“Stereophonic” A Grueling Celebration of Making Art

March 12, 2026April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Cast of “Stereophonic” at the Emerson Colonial. Photos: Julieta Cervantes

“Stereophonic”. Written by David Adjami. Original Songs by Will Butler. Directed by Daniel Aukin. Presented at Emerson Colonial Theatre, 106 Boylston Street, Boston, through March 15.

By Michele Markarian

When I first saw “Stereophonic” a few years ago in New York, I was surprised at how familiar I was with some of the dialogue. “It’s the book!” I whispered to my husband, who had no idea what I was talking about. The book, “Making Rumours: The Inside Story of the Classic Fleetwood Mac Album” by Ken Caillat with Steven Stiefel, had been given to me as a birthday present by a friend ten years before. Caillat had been the co-producer of “Rumours” and wrote a book describing the exhilarating and often harrowing process, a journey Mick Fleetwood corroborates in his book “My Life and Adventures in Fleetwood Mac”. The playwright eventually settled out of court with Caillat. In fairness to Adjami, while the book is good, the play, which depicts the arduous recording sessions of a seminal album by a band loosely based on Fleetwood Mac, is better.

“Zabel in Exile” An Emotional Journey of Oppression, Resistance and Faith

March 4, 2026April 10, 2026 Michele Markarian1 Comment

Sarah Corey in Boston Playwrights’ Theatre’s “Zabel in Exile”
Photos by Scornavacca Photography

Zabel in Exile. By R.N. Sandberg. Directed by Megan Sandberg-Zakian. Sponsored by Judith Saryan and Victor Zarougian. Presented by Boston Playwrights’ Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, through March 8.

By Michele Markarian

For this audience member of Armenian heritage, Zabel in Exile is a cultural expedition into the Armenian psyche. The favoritism and privilege of boys and men. The devastation and tragedy of the death marches. The mystical visions of Death, dressed in garments of scarlet and black. My great-grandfather saw such a vision riding towards him on horseback and told his family it was coming for him. He was right; he died the next day along with his wife and three of his children. My thirteen-year-old grandmother escaped. Zabel is a memory play based on the life of Armenian writer Zabel Yessayan. She’s a very compelling character, and her life, though hard and full of peril, embodies the bravery and compassion of the Armenian spirit.

“Penelope” Plays an Emotional Waiting Game

February 10, 2026April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Marissa Licata, Dan-Rodriguez, Aimee Doherty and Kett-Lee in Lyric Stage’s ‘Penelope’

“Penelope”. Music, lyrics and arrangements by Alex Bechtel. Book by Alex Bechtel, Grace McLean, Eva Steinmetz. Directed by Courtney O’Connor. Music Direction by Dan Rodriguez. Presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, through March 1.

By Michele Markarian

Odysseus is a popular figure these days. In 2018, he appeared in Madeline Miller’s novel “Circe” as a virile and manipulative broken warrior. There was Kate Hamill’s “Odyssey” that premiered at A.R.T. last year. There’s an upcoming film version, directed by Christopher Nolan and starring Matt Damon, scheduled for release this July. “Penelope”, written by Alex Bechtel, is a one-woman cabaret depicting a waiting, sometimes patiently, sometimes not, wife of Odysseus, whose loyalty and love is played adoringly by Aimee Doherty.

Short Take: “Wonder” Delivers a Joyful Ride to a Kinder Landscape

January 3, 2026April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Garrett McNally and Donovan Louis Bazemore in ‘Wonder’ at the A.R.T.
Photos by Hawver and Hall

“Wonder”. Book by Sarah Ruhl. Music and Lyrics by A Great Big World (Ian Axel and Chad King). Directed by Taibi Magar. Presented by American Repertory Theater, 64 Brattle Street, Cambridge, through February 8.

By Michele Markarian

“I like ice cream, outer space and video games,” Auggie (Garrett McNally), a typical seventh grader, tells us at the beginning of “Wonder”. Auggie, however, has a facial difference that sets him apart from other kids, making him a target of bullying and ostracization. For years, his mother, Isabel (Alison Luff), has been homeschooling him, but now she fears he has more to learn than what she can teach him. To counter this, Isabel has enrolled Auggie in middle school, much to his dismay. While his oversized space helmet and invisible friend Moonboy (Nathan Salstone) keep him feeling safe at home, they won’t serve Auggie well at school. Auggie’s sister Via (Kaylin Hedges) is also on edge. As the sibling of someone whose facial differences account for a lot of his parents’ attention, Via doesn’t always get her fair share; the fact that her best friend Miranda (Paravi) isn’t speaking to her for unknown reasons doesn’t help. Miranda, as it turns out, is having a hard time dealing with her parents’ divorce. As one of Auggie’s teachers, Mr. Browne (Raymond J. Lee) likes to say, “Be kind, for everyone is fighting an invisible battle.”

“A Scandinavian Story for Christmas” Delights at the 55th Annual Midwinter Revels

December 17, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

*Midwinter Revels: A Scandinavian Story for Christmas*
Photos by Paul Buckley

By Michele Markarian

“A Scandinavian Story for Christmas”. Inspired by Gregory Maguire’s “Matchless”, Written by Debra Wise and Patrick Sawonson. Dramaturg, Nicole Galland. Directed by Debra Wise. Music Direction by Elijah Botkin. Choreography by Tom Roby. Presented by Sanders Theatre, Harvard University, through December 28.

