Author Archives: Paul Kuritz

MAZZOLA, BIRNBAUM, AND SINGING ACTORS OFFER A BRILLIANT RIGOLETTO TO OPEN OPERA SEASON

For the past several years one couldn’t find a production of Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto outside of a “new and improved interpretation”, usually set in a time and place closer to our own. The reasoning was that such a reinterpretation made it easier for the  “boobus Americani” to see how the themes of the work relate […]

September 15, 2024 – 11:59 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Acting, from Paul, History, Music, Newspapers, Opera, Quotations, Theater, Uncategorized | Comments Off on MAZZOLA, BIRNBAUM, AND SINGING ACTORS OFFER A BRILLIANT RIGOLETTO TO OPEN OPERA SEASON

ON THE 20TH CENTURY: ANOTHER HOMEGROWN CHICAGO MUSICAL SMASH

Unlike the fear of Y2K which heralded the new 21st century, the arrival the twentieth century was the occasion for enthusiasm, hope, and braggadocio. President William McKinley: “The century now drawing to a close has been most memorable in the world’s progress and history. The march of mankind in moral and intellectual advancement has been […]

June 3, 2024 – 10:40 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Acting, Current Events, Dance, from Paul, History, Men and Women, Movies, Music, Newspapers, Quotations, Theater | Comments Off on ON THE 20TH CENTURY: ANOTHER HOMEGROWN CHICAGO MUSICAL SMASH

ATTENTION CHICAGO THEATER: WHERE IS YOUR PRODUCTION OF WILL ARBERY’S HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING?

 “Mr. Arbery (MFA Northwestern 2015) is a greatly talented writer who has given us a drama as exciting and challenging—nay, daring—as any new play I’ve ever reviewed. I intend to see “Heroes” onstage as soon as the pandemic ends and it starts to be produced by regional theaters. Don’t wait for that, though.”[i] “I think […]

May 19, 2024 – 2:09 pm | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Art, History, Theater | Comments Off on ATTENTION CHICAGO THEATER: WHERE IS YOUR PRODUCTION OF WILL ARBERY’S HEROES OF THE FOURTH TURNING?

PORCHLIGHT’S SUNDAY IN THE PARK TOPS 23-24 CHICAGO THEATER SEASON

Our arrival at the gorgeous jewel box Studebaker Theater on South Michigan Avenue was a hall of mirrors experience. On the left hand side was the venerable Art Institute, home to George Seurat’s famous painting., the inspiration for the acclaimed musical Sunday in the Park with George we were about to see. The musical ‘s […]

May 13, 2024 – 8:30 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Acting, Art, History, Music, Theater | Comments Off on PORCHLIGHT’S SUNDAY IN THE PARK TOPS 23-24 CHICAGO THEATER SEASON

MADAMA BUTTERFLY AT THE MET: ASMIK GREGORIAN IS BUTTERFLY

The most recent study names Puccini’s Madama Butterfly as the sixth most popular opera in the world. In fact, seeing the opera at the age of sixteen prompted Yoko Watanabe (1953-2004) to a singing career, eventually to the position of the most famous of Japanese opera singers, certainly to be one of the most acclaimed […]

May 12, 2024 – 7:43 am | By Paul Kuritz | Posted in Acting, Books, Dance, from Paul, History, Men and Women, Music, Opera, Quotations, Theater | Comments Off on MADAMA BUTTERFLY AT THE MET: ASMIK GREGORIAN IS BUTTERFLY