Dear offoffonline Readers,

Every week, offoffonline brings you the latest on what is happening off-off Broadway with reviews and listings to current and upcoming productions on our website.

In addition to being an online resource for theatergoers and the off-off Broadway community, offoffonline also provides the opportunity for our theater critics to meet once a month for food and philosophy, inviting theater professionals of all facets of the industry, as guest speakers to share their wisdom in respective areas of the craft. With topics varying from set design to publicity, these events serve as a way for our critics to connect with one another and augment their critiquing skills.

At our last meeting, Michael Riedel, theater columnist for the New York Post, treated us to a lively discussion about everything from the latest hearsay concerning The Producers going up in London, to the stalemate politics of Broadway and the "old school" economic monopoly still present in today's New York theater community. With regards to writing, he spoke to our critics about the notion of objectivity and followed that up with an explanation of opinion reporting. His forecast for the future of journalism, of trends in both theater critiquing and general formats, was revealing and perceptive. All in all, the gathering was enlightening, entertaining, and educational.

Our new reviews this week span everything from a concert-style production of the classic musical Meet Me In St. Louis, based upon the award-winning movie that starred Judy Garland, to a contemporary rock musical, Wrong Way Up: A New Rock Musical written by and starring Robert Whaley and Tony Grimaldi of the high energy performance rock New York City-based band The Niagaras.

And for those who want to get into the Halloween sprit be sure to check out offoffonline's Pick of the Week.

New reviews on offoffonline this week include:

Hecuba, though written over 2,000 years ago, is the story of the once-great Queen who - captured during the fall of Troy and forced to plead with her captors and appeal to the Gods to save her only daughter - lashes out with a final, devastating act of violence. World-renowned voice teacher Kristin Linklater stars.

Meet Me in St. Louis, presented by the Obie Award-winning theater company Musicals Tonight! and based on the 1944 MGM film that starred Judy Garland and Margaret O'Brien, tells the story of a family living in St. Louis in the months preceding the World's Fair of 1904.

Wrong Way Up: A New Rock Musical, tells the story of a small town boy navigating his way through the rough and tumble world of the big city. The show combines the unique energy of a live rock n' roll show with the feel of improvisational theater, vaudeville, stand-up, and a little revival meeting thrown in for good measure.

There is still time to catch some shows at the following theater festivals that will be closing this weekend:

Estrogenius 2004, Halloween Festival 2004, and OKtoberfest. Please visit our website for links to the individual festival websites for more information.


Happy Theatergoing,
The Editors

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