Breaking News
Another critic axed
David RooneyVariety, the so-called show biz bible, has jettisoned the full-time theater critic position held by David Rooney, simultaneously saying it will continue to review theater with the same frequency. (How many of us have heard that before?) Links to two commentaries: “The iceberg of serious, informed theatrical criticism lost another chunk,” says Kenneth Jones in playbill.com; “The critical bloodletting continues,” says Adam Feldman in Time Out N.Y.
Happier news
Cheers for Richard Christiansen. On March 1, Chicago’s Tony-winning Victory Gardens Theater named its new 109-seat studio theater after the retired chief critic for the Chicago Tribune, a key figure in the growth and recognition of Off-Loop Chicago professional theater and a longtime ATCA member. Read more under Milestones: Achievements, go directly to the Victory Gardens press release or enjoy this eye-witness tribute by Chris Jones. On our ATCA Blog page, Jonathan Abarbanel reports from the event.
Elizabeth Maupin, former ATCA chair and long-time critic for the Orlando Sentinel, retired Feb. 26 — see her announcement in the Transitions section of the Milestones page. You can follow her final Sentinel blogs through the link on the Members Blogs & Links page.
Explore the new ATCA website. It’s still under construction, but it’s not too early to give us your comments and suggestions.


