David Friscic

‘Florencia in the Amazon’ at Washington National Opera

A mystical and lushly romantic journey down the Amazon River is only the beginning of the fully absorbing and richly textured production of the current offering of the Washington National Opera (WNO),...

‘Sunday in the Park with George’ at Signature Theatre

Like the pointillist dots that fill the canvas of Georges Seurat’s masterful painting A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, each element of Signature Theatre’s stunning production of...

‘An Evening with Danny Kaye’ at The American Century Theater

Brian Childers IS the exact personification of Danny Kaye in the wonderfully amusing and slightly manic current production at The American Century Theater (TACT), An Evening with Danny Kaye. Childers...

‘Carrie: The Musical’ at The Studio Theatre

There are horrific and spellbinding moments aplenty to savor in Studio Theatre’s SecondStage current production of the alternately beloved and reviled camp, cult classic musical Carrie. Based on the...

‘Side Show’ at The Kennedy Center

Come Look at the Freaks!” intones the carnival barker at the opening of the unique and musically eclectic and beloved cult musical Side Show and you cannot look away. Now playing at The Kennedy...

Diane Schuur at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club

Two–time Grammy Award winner Diane Schuur showcased her blazing and versatile musical talent in a powerhouse, perfectly-pitched concert at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club on Friday, June 6th...

‘Ordinary Days’ at Round House Theatre

There is certainly nothing ordinary about Round House Theatre’s current production entitled Ordinary Days. Indeed, how often does one come across a totally “sung-through” meditation on relationships...

‘Judgment at Nuremberg’ at The American Century Theater

The American Century Theater (TACT) has offered the DC Metro theatergoer a chance to see a classic rarely produced play, Abby Mann’s Judgment at Nuremberg, and they have succeeded in presenting a...

‘A Gay Man’s Guide to Broadway’ With Special Guest Laura Benanti

The respected and accomplished Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C. (GMCW) certainly progressed through the canon of “gay-friendly” songs (i.e.: songs written by Gay writers, songs adored by the Gay...

‘The Admission’ at The Studio Theatre

In playwright Motti Lerner’s provocative and relevant play, The Admission, now playing at The Studio Theatre (as originally produced by Theater J), the question of when does the personal become the...

Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Megan Hilty at The Kennedy Center

Stage, film, and television star, Megan Hilty wowed the audience at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater last night with an eclectic concert that proved that Hilty is the sort of striking talent that...

‘Faith Healer’ at Quotidian Theatre Company

Quotidian Theatre Company’s production of Brian Friel’s play Faith Healer is a superlative exploration of the theme of the fallibility of memory versus reality. This intimate play consisting of three...

‘Moth’ at The Studio Theatre’s 2ndStage

There’s more than a flickering of interesting technique and stimulating acting in the production (U.S.Premiere) of the play Moth by playwright Declan Greene currently playing at Studio Theatre’s...

The Energy and Commitment of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC

I was very pleased to attend the recent musical offering of the esteemed Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC, (GMCW), Von Trapped, which was presented on March 14-16, 2014 at The George Washington...

Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Brian d’Arcy James at The Kennedy Center

With precise control and an air of cosmopolitan confidence, the prolific Brian d’Arcy James captivated The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater in his unique concert Friday night. Careening through a set...

‘Spring Awakening’ at Kensington Arts Theatre by David Friscic

I had never seen a production of Spring Awakening before so I was thrilled to attend the current production now playing at the highly –esteemed Kensington Arts Theatre(though, indeed, I had heard the...

‘An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

If you were going to create a time capsule to preserve a glorious musical theatre partnership, you need look no further than Mandy and Patti in Concert now playing at The Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower...

‘Let’s Fall in Love: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings Streisand, Songbook Classics, & More’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

A Valentine’s Day treat was offered to all those who were lucky enough to attend celebrated jazz and cabaret artist Ann Hampton Callaway’s concert Let’s Fall in Love: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings...

‘Seminar’ at Round House Theatre by David Friscic

Floating windows at the top of the stage! That Is not, necessarily, the first thing you marvel at in the Round House Theatre’s current and stimulating new play Seminar for, indeed, all the elements of...

‘The Best Man’ at The Keegan Theatre by David Friscic

The Keegan Theatre’s current production of Gore Vidal’s political drama The Best Man is solid entertainment in the best sense of the word. Never having read the play or having seen any previous stage...

‘The Tallest Tree in the Forest’ at Arena Stage by David Friscic

The epic journey of the civil rights movement, the political struggles of the times, and the fruitless hatred of humankind towards those they do not understand are beautifully realized –and mirrored...

‘Bang the Drum Slowly’ at The American Century Theater by David Friscic

The American Century Theater (TACT), a stalwart presence in the DC area theatre community, is now presenting the stage adaptation by Eric Simonson of Mark Harris’ novel (the second in a series of...

‘The Lyons’ at Round House Theatre by David Friscic

Like a pride of carnivorous lions, the Lyons family is aggressively on the prowl for laughs (underneath the pain) In playwright Nicky Silver’s The Lyons now playing at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre....

Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Lucie Arnaz at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

I came away from Lucie Arnaz‘s concert at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre with a blissed-out feeling of elation. An invigorating combination of sheer professionalism and pure show-biz panache...

‘The Woman in Black’ at The Keegan Theatre by David Friscic

It’s good that the Keegan Theatre has not modernized its home on Church Street yet for the musty, slightly decrepit, and highly atmospheric surroundings of this venerable old building make a perfect...

‘Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Tommy Tune’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Tommy Tune’s tall, lanky frame and loquacious manner is a veritable show unto itself. As the iconic Broadway Theatrical legend proved at The Kennedy Center’s Barbara Cook’s Spotlight Series concert...

