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Regrettably, until further notice, I shall not be attending any productions by the American Repertory Theatre (A.R.T.). Let me explain:

I have frequently been critical of other critics. In some cases, this has been my "internal editor" quibbling about style; at other times, it has been an attempt to let critics feel the personal pain that damaging criticism can cause in people who must get up before another audience knowing that critics' comments have shaped what at least some in that audience might thus believe.

But, even admitting these opinions, I believe even the harshest of critics, deep down, really love theater --- that creators and critics are really "on the same side". Sometimes it may look as though a critic Loves Theater To Death; still, in an austere era many of my colleagues are continuing to write critiques without being paid to do so, their love is that strong. And they try to apply their personal standards in as impartial a manner as possible, though it may not always look that way from outside. That, I think, is the critic's job.

The job of a Public Relations Coordinator for any particular theater company, though, is necessarily biased. The goal there is to get that same potential audience to view the company's shows in the best possible light, to see and appreciate what is there, and to come back again and again for more. And it may seem that P/R people and critics are at war --- especially when they disagree, with one seeing only negatives while the other must accentuate the positive.

But those on both sides operate in what is called "The Free Marketplace of Ideas" --- and audience-members may decide for themselves which one is right. This, at least, is how I assume the game should be played.

Lately, I have heard rumors that a vicious "kill the messenger" attitude threatens this entire structure. I have often voiced my opinions privately or written them publically, but deliberate attempts to disgrace or disbar or silence someone's free voice I cannot tolerate nor condone. I therefore sent the following letter to the producer at the American Repertory Theatre protesting what I see as disgraceful behavior, stretching back over many years, that has no place in that "Marketplace of Ideas" which I fervently hope will remain Free.

To: Diane Borger, Producer, AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE

Dear Ms. Borger:

Of late I have heard astonishing stories and rumors of the

antics of a person in your employ referred to as "Catty"

by those who have had contact with her. I undertstand that

Public Relations work necessarily involves some sorts of

manipulation; however, if even half of what I've been told

is true, this person has no ethical standards whatever.

I am astonished that you continue to employ anyone who so

totally misunderstands her profession, and mine.

You must realize that in the climate created by her actions,

any positive reviews of your company's work can be

construed as written out of fear of this woman's power to

ruin the reputation of anyone voicing opposite opinions.

I cannot believe you are ignorant of this situation, but

you must be aware that continuing to employ her in such

a sensitive position can only be construed as approval of

such behavior by the American Repertory Theatre, which I

fervently hope cannot be the case.

But if you condone such actions, I cannot.

I cannot in good conscience continue to work with anyone

who behaves with such vindictive misunderstanding of her

job, and mine. To do so would suggest that I myself

condone such behavior, which is decidedly Not the case.

Should there be a change in personnel in future, I would

appreciate your notifying me.

Sincerely,

===Larry Stark

of Theater Mirror

3 March - 29 April

"Mass Hysteria" The Musical

CHARLIE HALL PRODUCTIONS

@ Club Cafe's Moonshine Room, 209 Columbus Avenue, @ Berkeley Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)536-0966

7 March - 29 April

"The Play About The Baby"

EXQUISITE CORPS THEATRE

@ Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

9 March - 7 April EXTENDED TILL 22 APRIL

"Next to Normal"

SPEAKEASY STAGE COMPANY

@ Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)482-3280

16 March - 15 April

"Futurity"

AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE

@ Oberon, Massachusetts Avenue & Arrow Street, CAMBRIDGE MA

1(617)495-2668

23 March - 14 April

"Hookman"

COMPANY ONE

@ Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

25 March - 15 April

"Futurity"

AMERICAN REPERTORY THEATRE

@ Oberon, Massachusetts Avenue & Arrow Street, CAMBRIDGE MA

1(617)495-2668

30 March - 14 April

"Beckett Shorts"

A.R.T. INSTITUTE

@ Zero Church Street, CAMBRIDGE MA

1(617)495-2668

30 March - 15 April

"Grey Gardens"

ARLINGTON FRIENDS OF THE DRAMA

@ 22 Academy Street, ARLINGTON MA

1(781)648-5922

30 March - 29 April

"The Luck of The Irish"

HUNTINGTON THEATRE COMPANY

@ Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

30 March - 15 April

"On Ego"

SCIENCE FICTION THEATER COMPANY

@ The Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(???)???-????

30 March - 28 April

"The Temperamentals"

THE LYRIC STAGE OF BOSTON INC.

