Wakka Wakka’s “Dead As A Dodo” Resurrects Hope And Wonder

March 8, 2026April 8, 2026 Charlotte SnowLeave a comment

ArtsEmerson’s‘Dead As a Dodo’. Photo credits: David Zadig

‘Dead As A Dodo’ − Written, directed, and set design by Gwendolyn Warnock and Kirjan Waage. Original Music and Sound Design by Thor Gunnar Thorvaldsson. Puppet Design and Construction by Kirjan Waage. Touring Lighting Design by Scott Monnin. Presented by ArtsEmerson, from March 5th to March 8th at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116.

By Charlotte Snow

Puppetry has been a staple of theatricality for centuries, but it often gets a bad rap as being trite and hokey. But in recent years, many theatre companies have been pushing back against this narrative, creating innovative and thought-provoking puppet plays for kids and adults alike. Gloriously, the Wakka Wakka theatre company practically demands that Dead As A Dodo joins, if not leads, the fold of exceptional puppet shows. 

MRT’s ‘Kevin Kling: Unraveled’ Lifts the Spirit

February 4, 2026April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Kevin Kling in MRT’s ‘Kevin Kling: Unraveled’

‘Kevin Kling: Unraveled’ − Written and performed by Kevin Kling; Music by Robertson Witmer; Directed by Steven Dietz; Scenic Design by David M. Barber; Costume Design by Peggy McKowen. Produced by Merrimack Repertory Theatre in partnership with the Contemporary American Theater Festival at the Nancy L. Donahue Theatre in Liberty Hall at 50 E. Merrimack St. in Lowell through February 8^th

By Mike Hoban

On its surface, Kevin Kling: Unraveled is a one-person show centered on how one man deals not only with his own physical disabilities but also with the perceptions of others. But Kling − and his show − are not defined by his disability. He is first and foremost a gifted storyteller whose performance is more likely to remind one of Jean Shepherd (the narrator of the holiday classic A Christmas Story) than comic Josh Blue (whose cerebral palsy serves as a launching pad for his jokes).

ArtsEmerson’s ‘Noli Timere’ is Thoroughly Thrilling

January 30, 2026April 8, 2026 Julie-Anne WhitneyLeave a comment

By Julie-Anne Whitney

Noli Timere − Conceived and Directed by Rebecca Lazier; Choreography by Rebecca Lazier in collaboration with the performers; Net sculpture by Janet Echelman; Music composed and performed by Jorane; Lighting Design by Leigh Ann Vardy; Costume Design by Mary Jo Mecca. Presented by ArtsEmerson at the Cutler Majestic Theatre in Boston, MA. Runs through February 1, 2026.

ArtsEmerson’s Noli Timere is a deeply moving exploration of trust and connection through the fusion of art, music, circus, and dance. Over the course of one thoroughly thrilling hour, eight performers take you on a gravity-defying emotional journey through a large-scale fiber art sculpture suspended 25 feet above the stage.

‘Library Lion’ Is As Much a Delight for Grownups as It Is For Kids

January 20, 2026April 8, 2026 Shelley SackettLeave a comment

Cast of Adam Theater’s ‘Library Lion’ at BCA Calderwood Pavilion January 10-25
Photos by Nile Scott Studios

‘Library Lion’ — Adapted from the book “Library Lion” by Michelle Knudsen and illustrated by Kevin Hawkes. Directed by Ran Bechor. Book and Lyrics by Eli Bejaoui; Music by Yoni Rechter and Roy Friedman; Songs composed by Yoni Rechter; Puppet Design & Build by Jim Henson Creature Shop. Scenic Design by Cameron Anderson; Costume Design by Ula Shebchuv; Lighting Design by Daniel H. Jentzen; Sound Design by Irene Wang. Presented by Adam Theater at The Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont St., Boston through Jan. 25.

By Shelley A. Sackett

Last Sunday, I was probably the only adult at the noon performance of Library Lion unaccompanied by kids and/or grandkids. For 70 uninterrupted minutes, I was treated to an uplifting, high-quality production of one of the most delightful musical shows I’ve seen in a while. Plus, I had the dual luxuries of watching a room full of youngsters and eavesdropping on their comments without having to be “in charge” of any of them.

Adam Theater’s “Library Lion” Roars Triumphantly

January 18, 2026April 8, 2026 Charlotte Snow2 Comments

‘Library Lion’ – Based on the book by Michelle Knudsen. Book and Lyrics by Eli Bejaoui. Music by Yoni Rechter and Roy Friedman. Song Composition by Yoni Rechter. Directed by Ran Bechor. Stage Management from Kendyl Trott. Puppet Design and Build by Jim Henson Creature Shop. Puppet and Movement Direction by Kate Brehm. Scenic Design by Cameron Anderson. Lighting Design by Daniel H. Jentzen. Adam Theater’s ‘Library Lion’ runs from January 10th to January 25th at the Calderwood Pavilion, 527 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02116.

By Charlotte Snow

If you ask any working theatre professional, “When did you first fall in love with theatre?” Many will answer “as a child,” having either seen or been in a Theatre for Young Audiences play. TYA may, in fact, be the invisible backbone responsible for (and continues to) uplift theater culture. At its worst, theatre for young audiences panders to kids and is insufferable to adults. At its best, it strengthens the bond between kids and adults while delivering a positive message along with a spoonful of whimsy. I’m happy to report that Adam Theater’s Library Lion falls into the latter category.

