Lawrence Toppman writes on Charlotte theatre and arts

Don’t watch ‘At Any Price’ (well, maybe free)

May 23, 2013

North Carolina hasn’t produced so many directors that we can afford to blow any of them off – especially when their work has been as fresh and original as Ramin Bahrani’s. (His “Goodbye Solo,” about an African cab driver trying to acclimatize himself to life in Winston-Salem, made my top 10 list in 2008.) So I went into “At Any Price” with hopes high.

‘Q’ up for bawdy, big-hearted Theatre Charlotte musical

May 20, 2013

Tony-winner of 2004 blends naughtiness and naïveté in a winning combination.

There’s 'Proof' of quality at CAST

By Lawrence Toppman | E-mail | May 13, 2013

David Auburn’s play about mathematical brilliance and mental illness holds up well.

Many Beethoven Ninths in one performance

By Lawrence Toppman | May 10, 2013

The choral symphony passes through various moods in Christopher Warren-Green’s hands before reaching a wild ecstasy.

David Hagy has spent 25 years with the Salisbury Symphony Orchestra

‘Traces’ soars and swoops once again

By Lawrence Toppman | May 8, 2013

“Traces” is ostensibly based on extensions of everyday human movement, and I was good with that idea right up through the first nine seconds of the show.

We’ll never stop loving George Jones

By Lawrence Toppman | May 6, 2013

I followed Mr. Jones through “The Race Is On,” “Love Bug” and song after song. By high school, he occupied space on my (alphabetical) shelves next to the Joplins, Janis and Scott. I’ve always been a sucker for sincerity in any art form, and he had plenty.

Carolina Actors Studio Theatre announces its most ambitious season

By Lawrence Toppman | E-mail | May 5, 2013