14.Dec.2009 Now playing at IRT: Renoir
IRT’s production of A.R. Gurney’s LOVE LETTERS has begun previews (get your tickets here!). Sharing the stage with Priscilla Lindsay and Patrick Clear is a work by Pierre Auguste Renoir called Sketch after Danse à Bougival. The work, a “sketch” by the artist from this larger work, was chosen by director Janet Allen and scenic [...]
04.Nov.2009 IRT Playwright in Residence James Still elected to the National Theatre Conference
IRT Playwright in Residence James Still is a newly-elected member of the National Theatre Conference and was inducted on October 30, 2009 at the historic Players Club in New York City. The National Theatre Conference, founded in 1925, is a cooperative association of distinguished leaders of the American theatre — university, community, and professional. Membership [...]
08.Oct.2009 From James Still: TORNADOES AND NUCLEAR FUSION
I’ve noticed a trend on the IRT blogs: whenever we get into tech and previews, the artists are eerily silent. It isn’t that we’ve lost interest in posting here, it isn’t that we’ve lost hope in the production — it’s that the transition from the rehearsal room to getting on stage and teching the show [...]
05.Oct.2009 From James Still: THE ROLE OF THE AUDIENCE
If you write a blog and nobody reads it, was it ever really a blog? It would be a disappointment, but something to shrug off at the most. If you write a play and no one comes, was it ever really a play? That would be harder (er, impossible) to shrug off. I’ll just put [...]
28.Aug.2009 IRT Playwright James Still honored in NYC
James Still, one of America’s most versatile and internationally produced playwrights was honored in New York City on August 11th at Sardi’s Restaurant, with the Medallion of the Children’s Theatre Foundation of America. Dorothy Web, President of Children’s Theatre Foundation of America ( and founder of the Bonderman Symposium hosted by the IRT) presented the [...]
11.Jun.2009 RJR’s Big Adventure: Every Little Step, Blithe Spirit
IRT Dramaturg Richard Roberts is on his annual theatre trip to NYC and he’s sending back thoughtful reviews of what he’s seeing. I was planning to wait on line for tickets for Twelfth Night at Shakespeare in the Park this morning, but it was raining and only supposed to rain more as the day went [...]
10.Jun.2009 RJR’s Big Adventure: Hair and Billy Elliot
IRT Dramaturg Richard Roberts is on his annual theatre trip to NYC and he’s sending back thoughtful reviews of what he’s seeing. Morning at the Guggenheim for an exhibition of drawings, plans, and models by Frank Lloyd Wright. Some stuff I’ve never seen before, and the models are especially interesting. And it’s always great just [...]
09.Jun.2009 RJR’s Big Adventure: Mary Stuart
IRT Dramaturg Richard Roberts is on his annual theatre trip to NYC and he’s sending back thoughtful reviews of what he’s seeing. A fun day in Greenwich Village, including a cupcake at the famous Magnolia Bakery and a drink at the Stonewall Inn. MARY STUART One of my favorite historical figures is Queen Elizabeth I, [...]
08.Jun.2009 RJR’s Big Adventure: Rock of Ages
IRT Dramaturg Richard Roberts is on his annual theatre trip to NYC and he’s sending back thoughtful reviews of what he’s seeing. A long walk through the city ROCK OF AGES I grew up listening to Jerome Kern and Cole Porter and Rodgers and Hammerstein and Lerner and Lowe. I never connected to the music [...]
07.Jun.2009 RJR’s Big Adventure: Waiting for Godot
IRT Dramaturg Richard Roberts is on his annual theatre trip to NYC and he’s sending back thoughtful reviews of what he’s seeing. A great day! I’ll tell you about my morning later. Let’s skip to the matinee: WAITING FOR GODOT First, it’s pronounced GOD-oh. Anthony Page, who directed this production, worked with Beckett on the [...]