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THEATER CRITIC

Christine Dolen
Christine Dolen has been The Herald's theater critic since 1979. She has been a fellow at the National Critics' Institute and at Stanford University, and in 1999 was a Senior Fellow in the National Arts Journalism Program at Columbia University. She has served as a Pulitzer Prize drama juror and has won first place in arts writing in the Missouri Lifestyles Journalism Awards.
cdolen@herald.com.
  • Janet Weakley's Joyce gets between her son Jared (Clay Cartland) and parnter Phyllis (Merry Jo Cortada) in Annie Baker's 'Body Awareness.'

    Theater Review

    A stranger stirs up a family in ‘Body Awareness’

    Island City and Empire Stage join forces in a well-acted, complicated play by Annie Baker. Photo Gallery Available

  • The cast of 'Jerry's Girls' at Stage Door Theatre gives the audience Dolly Levi times six in the first-act finale.

    Theater Review

    Stage Door celebrates a legend in ‘Jerry’s Girls’

    Six versatile performers deliver the work of the man who got Mame and Dolly singing. Photo Gallery Available

  • Tuesday (Ashley Price) and Kevin (Gabe Hammad) reconnect in David Michael Sirois' 'Brothers Beckett' at the Arsht Center.

    Theater Review

    ‘Brothers Beckett’ gets a showcase at the Arsht

    David Michael Sirois’ hit is a funny, knowing look at siblings who won’t grow up. Photo Gallery Available

  • Behind Jose-Luis Lopez as Graffiti Pete, the cast of 'In the Heights' exudes a joyous spirit and love for their neighborhood in the Tony Award-winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

    Theater Review

    Actors’ Playhouse delivers a joyful ‘In the Heights’

    A resonant made-in-Manhattan musical hits all the right notes in diverse South Florida. Photo Gallery Available

  • The actors of Chile's Teatro Cinema perform the live 'Sin sangre' surrounded by shifting filmed images.

    On stage

    Chile’s Teatro Cinema marries theater and film

    With ‘Sin sangre,’ the company is bringing a dark revenge tale to the Colony Theatre. Photo Gallery Available

  • Gabe Hammad and David Michael Sirois get testy over a game of backgammon in 'Brothers Becket' at the Arsht Center's Carnival Studio Theater.

    ‘Brothers Beckett’

    Growing up is hard to do for brothers Kevin and Brad Beckett, the roomies at the center of David Michael Sirois’ darkly hilarious ‘Brothers Beckett.’ A smash when it premiered at Alliance Theatre Lab in 2011, the Carbonell Award-nominated play is being showcased at the Carnival Studio Theater in the Arsht Center through March 24. Gabe Hammad, left, plays Kevin Beckett, Sirois his bro Brad. Mark Della Ventura returns as the brothers’ pal Doug, with Ashley Price as Kevin’s girlfriend and Julie Daniels as a germaphobic meteorologist. Performances are 7:30 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday at the Arsht, 1300 Biscayne Blvd., Miami. Tickets are $35. Call 305-949-6722 or visit www.arshtcenter.org.

  • The beauty shop ladies (from left) -- Christie Prades as Vanessa, Elise Santora as Daniela and Alicia Taylor Tomasko as Carla -- keep track of the neighborhood in 'In the Heights' at Actors' Playhouse.

    ‘In the Heights’ takes on the flavors of Miami

    Actors’ Playhouse celebrates its 25th anniversary with Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Tony-winning triumph ‘In the Heights.’ Photo Gallery Available

  • Sally Bondi, Avi Hoffman, Krisha Marcano and Patti Gardner (seated) are the naughty1920s characters in the Boca Raton Theatre Guild's 'Chicago.'

    Theater Review

    ‘Chicago’ brings its razzle dazzle to Boca Raton

    The leads shine in an uneven production of the long-running Broadway hit. Photo Gallery Available

  • Emily Padgett and Matthew Hydzik feel the romantic magic in 'Flashdance' at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

    ‘Flashdance the Musical’: A blue-collar movie fairy tale is reborn

    A fresh take on the ’80s movie ‘Flashdance’ hits the stage at Broward Center Photo Gallery Available

  • Krisha Marcano (left) is Velma Kelly, Patti Gardner is Roxie Hart in the Boca Raton Theatre Guild's 'Chicago.'

