Featured Column

"Two 16 year-old students, performing in the Kentigern College production of Sweeney Todd, had to be rushed to the hospital on opening night with neck wounds, which they received during the show. There’s not much else to be said here, though I suspect we can safely assume the incident occurred when evil Sweeney, The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, “swung his razor high” on a couple of his victims." -- by PAUL BIRCHALL

"The fallout following AEA President Kate Shindle’s comments on two podcasts continues this week. The specific purpose of these interviews was not, it seems, specifically to discuss the Pro-99 movement – but the topic came up, and Shindle ended up trying to justify Equity’s attempts to shut down equity-waiver." -- by PAUL BIRCHALL

"At the March 14th Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards celebration, it was 'Hit the Wall' that came away the biggest winner, with a veritable slew of honors, including awards for outstanding ensemble, direction (Ken Sawyer), lighting (Matt Richter), supporting performer (Charlotte Gulezian), and lead performer (Matthew Hancock)." -- by PAUL BIRCHALL

"I love how the City of West Hollywood has crafted a partnership with the Fringe, and I only wish that other groups would also step forward to do likewise. Imagine if other entities with bucks promoted diversity by bankrolling fringe productions for other underrepresented groups. If West Hollywood can do it, why can’t other organizations and municipalities?" -- by PAUL BIRCHALL

"I don’t think theater folks have ever been reluctant to engage in profound naval gazing, but nowadays the discussion has become codified and sanctioned. If there is one good thing to have come out of the entire AEA/Pro-99 debacle, it’s this: The folks who live and do their art here are now more united than ever before." -- by PAUL BIRCHALL

"Following Thursday’s opening, Wooster producer Cynthia Hedstrom, director Elizabeth LeCompte and REDCAT artistic director Mark Murphy all expressed bemused bewilderment over the Pinter estate’s preemptive move against the show, which for a company of the Wooster Group’s international preeminence as artists of intelligence and integrity is highly unusual, though not unprecedented … at least from a playwright still living." -- By BILL RADEN

"In an event that has some theater folks scratching their heads, the Wooster Group, the tremendously creative theater troupe hailing from Manhattan’s Lower East Side, has been prohibited by Samuel French from having critics review their production of Harold Pinter’s The Room when it plays this February at Disney Hall’s REDCAT Theater." -- by PAUL BIRCHALL