http://www.gomemphis.com/news/arts/stage/?partner=RSSGo Memphis Stories: Stage Reviewsen-usarts/stagehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/feb/09/wilsons-trains-offers-eulogy-for-community/?partner=RSSFor most of his career, August Wilson focused his plays on Pittsburgh's Hill District, a predominantly black neighborhood that saw its once-good prospects fade into poverty and blight. Wilson sees the community as a microcosm of America, where many African-Americans have an almost-daily struggle with the impact of history. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-288389-734542arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: August Wilson's 'Trains' offers eulogy for community at HattilooGo Memphiswilsons-trains-offers-eulogy-for-communityurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-288389-734542Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/feb/02/moments-of-wit-sparkle-in-pleasing-earnest/?partner=RSSTo writers, scholars and aficionados of mordant wit, Oscar Wilde bequeathed a quotation for nearly every occasion. For instance: On dating: "The only way to behave to a woman is to make love to her, if she is pretty, and to someone else, if she is plain." blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 02 Feb 2012 23:44:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-287279-734535arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Moments of wit sparkle in pleasing 'Earnest'Go Memphismoments-of-wit-sparkle-in-pleasing-earnesturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-287279-734535Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/29/acclaimed-pianist-back-to-his-roots-02/?partner=RSSIn his apartment in New York's famed Chelsea Hotel, pianist Bruce Levingston surrounds himself with mementos of his Southern upbringing. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Sun, 29 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-286584-734531arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNAcclaimed pianist back to his roots for fundraiserGo Memphisacclaimed-pianist-back-to-his-roots-02urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-286584-734531Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/26/highlights-redeem-anxious-normal/?partner=RSSThe challenge for the musical "next to normal" is to wring some beauty out of the story of a family devastated by mental illness. Thu, 26 Jan 2012 22:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-286192-734528arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNStage Review: Highlights redeem anxious 'next to normal' at Playhouse on the SquareGo Memphishighlights-redeem-anxious-normalurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-286192-734528Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/19/stage-review-next-room-entertains-educates/?partner=RSSIn 1902, the home gadget maker Hamilton Beach (now known for its commercial ice shavers and fruit juicers) patented what was then only the world's fifth electrical appliance. Behind the sewing machine, fan, tea kettle and toaster, this new electromechanical marvel would allow desperate housewives to take matters of personal health into their own hands. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 19 Jan 2012 20:52:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-285171-734521arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: 'Next Room' entertains, educatesGo Memphisstage-review-next-room-entertains-educatesurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-285171-734521Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/11/review-cobbs-holiday-a-dramatic-loss/?partner=RSS Billie Holiday had one foot in the grave in early 1959 when her doctor told her she had to give up alcohol or die. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283931-734513arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNReview: Joyce Cobb's Holiday a dramatic loss, but musical salutes jazz great by jazz greatGo Memphisreview-cobbs-holiday-a-dramatic-lossurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283931-734513Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/10/stage-review-misogyny-is-a-drag-in-the-club/?partner=RSS"Do you believe in clubs for women?" asks one old chap of another. "Sure! If every other form of persuasion fails," comes the reply. Thus goes the sporting persiflage in Eve Merriam's satire, "The Club," set in a posh gentlemen's club of the 1890s, where women are strictly forbidden and men can behave as rudely as they please. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Tue, 10 Jan 2012 22:35:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283836-734512arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Misogyny is a drag in ‘The Club’ Go Memphisstage-review-misogyny-is-a-drag-in-the-cluburn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283836-734512Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2012/jan/09/concert-review-taste-of-heaven-elevates-spirit/?partner=RSSWhen Heidi Grant Murphy starts singing, you marvel at how a human voice can do what it does. Murphy's sweet, subtle, crystalline vocals elevated the luminously performed works in Saturday night's IRIS Orchestra concert at the Germantown Performing Arts Centre. Mon, 09 Jan 2012 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283644-734511arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNConcert review: IRIS Orchestra's 'Taste of Heaven' elevates spiritGo Memphisconcert-review-taste-of-heaven-elevates-spiriturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-283644-734511Change734511Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/22/best-of-2011-tradition-shared-the-stage-with/?partner=RSS Novelty in the performing arts is rare in Memphis, mostly because it's risky. Nearly every artist yearns to put on the Never-Before-Seen Spectacle that will leave people in rapture for years to come. They want to tell their stories in their own words and share their own vision with their community — not just put on plays that have won Tony Awards or operas that grandma sings while making her famous lasagna. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:53:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-281225-734493arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNBest of 2011: Tradition shared Memphis stage with riskGo Memphisbest-of-2011-tradition-shared-the-stage-withurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-281225-734493Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/22/best-of-2011-concerts-expanded-meaning-of/?partner=RSSHas the term "classical music" outlived its usefulness? Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:47:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-281228-734493arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNBest of 2011: Memphis concerts expanded meaning of 'classical'Go Memphisbest-of-2011-concerts-expanded-meaning-ofurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-281228-734493Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/16/playhouse-reveals-2012-13-offerings/?partner=RSSPlayhouse on the Square has announced its 2012-13 season, which starts next August. Fri, 16 Dec 2011 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-280377-734487arts/stageSpecial to The Commercial AppealMemphis, TNPlayhouse on the Square reveals 2012-13 offeringsGo Memphisplayhouse-reveals-2012-13-offeringsurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-280377-734487Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/08/holiday-season-special-for-globe-trotting-irish/?partner=RSSOn Christmas Eve, two days after he's scheduled to wrap up his current tour with the acclaimed Irish Tenors, Finbar Wright will be on a jet plane headed across the Atlantic, racing back to spend the holiday in his native County Cork with his family. Wright has spent at least a portion of every holiday season away from home on the Irish Tenors' annual Christmas tour since joining the group in 2000. Thu, 08 Dec 2011 17:15:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-279256-734479arts/stageMark JordanMemphis, TNHoliday season special for globe-trotting Irish TenorsGo Memphisholiday-season-special-for-globe-trotting-irishurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-279256-734479Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/05/iris-plucks-right-strings-at-gpac-concert/?partner=RSSSaturday night's IRIS Orchestra concert was an all-strings triumph of programming and performance, again showing the deft touch maestro Michael Stern has in creating a presentation that is both familiar and adventurous. Mon, 05 Dec 2011 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-278727-734476arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNConcert Review: IRIS plucks right strings at GPAC concertGo Memphisiris-plucks-right-strings-at-gpac-concerturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-278727-734476Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/dec/01/circuit-says-humbug-to-sappy-sentiment/?partner=RSSBetter than any writer of his era, Charles Dickens knew how to draw tears from the most arid of eyeballs. It's a testament to his 168-year-old novella, "A Christmas Carol," that we still celebrate the holiday season by remembering Ebenezer Scrooge and his transformation from miser to philanthropist after a night of ghostly time travel. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 01 Dec 2011 22:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-278189-734472arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Circuit Playhouse says 'Humbug' to sentiment in 'Mrs. Bob Cratchit's Wild Christmas Binge'Go Memphiscircuit-says-humbug-to-sappy-sentimenturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-278189-734472Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/nov/24/its-a-hard-knock-holiday-with-annie/?partner=RSSEvery few years, whenever Cathy Rigby hits the road with another national tour of "Peter Pan," Playhouse on the Square has to drum up a different December musical to entertain the thousands of schoolchildren bused in for their holiday field trip. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Thu, 24 Nov 2011 23:49:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-277213-734465arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: It's a 'Hard Knock' holiday with 'Annie' at Playhouse on the SquareGo Memphisits-a-hard-knock-holiday-with-annieurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-277213-734465Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/nov/21/symphony-showcases-its-all-local-talent/?partner=RSSLast weekend's performances by the Memphis Symphony Orchestra put into sharp focus just how capable it can be with what it has here in the city. There were no guest conductors, and the two guest performers were local talent. There were no brand new commissioned pieces nor showy works with multimedia effects. Mon, 21 Nov 2011 06:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-276703-734462arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNConcert Review: Memphis Symphony Orchestra showcases its all-local talentGo Memphissymphony-showcases-its-all-local-talenturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-276703-734462Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/nov/03/stage-review-mousetrap-is-satisfying-whodunit/?partner=RSSGermantown Community Theatre does some productions particularly well, as is the case with the current whodunit, "Agatha Christie's The Mousetrap." The perennially popular murder mystery, with all the British caricatures and twists that Christie lovers adore, is given a highly entertaining staging by director Josie Helming. Thu, 03 Nov 2011 21:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273989-734444arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNStage Review: 'Mousetrap' is satisfying whodunitGo Memphisstage-review-mousetrap-is-satisfying-whoduniturn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273989-734444Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/nov/02/stage-review-opera-memphis-tosca-winner/?partner=RSSFor Ned Canty, it’s been almost a year of first impressions, all of which needed to come off well as he settled into running Opera Memphis. Canty took over as general director of the organization in January with a mandate to keep the loyal patrons and attract new ones. On the heels of a bold new marketing and membership campaign, this past weekend’s staging of “Tosca,” the first production of Canty’s first season, goes a long way to show how he’s pursuing that goal. Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:31:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273860-734443arts/stageJon W. SparksMemphis, TNStage Review: Opera Memphis' 'Tosca' a winnerGo Memphisstage-review-opera-memphis-tosca-winnerurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273860-734443Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/nov/02/stage-review-devil-in-the-details-for-screwtape/?partner=RSSMax McLean laughs diabolically when a reporter tells him of a recent quest to find a copy of C.S. Lewis' popular novel "The Screwtape Letters" in Memphis. Every copy had been checked out at every library branch. At the bookstore, the clerk shook her head: "Oh, I'm sorry, but we've had kids buying up all the books. Must be for some class." blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Wed, 02 Nov 2011 16:39:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273692-734443arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Devil in the details for 'Screwtape' actorGo Memphisstage-review-devil-in-the-details-for-screwtapeurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273692-734443Change0Usablehttp://www.gomemphis.com/news/2011/oct/28/review-poetic-judas-nearly-seethes/?partner=RSSThere are few real auteurs in the Memphis theater scene, but Ekundayo Bandele is one of them. As the executive director of Hattiloo Theatre, he has the space, time and know-how to carry out an artistic vision, from the moment the ink hits the page to the night the curtain closes. blank@commercialappeal.com (Christopher Blank)Fri, 28 Oct 2011 05:00:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273019-734438arts/stageChristopher BlankMemphis, TNStage Review: Poetic 'Judas' nearly seethesGo Memphisreview-poetic-judas-nearly-seethesurn:publicid:www.gomemphis.com:news-Story-273019-734438Change734438Usable