Performing Arts

From left, Paige Clark, Arthur Gomez, Antonia Turilli and Jupiter Lê in Lyric Stage Company's production of "The Great Reveal." (Courtesy Mark S. Howard)

At Lyric Stage, a gender-reveal party gets political

In the world premiere of David Valdes' “The Great Reveal,” a gender-reveal party and a cake become a political statement that sharpens the lines of friendship, theater critic Jacquinn...

Arts & Culture

35 mins ago

From left, Aarian Mehrabani, Samuel Brewer and Chloe Palmer in FlawBored's "It's a Motherf**king Pleasure." (Courtesy Alex Brenner)

At ArtsEmerson, a new show offers satire with a mission

Disability-led theater company FlawBored's "It’s a Motherf**king Pleasure" follows a nondisabled influencer who pretends to be blind and receives backlash. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair calls the show a "sharp offering."

Arts & Culture

Apr 7, 2025

From left, Yesenia Iglesias, Jessica Pimentel and Evelyn Howe in "Don't Eat the Mangos" at The Huntington. (Courtesy Marc J. Franklin)

Dark comedy 'Don't Eat the Mangos' warns of the weight of secrets

Written by playwright Ricardo Pérez González, a family of five confronts old wounds and uncovers long buried secrets. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair writes that the cast and creative team succeed...

Arts & Culture

Apr 4, 2025

Lorraine Victoria Kanyike, Patrice Jean-Baptiste and Jade A. Guerra in Central Square Theater and Front Porch Arts Collective's production of "Her Portmanteau." (Courtesy Maggie Hall Photography)

At Central Square Theater, 'Her Portmanteau' is a slow burn

Language, birthright and broken promises are just a few of the themes that seep out onstage in this well-acted fourth installment in playwright Mfoniso Udofia’s nine-play Ufot Family Cycle, theater...

Arts & Culture

Apr 1, 2025

Dawn Simmons is SpeakEasy Stage Company's new artistic director. (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios)

SpeakEasy Stage Company names Dawn Simmons new artistic director

Simmons takes the helm July 1 as the company starts its 35th season. She takes over from founding artistic director Paul Daigneault.

Arts & Culture

Mar 27, 2025

Kaedon Gray and Elijah Brown during the first annual Queer Voices Festival by Boston Theater Company in 2024. (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios)

Queer Voices Festival brings 10-minute plays to the stage

This year marks the second installment of the festival, which features a showcase of seven short plays telling a range of LGBTQ+ stories.

Arts & Culture

Mar 20, 2025

Families with school-aged children in Boston will soon have access to free performances, including at the Boston Ballet. (Courtesy Liza Voll/Boston Ballet)

Free tickets drop for Boston kids as performance arts venues join city program

Mayor Wu is announcing that families will have access to free performances at seven of the city’s performing arts institutions including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Boston Ballet and the...

Arts & Culture

Mar 19, 2025

The cast of the North American tour of "Shucked." (Courtesy Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman)

16 theater productions to see in Greater Boston this spring

Family secrets, divides over gender, and immigration stories. Local theaters dive into heavy topics this season. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair shares the productions she's looking forward to.

Arts & Culture

Mar 17, 2025

Allison Altman (left) and Rob B. Kellogg in "The Triumph of Love." (Courtesy Liza Voll)

The Huntington delivers a 'Triumph of Love' with a hilarious ruse

In this 18th-century comedy, adapted by Stephen Wadsworth, princess Léonide has set her sights on a man named Agis, but in order to profess her love, it will take some...

Arts & Culture

Mar 14, 2025

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in Lar Lubovitch's "Many Angels." (Courtesy Paul Kolnik)

10 dance performances to experience in Greater Boston this spring

This season, many of the dance performances that will illuminate venues in Greater Boston relate to temporality as well as what it means to be human and mortal.

