Kiss of the Spider Woman director Rachel Bertone has a history of taking incredible musicals and turning them into unmissable experiences. Here are just a few of our favorites! Kimberly Fife, Katrina Pavao, Phil Tayler, Joy Clark and Caroline Workman in Cabaret. Photo by Sharman Altshuler. From DigBoston's Review of Moonbox's production of Cabaret: Taking on iconic material is always a risky
We sat down with Kiss of the Spider Woman Director Rachel Bertone for the first installment of our new series: Why3, a directorial take on why this production is important, why it should be performed at the Lyric Stage, and why we should see it now. Why this play? We need to see more representation of queer people of color
The Lyric Stage Company of Boston’s Producing Artistic Director, Spiro Veloudos, Managing Director, Matt Chapuran, and its Board of Directors today announced that they have named Courtney O’Connor as the company’s new Associate Artistic Director. She assumed her full-time duties at the Lyric Stage on July 9, 2018 Spiro Veloudos commented on Courtney’s appointment: “Courtney and I have been friends for some time (it’s been so long, I don't event want to say). She has directed a number of plays at the Lyric Stage and throughout Boston, and was my associate director for our production of Nicholas Nickleby, parts 1 & 2. With 75 applications for this position, the choice was anything but easy. But Courtney’s background in theatre production, administration, and education made her the logical choice.” Matt Chapuran added: “I fondly recall Courtney's production of Sin at the Coyote Theatre, produced back when we were all much younger. She's lost none of her vibrancy and wit, and shares our commitment to local talent.” And Courtney O’Connor wrote: “The Lyric Stage has been an artistic home to me as a director here in Boston — a place that has challenged and supported me like no other. And as I have grown during that time, the Lyric Stage has also grown and expanded greatly. With their new programs and partnerships, the continuing deep commitment to supporting local artists, and the dedicated and vibrant staff, the Lyric Stage is an invigorating and thriving company. I am thrilled to be joining in this new role, and look forward to discovering what we can create as we grow together.”
Winner of 7 Tony Awards, including Best Musical & Best Score
The Wiz
Book by William F. Brown Music and Lyrics by Charlie Smalls From the story “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” by L. Frank Baum Directed by Dawn M. Simmons Music Director, Allyssa Jones Choreography by Jean Appolon May 18 – June 24, 2018 “Radiates so much energy you can hardly sit in your seat!” — NY Post A soulful retelling of L. Frank Baum's beloved The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, The Wiz combines fairy-tale glamour with street smarts to make a classic fantasy sparkle for today. And our directors and choreographer will bring a blast of New Orleans Creole magic to this production! Winner of seven Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Score, The Wiz ingeniously mixes rock, gospel, soul, and jazz, and features hits like "Ease on Down the Road," "A Brand New Day," and "Home."Two Acclaimed American Musicals KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN — Kander & Ebb’s gritty and dazzling Tony Award winner PACIFIC OVERTURES — Spiro Veloudos caps off his multi-year Sondheim Initiative with this thrilling masterpiece A Great Classic of the American Theatre THE LITTLE FOXES — Lillian Hellman’s riveting drama about a greedy Southern family. Two New Collaborations – read more at the bottom of this release BREATH & IMAGINATION — the musical story of Roland Hayes, the first internationally acclaimed African American concert vocalist. In collaboration with The Front Porch Arts Collective TWELFTH NIGHT — William Shakespeare’s hilarious and heartbreaking comedy of unrequited love. In collaboration with Actors’ Shakespeare Project. A Comedy and a Drama, Both Written by Women about Women THE WOLVES — an exhilarating and insightful play about the members an adolescent girls’ indoor soccer team THE ROOMMATE — a moving and hilarious play about two middle-aged women attempting to re-imagine their lives
“A work about the awesome and overpowering force of nature!” — The Guardian
ANNA CHRISTIE
by Eugene O’Neill Adapted & Directed by Scott Edmiston April 6 – May 6, 2018 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, O'Neill's classic is a surprisingly contemporary play that crackles with fierce physicality, humor, and drama. After a 20-year separation, a coal barge captain (Lyric Stage favorite Johnny Lee Davenport) is reunited with the daughter he unknowingly abandoned to a life of hardship. When Anna falls in love with a shipwrecked sailor, her father and her suitor come to recognize their own culpability in her plight, and all three struggle in their own way for salvation. Following his acclaimed production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Scott Edmiston takes a fresh look at one of America's greatest playwrights.The front page of Monday, March 13, 2017's The Boston Globe features a profile on Producing Artistic Director Spiro Veloudos' battle with type 2 diabetes. It's been a challenging, interesting, and ultimately uplifting time in Spiro's life. Spiro's recovery is a testament to his determination, fantastic medical care, and the support of an incredible theatrical community. We're particularly thankful for
“Deliciously frolicsome! Depths of sheer pleasure!” — NY Times
Virginia Woolf’s
ORLANDO
Adapted by Sarah Ruhl Directed by A. Nora Long In collaboration with the Suffolk University Theatre Department February 23 – March 25, 2018 In this joyful romance of gender roles and expectations, Orlando the man wakes up, after a particularly wild night in 17th-century Constantinople, to find himself a woman! She abandons herself to three centuries of navigating love, desire, and the world from an entirely different perspective. Oft described as the most charming love letter in literature – written by Woolf to Vita Sackville-West – Sarah Ruhl brings the novel to life on stage in a grand, epic adventure that transcends time, place, and gender."The hilarious yet poignant work featured Leigh Barrett as Madame Flo and the irreplaceable Will McGarrahan as the ivory tickler whose affectionate commingling of horror and admiration allowed us to see the Muse-murdering Jenkins as both ridiculous and somehow valorous." - Souvenir "Director Scott Edmiston presided over this pitch-perfect, period-perfect revival of Edward Albee’s 1962 marathon marital battle whose combatants
“Lyrically witty, musically rich!” — the Guardian