theater

A rousing 'Ain't No Mo'' poses a provocative question

A rousing 'Ain't No Mo'' poses a provocative question

Caption: Among other characters, Grant Evan plays a drag queen named Peaches. (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios)

I’m unsure if I’ve ever been as moved, devastated and simultaneously entertained as when I watched Front Porch Arts Collective and SpeakEasy Stage Company’s production of Jordan E. Cooper’s “Ain’t No Mo’” (through Feb. 8).

The play starts with a spirited sermon delivered by Pastor Freeman behind a kente-striped podium. It’s 2008, and Barack Obama has been elected president of the United States. 

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Gold Dust Orphans apply their trademark touch to a horror classic

Gold Dust Orphans apply their trademark touch to a horror classic

A frightening horror film might not be the first thing that comes to mind when conjuring up theatrical holiday fare to share onstage, but theater company the Gold Dust Orphans and writer, actor, and cofounder Ryan Landry aren’t keen on doing what’s typical. Year after year, the Orphans crew takes on classic tales and reinvents them using their distinctive brand of shtick. This year’s feature, “Rosemary’s Baby Jesus,” adapted from the popular 1968 Roman Polanski movie “Rosemary’s Baby,” is no exception. Landry and the Orphans have pulled out all the stops to create a hilarious extravaganza with numerous costume changes, musical numbers, and backdrops.

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ART’s ‘The Arboretum Experience’ is the balm

Park-goers at the Arnold Arboretum sat cross-legged on the grass, hovered over the seats of bikes, and rested beneath the trees across from the arch of the Bradley Rosaceous Collection rose garden on a recent Saturday. The crowd and curious passersby stopped to hear the multicultural musical group Walter Sickert and the Army of Broken Toys, whose dark lyrics outlining pain and dreams of death seem to belie their cheerful presence.

The concert was part of “The Arboretum Experience,” a months-long venture between the American Repertory Theater and the Arnold Arboretum that aims to activate the park with audio plays, meditation and movement, and pop-up performances. The work aspires to center wellness, healing, and resilience. What resonated most with me is that the availability of the plays and meditation maps allowed me to explore, wander, and discover the park in ways I hadn’t before. Read more.

Netflix Soars To The Top With August Wilson's 'Ma Rainey's Black Bottom'

It’s clear within the first few minutes of "Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom" that two alphas are jockeying for the spotlight: Viola Davis’ Rainey and the late Chadwick Boseman’s Levee, a cornet player in her band. The film quickly takes viewers from a tent show in Barnesville, Georgia to The Grand in Chicago where Rainey and her band are performing. As soon as there’s a pause, Levee, looking for his turn in the sun, steps into the spotlight, sparking the legendary blues singer’s anger. Read more