@ 140 Clarendon Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)585-5678

30 March - 14 April

"The Wild Party"

THE FOOTLIGHT CLUB

@ 7A Eliot Street, JAMAICA PLAIN MA

1(617)524-3200

1 - 22 April

"Long Day's Journey into Night"

MAJESTIC THEATER

@ 131 Elm Street, WEST SPRINGFIELD MA

1(413)747-7797

5 - 12 April

"Vincent River"

THEATRE ON FIRE

@ Each night in a different apartment in BOSTON MA (Tickets In ADVANCE ONLY!)

1(617)642-9439

6 - 22 April

"Babe, The Sheep Pig"

HARWICH JUNIOR THEATRE

@ 105 Division Street, HARWICH MA

1(508)432-2002 X4

6 - 19 April

"Bunnicula"

NEXTDOOR THEATRE

@ Nextdoor Center for the Arts, 40 Cross Street, WINCHESTER MA

1(781)729-NEXT

6 - 14 April

"Crossing Brooklyn"

HARVARD COMMUNITY THEATRE

@ Bromfield High School, HARVARD MA

1(978)456-3454

6 - 15 April

"Floyd Collins"

MOONBOX PRODUCTIONS

@ Boston Center for The Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

10 - 14 April

"A Year with Frog And Toad"

THEATRE AT THE MOUNT

@ 444 Green Street, GARDNER MA

1(978)632-2403 1((978)632-6600

12 - 15 April

"An American Wife"

WELLESLEY COLLEGE THEATER

@ Ruth Nagel Jones Theater, Wellesley College, 106 Central Street, WELLESLEY MA

1(781) 283-2000

12 - 21 April

"Cloud 9"

WHEATON COLLEGE

@ Kresge Experimental Theatre, Wheaton College, 26 East Main Steet, NORTON MA

1(508)286-3575

12 April - 6 May

"The Full Monty"

STONEHAM THEATRE

395 Main Street, STONEHAM MA

1(781)279-7885

12 - 28 April

"Murph"

ARGOS PRODUCTIONS

@ Boston Playwrights Theatre, 949 Commonwealth Avenue, BOSTON MA

1(???)???-????

12 - 15 April

"Next to Normal"

FOOTLIGHTS PRODUCTIONS

@ BMC Durfee High School, 360 Elsbree Street, SWANSEA MA

1(774)644-4539

12 - 14 April

"Once on This Island"

MORTAR AND PESTLE PLAYERS

@ White Hall, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, 101 Palace Road, BOSTON MA

1(978)809-8777

12 April - 13 May

"Remembering H.M."

CATALYST COLLABORATIVE & UNDERGROUND RAILWAY THEATRE COMPANY

@ Central Square Theatre, 450 Massachuetts Avenue, CAMBRIDGE MA

1(866)811-4111

12 April - 20 May

"The 39 Steps"

MAJESTIC THEATER

@ 131 Elm Street, WEST SPRINGFIELD MA

1(413)747-7797

12 - 14 April

"Titanic" The Musical

MOONLIGHT PRODUCTIONS

@ First Congregational Church, 7 Andover Street, GEORGETOWN MA

1(978)352-7315

13 - 15 April

"And Then They Came For Me"

UNCOMMON THEATRE COMPANY

@ Orpheum Theatre, Foxboro Commons, FOXBORO MA

1(508)698-3098

13 - 22 April

"Cafe Variations"

EMERSON STAGES 555

@ Cutler Majestic Theatre, 219 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)824-8000

13 - 22 April

"Dirty Rotten Scoundrels"

MILTON PLAYERS

@ The Milton Woman's Club, 90 Reedsdale Road (Rt. 28), MILTON MA

1(617)698-7469

13 - 29 April

"The Fantasticks"

FIDDLEHEAD THEATRE COMPANY

@ 619 High Street, DEDHAM MA

1(781)329-1901

13 April - 13 May

"The Miracle Worker"

WHEELOCK FAMILY THEATRE

@ 200 The Riverway, BOSTON MA

1(617)879-2300

13 - 29 April

"Musical Chairs"

THEATRE III

@ 250 Central Street, WEST ACTON MA

1(978)263-9070

13 - 29 April

"The Prisoner of Second Avenue"

THE ACTORS STUDIO OF NEWPORT

@ Mill #1, Suite 5 in The Tannery, Federal and Water Streets, NEWBURYPORT MA

1(978)465-1229

13 - 22 April

"Rent"

HINGHAM CIVIC MUSIC THEATRE

@ Sanborn Auditorium, Hingham Town Hall, 210 Central Street, HINGHAM MA

1(???)???-????

