Bev Fleisher

Sergio Mendes and Eliane Elias at The Music Center at Strathmore

Sergio Mendes and Eliane Elias ruled the stage Friday night as part of Strathmore’s Jazz Samba Project festival, celebrating Brazilian bossa nova music. Both Elias and Mendez performed some early...

Smokey Robinson Presented by WHUR at The Music Center at Strathmore

Smokey Robinson is still on fire fifty three years since he was the first artist signed to Motown Records. In an evening filled with golden oldies and a couple of newer songs, including “Love Bath,”...

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ at Pallas Theatre Collective

David Mavricos, as the confused suitor, Charles Marlow, exemplifies the quality of Pallas Theatre Collective’s production of Oliver Goldsmith’s popular farcical romp She Stoops to Conquer. Filled with...

Tom Paxton at The Barns at Wolf Trap

Tom Paxton‘s soul-stirring performance at The Barns at Wolf Trap brings us near the end of his more than 50-year career as one of America’s most influential folk singers. He retires in October, 2015...

Bhangra Blowout XXI at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium

Lisner Auditorium was filled with movement, color, dazzle and (ear-splitting) sound during Saturday night’s 21st annual Bhangra Blowout. Eight colleges vied for championship of Bhangra Blowout XXI....

‘One Mic: Marc Bamuthi Joseph: red, black, and GREEN: a blues (rbGb)’ at The Kennedy Center

Marc Bamuthi Joseph, best known as a spoken word artist, and his collaborators, raised questions and gave many ideas for discussion through a multi-layered, multi-sensory performance at The Kennedy...

‘Pilobolus’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Bev Fleisher

Founded in 1971 as a dance collective by Dartmouth College students, this company still wears its revolutionary stripes on its sleeves. Pilobolus was named after a barnyard fungus that propels its...

The Kennedy Center and Pro Musica Hebraica Present: An Evening of Jewish Music and Poetry: Evgeny Kissin at The Kennedy Center by Bev Fleisher

Pro Musica Hebraica ended its seventh season in the packed Kennedy Center Concert Hall with a moving evening of music and poetry, both rendered exquisite by pianist and lover of Yiddish poetry, Evgeny...

‘Rent’ at American University by Bev Fleisher

Jonathan Larson, who wrote the original book, music and lyrics for Rent, summarized the musical in one sentence: ‘Rent is about a community and about celebrating life in the face of death and AIDS at...

Angelique Kidjo at Lisner Auditorium by Bev Fleisher

Béninoise singer-songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo worked most of the audience into an exuberant dancing frenzy at her performance last night at Lisner Auditorium. Her 17-song set combined the...

‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.’ at Bravo@KAT by Bev Fleisher

All of us were raised with the enchantment of fairy tales, from Thumbelina (Hans Christian Andersen) and Cinderella (Charles Perrault), to Rapunzel (Brothers Grimm), many of them later popularized by...

‘Ragtime’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Bev Fleisher

I am a big fan of The Little Theatre of Alexandria because of their consistency in presenting top-notch productions – which always run like clockwork – so I was disappointed that their opening night...

‘Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song’ at MetroStage by Bev Fleisher

The press opening performance of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines, was a tour de force. I strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in...

‘An Inspector Calls’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Bev Fleisher

Who-done-its often involve multiple twists and turns, dead ends, and tangential material —all leading to the capture of the criminal and justice served at the last moment. Director Laurie Freed did a...

‘Les Misérables’ at Reston Community Players by Beverly Fleisher

Reston Community Players’ production of Les Misérables is la plupart magnifique! From the moment the curtain rose on a group of prisoners, including Jean Valjean, toiling in misery to “Look Down,” to...

Christie Dashiell at The Mansion at Strathmore by Beverly Fleisher

Christie Dashiell and her band graced the stage at the Mansion at Strathmore on Wednesday night with a seven-song set. Her skills as a jazz vocalist and composer brought joy throughout the...

Sultans of String Presented by Strathmore by Bev Fleisher

In their first appearance at Strathmore, the Sultans of String sold out the house at the Mansion at Strathmore, and swept their audience away on a musical adventure they will not soon forget. Each of...

