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April 2, 2025

Dear Theater Fans,

Scott Rudin, the powerful producer, retreated from show business four years ago amid allegations that he had bullied assistants. In an exclusive interview with Michael Paulson, he said that he wanted to make theater again — and has several projects in the works — after what he called “a decent amount of therapy.” As the reader comments on the piece attest, not all are ready to welcome him back with open arms — though some acknowledge his “excellent taste” as a producer of quality Broadway shows.

A couple of Broadway productions with starry casts just opened, and Jesse Green has weighed in with reviews. He called the production of David Mamet’s “Glengarry Glen Ross” a “weirdly limp revival.” As the supposed alpha among losers (a sales team featuring Bob Odenkirk, Bill Burr and Michael McKean), Kieran Culkin as Richard Roma “is no longer the master of everyone else’s neuroses; he’s neurotic himself.” As for “The Picture of Dorian Gray,” Jesse found Sarah Snook, who plays 26 roles, to be among the show’s “many wonders.” But, he added, “What you won’t find is ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray.’”

We also have Julia Jacobs’s look at a new play called “Becoming Eve,” about a transgender rabbi who leaves the Hasidic community in which she was raised; Alexis Soloski’s interview with Andrew Scott, star of another solo work, “Vanya”; Ben Brantley on the Wooster Group’s 50th anniversary and the contest between the actors playing Othello and Iago (one that has never been that easy to call).

Speaking of Othellos, here’s James Earl Jones’s beautiful performance of a monologue from the play at the Obama White House in 2009.

Please reach out to me at theaterfeedback@nytimes.com with suggestions for stories or to offer your thoughts about our coverage. And urge your friends to subscribe to this newsletter.

Have a wonderful week,
Nicole Herrington
Theater Editor

Erik Tanner for The New York Times Scott Rudin, Producer Exiled for Bad Behavior, Plans Return to Broadway Rudin stepped away from show business four years ago amid reports that he had bullied assistants. He says he has “a lot more self-control” now. By Michael Paulson

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NEWS AND FEATURES

Sara Naomi Lewkowicz for The New York Times From Hasidic Brooklyn to Off Broadway: The Life of a Trans Rabbi After disavowing her strict religious upbringing, Abby Stein came out as transgender. She is now the subject of a new play by New York Theater Workshop. By Julia Jacobs

Brian Karlsson for The New York Times Andrew Scott on ‘Vanya’: ‘Who Isn’t Sad?’ The actor calls his solo performance in Chekhov’s melancholy comedy an “endless experiment.” Even all alone, he can really fill a stage. By Alexis Soloski

Erik Carter for The New York Times, Maansi Srivastava/The New York Times, Andrew Testa for The New York Times, Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Three New Works of Theater to Share One Trait: Hope The Fisher Center at Bard has announced a wave of works by artists including Suzan-Lori Parks, Courtney Bryan, Barrie Kosky and Lisa Kron. By Joshua Barone

Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Division Othello and Iago, a Marriage Made in Both Heaven and Hell Because Shakespeare gave his hero and antihero equal weight, the contest between the actors playing them has never been that easy to call. By Ben Brantley

Vincent Tullo for The New York Times At 50, the Wooster Group Is Experimenting on Itself Elizabeth LeCompte and Kate Valk reflect on their decades of making daring theater together. Just don’t call it a nostalgic exercise. By Ben Brantley

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times An Essential ‘Buena Vista’ Song Finds Its Emotional Place on Broadway Of all the “Buena Vista Social Club” songs, the beloved “Chan Chan” is the most recognizable. But figuring out where in the musical to put it became a challenge. By Alan Light

JESSE GREEN’S BROADWAY REVIEWS

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times ‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ Review: Caveat Emptor, Suckers! Kieran Culkin, Bill Burr and Bob Odenkirk star in a bumpy revival of David Mamet’s play about salesmen with nothing worth selling. By Jesse Green

Sara Krulwich/The New York Times Review: Sarah Snook Stars in the Selfie of ‘Dorian Gray’ The “Succession” actress plays all 26 roles in this Oscar Wilde classic reimagined as a video spectacle. If only there were less screen time and more IRL contact. By Jesse Green

ADVICE FROM THE CULTURE DESK

Melanie Lambrick My Friend’s Show Was Kind of Terrible. What Do I Say When I See Them? You can always consider telling the truth, but it may not be advisable in this case. By Michael Paulson

THEATER GUIDES

Kevin Berne/Berkeley Repertory Theater 12 Plays and Musicals Across the U.S. to Brighten the Spring On stages across the country, there is no shortage of adventurous work, including plays by Lauren Yee, Larissa FastHorse and Zora Howard. By Laura Collins-Hughes