Meet the Editor:
Welcome to “Chew the Scenery,” a self-made arts blog featuring theatre reviews and commentary. My name is Ian Kennedy and I reside in New York City. Ever since my grandmother took me to see the national tour of The Lion King in 2007, I’ve been fascinated by stories brought to life onstage. In middle school and high school, musical theatre was my obsession as I performed in countless productions of the American classics. During my time at Florida State University, I expanded the realm of my theatrical interests, finding passion in acting and criticism. I graduated in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and a Minor in English.
My favorite definition of chewing the scenery is “a scene where an actor's acting so damn hard that they're picking bits of scenery out of their teeth for days.” Whether perceived positively (a performance by Meryl Streep) or negatively (think B-rated slasher scream queen), chewing the scenery is a phenomenon that makes theatre worth watching and discussing.
Living in Manhattan, I’m fortunate to be able to attend performances both on and off Broadway as well as the obscure works staged in East Village basements. I acknowledge it is a privilege to have such access to this caliber of theatre. We’re still living in an age where theatre is primarily reserved for those with the resources to reach it, creating a homogeneous audience. I cannot stress enough the importance of discount programs, Rush tickets, lotteries, standing room, and the list goes on. I’ve dedicated a section of this site that explains the affordable ways to see theatre in New York.
In his exit interview as the former chief theatre critic at The New York Times, Ben Brantley said “I think it’s important that when you admire a show’s intentions, or its attempts to create something new, that you acknowledge this, no matter how imperfect the execution. Sometimes rawness is a virtue.” Not all theatre will be excellent. (And how monotonous if it were to be!) But finding a way to honor the successes of a production is a critic’s job. Behind every “bad” show exists an ensemble of overworked and underpaid actors, designers who will never get the applause they deserve, a stage crew whose names will not be mentioned, and musicians whose faces will remain hidden from the audience. This team has still created a living, breathing piece of art. And that is something worth celebrating.
Should you like (or maybe hate) what you read here, I hope you’ll consider reaching out for further discourse. If there’s anything I find more satisfying that crafting a review of my own, it’s listening to the critiques of my fellow theatre-goers. Language is one of our greatest gifts - may we use it wisely.