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Why Is Race the Line?
Lord Capulet (Jon Nagel) and his nephew Tybalt (Reggie D. White) in Impact’s production of Romeo and Juliet. Photo by Cheshire Isaacs. I had an interesting conversation with a theatremaker recently...
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The Lies We Tell About Audience Engagement
TCG is holding a multiyear inquiry about audiences called “Audience (R)evolution.” The piece I wrote for it is called “The Lies We Tell About Audience Engagement.” It’s a little . . . rabblerousy. Are...
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How To Rock Your Musical Theatre Audition
I understand that there are something like 47,000 books on this topic, but I’m going to give you some succinct, usable advice right now for free. In addition to running Impact Theatre, I’m also the...
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Handheld Technology Has Not Ruined Today’s Youth Any More Than Dig Dug Ruined...
If there’s one thing that grinds my gears, it’s the disingenuous concern trolling over the rising generation’s “addiction” to technology, and how it has impacted their ability to [fill in the blank]...
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Adam Sandler, Charlie Hebdo, and “Freedom of Expression”
America has been exploding with issues surrounding the concept of “freedom of expression.” Like many freedoms, “freedom of expression” sounds great in the abstract. In the abstract, pretty much...
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Having Kids: Worst Idea, or Worst Idea Ever?
Jonah and Jacob, 2003 I have two kids, one I made myself and one I got free in a marital acquisition merger. So of course the title of this article is a joke, but the kind of joke that feels like the...
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I See White People (and I’m Sick of It)
About a month ago, I tweeted a little snark at Cameron Crowe about the poster for his upcoming film, Aloha. I was shocked to get a response. I wasn’t shocked, however, when the film turned out to be...
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I Wrote a Thing for TCG
The wonderful Edgardo de la Cruz, my undergrad directing teacher/cult leader I was asked by the wonderful Jacqueline E. Lawton to participate in the latest TCG blog salon, “Artistic Leadership: How Do...
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AEA Waivers: Not Your Enemy
While everyone’s in a great mood about the SCOTUS ruling, I figured now is a good time to post something controversial, right? It’s always a good idea to bring up the fact that you changed your major...
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That Religious Person Next to You in Rehearsal
I looked for ages for a photo credit for this. If anyone knows this super-adorable kid, or the photographer, drop me a line. I found it on beautyofhijabs.tumblr.com. Theatre has a certain . . ....
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Time to Retire the Word “Offended”
Julian Bleach as Ariel and Patrick Stewart as Prospero in The Tempest at the Novello Theatre in London, 2007. Photo by Alastair Muir. The Tempest has come under fire in certain circles for its implied...
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Maybe we should pretend black people are lions
Cecil. I was sad for the killing of Cecil the lion. I really was. I’m softhearted about animals and haven’t eaten meat in over 20 years because of it. But with the nonstop public outrage, and now the...
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Please Stop Asking if Shows Are Appropriate for Children
Unless your show is called “Seven BJs for Seven Brothers,” (someone get on that), or unless you’re specifically doing TYA, people will contact your theatre and ask questions like this on the regular:...
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Celebrating Thin White Women
Sometimes it seems like our whole entire culture is one huge celebration of thin white women. Ogling them, collecting them, advertising products to help other women become more like them, giving them...
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Labor Day
Labor Day celebrates the labor movement and labor unions in the US, whose gains are always being challenged by the far right. The 5 day/40 hour work week, overtime pay, worker safety protections and...
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“Too Street”: Hypocrisy in Policing the Speech of our Actors
Idris Elba, the living embodiment of “suave,” was labeled “too street” to play James Bond by Bond author Andrew Horowitz. I just had an interesting conversation with someone whose white teens are...
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BUT I GET TO BE RACIST BECAUSE ART: The Mikado
With last year’s massive national controversy about The Mikado in Seattle, it’s difficult to believe that anyone, anywhere, would be doing The Mikado in yellowface, right? I mean, Rick Shiomi at...
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“They Never Thought He Had a Bomb”: Racist Narratives
The above meme (click to embiggen) has been burning up my feed, and I think the sentiment behind it is spot on. The motivation behind the arrest of 14-year-old engineering whiz Ahmed Mohamed for...
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“Peeple,” the Yelp-style app that rates people, is the worst idea ever, even...
“Peeple”? No idea. Maude, cancel my 10:30 so I can read this post. What is “Peeple”? Perhaps you’ve already heard about this proposed new app, “Peeple,” that’s designed to be a sort of Yelp for people....
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Writers: Retire These Clichés (Version: LADYPARTS)
I know, I know: I write about overused tropes often. (Who said irony is dead?) Maybe one day I’ll compile them all into a self-published e-screed entitled “Melissa Reads Too Many Plays,” but for now,...
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