Writing  Samples

The Last Night of Ballyhoo

THE LAST NIGHT OF BALLYHOOby Alfred UhryDirected by Bob E. GasperMercury Theatre2745 N. Southport / (773) 325-1100 Reviewed by J.T. Bowen Originally published in CENTERSTAGE.NET www.centerstage.net Alfred Uhry writes what he knows. He knows Atlanta, and specifically,...

Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo

“Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo” by Rajiv JosephLookingglass Theatre Company The Iraq war is a topic about which a lot has been said and written. But it’s never received quite the treatment that Rajiv Joseph has given it in his play “Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo,”...

Late Night Catechism

LATE NITE CATECHISMby Vicki Quade and Maripat DonovanDirected by Marc SilviaRoyal George Theatre Center1641 N. Halsted / 312-988-9000 Reviewed by J.T. Bowen Originally published in CENTERSTAGE.NET www.centerstage.net This is the original review of the show when it was...

Blue Man Group

BLUE MAN GROUPby Matt Goldman, Phil Stanton and Chris WinkBriar Street TheatreHalsted & Briar / (773) 348-4000 Reviewed by J.T. Bowen Originally published in CENTERSTAGE.NET Blue Man Group is one of those events that is hard to describe. I use the word "event"...

An Experiment With an Air Pump

AN EXPERIMENT WITH AN AIR PUMP by Shelagh StephensonDirected by B.J. JonesNorthlight Theatre9501 Skokie Blvd., Skokie / (847) 673-6300 Reviewed by JT Bowen Originally published in CENTERSTAGE.NET www.centerstage.net There are burning questions at the heart of Shelagh...

Tantalus

TANATLUS by John BartonDirected by Peter HallDenver Center Theatre CompanyDenver Center for the Performing Arts / (800) 641-1222 Reviewed by J.T. Bowen Murder, Intrigue, Sex, Betrayal. Sounds like a soap opera doesn't it? Well, there's where you would be wrong....

The Motherf**cker with the Hat

“The Motherf**cker with the Hat” by Stephen Adly Guirgis Steppenwolf Theater Through March 3 There is a very special theatergoing opportunity at Steppenwolf, where Stephen Adly Guirgis’ monumentally enjoyable play “The Motherf**cker with the Hat,” directed by its...

The Invention of Love

THE INVENTION OF LOVE by Tom Stoppard Directed by Charles NewellStarring Paxton WhiteheadCourt Theatre5535 S. Ellis / (773) 753-4472 Reviewed by J.T. Bowen Originally published in CENTERSTAGE.NET Tom Stoppard has probably the most varied body of work of any playwright...

Theatre Etiquette: Gone But Not Forgotten

The following article was originally published on http://centerstagechicago.com in 2001 Theatre Etiquette: Gone But Not Forgotten by Joseph Bowen As a theatre artist, and as a frequent audience member, there is nothing like the experience of being in a theatre,...