    ‘Chicago’

    The old razzle-dazzle comes to the stage of the Willow Theatre when the Boca Raton Theatre Guild opens its production of the enduring John Kander-Fred Ebb musical hit ‘Chicago.’ Krisha Marcano, left, plays Velma Kelly opposite Patti Gardner as Roxie Hart in the show about two dames who make a killing in showbiz once murder makes them marketable. The show runs through March 17 at the Willow in Sugar Sand Park, 300 S. Military Tr., Boca Raton. Performances are 8 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Saturday-Sunday. Tickets are $35. Call 561-347-3948 or visit www.brtg.org.

  • A frustrated Brian Hutchison is ready to murder Stefanie Powers' Tallulah Bankhead in 'Looped' at the Parker Playhouse.

    Theater Review

    ‘Looped’ offers a wild, touching Tallulah Bankhead

    At the Parker Playhouse, Stefanie Powers wears the persona of her former costar well. Photo Gallery Available

  • Living the good life on South Beach in 'Extended Stay' by The Project [Theatre] are Alex Alvarez, Glays Ramirez, Troy Davidson, Chris Diaz and Maria Corina.

    theater

    The Arsht’s Miami Made showcases eclectic new work

    A reality TV sendup, three plays and a dance piece are in the all-free lineup. Photo Gallery Available

  • A young woman brings her desperately sick baby to a streetcorner church in Harlem in APPACT's 'The Amen Corner.'

    Theater Review

    The lessons of ‘The Amen Corner’ live on

    The African American Performing Arts Community Theatre tackles a resonant James Baldwin play. Photo Gallery Available

  • The women preoccupied with fitness in 'Waistwatchers the Musical!' are (from top) Katie Angell Thomas, Missy McArdle, Shelley Keelor and Jeanne Bennett.

    Theater Review

    ‘Waistwatchers’ works up a sweat at the Plaza Theatre

    A collection of parody songs about exercise, men and more appeals to mature gals who just wanna have fun. Photo Gallery Available

  • Tallulah Bankhead played a religious fanatic, Stefanie Powers the woman she's menacing in the 1965 movie 'Die, Die, My Darling.'

    theater

    An eccentric Tallulah Bankhead is back in ‘Looped’

    Star Stefanie Powers channels her onetime costar in Matthew Lombardo’s fiery comedy. Photo Gallery Available

  • André L. Gainey and Brandiss Seward play a jazz musician and a preacher in James Baldwin's 'The Amen Corner,' an African-American Performing Arts Community Theatre production.

    Stage Pick

    André L. Gainey plays a dying jazz musician, Brandiss Seward a preacher who is the musician’s estranged wife in James Baldwin’s ‘The Amen Corner,’ a play about a fractured family. The African American Performing Arts Community Theatre production previews Friday, opens Saturday and runs through March 17 at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., Miami. Performances are 8 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 3 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 ($15 for Friday and Sunday shows on opening weekend, $25 for opening night). Call 305-456-0287 or visit www.aapact.com.

  • Kevin Reilley plays an envious playwright, with Janet Weakley as his worried wife in Stage Door Theatre's 'Deathtrap.'

    Theater Review

    Stage Door revives Ira Levin’s ‘Deathtrap’

    The twists and turns of a comic thriller are less than electric for anyone who knows the play. Photo Gallery Available

  • Annie Purcell considers her late lover's captured memories in the Denver Center Theatre Company's 'Ed, Downloaded.'

    Theater

    Florida playwrights soar at a Denver festival

    Lauren Feldman and Matthew Lopez get their work done at the Colorado New Play Summit. Photo Gallery Available

  • Scott Douglas Wilson's Willmore is drawn to Nori Teckosky's Hellena, to the dismay of Lela Elam's Angellica, in Thinking Cap Theatre's 'The Rover.'

    Theater Review

    Thinking Cap rocks a classic sex comedy

    Nicole Stodard’s small Fort Lauderdale company brings attitude and style to ‘The Rover.’ Photo Gallery Available

  • Ethan Henry plays the restless Walter Younger, Pat Bowie his mother Lena in Palm Beach Dramaworks' 'A Raisin in the Sun.'

    Stage Pick

    Lorraine Hansberry’s moving Broadway classic, ‘A Raisin in the Sun,’ is getting a superb production through March 3 at Palm Beach Dramaworks. Ethan Henry plays the restless Walter Lee Younger, Pat Bowie his decisive mother Lena in a play undiminished in power. Performances are 8 p.m. Wednesday-Saturday, 7 p.m. Sunday, 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday-Sunday. Tickets are $55. Dramaworks is at 201 Clematis St., West Palm Beach. Call 561-514-4042 or visit www.palmbeachdworks.org.

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