Laura Collins-Hughes
@collinshughes.bsky.social
Reporter/critic writing about theater, mostly. • Posting about theater, culture, journalism, NYC. • The world of the play has its own rules. • Curiosity saved the cat. • Freelance. • laura.collinshughes@gmail.com
Side effect of seeing "The Seat of Our Pants": catching yourself going around cheerfully humming "The World Is Ending."
November 15, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Side effect of seeing "The Seat of Our Pants": catching yourself going around cheerfully humming "The World Is Ending."
"Quadrophenia: A Rock Ballet" is only at City Center through Sunday, but if you love that album, GO. It is so beautifully done — music, dance, design. And then there is Pete, walking on with a guitar, sitting down stage right and playing "I'm One." Exquisite.
November 15, 2025 at 3:11 AM
"Quadrophenia: A Rock Ballet" is only at City Center through Sunday, but if you love that album, GO. It is so beautifully done — music, dance, design. And then there is Pete, walking on with a guitar, sitting down stage right and playing "I'm One." Exquisite.
Guy walking down the aisle pre-ballet to guy walking up the aisle: "You look so dapper, man." Then, lowering his voice, to the woman he was with: "I gotta get a stylist for the Dance Hall of Fame."
November 15, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Guy walking down the aisle pre-ballet to guy walking up the aisle: "You look so dapper, man." Then, lowering his voice, to the woman he was with: "I gotta get a stylist for the Dance Hall of Fame."
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
Shocked to hear of the death of Rachel Cooke at 56 — I didn’t even know she was ill. I always enjoyed reading her reviews and features: she brightened any page of the paper.
Remembering Rachel Cooke | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Shocked to hear of the death of Rachel Cooke at 56 — I didn’t even know she was ill. I always enjoyed reading her reviews and features: she brightened any page of the paper.
On Ethan Lipton’s new musical “The Seat of Our Pants” at the Public, starring an indelible Ruthie Ann Miles in a dream-team cast. That first act? *Stunning*. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/t...
‘The Seat of Our Pants’ Review: Songs for the World’s End
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:26 PM
On Ethan Lipton’s new musical “The Seat of Our Pants” at the Public, starring an indelible Ruthie Ann Miles in a dream-team cast. That first act? *Stunning*. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/t...
There are times when I’m really glad I can read a story in Nexis rather than add my click to the pile.
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
There are times when I’m really glad I can read a story in Nexis rather than add my click to the pile.
(I didn’t really buy this “Oedipus.”)
November 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
(I didn’t really buy this “Oedipus.”)
“The Baker’s Wife” at Classic Stage Company is so “Only Murders in the Building”-coded. First, there’s Scott Bakula’s really lovely and moving performance as Aimable, the baker. Then right around the corner is a Schmackary’s.
November 14, 2025 at 5:55 AM
“The Baker’s Wife” at Classic Stage Company is so “Only Murders in the Building”-coded. First, there’s Scott Bakula’s really lovely and moving performance as Aimable, the baker. Then right around the corner is a Schmackary’s.
Hell of a news cycle to be playing Jocasta in Robert Icke's spin on "Oedipus."
November 13, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Hell of a news cycle to be playing Jocasta in Robert Icke's spin on "Oedipus."
The Public has added “Seagull: True Story” to its season, running March 22-April 26. Really good news.
I know: You don’t need to see another riff on Chekhov’s “Seagull.” Except you do! Alexander Molochnikov and Eli Rarey’s “Seagull: True Story” is bold, intelligent, funny, chilling, freewheeling, sly. An unsettlingly timely tale of artistry and tyranny, at La MaMa through June 1.
📷 Frederick Charles
📷 Frederick Charles
November 12, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The Public has added “Seagull: True Story” to its season, running March 22-April 26. Really good news.
