Sam Shepherd, McGill University, Author at Study Breaks

My Problem With ‘Dear Evan Hansen’

The hit Broadway musical sidesteps a frank portrayal of teenage suicide in favor of a half-baked portrait of teenage mental health.…

September 4, 2019

Broadway-bound composers and producers should look to the Classics for musical theater inspiration.…

August 30, 2019

Aaron Sorkin’s adaption of the beloved Harper Lee novel tinkers with conventions of a classic American story.…

August 23, 2019

Four seasons and over a hundred music videos in, the musical comedy has provided loads of laughs and moments of introspection.…

August 16, 2019

Director Lulu Wang combines comedy, tragedy and insight into the Chinese experience to create a near-perfect summer movie.…

August 12, 2019

I abandoned my smartphone for a 24-hour personal study, and my findings surprised me.…

August 5, 2019

This sitcom tackles Hollywood cynicism with a hilarious and open heart.…

July 26, 2019

Give beef a break and indulge in one of these meat-free creations.…

July 13, 2019

An emphasis on individual narratives allows this miniseries to open eyes to injustice.…

July 6, 2019

Broadway is getting better, but The Great White Way still has ways to go before becoming truly accessible.…

July 5, 2019

This uniquely Canadian podcast and radio show uses the debate format for laughs, and oftentimes, adds some insight into political discourse.…

July 1, 2019

When straight singers write LGBTQ+ anthems, can the final product ever do more than pander?…

June 30, 2019

The touching tale of pen pals, outcasts and chocolate hot dogs deserves a second act.…

June 9, 2019

Because there's more to growing up than 'The Catcher in the Rye.'…

June 3, 2019