Theater Reviews

By Way Off Broadway

May 15, 2007 10:29 AM | Link to this

best play i ever saw was ‘the meeting’ about a fictional meeting between mlk, jr and malcolm x - saw it at the alliance back in the early 90’s - great play, great cast, great production, great direction but most of all the alliance theatre is such a great venue - the tony is great but can they send a check as well!!

By Carismar

May 15, 2007 10:58 AM | Link to this

The Alliance has become too race-oriented….started about 10 years ago. Good luck with expanding the base.

By Justin

May 15, 2007 11:03 AM | Link to this

I’m proud that the Alliance has won the Tony Award for outstanding regional theater. It’s been a stepping stone for the African-American Community. God Bless the Alliance!

By BPJ

May 15, 2007 11:48 AM | Link to this

Well-deserved recognition for the Alliance, and for the Atlanta theatre community. One factor which must have helped was the TCG (Theatre Communications Group) conference here last June. It is the annual meeting for the national nonprofit theatre community, and is attended by artistic directors, managing directors, and board members from around the country. Many of these people had never been to Atlanta (or had not visited in a long time). The conference was ably hosted by the Alliance, and the attendees learned about the lively theatre scene here.

Perhaps word will finally get through to the many residents here who have NO IDEA they are living in an excellent theatre town. The AJC’s planned non-coverage of the arts (no regular reviews) will not help.

By OutOfTowner

May 15, 2007 12:05 PM | Link to this

Puh-lease. The Alliance—where every show is a “High School Musical”—produces commercial, juvenile tripe with performances lacking any subtlety and programming choices demonstrating a real lack of depth or sophistication. But they fit “the ATL” perfectly. Yawn…

By Congrats, Alliance!

May 15, 2007 12:21 PM | Link to this

Even though I don’t go to the Alliance as often as to a few other theaters around town, this is certainly an impressive recognition for Atlanta’s theater community. If only more people who actually live here would recognize and support local theater!

Also, one thing the Alliance does that is especially noteworthy is its annual graduate playwriting competition. I saw “Day of the Kings” on the Hertz stage there, and it was very good. The main stage also does some exceptional work, of course — with some of the best sets I’ve ever seen! One of the best things I’ve seen at the Alliance was “Proof” a few years ago (long before the Gwyneth Paltrow movie). Excellent cast, excellent play, excellent production!

Congratulations, Alliance! But please curtail the trend of importing actors from New York or elsewhere for your big productions. There’s a lot of incredible talent right here in Atlanta, and they need the work!

By B

May 15, 2007 12:33 PM | Link to this

To OutofTowner, The Alliance Theater, I don’t believe, has ever put on High School Musical. You must be confusing The Alliance with Atlanta’s Theater of the Stars productions. The Alliance produces some of the best thought provoking and entertaining plays.

Way to go!!

By Ms. L

May 15, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

Congratulations! The award is well-deserved!

By OutOfTowner

May 15, 2007 1:57 PM | Link to this

Dear B: That’s not what I said, actually. But do you the ACVB? Either way, you should get out (of this sad city) more often. Again…Yawn…

By OutOfTowner

May 15, 2007 2:00 PM | Link to this

Dear B: That’s not what I said, actually. But do you work for the Chamber of Commerce or the ACVB? Either way, you should get out (of this sad city) more often. Again…Yawn…

By BPJ

May 15, 2007 3:23 PM | Link to this

I feel sorry for “out of towner”, who could not have seen the Alliance’s recent production of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross”, with crackling, expert performances by a cast (local actors, BTW) in a play which is anything but juvenile, and not especially commercial either. The Alliance has been doing excellent work for some time; Kenny Leon’s productions of August Wilson’s plays were as good as it gets, and Susan Booth has directed numerous intelligent, moving productions (the above-mentioned “Proof” being one).

Speaking of work that “fits the ATL” well, you should have been at the recent production of “Nine Parts of Desire” at Horizon: a full house to see 3 superb actresses play 9 Iraqi women…there was not a “yawn” in the house. I could go on about excellent work at 7 Stages, Actor’s Express, Theatrical Outfit, PushPush, the two Shakespeare companies and elsewhere……..but I’ve learned that once someone has jumped on the “there’s no culture here” bandwagon, it’s hard to get them off!

For the rest, try this: go to the Atlantix booth (one at Underground, one at Lenox), ask for a recommendation, and go see a show!

By Jenny

May 15, 2007 5:57 PM | Link to this

I think this is great for the Alliance Theatre - they do a great job with their shows and they bring a variety of performances to Atlanta.

The arts scene here is fortunante to have a Tony Award winning theatre in its company!

By highntight

May 16, 2007 12:25 AM | Link to this

Congratulations! You deserve to shine on the national stage. Thank you for giving Atlantans something to gloat about. You have done what none of our sports teams could…given us a national title!

By highntight

May 16, 2007 12:26 AM | Link to this

Congratulations! You deserve to shine on the national stage. Thank you for giving Atlantans something to gloat about. You have done what none of our sports teams could…given us a national title!

By BDF

May 16, 2007 1:02 PM | Link to this

CONGRATULATIONS to the ALLIANCE on their much deserved TONY WIN!!!

NOW…would Atlanta wake up an start supporting the numerous professional and non-professional arts organizations that so deserve it! Now, not only do we have a Grammy winning Symphony, but a Tony winning theatre company. Perhaps Theater of the Stars will be next?

By BPJ

May 16, 2007 2:42 PM | Link to this

I’m sure “highntight” meant “recently,” in reference to national sports titles…remember the ‘95 Braves?

Of course the larger point is well taken: our arts groups have generally represented us better than our sports teams.

By Brad As

May 24, 2007 8:37 AM | Link to this

What theatre couldn't do as good a job with Woodruff money funneled in and a free venue? It is a shame that they aren't better than any company in the US. Please name any other company that has such a rich uncle as Woodruff. Why don't we just thank Woodruff for buying that Tony? Having seen many works there and around town, I would have to say that MANY of the smaller and much less funded organizations do far better work. They are more hungry.