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
Let Men Read Books
November 10, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Let Men Read Books
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
Astonishing: Bovino and his agents showed up at the Bean this morning to pose for pictures. While Border Patrol snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” The neighborhood where they are least welcome and most acutely felt. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Border Patrol Agents Pose At 'The Bean' For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, Little Village!"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Astonishing: Bovino and his agents showed up at the Bean this morning to pose for pictures. While Border Patrol snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’” The neighborhood where they are least welcome and most acutely felt. blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
On Anne Washburn’s darkly enigmatic new play, “The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire.” (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
‘The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire’ Review: The Pyre’s Afterglow
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:57 PM
On Anne Washburn’s darkly enigmatic new play, “The Burning Cauldron of Fiery Fire.” (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/t...
On “The Queen of Versailles,” starring Kristin Chenoweth: a musical that looks like a celebration of vulgar decadence but is a critique of winner-take-all capitalism instead. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/t...
In ‘The Queen of Versailles,’ Kristin Chenoweth Can’t Get Enough
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 AM
On “The Queen of Versailles,” starring Kristin Chenoweth: a musical that looks like a celebration of vulgar decadence but is a critique of winner-take-all capitalism instead. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/t...
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
This would be great--and I don't mean "Here's why that thing you like is actually terrible and bad for The Cause," which is what it too often slips into. You can offer a progressive take on culture without being the giant scold who ruins every Thanksgiving!
broken record on this but a similarly great beat for left wing media would be covering arts and culture and not just focusing primarily on politics and current events because there's a massive void there right now
it does seem like there’s a major—though potentially fleeting—opportunity to invest in left-wing media. more than a million people in the most populous city in america just enthusiastically elected a democratic socialist and the world is watching. putting $$ towards left media rn is good business.
November 7, 2025 at 4:35 AM
This would be great--and I don't mean "Here's why that thing you like is actually terrible and bad for The Cause," which is what it too often slips into. You can offer a progressive take on culture without being the giant scold who ruins every Thanksgiving!
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
broken record on this but a similarly great beat for left wing media would be covering arts and culture and not just focusing primarily on politics and current events because there's a massive void there right now
it does seem like there’s a major—though potentially fleeting—opportunity to invest in left-wing media. more than a million people in the most populous city in america just enthusiastically elected a democratic socialist and the world is watching. putting $$ towards left media rn is good business.
November 7, 2025 at 3:43 AM
broken record on this but a similarly great beat for left wing media would be covering arts and culture and not just focusing primarily on politics and current events because there's a massive void there right now
Look at the moon.
November 6, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Look at the moon.
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
This also affirms my conviction that women (under patriarchy) are always either too much or not enough, and sometimes because we are so tricky both at once.
November 6, 2025 at 9:48 PM
This also affirms my conviction that women (under patriarchy) are always either too much or not enough, and sometimes because we are so tricky both at once.
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
Thanks to this morning's Bluesky discourse I'm suddenly thinking about this 1971 letter from artist Nancy Spero to critic Lucy Lippard www.si.edu/object/nancy...
November 6, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Thanks to this morning's Bluesky discourse I'm suddenly thinking about this 1971 letter from artist Nancy Spero to critic Lucy Lippard www.si.edu/object/nancy...
I think so often of the playwright who went to college with the enraging podcaster and told me, years ago, that he has always been like this. Imagine being like this so young. And staying that way.
November 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
I think so often of the playwright who went to college with the enraging podcaster and told me, years ago, that he has always been like this. Imagine being like this so young. And staying that way.
“Ragtime” sticking around, extending through June 14, is such happy news. Life as it should be.
On Lear deBessonet’s “Ragtime” revival at Lincoln Center Theater. (gift link) www.nytimes.com/2025/10/16/t...
‘Ragtime’ Review: Checking the Status of Our American Dream
www.nytimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
“Ragtime” sticking around, extending through June 14, is such happy news. Life as it should be.
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
Should women be allowed in public, y/n?
November 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Should women be allowed in public, y/n?
Reposted by Laura Collins-Hughes
The way my taxi driver stepped on it just now when I told him he was taking me to see Mamdani in Queens
November 5, 2025 at 3:37 PM
The way my taxi driver stepped on it just now when I told him he was taking me to see Mamdani in Queens