As way of preface, the strangers was commissioned by the Clarence Brown Theatre from playwright Christopher Oscar Peña for performance by eight of the UT Department of Theatre MFA acting candidates. The work was developed over a two year period…
Review: Clarence Brown Theatre’s ‘Alabama Story’
There is considerable humor, quaintness, and charm in Kenneth Jones’ play, ‘Alabama Story’, and in its current production, directed by Kate Buckley, at the Clarence Brown Theatre, in the play’s southeastern U.S. premiere.
Preview: ‘Alabama Story’ at CBT – A Play About Books, Censorship, and the American Condition
It would probably have been easy to thumb past the obituary of Emily Wheelock Reed in the New York Times in May 2000, its headline not really shouting out its significance: “Emily W. Reed, 89, Librarian in ’59 Alabama Racial…
Review: Warm Traditions Continue in CBT’s ‘A Christmas Carol’
Traditions are indeed powerful and compelling things in human civilization—and seem to exist for both good and ill, often happily defying logic. Our holiday traditions are perfect examples of both the very peculiar and the very satisfying, embracing happy memories…
Review: CBT’s ‘Blue Window’ Explores the Simplicity and Complexity of Everyday Lives
A focus on the ensemble has been a defining—and satisfying—characteristic of the Clarence Brown Theatre season so far—and it continues on that course with Craig Lucas’ Blue Window in the Lab Theatre of CBT. This vehicle, though, is a bit…
KSO and CBT To Team Up Again in 2018 With Bernstein’s ‘Candide’
(Above: CBT Artistic Director Calvin MacLean and KSO Music Director Aram Demirjian) Artistic collaborations may seem like natural extensions of a performing arts scene, but they aren’t necessarily that easy to accomplish for a number of reasons. However, in a…
Review – The Desperation of Inaction in Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’
In many ways similar to how “Shakespearean” is an accepted adjective, so is “Chekhovian” in referring to the works of the playwright and short story writer, Anton Chekhov. However, while “Shakespearean” is an expansive reference by virtue of quantity, scale,…
Preview – The Yearnings of Chekhov’s ‘Three Sisters’ at Clarence Brown
Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters UT’s Clarence Brown Theatre in the Carousel Theatre Previews: Wednesday and Thursday, September 27 and 28, at 7:30 PM Opening Night: Friday evening, September 29, at 7:30 PM Continues through October 15 (Schedule, information and tickets)…
Review: CBT’s ‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ – An Ensemble Tour de Force
There is no greater example in literature of the boundlessness of childhood imagination than the story of Peter Pan. Created in a number of vehicles by J.M. Barrie including his 1904 play, Peter Pan, or the Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow…
Review: CBT Goes Global in ‘Around the World in 80 Days’
Review of the current Clarence Brown Theatre production of ‘Around the World in 80 Days.’ The work was adapted from the Jules Verne classic novel by Mark Brown.