Paul Masterson

Recent Articles

Alchemist’s “Fool for Love”; too cool?

Alchemist’s “Fool for Love”; too cool?

Playwright Sam Shepard gave the company plenty of fuel in a play about passion and incest, but it doesn't burn in this production.

Marquette/Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s “Lion in Winter”

Marquette/Milwaukee Chamber Theatre’s “Lion in Winter”

Pointed comedy and royal rivalries, as succession to the British throne plays out against Christmas, 1183.

NEW! A Gay Spring for Milwaukee Theater

NEW! A Gay Spring for Milwaukee Theater

Paul Masterson rounds up three productions on gay themes or by gay playwrights.

Off the Wall stages a fierce “Mother Courage”

Off the Wall stages a fierce “Mother Courage”

Dale Gutzman's version of Bertolt Brecht's 1939 anti-war play is powerful and relevant.

NEW! Carte Blanche’s fairly healthy Moliere

NEW! Carte Blanche’s fairly healthy Moliere

Carte Blanche stages a funny, bare-bones "Imaginary Invalid."

NEW! MGAC stages a benefit for “Vagina Monologues”

NEW! MGAC stages a benefit for “Vagina Monologues”

Proceeds from the show will go to the Sojourner Truth House and the V-Day campaign.

Next Act’s “Big Boys,” a comedy of greed and power

Next Act’s “Big Boys,” a comedy of greed and power

David Cecsarini plays the corporate bully, and Norman Moses plays his cowed lackey. But people can change.

Spamalot tasty at times, moldy around the edges

Spamalot tasty at times, moldy around the edges

The Monty Python musical, on tour, landed at the Milwaukee Theatre Friday and Saturday.

Scrooge in Rouge routs holiday blahs

Scrooge in Rouge routs holiday blahs

In Tandem Theatre revives its saucy holiday hit, A Christmas Carol in which anything that can go wrong goes hilariously wrong.

Liberace reborn, at The Rep’s Stackner Cabaret

Liberace reborn, at The Rep’s Stackner Cabaret

Jack Forbes Wilson's portrayal of the pianist-entertainer opens Sunday.

Justin Spring, biographer of an outrageous life, to read Thursday

Justin Spring, biographer of an outrageous life, to read Thursday

Spring chronicled the gay life and times of Samuel Steward, English professor and Hell's Angels tattoo artist. Spring will read Thursday at the MGAC.

Boulevard Theatre’s Judgment Days for Actors

Boulevard Theatre’s Judgment Days for Actors

Your hopes and dreams dashed: Tragedy. Other guy's hopes and dreams dashed: Comedy.

New! Preview: Theatrical Tendencies, a new company
New! Preview

Theatrical Tendencies, a new company

The first show is "Thrill Me" It's about Leopold and Loeb, the notorious thrill killers. It's a musical. Really.

Shakespeare, Actors and a Master Teacher at Ten Chimneys

Shakespeare, Actors and a Master Teacher at Ten Chimneys

The Lunt-Fontanne Fellowship brings nine seasoned actors to Genessee Depot to brush up their Shakespeare with master teacher Barry Edelstein.

Review: Carte Blanche’s “Streetcar” electrified
Review

Carte Blanche’s “Streetcar” electrified

Watching Tennessee Williams' Streetcar Named Desire in such an intimate space is almost like voyeurism.

McGivern and Fiestaware come to Renaissance Theaterworks

McGivern and Fiestaware come to Renaissance Theaterworks

McGivern's one-man, 20-character show, American Fiesta, is about the quest for perfect vintage china -- and more.

Review: The Sweetest Swing in Baseball
Review

The Sweetest Swing in Baseball

Milwaukee Chamber Theater stages a play about a disturbed artist who thinks she's Daryl Strawberry. Or is she faking it?

Dick Van Patten, star of TV, stage and 10 Chimneys

Dick Van Patten, star of TV, stage and 10 Chimneys

Decades ago, Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne took young Dick Van Patten to Wisconsin to prepare him for his first Broadway role. He's back.

Shakespeare in a (black) box: Much to do for Bard lovers
Shakespeare in a (black) box

Much to do for Bard lovers

Despite the lack of a full-time company, the work of Shakespeare is getting plenty of stage time this season.

Boulevard Theatre serves up family dysfunction for Thanksgiving

Boulevard Theatre serves up family dysfunction for Thanksgiving

Christopher Durang's autobiography celebrates chaos, calamity and other tribal matters.

Review: The Producers at Carte Blance Studios
Review

The Producers at Carte Blance Studios

Jimmy Dragolovich's little stage plays host to a mega-sized musical farce with all the wincing and guffawing intact.

Q&A with Dale Gutzman and Ray Bradford for The New Century

Q&A with Dale Gutzman and Ray Bradford for The New Century

Two Milwaukee powerhouses talk about the daunting task of staging Paul Rudnick's most recent work.

Review: Picnic at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre
Review

Picnic at Milwaukee Chamber Theatre

Like an 'autumn awakening,' the latest from Milwaukee Chamber Theatre serves up sexual and emotional piques.

The demanding, delicate craft of the one-actor play

The demanding, delicate craft of the one-actor play

Success relies on the behind-the-scenes interdependence between actor and director.

A ‘Light’ shines in Waukesha

A ‘Light’ shines in Waukesha

Stage review: Waukesha Civic Theatre opens the season with musical operetta set in Florence, and brings a touch of class to the western county.

Review: “Around the World…” at Chamber Theatre
Review

“Around the World…” at Chamber Theatre

The MCT launches a unique 35th season of plays celebrating the artist with the Milwaukee premiere Jules Verne's seminal steampunk tale. Five cast members play 39 roles with aplomb under interesting circumstances.

Review: Phantom of the Opera is a feast for eyes, ears
Review

Phantom of the Opera is a feast for eyes, ears

It's a show that will please most 'Phans' and most newcomers, while a few may not get it. A look at the national tour now in Milwaukee for the month, crashing (well ... sliding) chandelier and all.

Sneak Preview: As Bees in Honey Drown at Boulevard Theatre
Sneak Preview

As Bees in Honey Drown at Boulevard Theatre

Boulevard opens its 24th season with the Milwaukee premiere of New York playwright Douglas Carter Beane's 1997 award-winning comedy satire.