer folx, and critics of color. This section also contains all the pieces of criticism in the Journal, which we call “NewCrits.” NewCrits analyze productions and go beyond “thumbs up, thumbs down” reviews, placing the work(s) in question in a larger, broader context—whether that’s the context of the time or place it’s done in, the artists’ body of work, or its genre. Are you interested in writing a NewCrit? Check out our guidelines and best practices!

The Latest

On Between Two Knees, or About Other Futures
Essay
On Between Two Knees, or About Other Futures
by Sebastián Eddowes-Vargas
17 April 2024
Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage
Essay
Viewpoints for Achieving Authentic Representation of Roma Communities on Stage
by Tímea Éva Bogya, Márton Illés
27 March 2024
Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?
Essay
Should We Write Differently About Roma Theatre?
by Noémi Herczog, Éva Moharos
25 March 2024
Still from A Lady and A Woman.
Gender Disparity, Self-Reporting, and Theatre Rhino's A Lady and A Woman
Essay

Gender Disparity, Self-Reporting, and Theatre Rhino's A Lady and A Woman

7 May 2013

Lily Janiak talks about Theatre Rhino’s A Lady and A Woman and examines her role as a theatre critic.

The N-Word on Stage
Essay

The N-Word on Stage

30 April 2013

Chris Garza discusses Intermedia Arts and Freestyle Theatre’s recent production about the politics of skin in the United States, which makes the audience question the validity in saying the US is a “post-racial” society.

Photo from the play Geek!
Soaring Geeks, Gangster Clowns, and Sludge Villains
Essay

Soaring Geeks, Gangster Clowns, and Sludge Villains

25 April 2013

Crystal Skillman’s play Geek is everything that is wonderful about geek theatre, an Off-Broadway subgenre that has become increasingly mainstream over the last ten years.

Two performers sitting on-stage in Cry Old Kingdom.
Cry Old Kingdom
Essay

Cry Old Kingdom

23 April 2013

Jeff Augustin’s Cry Old Kingdom takes place in Haiti, 1964 during François "Papa Doc" Duvalier's reigme. Dani Snyder-Young reviews the 2013 Humana Festival production with an eye towards its theme of sacrifice, and the actor-audience power dynamic.

Criticism, Vitriol, and Announcing Our NewCrit Critics
Essay

Criticism, Vitriol, and Announcing Our NewCrit Critics

20 April 2013

P. Carl introduces the New Crit Critics, and reflects on thier place on HowlRound.

The New York Times logo.
Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch
Essay

Everyone's a Critic... even of Critics—Notes from New York Times Critic Watch

5 April 2013

This first set of notes from the NYT Critic Watch projects disects the focus of reviews and if the readers actually agree with them

A woman looking up on stage, with several other actors doing the same elsewhere on-stage in The Great Big Also.
Preaching to the Unconverted
Essay

Preaching to the Unconverted

5 April 2013

Lily Janiak takes a look at San Franisco-based Mugwumpin’s The Great Big Also as it explores the new frontier: what that meant to the first American settlers, and what the frontier means now.

Doing Time on the Other Side
Essay

Doing Time on the Other Side

5 April 2013

John Longenbaugh reflects on balancing his career as a theatre critic with being an artist

All the Hip-Hop World’s a Stage, and the Critic Is a Player
Essay

All the Hip-Hop World’s a Stage, and the Critic Is a Player

4 April 2013

Rebecca Haithcoat draws parallels between Hip-hop and theatre and why the public finds hip-hop more accessible

A cartoon newspaper.
Critics’ Love for Sale
Essay

Critics’ Love for Sale

Why Journalism’s Demise Is Bad for Theater

3 April 2013

John More talks about why the fall of the newspaper intudusty is bad news for the theatre community

Reese's Pieces spilling out of the box.
Just Like Candy
Essay

Just Like Candy

Following the Trail of Good Ideas

3 April 2013

A career as a theatre critic may not be directly linked to accolades and acclaim. Jason Zinoman meditates on the nuanced benefits of critically thinking about art full-time.