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

December 17, 2025April 8, 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.

CSC’s ‘A Christmas Carol’ Stirs Christmas Spirit with Victorian Song

December 14, 2025April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Kathryn McKellar, Will Lyman in CSC’s ;*Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol*‘.
Photos by Nile Scott Studios

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol − Adaptation by Steve Wargo with Musical Arrangements by Dianne Adams McDowell; Directed by Steven Maler; Musical Direction by Dan Rodriguez; Scenic Design by Scott Bradley; Choreography by John Lam; Lighting Design by Jessica Elliot and Eric Southern III; Sound Design by David Remedios; Costumes by Fabian Fidel Aguilar. Presented by Commonwealth Shakespeare Company at Emerson Cutler Majestic Theatre, Tremont St., Boston, through December 23.

By Mike Hoban

I’ve been a huge fan of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol ever since I was a young boy, although I must confess that my deep appreciation didn’t come from reading the novella. Instead, it was the delightful cartoon musical Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol that first captured my heart and imagination. Featuring a musical score by legendary Broadway composer Jule Styne (Gypsy, Funny Girl, and dozens more), the animated production entertainingly conveyed the story’s central message of redemption and learning to care for others in a way that even an eight-year-old could understand. From there, I graduated to the iconic 1951 Alastair Sim film, and each holiday season try to incorporate one or both into my holiday-themed viewing to rekindle some of that nostalgic Christmas spirit.

Strong Performances Lift Theatre Uncorked’s ‘Blood Brothers’

November 18, 2025April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Zach Fuller, Michael Mazzone, and Laurel Casey in Theatre Uncorked’s ‘Blood Brothers’

‘Blood Brothers’ − Book, Lyrics, and Music by Willy Russell. Directed by Audrey Seraphin; Music Direction by Gina Naggar; Set Design by Leonard Chasse; Sound Design by Tim Rose; Lighting Design by Erik Fox and Amber Kovacs; Costume Design by Richard Itczak; Presented by Theatre Uncorked at the BCA Plaza Theatre, 539 Tremont St, Boston, through November 23rd.

By Mike Hoban

At a time when the gap between the haves and have-nots is again approaching levels not seen since the Gilded Age, Theatre Uncorked’s powerful production of Blood Brothers could not be more well-timed. The stark difference between those who are “comfortable” and those who will struggle daily to meet their basic needs was driven home during the recent governmental shutdown. Food banks were overwhelmed, and the harsh reality of a paycheck-to-paycheck existence exposed the class divide in the world’s wealthiest nation. Blood Brothers may be set in 1960s and 1970s Liverpool, England, but it could easily be any city in post-industrial Western civilization.

Manual Cinema Continues to Enchant with ‘The 4th Witch’ at ArtsEmerson

November 3, 2025April 8, 2026 Theater MirrorLeave a comment

Manual Cinema’s ‘The 4th Witch” at ArtsEmerson. Photos: Katie Doyle

The 4^th Witch − Concept and direction by Drew Dir; Devised by Dir, Sarah Forance and Julia Miller; Original score and sound design by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter; Mask Design by Julia Miller; Lighting Design by David Goodman‑Edberg; Costume / Wig Design by Sully Ratke. Presented by Manual Cinema at the Robert J. Orchard Stage, Emerson Paramount Center, 559 Washington St., Boston, through November 9.

By Mike Hoban

Manual Cinema has once again returned to the ArtsEmerson stages with their unfathomably unique brand of theatrical storytelling with The 4th Witch, a mind-bending work “inspired by” Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Told via shadow puppetry using live actors blended with silhouette cutouts beamed onto a movie screen by overhead projectors, the action is augmented by a haunting score played by a live ensemble with vocals. As the action is being projected onto the screen, the audience can simultaneously watch the actors and technicians dart around the stage to produce the images, while the three-piece ensemble (cello, violin, and keyboards), placed at the front of the stage, plays and sings.

Manual Cinema Brings Playful Puppetry to Wheelock Family Theatre with ‘Leonardo!’

October 12, 2025April 8, 2026 Julie-Anne WhitneyLeave a comment

Cast of ‘Leonardo!’ at Wheelock Family Theatre

Leonardo! A Wonderful Show about a Terrible Monster, based on the books by Mo Willems; directed and adapted by Sarah Fornace and Drew Dir; 2D paper puppet and prop design by Drew Dir; music, lyrics, and sound design by Ben Kauffman and Kyle Vegter; hand and rod puppet design by Lizi Breit; costume and wig design by Mieka Van der Ploeg; lighting design by Trey Brazeal with Nick Chamernik; dramaturgy by Megan Alrutz; stage managed by Maydi Díaz; created by Manual Cinema; presented by Wheelock Family Theatre in Boston, MA through October 19, 2025.

by Julie-Anne Whitney

Manual Cinema is a Chicago-based performance collective that specializes in cinematic shadow puppetry. For Leonardo! A Wonderful Show About a Terrible Monster, presented by Wheelock Family Theatre, the troupe transforms two books by beloved children’s author Mo Willems into a unique live-action cinematic experience.