Theater Review | New Jersey: 4 Decades Spent Romancing Dietrich by Anita Gates

"Puma," having its premiere at the New Jersey Repertory Company in Long Branch, takes a melodramatic look at the four-decade relationship between Marlene Dietrich and Erich Maria Remarque.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 9:00pm on March 12, 2011☆⚑

Theater Review | New Jersey: A Heap of Crosses for a Nun to Bear by Anita Gates

"Mercy and the Firefly," having its world premiere at Luna Stage, goes for shock value with a story about a Roman Catholic nun with a secret who returns to her hometown.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:09pm on February 27, 2011☆⚑

Theater Review | 'En el Tiempo de las Mariposas': Resisting Trujillo While Staying Stylish by Anita Gates

"En el Tiempo de las Mariposas," at Repertorio Español, presents the story of the Mirabal sisters and their opposition to the Dominican dictator.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 7:00pm on February 21, 2011☆⚑

Theater Review | 'Green': Planets Named for Banks, and Snobbish Robots by Anita Gates

In "Green," by Chris Harcum, one of the last human beings in the universe is arrested for being poor and artistic.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 6:41pm on February 15, 2011☆⚑

Theater Review | Connecticut: 5 Likable Players of the Blame Game by Anita Gates

Melissa James Gibson's play "This" offers a tale of friendship, sex, jealousy and grief overlaid with a quiet optimism.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:30pm on February 5, 2011☆⚑

Art Review | New Jersey: A Stage Where the Dictionary Is an Old Friend by Anita Gates

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," which won several Tonys 2005, is at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:55am on January 30, 2011☆⚑

Theater Review | New Jersey: Charlotte, the Queen of Spin Doctors by Anita Gates

Two River Theater Company's production of "Charlotte's Web" captures the tale's child-friendly warmth and the adult realities of death and friendship.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 1:00am on December 26, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | Connecticut: Talking to the Wall, and Not Liking the Answers by Anita Gates

"Shirley Valentine," by Willy Russell, is being performed at the Long Wharf Theater in New Haven through Jan. 2.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:09pm on December 19, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | New Jersey: Back to the Barricades: 'Les Miz' Reworked at 25 by Anita Gates

The new London musical production of "Les Misérables" is having its American premiere at the Paper Mill Playhouse.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:20pm on December 4, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | Connecticut: Trying Not to Let the Color Show by Anita Gates

"Bossa Nova," by Kirsten Greenidge, is being performed at Yale Repertory Theater in New Haven through Dec. 18.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:10pm on December 4, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | New Jersey: Self-Referential in Its Own Right by Anita Gates

"[title of show]" is the story of how "[title of show]"became a wildly successful bare-bones piece of theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:18pm on November 28, 2010☆⚑

Spotlight | Hartford: Adults Behaving Childishly by Anita Gates

TheaterWorks in Hartford is now staging "God of Carnage," only the second licensed production of the play since its Broadway run, which began in 2009.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:40am on November 21, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | 'Broken Nails': A Star Who Needs Help, or at Least a Hand by Anita Gates

In "Broken Nails: A Marlene Dietrich Dialogue," Anna Skubik plays both Dietrich, as a life-size puppet, and Dietrich's maid.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 6:44pm on November 16, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | Westchester: To Dad, Life Is a Game, a Really Ugly One by Anita Gates

"Welcome: This Is a Neighborhood Watch Community," by Howard Meyer, portrays a family of unpleasant adult role models.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:24pm on November 14, 2010☆⚑

Theater Review | Westchester: Wallenberg's Heroism Becomes a Musical by Anita Gates

A play based on the life of the Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Hungarian Jews during World War II has its world premiere in White Plains.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:23pm on November 14, 2010☆⚑

A Musical's Star Plays, and Admires, Warhol by Anita Gates

Randy Harrison of the Showtime series "Queer as Folk" plays the painter and film director Andy Warhol in a musical at the Yale Repertory Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:49am on December 13, 2009☆⚑