Walk on Through: Confessions of a Museum Novice
The world of theater lost a vibrant voice with the passing of Gavin Creel, a man whose wit, charm, and elegance graced stages across the country. One of his final endeavors was the musical Walk on Through: Confictions of a Museum Novice, a project that allowed Creel to explore his newfound relationship with the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Commissioned by the Met, this passion project was both a personal and artistic journey for Creel, who wrote the book and score and performed in its 2023 run at MCC Theater.幸运的是，Met保留了一场2021年10月的表演录像，这使得观众可以在 YouTube 上观看， maxlength="0">Continuing to share his artistry even after his passing, this production serves as a testament to Creel’s enduring legacy and his ability to connect with audiences through his work.
[Untitled Miniature]
Experimental theater often pushes boundaries, and Joshua William Gelb’s latest project, [Untitled Miniature], is no exception. Known for his technically impressive Theater in Quarantine productions, Gelb is taking his work to new extremes with this live-digital hybrid performance. From March 25, Gelb will spend 24 nonconsecutive hours—broken into 45-minute segments over eight days—naked and confined within a tiny box measuring just 3 feet wide and under 2 feet tall. Despite the cramped quarters, Gelb’s movements will be meticulously choreographed, blending physicality and endurance art. Audiences can experience this groundbreaking piece either in person at HERE or via a live feed, making it accessible to those who prefer digital engagement. This project, reminiscent of Marina Abramovic’s endurance-based works, challenges Gelb to explore the limits of his craft and invites audiences to reflect on their own relationship with space, vulnerability, and performance art.
Beckett Briefs
Irish Repertory Theater continues to lead the charge in making live theater accessible to a broader audience. Following the conclusion of its live run, the company’s production of Beckett Briefs will be available on demand from Sunday through March 30. Directed by Ciarán O’Reilly, this 75-minute omnibus features three of Samuel Beckett’s shorter works: Not I, Play, and Krapp’s Last Tape. These pieces, as noted by Laura Collins-Hughes of The New York Times, are profoundly meditative, delving into themes of mortality and memory. Krapp’s Last Tape particularly stands out, with F. Murray Abraham delivering a masterful performance. Priced at $39—with a 20 percent discount for Irish Rep members—this digital offering is a step in the right direction for making theater more inclusive. Hopefully, more companies will follow Irish Rep’s example and embrace the potential of streaming to reach audiences who cannot attend in person.
Who Am I This Time?
As A Streetcar Named Desire takes the stage in New York once again—this time with Paul Mescal and Patsy Ferran at the Brooklyn Academy of Music—now is the perfect moment to revisit Jonathan Demme’s 1982 film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut’s Who Am I This Time?. In this charming production, Christopher Walken stars as Harry, a shy hardware store clerk who finds his voice and charisma through acting. When Helene (Susan Sarandon), a newcomer to town, is cast alongside Harry in an amateur production of Streetcar, the two outsiders form a connection that blossoms both on and off stage. The film is a tender exploration of the transformative power of acting, with Walken and Sarandon delivering performances that are both poignant and authentic. Featuring an original score by The Velvet Underground’s John Cale, Who Am I This Time? is a hidden gem that reminds us of the magic that happens when life and art intertwine. Available to stream on Hoopla and Plex, this film is a must-watch for anyone who’s ever found solace in the thrill of performing.
Grounded
PBS’s Great Performances series will premiere Grounded, a Tony Award-winning opera by composer Jeanine Tesori (Fun Home, Kimberly Akimbo) and librettist George Brant, on March 21 at 9 p.m. Based on Brant’s original play, the opera follows Jess, a former fighter-jet pilot turned drone operator, as she grapples with the emotional and psychological toll of modern warfare. While the original Off Broadway production in 2015 starred Anne Hathaway, this adaptation expands the story to include additional characters, with Emily D’Angelo taking center stage as Jess. D’Angelo’s performance has been praised as the highlight of the opera, with Zachary Woolfe of The New York Times hailing her as “the best thing about Grounded.” The production also features Ben Bliss as Jess’s husband, whose “melted-gold tenor and easygoing charm” add depth to the narrative. Directed by Michael Mayer and conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Grounded is a powerful exploration of identity, duty, and the human cost of war, captured live at the Metropolitan Opera.
A New Era of Accessible Theater
From experimental endurance art to classic film adaptations, and from live Captioned performances to on-demand streaming, the world of theater is evolving in ways that make it more accessible and inclusive than ever. Companies like Irish Repertory Theater are leading the charge by offering digital versions of their productions, ensuring that audiences who cannot attend in person can still experience the magic of live theater. Similarly, innovative artists like Joshua William Gelb are pushing the boundaries of what theater can be, blending live performance with digital technology to create entirely new forms of storytelling. As we reflect on the enduring legacy of artists like Gavin Creel and the groundbreaking work of creators like Jeanine Tesori, it becomes clear that theater is not just escaping the confines of traditional stages—it is thriving in new and unexpected ways. Whether you’re a longtime theater lover or a curious newcomer, there’s never been a better time to explore the diverse, dynamic world of live performance.