Arts & Culture

Mar 12, 2025

Chiké Johnson plays the role of Disciple in "runboyrun," the third installment of the Ufot Family Cycle. (Courtesy Zach Mega)

Mfoniso Udofia’s audio play explores the lingering trauma of war

The third play in the Ufot Family Cycle tells the story of a married couple who lived through a Nigerian civil war in the 1960s, and feel its reverberations in...

Arts & Culture

Mar 11, 2025

Whitney Morrison makes her Boston Lyric Opera debut in "The Seasons." (Courtesy Titus Ogilvie-Laing)

Boston Lyric Opera's 'The Seasons' blends emotional and climate turmoil

The world premiere opera takes place in the near future where Earth's seasons are out of order. A group of artists retreats to nature hoping to find inspiration for their...

Arts & Culture

Mar 11, 2025

'A Man of No Importance' radiates joy with panache

Paul Daigneault's final production as SpeakEasy Stage's artistic director, is a fitting farewell. Under his direction, the musical “A Man of No Importance” is a vibrant, hilarious, and poignant production.

Arts & Culture

Feb 28, 2025

Leonidas Kavakos performing Unsuk Chin's Violin Concerto No. 2 with Andris Nelsons and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in 2022. (Courtesy Aram Boghosian)

The artistry of Leonidas Kavakos' violin playing: Power, grace and a bit of jazz

The Greek violinist excels in chamber music as well as orchestral, says critic at large Ed Siegel. He's appearing with pianist Daniil Trifonov in a Celebrity Series of Boston concert...

Arts & Culture

Feb 27, 2025

"Where We Belong" in rehearsal. The show stars GiGi Buddie, left, and is directed by Tara Moses, right. (Courtesy Jim Sabitus)

Indigenous one-woman show seeks a sense of belonging

Madeline Sayet's show "Where We Belong" has its New England premiere at the Umbrella Arts Center Feb. 28-March 23.

Arts & Culture

Feb 26, 2025

Abigail C. Onwunali in The Huntington’s production of Mfoniso Udofia’s "The Grove," directed by Awoye Timpo. (Courtesy Marc J. Franklin)

'The Grove' unfurls the Ufot family's moving progression

The play is the superb second installment in Mfoniso Udofia’s Ufot Family Cycle at the Huntington Theatre. All the stories in Udofia’s nine-play cycle — each written to stand alone...

Arts & Culture

Feb 21, 2025

Andrus Nichols and Wayne T. Carr in A.R.T.'s production of "The Odyssey." (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios and Maggie Hall)

Kate Hamill brings a feminist 'Odyssey' to American Repertory Theater

The playwright is known for contemporary adaptations, this time updating Homer's epic tale of the warrior Odysseus. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair writes, "she’s crafted something special, and I’m changed."

Arts & Culture

Feb 21, 2025

Eddie Shields and Keith Robinson (center) at rehearsal for "A Man of No Importance." (Courtesy Nile Scott Studios)

'A Man of No Importance' brings a message of hope at SpeakEasy Stage

For his last production as artistic director, Paul Daigneault selected a musical that centers the queer community. "It's a play about honoring your true, authentic self and the fear that...

Arts & Culture

Feb 20, 2025

Artist Sanford Biggers' "Madrigal" sculpture stands in front of MIT's Edward and Joyce Linde Music Building, in Cambridge, Mass. (Robin Lubbock/WBUR)

MIT's inaugural Artfinity festival blends art and innovation

Running Feb. 15-May 2, the inaugural festival brings concerts, augmented reality experiences, exhibitions, films and more in celebration of the university's new music building.

Arts & Culture

Feb 14, 2025

Hannah Shankman and Izaiah Montaque Harris in the national tour of "Funny Girl." (Courtesy Matthew Murphy for MurphyMade)

'Funny Girl' dazzles at Citizens Opera House

The nostalgic rendition of the musical stars an excellent Hannah Shankman as Fanny Brice, a young woman who has dreams of stardom. Theater critic Jacquinn Sinclair reviews the Broadway in...

Arts & Culture

Feb 7, 2025