Huntington Theatre

The Puerto Rican migration from the Caribbean island paradise to the gritty Bronx was a mass movement that effected hundreds of thousands of families. José Riviera's new play focuses upon one family's trials and testament.

The play "In Conflict" based on interviews by Yvonne Latty with Iraq veterans originated at Temple University. It won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. It is now running Off Broadway in repertory with "The Atheist" through Culture Project.

Three dozen productions emerged from our four resident theatre companies this Summer making it the busiest Berkshire season in memory. Quality was surprisingly high given the hectic pace of productions. As Fall approaches, we offer you one person's opinion as to the best and the worst for 2008.

Memories of many wonderful nights in the Shed and under the stars on the lawn at Tanglewood. As well as superb Berkshire theatre.

Despite the challenges of rainy weather,gas at $4 a gallon, and a bad economy it was a superb season of theatre in the Berkshires. Nicholas Martin was the MVP for putting the venerable Williamstown Theatre Festival back on its feet.

A World Premiere by a Tony Award-winning playwright, Richard Nelson, at the highly professional Huntington Theatre Company is generally a formula for success. However, even with good performances and technical mastery, an unfocused, overly complicated, confusing narrative by playwright Richard Nelson needs serious editing and refining. Less would have certainly been more.

Currently there are two Noel Coward plays on view in the Berkshires. "Noel Coward in Two Keys" runs at the Berkshire Theatre Festival through August 30 while "Private Lives" continues through August 24. During 2007 there were Coward plays at Huntington Theatre and American Repertory Theatre as well as Williamstown Theatre Festival. Can you ever get enough of Noel Coward?

While completing his first season at Williamstown Theatre Festival Nicholas Martin will open "The House of Blue Leaves" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles on August 30. Followed by "Saturn Returns" for Lincoln Center on October 16.

It takes a remarkable playwright like Theresa Rebeck to use snippets of Kafka embedded in a comedy. The brilliant and hilarious "The Understudy" is having its world premiere at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. This hit is sure to be Broadway bound.

She Loves Me was the last production for Nicholas Martin ending several years the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston and is now his first show for the Williamstown Theatre Festival as its artistic director. Its a win win for all concerned.

The Underground Man in Dostoyevsky's proto existential 1864 novel "Notes From the Underground" has been updated by the smarmy, hipster, tabloid reporter, Augustine Early, superbly performed by Campbell Scott in the brillant but disturbing play "The Atheist" by Ronan Noone. It is one of the remarkable Huntington productions which Nicholas Martin has transported to Williamstown,

Actress Kate Burton dropped by to help the new artistic director of the Williamstown Theatre Festival, Nicholas Martin, launch a sandwich in his honor at the famous Papa Charlie's Deli in Williamstown.

Once again the Williamstown Theatre Festival launches a new season with mega star power. The cast of "Beyond Therapy" combines among others Emmy winner, Kate Burton, of "Grey's Anatomy," Darrel Hammond, of "Saturday Night Live" and Tony winner Katie Finneran. To top things off the new artistic director has been awarded his own sandwich "The Nicholas Martin." What an honor from the Papa Charlie Deli in Williamstown.

Another opening, another show as the theater season shifts into high gear. Last minute casting news and scheduling changes to keep you up to date.

A one-man show by a quick-change artist who brilliantly morphs into pop icons of the last few decades sounds a bit old fashion. However, in his own way, Ennio Marchetto is as contemporary as an Ipod. This is an old form that has a new feel. The show is certainly not your great-grandfather's vaudeville. Joy and wit turn often into wonder and much laughter.

This revival of the 1963 highly touted musical at Huntington Theatre Company is warm and summery. The music is melodious; the dancing is amazing: and the performances are just right. It is fun with absolutely no heavy lifting. A sweet farewell to Artistic Director Nichols Martin who will take this play to the Williamstown Theatre Festival in June.

Family and tribal disfunctionalism are theatrically portrayed through current news headlines set in Turkey and Iraq. Intensity of emotions and relationships are underscored by journalistic opportunism and militant religious fanaticism. The play even has an aggressively searching agnostic musician boyfriend, a flawed woman prophet and Whirling Dervishes.

Conor McPherson tells a modern day ghost story while insightfully delving into contemporary Irish life. Illegitimate children, dysfunctional families and homosexuality are parts of this eerie encounter. But, these only affect the ex-priest. This Dublin tale isn't like listening to the Clancy Brothers.

A new show dealing with ghosts is coming to the Huntington--Shining City. PR maven John Michael Kennedy decided to share some scary dramatic history.

In June the final production by Nicholas Martin the musical "She Loves Me" will close at the Huntington Theatre Company, where he has been based since 2000, and open on June 28 at the Williamstown Theatre Festival where he is taking over as artistic director.

During the 19th Century, Shakespeare was mass entertainment in America. It only got to be considered highbrow in the 20th Century. Truly gifted actress Rebekah Maggor has developed an amazing one-woman show that brings to life the various heroines of the Bard through brilliant interpretations of some of the finest actresses that have graced the American stage. Shakespeare lowbrow or highbrow, Rebekah Maggor should take a bow.

For Three decades, Pulitzer prize winning playwright Wendy Wasserstein, through a series of compassionate comedic dramas, charted the yearnings, disappointments and joys of modern American women in often autobiographical ways. The Huntington Theatre is currently presenting Third. It is the last play that she completed before her death in 2005. It is provocative and a bit unsettling. Perhaps, this is just as it should be.

While not a "best" and "worst" list in the usual sense we offer an overview of events and what proved to be moving and insightful while covering the arts in 2007.

After a search for nearly a year, the Huntington Theatre Company taps young, energetic artistic director to lead its theatrical growth. Based upon his past performance,much is expected of Peter DuBois .

Four young soldiers struggle with their identity, the stress of the unknown and the possibility of death during this sensitively written and staged drama by David Rabe.