Apr 10

“Far Away” is Close to Home

Posted on April 10, 2014 by gilliandaniels

Presented by Whistler in the Dark
by Caryl Churchill
Directed by Meg Taintor

April 3-19, 2014
The Charlestown Working Theatre
Charlestown, MA
Whistler on Facebook

Review by Gillian Daniels

One of the most terrifying things about dictatorships, dystopias, and police states are how they turn what is savage and ridiculous into what is mundane and even acceptable. Blood doesn’t flow on stage at any point during Whistler in the Dark’s production of Far Away. No one pulls out a gun or stabs another character to prove a point. With the power of playwright Caryl Churchill’s words and Meg Taintor’s direction, they don’t need to. Fear lay heavily over the show already; we don’t need any clearer sign things are uncertain and wrong. Continue reading →

Apr 01

Admiral Kittypants Presents: The Cast of “Princess Ida; Or, Castle Adamant”

Posted on April 1, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

Mascot, Admiral Dudley T. Kittypants

Admiral Kittypants Presents: A Cast!

The cast for Princess Ida; Or, Castle Adamant

Prince Hilarion – Kamela Dolinova
King Hildebrand – Matthew Zahnzinger
King Gama – Ray O’Hare
Florian – Nicole Orr
Cyril – Katie Lafaw
Arac – Jessica Rossi
Guron – Daffyd Mac an Leigh
Scynthius – Chris Mason

Princess Ida – Kitty Drexel
Lady Psyche- Sara Haugland
Lady Blanche – Letitia Stevens
Melissa – Lawren Hill
Sacharissa – Meg Di Maggio
Chloe – Ginger Lazarus

Featured Singers and Section Leaders
Soprano – Rebecca Hayden
Alto – Micha Goolsby
Tenor – Chris Mason
Bass – Daffyd Mac an Leigh

Kittypants_Ida_rosie poster_2014

Princess Ida; or, Castle Adamant
A Staged Reading with piano; and, A Fundraising Sing-a-Long Event*

*Donations received will benefit the Admiral Kittypants upcoming season to include a production of The Beggar’s Opera by John Gay.

By Gilbert and Sullivan
Directed by Liz Adams
Music direction by TBA

May 30, 2014 at 8pm
May 31, 2014 at 2pm
Responsible Grace Church of the Nazarene,
Davis Square, Somerville, MA
Admiral Kittypants on Facebook

More show info can be found here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Ida

Mar 31

Masters of Tradition: An Enchanted Evening

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

WORLD MUSIC/CRASHarts PRESENTS
Masters of Tradition
Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill, Cathal Hayden, Iarla Ó Lionáird, Seamie O’Dowd, Máirtín O’Connor, David Power

Friday, March 28, 8pm,
Somerville Theatre
Davis Square
World Music/CRASHarts on Facebook

(Somerville) The gentlemen comprising the Masters of Tradition remind me greatly of Irish Art Garfunkels. Nerdy casual in their comfortable jeans and khakis, they would be unassuming on the street but powerful on paper. Give them music and the wonders of their talents become immediately apparent. Fiddle, guitar, accordion, Uilleann pipes and voice they provide an enchanting evening of performance. Continue reading →

Mar 24

Rock Out with Your Snark Out: BLOODY, BLOODY ANDREW JACKSON

Posted on March 24, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

Photo care of Emerson Umbrella Facebook page.

Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson
Presented by The Umbrella Mainstage
Written by Alex Timbers
Music & Lyrics by Michael Friedman
Directed by James Tallach
Music Directed by Maria Duaime Robinson
Choreography by Lara Finn
Fight Choreography by Micah Greene

March 21 – April 5
The Umbrella Community Arts Center
Concord, MA
The Umbrella on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

Disclosure: I have worked with both directors James Tallach, Maria Duaime Robinson, and a cast member or two. This review is tempered to reflect this.