13 - 29 April

"Rent"

THEATRE WITH A TWIST

@ Daniels Hall, Becker College, Leicester Campus, LEICESTER MA

1(978)302-0985

13 - 15 April

"Riverdance"

BROADWAY IN BOSTON

@ Boston Opera House, 539 Washington Street, BOSTON MA

1(800)982-2787

13 - 15 April

"Seussical" The Musical

HANOVER THEATRE

@ 554 Main Street, WORCESTER MA

1(866)811-4111

13 April - 5 May

"Tigers Be Still"

ZEITGEIST STAGE COMPANY

@ Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

13 - 29 April

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee"

TURTLE LANE PLAYHOUSE

@ 283 Melrose Street, AUBURNDALE MA

1(617)224-0169

14 April ONLY

"Girls' Night" The Musical

LOWELL MEMORIAL AUDITORIUM

@ 50 East Merrimack Street, LOWELL MA

1(617)224-0169

14 & 15 April

"Razzle Dazzle!" with Mitzi Gaynor

REAGLE MUSIC THEATRE OF GREATER BOSTON

@ ?????

1(978)302-0985

14 & 15 April

"Songs of The Roaring Twenties"

GLOUCESTER STAGE COMPANY

@ Gorton's Theatre, 267 East Main Street, GLOUCESTER MA

1(978)281-4433

14 & 15 April

"Urinetown"

AUSTIN PREPARATORY SCHOOL PERFORMING ARTS DEPARTMENT

@ off Route 129, READING MA

1(781)944-4900

15 April ONLY

"In Their Own Words"

LEXINGTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY

@ First Parish in Lexington, 7 Harrington Road on the Battlegreen, LEXINGTON MA

1(781)862–1703

16 - 23 April

Senior Theatre Festival

BRANDEIS THEATRE COMPANY

@ Merrick Theatre @ Spingold Theater Center, Brandeis University, 415 South Street, WALTHAM MA

1(781)736-3400

19 - 22 April

"Anything Goes"

SUFFOLK UNIVERSITY

@ C. Walsh Theatre, 55 Temple Street, BOSTON MA

1(800)440-7654

19 - 22 April

"Dialogues of The Carmelites" OPERA

BOSTON UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF FINE ARTS

@ Boston University Mainstage, 264 Huntington Avenue, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

19 April - 13 May

"84 Charing Cross Road" Staged Reading

THEATRE @ FIRST

@ Unity Somerville, 6 William Street @ College Avenue, SOMERVILLE MA

1(888)874-7554

19 April - 13 May

"Ghost-Writer"

MERRIMACK REPERTORY THEATRE

50 East Merrimack Street, LOWELL MA

1(978)654-4678

19 - 29 April

"The Seafarer"

FISHTOWN THEATER PLAYERS

@ Gorton's Theatre, 267 East Main Street, GLOUCESTER MA

1(978)515-7957

19 - 29 April

"Twelfth Night"

SALEM STATE UNIVERSITY

@ Callan Studio Theatre, 352 Lafayette Street, SALEM MA

1(978)542-7890

19 April - 12 May

"28 Seeds: The Last Radio Show"

LIARS AND BELIEVERS

@ Boston Center for the Arts, 539 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)933-8600

19 - 28 April

"The Underpants"

TUFTS DEPARTMENT OF DRAMA & DANCE

@ Balch Arena Theater, Tufts University, 40 Talbot Avenue, MEDFORD MA

1(617)627-3493

20 - 22 April

"The Apple Tree"

BOSTON CONSERVATORY THEATRE

31 Hemenway Street, BOSTON MA

1(???)???-????

20 - 28 April

"The Glass Menagerie"

BRIDGEWATER STATE UNIVERSITY

Somewhere in BRIDGEWATER MA

1(508)531-1321

20 - 29 April

"The Inspector" Opera

BOSTON LYRIC OPERA

@ Shubert Theatre, Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(???)???-????

20 - 28 April

"Oliver"

WORCESTER LIGHT OPERA COMPANY

@ New North High Theater, 140 Harrington Way, WORCESTER MA

1(508)753-4383

20 - 22 April

"Our Town"

ACTORS, INC.

@ Village Inn Restaurant, 544 Broadway Road, DRACUT MA

1(978)459-4114

20 April - 5 May

"Over The River And Through The Woods"

NEMASKET RIVER PRODUCTIONS

@ Alley Theatre, 133 Centre Street, MIDDLEBORO MA

1(508)472-9467

20 - 28 April

"Pirate Lives!" The Musical!

