My Highly Impressionistic History of The Life and Death and Glorious Rebirth of THEATER Here in Boston

 

(Boston Theater District in the 1950’s)

 

by Larry Stark 

 

The sign’s faded, but the Boylston Street stop on the Green Line proclaims itself in the center of “The Theatre District” of Boston.

In a sense that’s still true, since within a few blocks’ walking distance are The Colonial Theatre and The Boston Opera House, The Wang Center and The Shubert Theatre, The Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre and Emerson’s Theatre Center, and the new Metropolitan Theatre and the Modern Theatre, and the Charles Playhouse –  home of the two longest-running shows in Boston’s history.

For decades, this was a true center for a kind of “golden age” of theatre in Boston – the days when all sorts of shows “tried-out” for two weeks before the most intelligent audience for plays in the country, before chancing an opening down in New York City. There were three “big Broadway barns” here –  the Colonial and Ye Wilbur Theatre and the Shubert –  and, for a time, anyone who had a show working its way toward a run in The Apple had to reserve a two-week stint at one of those houses a full year in advance; that many shows were hoping for Boston’s help.

Read more “My Highly Impressionistic History of The Life and Death and Glorious Rebirth of THEATER Here in Boston”

Essays In Idelness

by Larry Stark

 

(Essays in Idleness is a feature that periodically runs –  uneditied –  that expresses the thoughts of our founder Larry Stark)

 

THERE’S A NEW COMPANY IN BOSTON!

 

 

“THE FRONT PORCH ARTS COLLECTIVE” (https://www.centralsquaretheater.org/about/front-porch-arts-collective/) will be in residence at The Central Square Theatre for a year, and next weekend their first production will be a staged reading of  Marcus Gardley’s play “The House That Will Not Stand” —as first in “The God’s Closet Reading Series” of at least six. The date is 26 March, at 7:00 p m., and reservations for this reading are recommended.

Read more “Essays In Idelness”

Essays in Idleness

 

by Larry Stark

 

The THEATER MIRROR lives again!

My undying thanks to Mike Hoban, who is doing all the uploading/designing work I found it increasingly difficult to keep up with — as well as to Lee Vander Laan, whose continued generosity let me start The Mirror, and who, throughout its life, held my hand and fixed all my glitches making it real. They represent The Mirror’s past, and its future.

Read more “Essays in Idleness”