Don Reed Says What We’ve All Been Thinking by Barry David Horwitz Don Reed does it all—he stars in TV, movies, stand-up, and just plain showing up—always with a great presence, a lilting voice, and a warm theatrical hug. There he is in L.A., lined up to get the shot—but he has to develop…
Dael Orlandersmith Weaves an Epic on Jazz, Harlem, Hope by Barry David Horwitz “Stoop Stories” could be called “The New York Odyssey” because playwright/poet Dael Orlandersmith has created a tapestry of encounters that bring to life real New Yorkers: a Holocaust survivor, a youthful poet, a Puerto Rican ‘cool’ kid, and an oldster seeking…
Millennial Notes Shakespeare Kicks Off New Season of Fantastic Live Theater by Jordan Freed Watching “The Winter’s Tale” at Cal Shakes feels like witnessing two prodigious trapeze artists pull off a miraculous balancing act. At every moment, I’m nervous things are about to go terribly wrong, but watching the performance succeed like a high…
Fred Pitts Links Black and Native American History by Patricia L. Morin Using his personal tour of the 21 Spanish missions across California, soft-spoken Fred Pitts has fashioned an intriguing, three-dimensional show that unveils centuries of corruption and bigotry aimed at Native Americans. By mixing California history, personal encounters, and surprising interactions with other…