I have to admit, I have not been fully committed to the holiday spirit this year. With so much turmoil in the world, it’s hard to focus on merriment, feasting, and gift-giving, but I was intrigued by the Swedish theme of this year’s Revels and decided to check it out. The rich hues of the theatre were warm and inviting, matching the warm and genial manner of the Master of Ceremonies, David Coffin. As the cast entered through the mezzanine, voices harmonizing over the traditional Nu Ar Det Jul Igen (“Now It Is Christmas Again”), I could feel my attitude begin to thaw.

“Kim’s Convenience” Overflows with Drama and Love

November 14, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Ryan Jinn, Esther Chung, Ins Choi, Kelly Seo, and Brandon McKnight in *Kim’s Convenience*
at the Huntington Theatre

“Kim’s Convenience”, by Ins Choi. Directed by Weyni Mengesha. Adam Blanshay Productions presents the Soulpepper Theatre Company production in association with American Conservatory Theater, Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, through November 30^th.

by Michele Markarian

“Is it over?” asked my friend, a huge admirer of the “Kim’s Convenience” television series (which, admittedly, I’ve never seen, but judging from the crowd at the Huntington Theater, the series has a lot of enthusiastic fans). Indeed, the ending of the play, which ties up a lot of the show’s loose ends, feels abrupt and, to a large extent, unearned. The talented cast, however, makes “Kim’s Convenience” a sweet and enjoyable theatrical experience despite the compressed plot points.

“Tick, Tick…Boom” Delivers a Dynamic Exploration of Love, Loss and Adulthood

October 28, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Anthony Pires Jr, Vanessa Calantropo, Johnny Shea in Umbrella Stage Company’s ‘Tick, Tick… Boom!’

“Tick, Tick…Boom”. Book, Music, and Lyrics by Jonathan Larson. Directed and Choreographed by Ilyse Robbins. Lighting Design by Ben Rush; Sound Design by Alex Berg
Scenic Designer by Erik D. Diaz. Music Direction by Jordan Oczkowski. Presented by The Umbrella Stage Company, 40 Stow Street, Concord, through November 23.

By Michele Markarian

The world of childhood promises an open road, where any and all dreams are possible, ignoring any pesky variables, like personality, talent, looks, connections, socioeconomics, and, well, fate. Which, as Carl Jung said, “Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate”. At some point in our twenties, we decide what kind of people we want to be and the kind of life we would like to live, as it dawns on us that we really can’t have it all. We are forced to choose, and the choosing isn’t always easy, especially for those of us who have our hearts set on a career in the performing arts.

Short Take: Winston Churchill Comes to Life in “Churchill”

October 9, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

“Churchill” − Created and directed by David Payne. Presented by Emery Entertainment, Standford Calderwood Pavilion, 539 Tremont Street, through October 12.

by Michele Markarian

One-person shows are tricky in terms of verisimilitude – who is the person talking to? Why are they standing before us? Years ago, my grandmother, knowing I was fond of Emily Dickinson, took me to see “The Belle of Amherst” with Julie Harris. My twelve-year-old self didn’t buy the fact that Emily was willing to address a roomful of 650 strangers at Boston’s Colonial Theater for no apparent reason other than the fact that we were there. She even offered us cake when clearly there wasn’t enough to go around. It didn’t make for a credible suspension of disbelief.

Short Take: “Our Town” A Poignant, Sobering Reminder of Gratitude

September 24, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

“Our Town” – Written by Thornton Wilder. Directed by Courtney O’Connor; Scenic Design by Shelley Barish; Costume Design by Rachel Padula-Shufelt; Lighting Design by Deb Sullivan; Sound Design by Andrew Duncan Will. Presented by The Lyric Stage Company of Boston, 140 Clarendon Street, Boston, through October 19.

By Michele Markarian

I first saw “Our Town” on television as a teenager, and I have to say, it freaked me out. As a young person, I didn’t understand the piece for its depth; I thought that it was about death. With some perspective, it is very much a play about life, a point that the superb production at the Lyric Stage subtly brings home.

“The Hills of California” Offers Family Dysfunction and Healing

September 20, 2025April 10, 2026 Michele MarkarianLeave a comment

Meghan Carey, Kate Fitzgerald, Alison Jean White, Chloé Kolbenhyer, Nicole Mulready (on floor) in Huntington’s ‘The Hills of California’. Photos by Liza Voll

“The Hills of California”, by Jez Butterworth. Directed by Loretta Greco. Presented by The Huntington in association with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, The Huntington, 264 Huntington Avenue, Boston, through October 12.

By Michele Markarian

Full disclosure: I love Jez Butterworth’s writing – psychological without being heavy-handed. I saw Jerusalem with Mark Rylance in 2011; it was magnificent, as was The Ferryman. The Hills of California is no exception – it is a remarkable and moving work that skillfully weaves the lives of four sisters and their mother through their shaky past and fractured present and makes them whole again.