‘The Argument’ at Theater J by David Friscic

Theater J is pulling out all the stops in its current and very polemical production of playwright Alexandra Gersten-Vassilaros’ The Argument. Directed with a tight, concise flair by Associate Artistic...

‘This’ at Round House Theatre Bethesda by David Friscic

This is hardly an all-encompassing title to accurately convey the many, myriad machinations at work in Melissa Jane Gibson’s thought-provoking and complex play-now an outstanding and stimulating...

‘Red Speedo’ at The Studio Theatre by David Friscic

The incendiary world of moral compromise, selfish justifications, and cut-throat competition where the “winner takes all” and “the end justifies the means” regardless of the cost is shown in the...

Donna McKechnie’s ‘Same Place, Another Time’ at Olney Theatre Center by David Friscic

Broadway legend Donna McKechnie wowed the crowd at her recent one-woman show Same Place, Another Time at the Olney Theatre Center. This iconic star of such past hits such as Promises, Promises,...

‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ at Round House Theatre Bethesda by David Friscic

Playwright Martin McDonagh’s bleak and dour black tragi-comedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane is alive and well in its thrilling current production at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre. Under the...

‘I Do! I Do!’ at The American Century Theater by David Friscic

The phrase “I Do! I Do!” takes on new meanings in the newly-interpreted version of the classic musicalI Do! I Do! now playing at the The American Century Theater. Sharply directed by Jack Marshall and...

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Synetic Theater by David Friscic

Synetic Theater weaves a fusion of theatrical elements to bravura and mesmerizing effect in their current production of their acclaimed past Helen Hayes Award-winning hit, A Midsummer Night’s Dream....

‘The Rocky Horror Show’ at The Studio Theatre by David Friscic

An audacious attack on the sexually repressed with an emphasis on in-your-face interaction and over-the top musicality are the hallmarks of the current production of The Rocky Horror Show, now playing...

‘Anything Goes’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

It’s time for hilarity and “high-jinks on the high seas” in The Kennedy Center’s current production of Cole Porter’s Anything Goes. Possessing equal qualifications to be classified as glossy escapist...

‘Company’ at Signature Theatre by David Friscic

Signature Theatre has outdone itself with its current production of Stephen Sondheim’s breakthrough musical Company. This musical of a modern man searching for commitment with the condition of having...

‘The Little Dog Laughed’ at Silver Spring Stage by David Friscic

The Little Dog Laughed will make you smile with recognition at the hypocrisy and contradictions inherent in this game of day-to-day survival we call life. This acid-like portrait of the compromises...

Adam Pascal at The Barbara Cook Spotlight Series at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Adam Pascal, Broadway singing and acting sensation of such past hits as Rent, Aida, and Cabaret, walked out on to the stage of The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater and held the audience in the palm of...

‘The Power of ArtStream’ by David Friscic

“Art is for Everybody” and this dictum is exemplified superbly by ArtStream, now in its’ 7th year as a 501(c) non-profit. This dynamic and innovative non-profit group has been making a profound impact...

‘Voodoo Macbeth’ at The American Century Theater by David Friscic

The American Century Theater (TACT), under the Artistic Direction of Jack Marshall, pulls it all together with a stunning and audacious production of “that Scottish play” – William Shakespeare’s...

‘XANADU’ at Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC by David Friscic

Take a scoop of campy humor, a scoop of Greek Mythology, and a scoop of singing power and you will have the delicious and satisfying current production of Xanadu as performed and sung by the...

‘Glengarry Glen Ross’ at Round House Theatre by David Frisic

Round House Theatre’s current production of David Mamet’s Glengarry Glen Ross delivers a power-packed punch to the collective gut of the American working man’s psyche. As one watches this group of men...

‘Shakespeare’s R&J’ at Signature Theatre by David Friscic

Shakespeare’s R&J, the somewhat hip title ascribed to Joe Calarco’s creative adaptation and intertwining of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet set in a Catholic all-male boarding school, is highly...

‘Terri White at Barbara Cook’s Spotlight’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Terri White, Broadway musical favorite and recent star of The Kennedy Center’s production of Follies and the recent Broadway production of Finian’s Rainbow, held the audience in the palm of her hand...

‘The Show-Off’ at The American Century Theater by David Friscic

The American Century Theater’s (TACT) vital and esteemed tradition of producing classic American plays of the 20th Century continues with playwright George Kelly’s venerable chestnut The Show-Off....

‘Contractions’ at The Studio Theatre’s 2ndStage by David Friscic

The Studio Theatre’s 2ndStage has produced a very exciting and provocative new play by Mike Bartlett entitled Contractions The message of this play is that we are often pawns of unfeeling regulations...

‘Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Linda Lavin’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Linda Lavin, the perennial “Broadway Baby” – literally, in her knockout performance in The Kennedy Center’s production of Follies and, figuratively, as a growing Broadway legend with her numerous...

‘All My Sons’ at The Keegan Theatre by David Friscic

Do not let the deceptive simplicity of the stunning set design (by Mark Johnson) – replete with lush greenery, white picket fences and flower boxes – fool you into thinking you are taking a trip to a...

‘Assassins’ at The Center Stage at Catholic University by David Friscic

The Center Stage production of Stephen Sondheim’s dark and subversive musical Assassins, now playing at Catholic University, is a valiant attempt but just misses the mark. A Sondheim work is often...

‘Sweeney Todd’ at George Washington University by David Friscic

‘We are all guilty and we are all implicated’ seems to be the collective consensus of the superb chorus ensemble (akin to a very chilling Greek Chorus) as they reproach the audience in George...