A “Good Night” for TV: Clooney and company bring Murrow play to CNN
[Full article published in Quill Magazine June 3, 2025.] On June 7, CNN will be broadcasting, live from Broadway, “Good Night, and Good Luck,” a play written by and starring […]
2024: excavation review
Productions and events at which I counted, built collaborations, and supported theater and its creatives.
2023: excavation review
2023 on-line and in-person theater and events on which I collaborated, attended, counted, worked on coalition building to support theater and its creatives.
2022: excavation review
2022 was a continued return to viewing on line and in person theater, collaborating on theater, counting theater productions, and coalition-building on behalf of theater. The exhaustive (and exhausting) list […]
Perspectives in Criticism from Helen Shaw, our monster in the audience
[Interview by Martha Wade Steketee at the 2022 ATCA New York City conference on November 11, 2022. Originally published published on the ATCA website December 30, 2022.] New York, December […]
Dan Sullivan | ATCA emeritus and founding member, mentor, teacher
Dan Sullivan, gentle mentor, director of the O’Neill Center National Critics Institute for many years, and co-founder of the American Theatre Critics Association, passed away Tuesday of natural causes at […]
Clyde’s, Company, SIX lead 2022 Drama Desk Awards announced June 8, 2022
June 8, 2022 — 66th Annual Drama Desk Awards winners were announced today. The full list of nominees and winners are available here. The nominating committee’s special awards were announced […]
Pam Harbaugh | Theater critic and “Casserole” playwright
[Interview by Martha Wade Steketee published as part of an occasional series of “member news” by the American Theatre Critics Association February 24, 2022.] Pam Harbaugh, long-term ATCA member, critic, and arts […]
Hear the Power of Sound Design: Women making (sound) waves
[Full article published in Dramatics on line February 11, 2022. By Martha Wade Steketee.] Victoria Deiorio describes sound design as either prescriptive or creative, depending on the director. “You’re either told […]
Richard Christiansen | Critic first gentleman of America’s second city
[Feature by Martha Wade Steketee posted at American Theatre Critics Association January 21, 2022.] Richard Christiansen, critic and champion of the Chicago theater that Michael Billington called “alive, energetic, endlessly stimulating” […]
Terry Teachout | Critic, playwright, musician, and theater lover
[Feature by Martha Wade Steketee posted at American Theatre Critics Association January 14, 2022.] Terry Teachout, a drama critic and cultural columnist at the Wall Street Journal two decades, died […]
Critic Spotlight: January 2022
[Interview posted as part of a monthly interview series by the American Theatre Critics Association January 6, 2022.] Martha Wade Steketee New York, New YorkPrimary Outlet: urbanexcavations Basics first: where do […]
2021: excavation review
In 2021 — our year of continued recovery from a viral pandemic, from a devastating presidential term, from professional and social recalibrations — theater professionals including dramaturgs and critics have […]
Lindsay Christians | Conferences, events, and food
[Interview by Martha Wade Steketee published as part of an occasional series by the American Theatre Critics Association December 21, 2021.] Journalist Lindsay Christians, whose professional home base is Madison, […]
2020: excavation review
This theatrical season will always have an asterisk. The COVID-19 pandemic closed down Broadway theaters as of March 12, 2020, with an uncertain re-opening date, and Off and Off Off […]
Isabella Byrd II: Cradling in the Abyss
[Full article published in UrbanExcavations May 26, 2020, by Martha Wade Steketee.] Isabella Byrd has chased the light in her stage designs around the country in recent years, several of […]
urban excavations 