Two Considerations for Criticism
Essay

Two Considerations for Criticism

2 April 2013

If critics evaluate theatre in consideration of who’s the primary audience and the function of the piece, theatre has the potential of bettering itself from criticism.

The Twitter logo.
Weekly Howl on Twitter hashtag #newplay—Topic
Essay

Weekly Howl on Twitter hashtag #newplay—Topic

Theater Criticism and Journalism

1 April 2013

This week's Howl is going to tackle the topic of theatre criticism and journalism

A portrait of Wendy Rosenfield.
But I Really Don’t Want To Direct
Essay

But I Really Don’t Want To Direct

1 April 2013

Wendy Rosenfield explores the idea of theatre critics, not as artists, but as recorders that theatre matters.

The Muppet characters Statler and Waldorf leaning over the railing of a theater box.
The Artist on the Aisle
Essay

The Artist on the Aisle

31 March 2013

Rob Weinert-Kendt shares insight into the motivations and complications of taking on a career of as a theatre critic.

Poster for New American Plays festival.
Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom
Essay

Maximizing New Play Coverage at the Humana Festival with a Pop-Up Newsroom

30 March 2013

Engine31 is a team of twelve journalists striving to serve the artists of Humana Festival by reporting through a pop-up newsroom.

An exclamation point and a question mark written on top of one another.
Holler
Essay

Holler

Building a Culture of Constructive Critique From the Ground Up

9 February 2013

Holler helps young artist create spaces to discuss what is constructive criticism and how to give it.

Call for Critics!
Essay

Call for Critics!

30 January 2013

A call to bring the art of criticism to HowlRound, utilizing respectful dialogue to foster more in-depth conversations about the theatre we work hard to make.

The New York Times logo.
New York Times Critic Watch Project
Essay

New York Times Critic Watch Project

An Update

15 September 2012

An update from NYTCriticWatch as we go through the survey responses

The letter H stylized as Howlround's original logo.
The Weekly Howl Tuesday, July 24th
Essay

The Weekly Howl Tuesday, July 24th

Criticism

23 July 2012

Tomorrow's Weekly Howl will focus on the state of criticism in the theater, spurred on by Sherri Kronfeld's recent article, the many comments its garnered, Rob Weinert-Kendt's response.

Portrait of Sherri Kronfeld.
Where is our Tiki Barber? Theater Makers As Theater Critics
Essay

Where is our Tiki Barber? Theater Makers As Theater Critics

23 July 2012

Sherri Kronfeld asks why theater critics are more often than not theater practitioners, and argues for more inclusion of these hybrid theater maker/critics in the theater criticism scene.

The set for Futurity.
“I’m Looking for a New Way To Be With You”
Essay

“I’m Looking for a New Way To Be With You”

On The Lisps’ Futurity: A Musical

12 July 2012

James J. Hodge examins our societys relation to the future through the lens of the new musical Futurity by the Lisps.

Portrait of Matthew Gutschick.
Let Them Play
Essay

Let Them Play

2 July 2012

Matthew Gushick explains the necessity of having a sense of play in creating any kind of theater, and how it is the vital key in creating ultimate captivation in an auidence.

The Twitter logo.
Best of Weekly Howl on Social Media and Criticism
Essay

Best of Weekly Howl on Social Media and Criticism

3 April 2012

Highlights from the Weekly Howl conversation on social media's impact on arts criticism.

Critiquing Criticism: (re)imagining the future Panel—36th Annual Humana Festival
Video

Critiquing Criticism: (re)imagining the future Panel—36th Annual Humana Festival

Friday 30 March 2012
Louisville, KY, United States

As part of the 36th Annual Humana Festival of New American Plays at the Actors Theatre of Louisville, this fourth of four panel discussions was livestreamed on the global, commons-based peer-produced HowlRound TV network at howlround.tv on Friday 30 March 2012 at 7:30 a.m. (Los Angeles) / 9:30 a.m. (Chicago) / 10:30 a.m. (New York) / 14:30 GMT / 15:30 (London-BST) / 16:30 (Berlin-CEST) / 20:00 (Mumbai).