Audrey Thornton

Review: ‘for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf’ at Creative and Performing Arts Center

Ntozake Shange’s music-drama, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf [“for colored girls”] (1976), comprises a seminal work of poetry, music, and improvisational dance....

Review: ‘Shake Loose’ at MetroStage

Shake Loose: A Musical Night of Blues Moods & Icons Hang on to your seats, guys and gals! Over three dozen songs – twelve never sung before at MetroStage – and a libretto comprise a whirlwind,...

‘The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe’ at Providence Players of Fairfax

As a treat for the entire family, or an early Christmas gift, there is none better than C.S. Lewis’ classic tale of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe now playing at Providence Players of Fairfax....

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Pied Piper Theatre at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Veteran director Vincent Worthington, who also serves as Set Designer and Lighing Designer of Pied Piper Theatre, masterfully lead Piped Piper Theatre’s first musical production at the Hylton...

Aquila Theatre’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Audrey Thornton

From the first scene to the last, Aquila Theatre’s riveting posthumous production of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 play, Fahrenheit 451 was superb; the best I have seen in casting, design, lighting and music...

‘World Blues’ featuring The Taj Mahal Trio, Vusi Mahlasela, and Deva Mahal with Fredericks Brown at George Mason University by Audrey Thornton

Marvelous—such a musical treat! Three fantastic acts, all for the price of one admission. Blues with a world perspective greeted patrons on Friday evening, November 15, 2013 at George Mason...

‘Dianne Reeves Presented by Strathmore’ by Audrey Thornton

Happy Birthday, Dianne! Wow! What a performance on Friday, October 18, 2013 at Strathmore! Whether fans came to bask in your signature Latin style of nearly forty years, your effortless scatting that...

‘Dancing in the Wings’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Dancing in the Wings, a musical by Debbie Allen, returns again to the Hylton Performing Arts Center on George Mason University’s Manassas Campus. Adapted from the 2000 book by Debbie Allen and Kadir...

‘Bye Bye Birdie’ at Prince William Little Theatre by Audrey Thornton

Some people, events, and songs are timeless as in the case of Bye Bye Birdie, a musical based on real life rock and roll superstar Elvis Presley’s 1958 induction into the U.S. Army. A fun production...

Jill Scott at Wolf Trap by Audrey Thornton

Three-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer, poet, and actress, Jill Scott appeared at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center on July 15, 2013. Greeted by Washington’s humid 90 degree weather, the hot and steamy...

Earth, Wind & Fire at Wolf Trap by Audrey Thornton

The musical high priests of ‘Cosmic Consciousness’ Earth, Wind & Fire played June 4, 2013 to a sold-out audience in The Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. Spanning the musical genres of...

‘Bobby McFerrin: spirityouall’ at The Kennedy Center by Audrey Thornton

Anyone fortunate enough to be within range of Bobby McFerrin’s rich voice in his final U.S. performance before embarking on a full summer international tour, in The Kennedy Center for the Performing...

‘No Man’s Land’ at WSC Avant Bard by Audrey Thornton

True to author Harold Pinter’s many talented literary works and dark psychological themes, the opening night of No Man’s Land on May 2, 2013, in the WSC Avant Bard’s new space at Theater on the Run,...

Joe Sample at The Barns at Wolf Trap by Audrey Thornton

Continuing a long tradition of top notch performances, The Barns at Wolf Trap featured the compositions of contemporary jazz pianist Joe Sample on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. Even before...

Supersized Jazz Club: ‘Fats Waller Dance Party’ at The Kennedy Center by Audrey Thornton

Curiosity enticed me out to The Kennedy Center on Friday, April 5, 2013 for the 9:30 p.m. performance of Artistic Advisor for Jazz, Jason Moran’s tribute to the jazz music of Fats Waller, billed as...

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: ‘The Gospel Truth’ Review by Audrey Thornton

In keeping with its blues-drenched hand-clapping theme, the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra (MJO), delivered another festive evening of big band tunes at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 30, 2013, at the...

Zeola Gaye’s ‘My Brother Marvin: The Stage Play’ at The Warner Theatre by Audrey Thornton

The life and music of D.C.’s own native son, Marvin Gaye (Keith Washington), one of the most gifted musical talents of the twenty-first century, came alive for a few brief hours at The Warner Theatre...

‘A Streetcar Named Desire (The Opera) at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Audrey Thornton

Virginia Opera’s third installment in their 2013 American series, A Streetcar Named Desire, an opera in three acts premiered at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Friday, March 1, 2013...

Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra: ‘Mardi Gras with the MJO’ at George Mason University by Audrey Thornton

There is no annual holiday celebration in Louisiana without Mardi Gras! According to historians, Mardi Gras, a one-day prelude to Lent dates back thousands of years to pagan celebrations of spring and...

‘Living the Dream… Singing the Dream Celebrating the Legacy of MLK’ at The Kennedy Center by Audrey Thornton

Kudos to another sold-out season performance of The Choral Arts Society of Washington and the Washington Performing Arts Society (WPAS). For the third year, the societies commanded a musical feast of...

‘Ladies Swing the Blues’ at MetroStage by Audrey Thornton

The world premiere of the musical Ladies Swing the Blues, book and lyrics by Thomas W. Jones II and music by William Knowles, was presented on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at MetroStage in Alexandria,...

‘Birdland Big Band’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

A dynamic, new ensemble directed by Tommy Igoe (Drums); Nick Marchione, August Haas, Mat Jodrell, and Brandon Lee (Trumpets); Dave Bargeron, Mark Miller and James Borowski (Trombones); Nathan...

‘Sing the Truth: Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, and Lizz Wright’ at Strathmore by Audrey Thornton

If you were fortunate enough to catch the last performance of Sing the Truth’s legendary tour at The Music Center at Strathmore on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8:00 p.m., you were part of the wildly...

‘SoLe Sanctuary’ with Savion Glover at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Audrey Thornton

Savion Glover, artist, actor, choreographer and tap dance superstar extraordinaire, is widely known to everyone, young or old, who loves tap. His latest offering, SoLe Sanctuary offers audiences a...

Choral Arts Society of Washington’s ‘Family Christmas Concert’ at The Kennedy Center by Audrey Thornton

An appreciative Washington, D.C. metro audience overflowing with young little people and their parents and grandparents, too, were treated to tales of Christmases’ past, performed in a 60 minute...

‘Christmas Gift!’ at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

A Celebration of African American Holiday Traditions Through Music and Spoken Word The premiere was, as they say, “all that.” Before an appreciative fully engaged audience Director and artistic...

‘Jazz for Justice’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Nearly twenty-five years to the day of passage of H.CON. RES 57 (12/4/87) officially designating jazz as a rare and valuable national American treasure and art form, the George Mason University Jazz...

‘Dancing in the Wings’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

If you have two hours to spare this beautiful Sunday afternoon, and want to enjoy a world-class venue in a beautiful performing arts space, hurry to reserve your family seats at the Hylton Performing...

‘Equus’ at Taking Flight Theatre Company by Audrey Thornton

Equus, Peter Shaffer’s 1973 Tony Award-winning psychological drama, inspired in part by a true story, tells the story of over-worked middle-aged psychiatrist Tel Monks (Dr. Dysart) and his young...

‘Into the Woods’ at George Mason University by Audrey Thornton

Hang on to your seats everyone! Bring your best belly laugh and strongest applause — you are in for a treat when the final musical presentation of Into the Woods takes center stage today at 4 PM at...