Spotlight
Stories that deserve your attention
‘Slam Frank’ Isn’t Going Anywhere. Controversial Show Extends Through January
If you were hoping ‘Slam Frank’ would go away, it just extended through January 4. The Off-Broadway musical is carrying the controversy into 2027.
Texas Student’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ Lawsuit Shows the Cost of Politics in School Theatre
Ana Mota earned the role of Seymour in her high school’s “Little Shop of Horrors.” Now she’s suing after the district barred her from playing a male character and canceled the production.
‘Slam Frank’ Made Me Laugh. Then It Made Me Want to Leave
Some shows leave you uncomfortable because they've challenged your thinking; Slam Frank left me uncomfortable because I wasn't convinced it understood the damage it was doing
The Texas “Little Shop” Issue Shows How Stupid This Country’s Become Under Trump
A Texas school district canceled Little Shop of Horrors after a girl was cast as Seymour. This is how stupid this country has become, and I blame Trump and MAGA for helping get us here.
A Missouri Theatre Commissioned Its Own ‘Dracula.’ I’d Love to See More of This.
Licensing costs can make producing theatre unnecessarily expensive. Ozark Actors Theatre found another way.
Why Does One Parent Get to Decide Whether Everyone Else’s Kid Can Do a Play?
After yet another high school production in Ohio was shut down because of one single complaint, I have to ask: why does that parent get to decide for everyone else’s kid?
Why Exactly Do You Love Being Involved in Theatre?
Why do you do theatre? My first answer was that I loved performing. But the longer I thought about it, the more I had to admit: I wanted attention.
How Thin Is Too Thin to Play Tracy Turnblad?
How thin can Tracy Turnblad be before the casting starts changing the story Hairspray is trying to tell? A local production outside Atlanta has sparked that exact debate.
Scare Actors Deserve More Respect
Scare actors deserve more respect. They’re performers. They’re doing physically demanding work. And underneath the makeup, masks and costumes, they’re still people.
Trump’s New College Loan Rule Puts Theatre Degrees at Risk
Trump’s new college loan rule could put theatre programs at real risk by tying federal loan access to what graduates earn. For an industry where careers often take years to build, that’s a dangerous standard.
The Tony Awards Should Remove William Ivey Long From Its Nominating Committee
William Ivey Long has faced multiple serious public allegations of sexual misconduct and abuse. Now, the Tony Awards have named him to its Nominating Committee. That decision is indefensible.
Should Broadway’s Next Annie Be Classic or Completely Reinvented?
Annie is coming back to Broadway for its 50th anniversary. But what do we actually want from this revival?