Tag Archives: John Lam

Aug 05

Techno Escapism in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”

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Brooks Reeves (Robin Starveling), Michael Broadhurst* (Francis Flute), Paul Melendy* (Nick Bottom), Karen MacDonald* (Petra Quince), Alex Leondedis (Snug), and John Kuntz* (Snout). Photo Credit: Nile Scott Studios.

Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Steven Maler
Choreography by John Lam
Featuring: De’Lon Grant, Nora Eschenheimer, Nick Cearley, Paul Melendy, Meghan Carey, Annika Burley, Jaime José Hernandez, Jack Greenberg

July 22 – August 9, 2026
Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Free on the Boston Common

Critique by Maegan Clearwood

BOSTON — I have been a Shakespeare on the Common groundling since moving to Boston four years ago. Summer after summer, I am drawn to the romanticism of outdoor theater: the quieting transformation from dawn to dusk, the unpredictable interference of the natural world, the crowd of Bostonians from so many walks of life, all gathered on the Commons for an evening of free art. Continue reading →

Dec 18

Victorian Story, Modern Standards: Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’

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Will Lyman and Bobbie Steinbach.

Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
Based on the story by Charles Dickens
Adaption by Steve Wargo 
Musical Arrangements by Dianne Adams McDowell
Directed By Steven Maler
Musical Direction By Dan Rodriguez
Choreography by John Lam
Dramaturgy by Natalie McKnight
Dialect and text coaching by Bryn Boice
Intimacy consultant: Lauren Cook

December 8 – 22, 2024
Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre
219 Tremont Street
Boston, MA 02116

Online playbill

Critique by Kitty Drexel

BOSTON — I have beef with A Christmas Carol. It makes Tiny Tim Cratchit into inspiration porn, a term invented by activist Stella Young to describe the objectification of disabled folks like me to inspire unmotivated abled people. Alas, there’s a longstanding theatre tradition of producing any odd number of A Christmas Carol variations for the December holidays, so I’m reminded of my dislike for Dickens’ story every year. It’s too bad because the Commonwealth Shakespeare Company’s production of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ was otherwise solid: good acting despite wobbly accents, an ensemble that worked together and had fun, elegant singing despite some wooden moments, unique costumes with small flourishes of modernity that still borrowed from the Victorian period, clever set design that utilized a hidden trap door, and tasty intermission snacks.  Continue reading →

Jul 30

Ariel, the Human World, It’s A Mess: “The Tempest”

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The cast of “The Tempest.” Gods, it’s good to see theatre again. Photo by: Evgenia Eliseeva

FREE Shakespeare on the Common
Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company
By William Shakespeare
Directed by Steven Maler
Choreographer/ Movement coaching by Levi Philip Marsman
Sound design and compositions by David Reiffel
COVID Safety Manager by Brian Robillard

July 21-August 8, 2021
Parkman Bandstand, Boston Common
Boston, MA
CommShakes on social media: @commshakes

The Accessibility program dates:
Open Captioning: July 31
Audio description and ASL interpreted performances: August 1 and August 6
Rain Date for all Access services: August 8

Running time is about 110 minutes; there is no intermission.

Register for tickets HERE
COVID-19 restrictions are HERE.

Review by Kitty Drexel

BOSTON, Mass. — Theatre is my favorite thing. To me, there is no greater experience than the communion of theatre. It’s been 17 months, and I have missed live-performance every day. Seeing the cast of The Tempest walk onstage to face our crowd of masked-until-seated strangers brought me to tears. It felt like coming home. 

Commonwealth Shakespeare Company celebrates 25 years of free Shakespeare on Boston Common with their production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest. It stars John Douglas Thompson as Prospero, a role that fits him like a glove. A cadre of beloved local talent plays major and minor roles. Continue reading →