J. Wynn Rousuck

"How well does Kwame-Armah do at his own game? To put it plainly, he wins." -J. Wynn Rousuck

May 20, 2013

The history of the Chicago neighborhood of Clybourne Park has inspired great works of fiction with a timeline that stretches from 1959 to the present.

May 10, 2013

When it was released Green Day's 2004 album American Idiot was often described as a punk rock opera. Maybe music critics had a hunch then, because only a few years later the hit songs that made the album a massive success, made book co-author Michael Mayer approach Green Day's Bill Joe Armstrong with an idea for a musical. 

With Mother's Day in mind, we again bring you this special essay from J. Wynn Rousuck.

J. Wynn Rousuck gives us her predictions for the Tony's.

May 6, 2013  

In Topdog/Underdog, the characters of Booth and Lincoln were set up to share several things: an ironic set of namesakes given by their father, a difficult upbringing, and a struggle to get ahead. But, they aren't willing to share much as adults.

April 22, 2013

Maryland Morning theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews Clybourne Park which she says is one of the most produced plays at regional theatres this season.

Female U.S. military veterans cope with the same re-entry challenges as any veteran but, in many cases, the added struggle of MST (military sexual trauma).  Today, we meet veteran BriGette McCoy, who testified last month to a Senate subcommittee about the aftermath of her rape, and Patricia Lee Stotter, co-producer of the film "Service: When Women Come Marching Home".It screens tomorrow at the University of Maryland.

Nathan talks tech news with Andrew Zaleski, reporter for the news site Technically Baltimore.

This morning the House of Delegates begins debating Governor O'Malley's gun control bill.  As it stands, the measure would ban assault-style weapons and strengthen the requirements to buy a handgun in Maryland.  We talk with two of the delegates involved in the debate:  Luiz Simmons, Democrat of central Montgomery County, and Mike Smigiel, Republican of the Upper Shore.

The growing use of ‘spice’ or K-2, forms of  synthetic marijuana, has lawmakers in Annapolis worried.  They’re considering several bills to ban artificial marijuana, but drugmakers can easily change the drug’s makeup to get around a ban.  We’ll hear from a pharmacologist and a reporter.

Nathan gets the latest in the region's tech news with Technically Baltimore reporter Andrew Zaleski.

Theater Critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews the musical "The Last Five Years," now up at the Spotlighters Theatre.

March 18, 2013

"[This] is a tiny musical: two characters, 75 minutes. But it's a musical about oversized motions" -J. Wynn Rousuck

The number of babies born at home in Maryland as opposed to in hospitals is rising.  But there aren't enough providers to meet the demand. There would be more if Maryland recognized certified professional midwives, who specialize in home births.  We hear the pros and cons of licensing them.

As St. Patrick's Day draws near,  Owings Mills writer Elizabeth Bastos brings us a story about her Irish phase.

March 11, 2013