Tag Archives: Theresa Rebeck

Jul 29

Kafkaesque Comedy: “The Understudy”

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Hub Theatre Co presents “The Understudy.”

Presented by The Hub Theatre Company of Boston
Written by Theresa Rebeck
Director – Paula Plum
Choreographer – Kiki Samko
Cast – Lauren Elias, Cristhain Mancinas-Garcia, Kevin Paquette

July 19 – August 2, 2025
Pay-What-You-Can Admission
Club Café
209 Columbus Ave.
Boston, MA 02116

Critique by Craig Idlebrook

BOSTON — Those who make the theatre their profession love to write about theatre as a profession. It’s an occupational hazard that audiences enjoy.

Playwright and author Theresa Rebeck is perhaps best known for penning the television show Smash, which premiered in 2012. The show followed the messy development process for a new musical and became something of a cult favorite during its two-season run. The play The Understudy, which Rebeck published in 2010, can feel a bit like a quiet prequel to Smash. The two works share themes about the push and pull between wanting to make great art and wanting to make it big. Continue reading →

Apr 22

Comfort Food for Parents: MOTHERHOOD OUT LOUD

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A rehearsal photo: With Nora Hussey, Jelena Begovic, Elisabeth Yancey, Evelyn Crossing, Madeline Stern and Apoorva Arora.

presented by Wellesley College Theatre
Written by Leslie Ayvazian, Brooke Berman, David Cale, Jessica Goldberg, Beth Henley, Lameece, Issaq, Claire LaZebnik, Lisa Loomer, Michele Lowe, Marco Pennette, Theresa Rebeck, Luanne Rice, Annie Weisman and Cheryl L. West
Conceived by Susan R. Rose and Joan Stein

April 10th – 13th, 2014
Alumnae Hall Ruth Nagel Jones Theatre (111)
Wellesley, MA
WCT on Facebook

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Wellesley) If I could have drawn up a blueprint for your prototypically earnest college play, “Motherhood Out Loud” would probably be it, especially the way it was staged at Wellesley College.  From the very first moment, when the whole cast is incongruously mimicking childhood activities, to the very last, when the cast reunites on stage to say how much they appreciate their mothers in unison, the action surely pleased a crowd stacked with parents of Wellesley College students.  And there is something so adorable about watching the young cast try on the roles of parenthood; it inevitably feels like you’re watching children play dress-up. Continue reading →

Sep 23

Hot and Bothered Art: SEMINAR

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Seminar Pictures

Liz Hayes* and Jordan Ahnquist*; Photo Credit: David Costa

Presented by Stoneham Theatre
by Theresa Rebeck
directed by Weylin Symes

Stoneham, MA
Sept. 12 – 29th, 2013

Stoneham Theatre on Facebook

Review by Craig Idlebrook

(Stoneham) You can create memorable characters on stage and just let them be who they are, and they can be like fun guests at a cocktail party, hilarious and aimless.  Or you can create wooden characters on stage and then let them come at least somewhat to life, which can win you points among theatergoers who are just happy not to fall asleep in the second act.  But it’s awfully difficult to create memorable characters and then let them struggle, flounder, and grow on stage.

Seminar at the Stoneham Theatre is that rare production that both piques our interest and takes us on a romp of a ride.  It’s as if the production set off to check all the boxes for the checklist of good theater. Continue reading →