Arts

Between fiction and reality: a review of Frankenstein at McCarter Theatre

Matthews Theatre transforms into a haunted playground for humans and monsters alike. There is no telling who or what might suddenly leap from a balcony or crawl out from under the floor.

Tiger Confessions' fantastic evolution towards live performance

Spann said she was open to holding future evenings of live Tiger Confessions, so long as the demand is there for it. I, for one, would be very excited to see where these ideas lead, as “Tiger Confessions: An Evening of Song and Dramatic Reading” was a wonderful way to blow off some steam at the end of a week of classes and enjoy the start of the weekend.

Princeton conservator Bart Devolder shares a vision for the Art Museum

On May 2, Princeton University Art Museum’s conservator, Bart J.C. Devolder, delivered this year’s Friends Annual Mary Pitcairn Keating Lecture: “A New Day for Art Conservation at the Art Museum.” During his talk, Devolder outlined the past, present, and future of conservation at the museum, shedding light on his own role in this trajectory.

Review: Dudamel closes out residency with a sprinkling of magical dust at Shakespearean-inspired afternoon

For the hundreds of audience members present that afternoon, the maestro had delivered a generous helping of magical pixie dust, an awe-inspiring closure to a whirlwind residency that did not disappoint.

Review: diSiac drips with confidence

diSiac excels at pulling off choreography that appears so fluid and impulsive that it’s hard to believe it’s choreographed at all.

Yoruba Richen’s “The Green Book: Guide to Freedom” lacks an Oscar but preserves a history

Richen’s work is informative, personal, and poignant, bringing home the importance of remembering the “Green Book,“ the history that made it necessary, and the black-owned businesses it showcased. And maybe it doesn’t have an Oscar, but it preserves a history that the actual award winner uses as little more than a title and a decoration in the passenger seat. 

Review: Student production of “The Odyssey” bursts the orange bubble

Juggling, belly dancing, stepping, saxophone playing, and puppetry all came together at the Berlind Theatre this past weekend in a lively production of “The Odyssey” — a musical adaptation of Homer’s famous epic poem. The production, Victoria Davidjohn ’19 and Annabel Barry’s ’19 theater thesis, completed a four-show run with sold-out performances and over 40 Princeton students sharing the stage.

Review: Más Flow sheds awareness through dance

With ¡Qué Horror!, Más Flow danced a line between celebration and contemplation. Both its successes and shortcomings push campus culture to engage with issues such as domestic abuse in ways that go beyond the theoretical to consider personal impact.

Review: Finding connection in ‘Russian Doll’

Despite the comedic quirks in “Russian Doll,” a newly released Netflix series, the program stuns with serious reflections about mortality, self-love, and becoming a better person. 

Review: Meeting of the arts at the Roaring 20 jam

A fitting place, therefore, for Roaring 20’s annual “jam,” which intertwined some of Princeton’s best offerings, from a capella, dance, and comedy. The unique show included performances from Quipfire, BodyHype and diSiac, all squeezed into the span of 100 minutes.

Capitalism and Princeton dance companies

What boosts ticket sales? Prestige. Dance companies understand that your time and financial resources are limited, so we want you to spend them on our show. We need you to care because that’s how we survive. In the spring there are multiple shows every weekend, and we want you to know that ours is the best. 

Review: "real lies" brings clarity to our youthful exploits

real lies is produced in a place where high points feel great and low points can feel like the worst thing ever. But the show’s colorful and full-bodied message helps us better understand the balance between pleasure and pain.

Questions with Questlove

The Vagina* Monologues: A feminist production with a necessary asterisk

This weekend, student directors Sarah Varghese ‘19 and Evie Elson ‘19 brought Eve Ensler’s 1996 play “The Vagina Monologues,” a series of fifteen monologues, to life at Princeton University.

Review: BodyHype turns up the heat

This fall show was the type of performance that makes you want to dance in your seat and forget where you are entirely. This dance company was not afraid to take unexpected risks and fully realize them. BodyHype was doing its own thing, but with such an eclectic show also managed to do practically everything in “Fahrenheit.”

The masculine brutality and tragedy of XXXTentacion

Despite X’s brutality, for a generation of young people who have experienced debilitating levels of depression and anxiety as well as a staggering, increasing suicide rate, X was a disturbingly fitting generational spokesmen.

Review: The raw intimacy and tragedy of ‘A Star is Born’

“A Star Is Born” is an emotional masterpiece. The film documents the tragic love story of Ally and Jack, two musicians played astoundingly by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. Jack — an aging, severely depressed, hearing-impaired, washed-up, alcoholic rock star who dabbles in coke and pills when the booze can’t get the job done — meets Ally, a slightly younger, existentially restless waitress.

Review: The exuberance and excitement of BAC’s ‘Stranded’

BAC’s fall show “Stranded” combined technical precision in their dancing with sheer exuberance in their dancing that kept the audience entertained and excited throughout the night. 

Christmas without ‘The Crown’? Five shows from across the pond to stream right now

As we count down the weeks to winter break, here are some shows to stream from across the pond that are guaranteed to keep you entertained. 

Review: Breaking traditions in ‘Legally Blonde’

We should keep in mind that alongside shows with inclusive casting that make us think critically about traditional white narratives, we also need more shows that engage directly with minority narratives. This thoughtful rendition of “Legally Blonde” pushes the Princeton community to continue opening up these spaces in theater with intentionality.