Title: Come Back, Little Sheba
Producing Theatre: Biltmore Theater
Performance Dates: 24th January 2008 - 16th April 2008
Writer: William Inge
Director: Michael Pressman
http://theater.nytimes.com/2008/01/25/theater/reviews/25sheb.html
In the play titled “Come Back, Little Sheba”, the actress Lola, the quietly suffering wife of an alcoholic is traditionally played as a white female. In the production by Michael Pressman, she is played by Epatha Merkerson in which is an African-American. Merkerson is playing Lola on Broadway and is getting great reviews. The interesting thing about this production is that the rest of the cast is white which is a very interesting combination of actors for this production.
Title: Animal Crackers
Producing Theatre: Goodman Theatre
Performance Dates: October 27 - November 1 ‘09
Writer: Marx Brothers George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind
Director: Henry Wishcamper
"Having a woman play Harpo Marx is like having Bill O'Reilly play Louis Armstrong."
In the production of “Animal Crackers,” by the Marx Brothers the director Henry Wishcamper uses non-traditional casting. Traditionally in the play, Harpo the silent Marx brother is obviously a male. Not in this production since Harpo is played by a female, Molly Brennan. By casting her for this role, the director escapes the question of sexual harassment, but a Goodman spokesman said that they simply cast Brennan because she was “the best person for the role.”
Title: Full Circle
Producing Theatre: Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Performance Dates: October 26 – November 29, 2009
Writer: Charles L. Mee
Director: Woolly Mammoth
http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/10/30/full-circle-cast-talk-about-woollys-moving-production/
In this production of the Full Circle by Charles L. Mee, the director Woolly Mammoth has his cast use every square inch of the building. This play is produced or performed promenade-style with unconventional staging. There are some unusual moments of shared space with the cast and the audience that keeps this play very energetic and thrilling. This is why Full Circle is unconventional.
Title: Faust na Petrine
Producing Theatre: Jezek and Cizek theatre group
Performance Dates:
Writer: Goethe
Director: Jakub Balaban
http://www.radio.cz/en/article/94499
This production of Faust by Goethe and directed by Jakub Balaban was set in an unconventional way. First this play was performed outdoors, which in this region is not uncommon. Not only was it done outdoors but it was set in a disused reservoir. The casting was equally unconventional with homeless actors in which are currently homeless or have lived on the streets at some point.
Title: “Romeo and Juliet.”
Producing Theatre: 1st Stage
Performance Dates: Friday, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday, 2 and 6 p.m. Sunday through July 12 2009
Writer: William Shakespeare
Director: Joe Calarco
“You see the shadow of "Romeo and Juliet" in the background, while experiencing a different theatrical experience in the foreground.”
Read more at the Washington Examiner: http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/48178777.html#ixzz0gV41qEkB
In this production of Romeo and Juliet adapted by Joe Calarco, the play begins in a private boy’s school. This production has a very unconventional setting but still uses Shakespears’s language and plot. The play still shows the passion and heartbreak as well; only it uses 4 different couples to demonstrate it. This makes this production of Romeo and Juliet very unconventional.