FLAT EARTH THEATRE

@ Black Box Theatre, Arsenal Center for The Arts, 321 Arsenal Street, WATERTOWN MA

1(617)752-ARTS (2787)

20 - 22 April

"Sesame Street Live: 123 Imagine"

TICKETMASTER

@ Agganis Arena, 925 Commonwealth Ave, BOSTON MA

1(617) 752-ARTS (2787)

20 - 29 April

"You Can't Take It with You"

THEATRE COMPANY OF SAUGUS

@ East Saugus United Methodist Church, 85 Chestnut Street @ Winter Street, SAUGUS MA

1(781)816-7019

21 & 22 April

"The Redcoats Are Coming"

THEATRE WITH A TWIST

@ Either Acton Congregational Church 12 Concord Road, Acton, MA/OR/Masonic Hall 58 Monument Square, CONCORD MA

1(978)302-0985

21 - 28 April

"Singing in The Rain"

THE WESTON FRIENDLY SOCIETY OF THE PERFORMING ARTS

@ 1 Townhouse Road, WESTON MA

1(617)795-2195

22 April ONLY

"Sleeping Beauty"

TANGLEWOOD MARIONETTES

@ Market Square, NEWBURYPORT MA

1(978)462-7336

21 April ONLY

"Survivor! Season Three"

THEATRE AT THE MOUNT

@ 444 Green Street, GARDNER MA

1(978)632-2403 1((978)632-6600

23 APRIL ONLY

THE I.R.N.E. AWARDS PRESENTATION

THE INDEPENDENT REVIEWERS OF NEW ENGLAND

@ The Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts, 527 Tremont Street, BOSTON MA

1(617)424-6634

23 April & 5 May

"Macbeth"

SHAKESPEARE AND COMPANY

@ Founders' Theatre, 70 Kemble Street, LENOX MA

1(413)637-3353

For an EVEN MORE COMPLETE list of "Coming Attractions" in Massachusetts
Click Here

CLICK BELOW TO GET TO:

30 GLOBES Hath September
Quick Takes
New Reviews
THAT WAS THE WEEK THAT WAS
Cricket's Notebook
MERE Opinions
EMERGENCIES
New Greenroom Mail
Stories by Larry
The Horton PODCASTS
The HORTON Connection
Bargains
New Websites
Theater Mirror Resources
Cabaret Page

Hairspray!
July 29 - August 21
“Everything is bigger in Hairspray
– the dreams, the voices and, of course, the hair!”

For information call 781-871-2787

The Company Theatre
30 Accord Park Dr.
Norwell, MA 02061
(781) 871-2787 (ARTS)

---

I wrote a book!

Yes I, Larry Stark, wrote a book* --- a little novel called
ARTIST IN RESIDENCE
And you CAN buy copies of that book
--- but Only At:
THE HARVARD BOOK STORE
1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Harvard Square, Cambridge
1(617) 661-1515
What you do is go to the bookstore, pay them $20.00, and then........
Watch while their "expresso-books machine"
Prints a copy before your astonished eyes in only four minutes!
(Honest!)
It will be a "perfect-bound" paperback
slightly warm to the touch
and will fit in your pocket.
You can talk to your friends about it
You can talk to MY friends about it!
Be The First On Your Block To.....

REMINDER:
The same information you once found in The Theater Mirror
--- but with some exciting new twists that will make finding what you need easier and faster ---
is shared by
NEW ENGLAND THEATER 411.
Pay special attention to these pages:
Actor Calls
Production Team Calls
Special Announcements
Emergencies
Bargains
Coming Attractions
Attractions Now Playing
And if you have information to submit, here's how:
Submit Info
Give it a try!!!

Guess how many THEATRES there are in BOSTON

N I N E?

N I N E T E E N?

T H I R T Y - N I N E?

That's Just In BOSTON, now. Eliminate Cambridge, Newton, Waltham, etc.
Your best guess is what?

Well, I just published:

A
Theater-Lovers' Guide

to the

N I N E T Y

Theatres In Boston

You don't believe me?
Send me ten bucks (about a dime a theatre)
And I'll mail you a copy.
Or ask me next time we're in the same theatre together.

Larry Stark, 125 Amory Street #501, Roxbury,  MA 02119

Love, ===Anon.

 

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A note of pure obstinant pedantry:
THEATER is an art.
It is practiced in THEATRES.

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