Theater News for the Week Ending February 4th

By Bennett Liebman

Upstate New York theaters call for funding safety net

https://nystateofpolitics.com/state-of-politics/new-york/politics/2022/02/03/upstate-new-york-theaters-call-for-funding-safety-net

A Progress Report on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression at Williamstown Theatre Festival

https://wtfestival.org/progress-report-feb-2022/

'MJ' Michael Jackson Broadway Musical Ignores Sexual Abuse Allegation

https://variety.com/2022/scene/news/mj-michael-jackson-musical-1235169558/

'MJ' Review: Michael Jackson Musical Won't Look in the Mirror

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/theater/mj-musical-review.html

I wasn't looking forward to sitting through the new Michael Jackson musical. Then I saw it

https://www.washingtonpost.com/theater-dance/2022/02/01/mj-michael-jackson-musical/

Broadway Press Agency booting reporter from red carpet of MJ: 'The Musical' is shameful

https://www.onstageblog.com/editorials/2022/2/3/broadway-press-agency-booting-reporter-from-red-carpet-of-mj-the-musical-is-shameful

Martin McDonagh's 'Hangmen' Will Open on Broadway This Spring

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/01/theater/hangmen-broadway.html

'Smash' Musical Planning Workshop for Summer

https://variety.com/2022/theater/news/smash-broadway-adaptation-summer-workshop-1235171546/

The Transformative History of African American Theater

https://www.nyu.edu/about/news-publications/news/2022/february/the-transformative-history-of-african-american-theater--from-the.html

Shakespeare In The Park Returns This Summer With Danai Gurira As Richard III

https://gothamist.com/arts-entertainment/shakespeare-park-returns-summer-danai-gurira-richard-iii

Fall grosses show big wins for old brands, tougher economics elsewhere

https://broadwaynews.com/2022/01/31/grosses-show-big-wins-for-old-brands-tougher-economics-elsewhere/

Private Data Shows Broadway's Hits and Misses After Reopening

https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/31/theater/broadway-hamilton-wicked-lion-king.html

Broadway grosses fall to $15 million amid winter downturn

https://broadwaynews.com/2022/02/01/broadway-grosses-fall-to-15-million-amid-winter-downturn/

I Left Tech to Pursue a Career in Musical Theatre

https://www.businessinsider.com/i-left-tech-to-pursue-a-career-in-musical-theatre-2022-2

ZACH Theatre Managing Director Elisbeth Challener to Retire

https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/02/03/zach-theatre-managing-director-elisbeth-challener-to-retire/

Addressing problematic material in American theater classics

https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2022/01/28/418188/addressing-problematic-material-in-american-theater-classics/

Richard Christiansen has died at 90

https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/theater/chris-jones/ct-ent-richard-christiansen-obituary-chicago-tribune-20220128-gfoajq32ffdntpsnxt2qgc34cq-story.html

Philanthropists Gift $2 Million to Old Globe Theatre to Help Develop New Plays

https://timesofsandiego.com/arts/2022/02/01/philanthropists-gift-2-million-to-old-globe-theatre-to-help-develop-new-plays/

Again, Shakespeare goes in search of new audiences

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/01/29/shakespeare-search-new-audience/

Latino Theater Company Partners With Los Angeles Community College District To Make An IMPACT

https://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/Latino-Theater-Company-Partners-With-Los-Angles-Community-College-District-To-Make-An-IMPACT-20220131

The Lab Where the Method Was Born

https://www.americantheatre.org/2022/02/03/the-lab-where-the-method-was-born/

'There is nothing more magical': resurrected theatre brings ancient Greece to life

https://www.theguardian.com/science/2022/jan/31/there-is-nothing-more-magical-resurrected-theatre-brings-ancient-greece-to-life

Honk if you hate theatre! Trucker protests shut down stage legend Walter Borden's solo show at National Arts Centre

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/article-honk-if-you-hate-theatre-trucker-protests-shut-down-stage-legend/

James McAvoy: 'Play Hamlet? Nah - he's always seemed a bit of a moaner to me',

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/03/james-mcavoy-hamlet-moaner-cyrano-rapping-homoerotic-partygate-lear

'Shakespearean' Donald Trump to be subject of play in blank verse

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/feb/01/shakespearean-donald-trump-to-be-subject-of-play-in-blank-verse