'As It Is in Heaven': Setting, story make for simply divine theater
By Candace Chaney Contributing Theater Critic
The drive out to Pleasant Hill at Shakertown is so beautiful that not even the skyrocketing price of gas can diminish the experience. It is a mark of Shaker simplicity to call it exactly what it is: pleasant. But it is also more. It is a drive into Kentucky's unique past, where the legacies of the Shaker community come alive in its preserved grounds and architecture. It comes alive even more the next two weekends with the University of Kentucky Theatre staging of Arlene Hutton's As It Is In Heaven.
Shaker play comes back to Pleasant Hill
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
SHAKERTOWN — Artists frequently come to Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill researching Shaker history or music for works they are preparing.
Actor stages his life story; opens in Lexington
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
This is a book tour. Or, it was a book tour, but now it is something completely different.
Leslie Jordan, a well-traveled character actor who won an Emmy Award for his work on Will & Grace, recently wrote a memoir about his Hollywood career and growing up as a gay man in the South. It was time to do a book tour.Natasha's books troupe from Louisville
The Louisville theater troupe Shoestring Productions is coming to Lexington for Memorial Day weekend with Edward Albee's The Zoo Story. It will be presented by Balagula Theatre at Natasha's Bistro, 110 Esplanade, at 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and 8 p.m. May 27 and 28.
'All the Great Books (Abridged)': Great cast makes it rock
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
One of the standard pieces of advice about putting together a rock band is to find people you enjoy being around, regardless of whether they are great musicians. An energy will emerge from the camaraderie that will tie everything together. The same could be said for casting one of the (Abridged) plays by the Reduced Shakespeare Co. Lexington productions of The Complete History of America (Abridged) and The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) have certainly featured some of Lexington's finer actors, but what made them work was the unified spirit of the all-in-it-together cast to convey a tremendous amount of information in as funny a way as possible.
Did they take '(Abridged)' too far?
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
An unorthodox trio of academics is set to take on the daunting task of getting more than 100 students ready for graduation by reviewing 86 of the greatest books in English literature in less than two hours.
Comedian, campaigns converge in Kentucky "Primary Focus"
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
Months ago, when Paula Poundstone was booked to perform May 16 at The Kentucky Center in Louisville, no one thought the Bluegrass State's presidential primary four days later would mean anything.Arty facts
Herald-Leader Staff Report
Studio Players' 2008-09 season features a holiday play that has been a sold-out hit in many areas and a contribution to the Lincoln bicentennial celebrations. Here's the lineup:
Copious Notes, LexGo.com picked as award finalists
Herald-Leader Staff Report
LexGo.com and staff writer Rich Copley's blog are finalists to receive major international online media awards.
Lawyer builds lots of equity in his acting career
The last time Walter May was on stage for Actors Guild of Lexington, it was the theater’s 2004 production of the three-man play Art.
"Cat on A Hot Tin Roof' comes to town
By Rich Copley rcopley@herald-leader.com
This week, Lexington theater-goers will reap the benefits of a 40-year-old graduate-student project that went very well.
Actors Guild to hold Spindletop soiree
Actors Guild of Lexington is celebrating its new production, Moonlight and Magnolias, with a soiree at Spindletop Hall, 3414 Ironworks Pike, from 7 to 10 p.m. April 26.
"Crimes of the Heart' on stage in Berea
By Cody Anderson and Andy McDonald Special to the Herald-Leader
Three sisters leading separate and chaotic lives. Alone, they struggle to overcome the toxic residue of their troubled upbringing. Together, the three siblings find solace and strength.
'Moonlight and Magnolias': Movie-making tale makes for satisfying theater
By Candace Chaney Contributing Theater Critic
Moonlight and Magnolias, the final show in Actors Guild of Lexington’s silver anniversary season, is a delightful behind-the-scenes homage to the creative grit, gristle and sheer determination involved in creating movie magic.
