The Origins of Runyonland in “Guys & Dolls”
By Dramaturg Michael Levine Guys and Dolls is one of the most produced musicals in American history. It gave the world songs like “Luck Be A Lady” and “A Bushel and…
We Are Pussy Riot: Context for This New Play
We Are Pussy Riot or (Everything Is P.R.), this year’s NewFest New Works Festival’s Workshop Production, opens on March 31 in the Greene Theater. We Are Pussy Riot is, in fact,…
KEEP SPEAKING LOUDLY: An Interview with “Lizzie Stranton” Playwright Lydia Diamond
In 2008, you set the play to be in the “future” of 2016. How do you think Lizzie’s world compares with the world today? I can’t get over how far…
Why “Lizzie Stranton” Shows the Best of Emerson
Hello Readers! See below for a take on Lizzie Stranton‘s applicability to our lives, written by Assistant Dramaturg Travis Amiel. Lizzie Stranton runs from February 4-7, so be sure to purchase…
Our private Gilead: Thoughts on the regional popularity of “The Spitfire Grill”
By Sydney Torres Assistant Dramaturg, The Spitfire Grill The Spitfire Grill is a hidden gem of show. Audiences will discover that it is intimate and…
Theresa Rebeck’s “O Beautiful”: Why here? Why now?
By Elizabeth Gilchrist, production dramaturg In 2011, playwright Theresa Rebeck (creator of TV drama Smash; plays include Seminar and Omnium Gatherum) was commissioned by the theater department at University of…
“Beautiful” thoughts: current events through Theresa Rebeck’s eyes
By Madeline Fabricant, Assistant Dramaturg O Beautiful Although the phrase “history repeats itself” may sound like rubbish, I am constantly amazed by how often it rings true. Theresa Rebeck’s play, O Beautiful,…
Uncommon Women, uncommonly excellent playlist
A few weeks ago, the EmStage twitter account was very excited to get the following message: We admit, it’s been a little more than a week — there was another whole…
Who says you can’t go home again?
Hey! How’s everyone doing? Here at Emerson Stage, we’re gearing up for two more shows in the next month — Brian Friel’s lovely, touching Dancing at Lughnasa, and Kander and Ebb’s razzle-dazzle The…