Mary Zimmerman’s Bare Necessities: a Text, a Set, a Cast—and a Disney Cartoon
The Chicago adapter/director seems like a natural choice to turn the beloved ‘Jungle Book’ into a stage musical, but that doesn’t mean it’s been easy.
Stories by Rob Weinert-Kendt
Rob Weinert-Kendt is editor-in-chief of American Theatre. He was the founding editor-in-chief of Back Stage West and writes about theatre for the New York Times, Time Out NY, and the Los Angeles Times. He studied film at USC and is a composer member of the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theater Workshop.
Heather Raffo Brings ‘9 Parts of Desire’ to Iraq
The solo show is staged at the American University of Iraq-Sulaimani.
Harbor Stage Company Is Fishing for a Watery Past
‘The Billingsgate Project’ interweaves real history and contemporary speculation
Rajiv Joseph, Ready to ‘Fly’
Two seasons ago, he seemed to be everywhere at once, including Broadway. Now he’s gearing up for more multi-city flights.
Questions for Kevin O’Donnell
The Chicago sound designer/composer talks about the Hypocrites, and about a new folk musical with a jazz flavor.
It’s Better With a Band: Musical Theatre’s Next Tune
Forget jukebox shows and rock stars; the American musical looks and sounds more like a jam session between indie bands and theatre artists.
The Commons Touch
Thanks to a triumvirate of forward-lookers, a think tank grows in Boston.
After the Anger
Contemporary Russian theatre reflects a divisive political moment with rage, irony and low-fuss experimentation.
Pops’s Last Stand
In ‘Satchmo at the Waldorf,’ Terry Teachout conjures an icon at the end of his career.
Sarah Ruhl and Tracy Letts: 2 Playwrights and ‘Three Sisters’
A conversation about playmaking, ensemble acting, writing regimens—oh, and that Chekhov play they both adapted.