‘A Broadway Christmas Carol’ at MetroStage by Bev Fleisher

For anyone tired of the ‘same old, same old’ holiday offerings, or others looking for something to add to the tradition fare, A Broadway Christmas Carol is a joyous and wonderfully wrapped holiday...

‘In the Heights’ at Act Two @ Levine by Bev Fleisher

Those voices! That dancing! The acting! I was among the audience members who leapt to their feet for a hearty standing ovation to the cast and all of the behind-the scene-workers who obviously had put...

Lar Lubovitch Dance Company at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Bev Fleisher

According to Jackson Pollock, “Art isn’t finished until someone sees it.” Similarly, Lar Lubovitch expressed verbally and through choreography that “Dance doesn’t find meaning until the audience...

‘The Kronos Quartet 40th Anniversary’ at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Bev Fleisher

I never expect less than the finest performances from the the Kronos Quartet. The Quartet presented yet another outstanding demonstration of their virtuosity at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center at...

‘The Idan Raichel Project’ at Lisner Auditorium by Bev Fleisher

The Idan Raichel Project brought down the packed house at Lisner Auditorium Tuesday night. True to their reputation, this collaboration of artists reflecting the origin of many Israeli minorities was...

Jason Downs’ ‘Why Am I Not Famous” at Howard Community College by Bev Fleisher

Jason Downs’ Why Am I Not Famous is more of a fireside chat that is breezy and entertaining as the fire is struck and grows, then deeper and reflective as the coals die down. It is also a dialogue about...

‘Hurt Village’ at Howard University’s Department of Theatre Arts by Bev Fleisher

The tension rises before the lights in this riveting production of Hurt Village by Katori Hall and powerfully directed by Eric Ruffin. Howard University has always been respected for their dynamite...

‘Unplugged’ at Flying V Theatre Company by Bev Fleisher

Got 10 bucks? Meet the Flying V Theatre Company and their enchanting world premier of Unplugged. You’ve got to see it to believe it, and if you go you will have an eternal good time! Go ASAP so you’ll...

‘Broke-ology’ at Theater Alliance by Bev Fleisher

Broke-ology, Theater Alliance’s inaugural production at the Anacostia Playhouse, is a celebration of ensemble work. There was no barrier between the stage and the audience or between the characters’...

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin at Wolf Trap by Bev Fleisher

Yes, Virginia, ‘The Twist and Shout,’ formerly a dance haven in the Elks Lodge in Bethesda, is still alive whenever Mary Chapin Carpenter steps on stage. “Down at the Twist and Shout” was one of the...

‘Crazy for You’ at Rockville Musical Theatre by Bev Fleisher

What a delight! For me, musical theater is pure escapism: I can be entertained, tap my foot to the music, and sometimes even sing along with the cast (softly, of course). I leave the theater with a...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘A Guide to Dancing Naked’ by Bev Fleisher

Sit down girl; we’ve got to talk! When did you last really see those mmm-mmm legs or that gorgeous curve of your shoulder? Probably not since you were a child who relished the freedom of stripping off...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘Polaroid Stories’ by Bev Fleisher

Make sure you see this fine ensemble before July 27th, or you will never be able to say “I knew them when ….” This production was first staged at American University as Blind Pug Arts Collective’s...

Capital: Fringe Review: ‘Sanka, Ya Dead Mon?’ by Bev Fleisher

Within three minutes of bursting onto the stage, Ben (Manu Kumasi), had the audience eating out of his hand. His attitude, singing and dancing was one giant invitation to join in his story of love and...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘Dementia Melodies: It Ain’t Over ‘Til It’s Over’ by Steve Little

Steve Little opens his one man show with a simple tale: An elderly man goes to the village shaman to complain of general aches and pain. The shaman first asks, “When did you stop singing?” followed by...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘Funny Stories 2’ by Bev Fleisher

I was prepared for stories with odd twists and pithiness that only a great story teller can pull off. James Judd did not disappoint. He is a master in showing the heightening and changing of emotions...