Extra Criticum

Legends of Batvia - Friday March 2nd

2012-02-22T20:11:50-05:00

New Yorkers! Tickets are going fast for Legends of Batvia, the musical I've been collaborating on with Katherine Burger. Here's a taste of one of the songs, sung here by the wonderful Merle Perkins. The show...

It's official: the movie theatre as we know it is an endangered species

2012-02-17T10:59:41-05:00

If there was any doubt at all that the exhibition business is in serious trouble, look no further than this email promo that just hit my INBox. I have to admit, I admire the can-do attitude...

A Question of Focus

2012-02-13T17:02:19-05:00

So, my Dad's been in and out of the hospital. And it's been stressful, to say the least. On Saturday, even before the latest mini crisis unfolded, I was trying to put some finishing touches on...

Musicals Suggest Models for Teamwork

2012-02-12T16:11:58-05:00

What are the optimum conditions for creative output, particularly as regards working solo or in a group? (David Licata in a recent post praises artist residencies for the fertile conditions they can provide.) An article by...

Top 100 Sitcom Episodes update, or how TV is forcing me to write every day

2012-02-11T07:45:00-05:00

I've never been disciplined enough to set aside some time for writing every day. It's too easy to decide that I've done enough other work, and that no one will even notice if I don't post...

The Soul Hungers for Beauty

2012-02-10T09:54:07-05:00

I have a friend. It doesn’t matter what her name is. Let’s call her “Erma Duricko.” Erma likes quotes. Lots and lots of quotes. She has quotes tagging the end of her emails. She posts them...

Get Thee to an Artist Residency!

2012-02-10T09:52:08-05:00

I’m an artist residency whore. My friends know this and I am not ashamed. I hope to continue my whoring ways until the day I die, that’s how fond of the residency experience I am. Residencies...

Cartoon: Accentuate The Positive

2012-01-26T13:14:26-05:00

Athena Film Festival opens Feb. 9

2012-01-24T15:27:15-05:00

Thanks to our pals at Indiewire for drawing our attention to this inpsiring festival trailer. If you're going to be in Manhattan in February, head uptown to Barnard College for the Athena Film Festival - a...

Is it just me? Or is this poster creepy?

2012-01-24T10:14:43-05:00

And why would I not be surprised if the entire book to this musical contained not one instance of the word "died," as in "he or she died," rather than the more socially acceptable yet ultimately...

Is there a backlash against single-camera sitcoms?

2012-01-22T16:03:27-05:00

Salon's Kartina Richardson doesn't like this season's live-audience sitcoms (few critics do), but she's hoping for a rejuvenation of the format: When we watch these shows, we are part of an audience in a way that...

Top 100 sitcom episodes of all time (a list in progress)

2012-01-21T01:59:19-05:00

After months of bugging acquaintances for suggestions, I've finally started posting my list of the “100 Best Sitcom Episodes of All Time” at my personal blog. Each episode will get a separate blog post, counting backward...

A Boy Who Really, Really Liked His Horse

2012-01-19T12:14:34-05:00

So…War Horse. It’s a juggernaut. It won six Oliviers. It won five Tonys. It won Best Play on both sides of the pond. It has been made into a giganto new movie by Steven Spielberg that...

A New Novel Gives Actors a Hug

2012-01-11T10:06:52-05:00

If creativity is an inheritable trait then Esther Freud certainly benefited on that account. The 48-year old British novelist is the great-granddaughter of Sigmund, yes that Sigmund; daughter of the famous painter Lucien Freud (who died...