A Commanding ‘Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight’ at the Huntington

January 31, 2024January 31, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

“Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight” – Written and directed by John Kolvenbach. Scenic Design by Kristine Holmes. Lighting Design by M Berry. Presented by Huntington Theatre Company, the Maso Studio, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, through March 23, 2024.

By Linda Chin

Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight is both the title of a very clever one-man show written by John Kolvenbach and one of many imperatives uttered by the show’s leading man – actor Jim Ortlieb – to command the audience’s attention.

The Connective Tissue of Huntington’s ‘Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight’

January 27, 2024January 29, 2024 michaelhobanLeave a comment

Jim Ortlieb in Huntington’s ‘Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight’ Photos by Nile Hawver

“Stand Up If You’re Here Tonight” – Written and directed by John Kolvenbach. Presented by Huntington Theatre Company, the Maso Studio, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, through March 23.

By Michele Markarian

“I’m getting an East Village vibe here,” I whisper to my friend as we wait for the curtain to go up. But there is no curtain, only a low wooden platform for a stage, with mismatched, elegant chandeliers strung from the ceiling. Our chairs are mismatched as well. The house lights are up, and a buzzy kind of energy vibrates among the audience – what is it that we are about to witness?