by Chris Peterson
Every so often, the theatre world gets a piece of news that just feels right, like a course correction you didn’t realize you were craving until it arrives. That’s how it felt when I saw the headline announcing that Helen Shaw has been named the chief theatre critic for the New York Times. I actually said “good” out loud, alone in my office, because sometimes the universe does make the smart choice. And sometimes it even makes the inspired one.
I’ve been following Helen Shaw’s writing for years. Her name has popped up again and again in conversations about who really understands the art form, who loves it enough to interrogate it, who approaches it with curiosity rather than ego.
And honestly, this moment feels earned. Shaw has been doing the work across so many corners of the field, from downtown theatre to the biggest Broadway titles, and she has never written like someone trying to impress a gatekeeper.
It’s easy to forget how much power the chief critic at the Times actually holds. Reviews don’t make or break shows the way they used to, and the ecosystem of criticism is far more diverse now, which is a good thing. But the Times still shapes the national conversation. When it chooses to pay attention to someone, the rest of the country tends to follow. And when it elevates someone like Shaw to its highest critical seat, it sends a message about what kind of theatre gets taken seriously, what stories deserve real consideration, and what artistry deserves a deeper look.
That’s why this appointment feels hopeful to me. And nothing against Jesse Green or the other folks who have held this title, I think the Times has been missing this kind of perspective in its top job for a while. Shaw disrupts that.
More than anything, though, I’m just happy for her. And selfishly, I’m happy for us. Because if the Times is going to have this much influence, I want the person steering that ship to be someone who brings curiosity instead of cynicism. Shaw has always done that. Now she gets to do it with a reach that matches her talent.
Helen Shaw has been doing the best criticism in the country for a long time. Now she gets to do it from the place where it can matter even more. I can’t think of anyone better suited, and I can’t think of a moment when we’ve needed her voice more.
