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Author: Toby Zinman

Toby Zinman is a recently retired professor of English at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She was a Fulbright professor at Tel Aviv University and a visiting professor in China. She publishes widely and lectures internationally on American drama. Her fifth book, Replay: Classic Modern Drama Reimagined, was published by Methuen, and she published the essay, "Visions of Tragedy in Contemporary American Drama," in 2017. Zinman is also the chief theater critic for the Philadelphia Inquirer where she reviews New York and London as well as Philadelphia. She was named by American Theatre magazine as, “one of the 12 most influential critics in America.” Her travel writing has taken her all over the world, from dogsledding in the Yukon to hiking across England.
Reviews Theater

THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth

Toby Zinman February 10, 2023 No Comments

In the political news in the past few years, the concern has been not with the lifespan of facts, but the lifespan of lies

View More THE LIFESPAN OF A FACT (Lantern): Conveying a larger truth
Music Reviews

Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman February 6, 2023 No Comments

The Dilettante at Large is at large again, writing about the culture as an enjoyer rather than an expert. Her latest pleasure was Opera Philly’s…

View More Carmina Burana + Credo (Opera Philly): A dilettante at large review
Reviews Theater

CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here

Toby Zinman February 5, 2023 No Comments

Terrific actors playing lovable characters, important issues, snappy dialogue, and plenty of comedy

View More CLYDE’S (Arden): All the ingredients are here
Reviews Theater

KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone else is representing you?

Toby Zinman February 4, 2023 No Comments

A play is about acting as well as the political act of making theater as well as about getting it wrong through cultural appropriation

View More KISS (Wilma): What does it mean when someone else is representing you?
Reviews Theater

BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the hat to the grand old dames of comedy

Toby Zinman February 3, 2023 No Comments

Take it from this old broad, Broads, 1812 Productions’ new show, is an entertaining 75 minutes—if you like funny songs and dirty jokes.

View More BROADS (1812 Productions): A tip of the hat to the grand old dames of comedy
Theater

BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience

Toby Zinman January 28, 2023 No Comments

Benjamin Bagby takes on the role of the scop, the storyteller

View More BEOWULF (Benjamin Bagby): A rare theatrical experience
Theater

LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic?

Toby Zinman January 21, 2023 No Comments

Are you missing those bad hairdos and baggy blue suits of 1969?

View More LAST OF THE RED HOT LOVERS (Walnut): Feeling nostalgic?
Theater

[NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and still exciting controversy

Toby Zinman December 16, 2022 No Comments

Adrienne Kennedy’s crushingly beautiful play, Ohio State Murders, is making a long overdue debut on Broadway.

View More [NYC] OHIO STATE MURDERS: Still experimental, still challenging, and still exciting controversy
Theater

[NYC] SOME LIKE IT HOT: Irony-free goodness

Toby Zinman December 16, 2022 No Comments

This new musical comedy, a Big Broadway rewrite of the 1959 classic movie, Some Like it Hot, offers fabulosity: huge production numbers, flashy costumes, marvelous…

View More [NYC] SOME LIKE IT HOT: Irony-free goodness
Theater

[NYC] BECKY NURSE OF SALEM (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center)

Toby Zinman December 12, 2022 No Comments

The Crucible, has withstood all manner of productions, from starry Broadway to high school drama club, and it will withstand Sarah Ruhl’s crass replay, Becky Nurse of Salem

View More [NYC] BECKY NURSE OF SALEM (Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center)
Theater

BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review

Toby Zinman November 21, 2022 No Comments

Where are the great acts I remembered? The trained cats? the galloping horses? the iron men? the Wheel of Death?

View More BIG APPLE CIRCUS: A dilettante at large review
Theater

DEATH OF A DRIVER (InterAct): Years pass, roads are built, potholes appear

Toby Zinman November 7, 2022 No Comments

“We are together.”  This line is an often-repeated refrain in Death of a Driver, a grim new play by Will Snider presented by InterAct at the Drake’s Proscenium…

View More DEATH OF A DRIVER (InterAct): Years pass, roads are built, potholes appear
Theater

LES MISERABLES (National Tour): How do you say schmaltz in French?

Toby Zinman November 7, 2022 No Comments

Q: How do you say schmaltz in French? A:  Les Miserables. This long musical melodrama, based on Victor Hugo’s long novelistic melodrama is currently wowing…

View More LES MISERABLES (National Tour): How do you say schmaltz in French?
Theater

10 DATES WITH MAD MARY (Inis Nua): Irish charm at Fergies Pub

Toby Zinman October 28, 2022 1 Comment

Anna Faye Lieberman gives us the raging, disappointed, self-indicting, violent, drunk, lonely, and altogether wild-hearted Mary

View More 10 DATES WITH MAD MARY (Inis Nua): Irish charm at Fergies Pub
Theater

MODIGLIANI UP CLOSE at the Barnes: A dilettante at large reviews

Toby Zinman October 18, 2022 No Comments

Modigliani at the Barnes Foundation is a ravishing exhibition in a ravishing venue. 

View More MODIGLIANI UP CLOSE at the Barnes: A dilettante at large reviews
Theater

New York Reviews: LEOPOLDSTADT and COST OF LIVING:

Toby Zinman October 11, 2022 No Comments

Two meditations on misfortune show us what it is to be “laughing wild amid severest woe.”

View More New York Reviews: LEOPOLDSTADT and COST OF LIVING:
Music Reviews

OTELLO (Opera Philadelphia): A dilettante at large reviews

Toby Zinman September 26, 2022 1 Comment

This is one for the life list if you’re an opera fan.

View More OTELLO (Opera Philadelphia): A dilettante at large reviews
Theater

TRAVESTIES (Lantern): A play of ideas married to farce

Toby Zinman September 15, 2022 1 Comment

Tom Stoppard’s newest play Leopoldstadt is coming to New York, and once again he is being talked about as if he were the second coming…

View More TRAVESTIES (Lantern): A play of ideas married to farce
Fringe Festival Fringe reviews Theater

TWO-CHARACTER PLAY (IRC): 2022 Fringe review

Toby Zinman September 9, 2022 2 Comments

Nobody writes crazy, despairing, desperate women like Tennessee Williams

View More TWO-CHARACTER PLAY (IRC): 2022 Fringe review
Reviews Theater

INTO THE WOODS (Arden): A Sondheim show for grown-ups

Toby Zinman June 13, 2022 No Comments

No woods. No cutesy pop-up book set. Just three hours of pure musical theater pleasure: gorgeous melodies, clever lyrics, profound ideas and a dream cast.…

View More INTO THE WOODS (Arden): A Sondheim show for grown-ups

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