(Concord) History favors old, White dudes. Heck, old, White dudes are favored now. If Green Day had collaborated on an historical punk musical with Bill Clinton, Lindsay Lohan and George Michael, chances are they would have written Bloody, Bloody Andrew Jackson (let us all say a silent prayer for Clinton’s potential saxophone career). And it would be a huge hit. Fans of American Idiot the musical will appreciate the music of BBAJ. They will also appreciate the snarky treatment of a politician who purported to be the People’s President but, after all is said and done, was only in it for himself. History has repeated itself and punk happens to be the medium for this particular telling. Continue reading →

Mar 24

Eavesdropping on a Moment: TALLEY’S FOLLY

Posted on March 24, 2014 by craigidlebrook

Photo by Meghan Moore

Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre
By Lanford Wilson
Directed by Kyle Fabel

March 20^th – April 13^th, 2014
Lowell, MA
MRT on Facebook

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Lowell) Why in the 21^st century do we feel compelled to make all our special private moments so public, especially when it comes to marriage proposals? These days, a proposal is not Facebook official unless you enlist your family, Joe Biden, and the Michigan State marching band to take part in a carefully choreographed proposal that you can upload to YouTube. Continue reading →

Mar 20

Christopher Walken Can’t Stop Dancing

Posted on March 20, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

Why would you want him to? (HuffPo link)

Below is a complete list of the films used in the video: Continue reading →

Mar 04

World Music/CRASHarts Presents: LO’JO at Johnny D’s, March 15, 7:00 pm

Posted on March 4, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

LO’JO presented by World Music/ CRASHarts

ONE NIGHT ONLY: Saturday, March 15, 7:00 pm

Johnny D’s

17 Holland St. Somerville, 02144

General Admission. 21+ with valid ID. Seating is limited and guaranteed with a dinner reservation $25.00

World Music/CRASHarts on Facebook

Lo’Jo on Facebook

Founded in Angers, France by singer-keyboardist Denis Péan and violinist and kora player Richard Bourreau, Lo’Jo’s musical adventurism is the stuff of legend. The globe-trotting French daredevils have traveled the world for 30 years, playing in remote outposts, soaking up sounds, and founding the annual Festival in the Desert in northern Mali with Tuareg rockers Tinariwen. The six-member band plays funky, dubbed-up chansons laced with a bewildering variety of jazz, pop, reggae, circus, cabaret, klezmer, Roma, West African, and Maghrebian traditions. Péan’s rough-edged Tom Waits–like voice contrasts beautifully with those of sisters Yamina and Nadia Nid el Mourid for a sound that’s totally unclassifiable but utterly enthralling.

Mar 03

Character-Building: EQUALLY DIVIDED

Posted on March 3, 2014 by craigidlebrook

Photo by Meghan Moore. Pictured: Jill Tanner, Felicity La Fortune, Will Lyman and Anthony Newfield.

Presented by Merrimack Repertory Theatre
by Ronald Harwood
Directed by Charles Towers

February 13th – March 9th, 2014
Lowell, MA
MRT on Facebook

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Lowell) Professional baseball player Ichiro Suzuki once got into hot water for saying that when his team is losing year after year he focuses instead on playing for his own individual accomplishments. To some, it showed selfishness, but to me it showed professionalism. Continue reading →

Feb 24

Voluptuous Bluesy, Folksy Glam Rock: Asaf Avidan

Posted on February 24, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

Presented by World Music/CRASHarts
A concert by Asaf Avidan

Attended performance was on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014
Somerville Theatre
Davis Square
Somerville, MA
World Music/ CRASHarts on Facebook
Asaf Avidan on Facebook

Review by Kitty Drexel

(Somerville) Asaf Avidan is compared to Janis Joplin and Billie Holiday. The timbre of his voice has similarities to that of the Joplin rasp and the warmth of Holiday, Avidan’s voice is vulnerable and striking in a way uniquely his own. Joplin and Holiday were distant from their audiences whereas it appeared that Avidan sang as if he wished to become one with us through his music. Continue reading →

Feb 07

Admiral Kittypants Presents: PENDING

Posted on February 7, 2014 by Kitty Drexel

Admiral Kittypants Presents:

Pending:
The production will run for two performances on May 30 & 31, 2014 at Responsible Grace Church in Davis Square. Auditions will be in March. A modest stipend is available. Persons filling these positions will be expected to aid in basic marketing, and PR development.

For more information, interested parties should email Kitty Drexel at blognetheatregeek@gmail.com with the position in the subject line. Please include resume and description of intent in the email.

Website: https://www.netheatregeek.com/admiral-kittypants-full-frontal-artistry/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AdmiralKittypantsFFA