Guest Author

Review: ‘Barnum’ at Prince William Little Theatre

By Leandra Lynn Step right up! Feast your eyes on PWLT’s current production, Barnum! The fun started even before I walked into the Hylton Performing Arts Center, with clowns waving at me from the...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Chlamydia dell’Arte: MORE Sex-Ed Burlesque’

by Jill Kyle-Keith Two unconventional beauties take us on a wild ride through sex, politics, and the politics of sex. As the title implies, Chlamydia dell’Arte is a sort-of burlesque, with a sort-of...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Mesa, Arizona or Something Like It’

By Becca Kurtz Raina Greifer’s new play, Mesa, Arizona, or Something Like It, produced by Purple Crayon Productions, is a tale of abandonment, friendship, and the teenage mind. It’s fitting for an...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Riot Brrrain’

By Hannah Sternberg Riot Brrrain is a punk-fueled, nonlinear tour through the life of Teddy as they revisit their past relationships after being diagnosed with neurosyphilis. Teddy is bisexual and...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Hold The Tomato’

By Shawn Reilly Simmons Hold The Tomato is a comedy variety show featuring sketches, songs, and improv, written by Nancy Safavi and David Stauffer, and composed by Wesley Fox. We’re introduced to the...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Unscripted’

By Shawn Reilly Simmons “I don’t want to sit in front. I don’t want to get picked on,” a woman said to me nervously as we chose our seats, about to experience Unscripted, a two-man improvisational...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Meet the Glory Wholes’

By Rebecca Kurtz If there is one thing to be said for Meet the Glory Wholes, it’s that the creatively minded Joey Maranto has contagious confidence. Sixty minutes alone onstage is no small feat, and...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Through the Wall’

By Garinè Isassi Through the Wall is a dance story that sprang from an art experiment put together by Source Festival called the Artistic Blind Date Program. Artists from different disciplines were...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘How’s That Workin’ Out For Ya?’

By Ellie Milewski Four intelligent and gifted female playwrights/directors, three bold female actors and their marvelous male partner in crime, and a wonderful crew, walk into Arena Stage to perform...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: “14”

By Ellie Milewski Columbine, Sandy Hook, Virginia Tech, Parkland. These are only a few names from a list of mass shooting in the United States. A list that is painfully and heartbreakingly long. Emma...

DC Playwright Patrick Flynn Finalist in Samuel French Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival

Editor’s Update, August 26, 2018: At the 43rd Off Off Broadway Short Play Festival this week, Patrick Flynn’s The Ferberizing of Coral was one of six plays chosen for publication by Samuel French. 850...

Musical Theater and Improv Join Forces at Washington Improv Theater

“Quick! We need a word. Any word,” says Travis Charles Ploeger, director and accompanist for iMusical, an improv ensemble out of Washington Improv Theater. He’s standing in a black box theater,...

2018 Capital Fringe Festival: Black Confederates

by Isabel Echavarria Black Confederates by James F. Bruns and directed by David Allen Schmidt depicts a conversation between Jefferson Davis, played by Larry Levinson, and his wife Varina Davis,...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Hawaii Nei’

By Becca Kurtz The pair of plays that make up Paul Handy’s “Hawaii Nei” fit together nicely in a 90-minute, fact-packed commentary on the state – both past and present – of the reluctant 50th state....

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘This Historic Night’

By Christina Kovac On the simple and appropriately bleak set, Seed Productions presents its premiere of This Historic Night, five short plays wound into one terrific show, written by local DC...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Musical Therapy’

By Garine Isassi Musical Therapy is a musical comedy for adults by two talents out of Chicago: Joey Katsiroubas (music and lyrics) and Dan Hass (book). The basic storyline of this romantic farce...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘On the Eve’

By Isabel Echavarria Dive into the world of legendary characters of fairy tales, literature, and history at On the Eve by Amy Frey. This show explores the confusion and desperation that iconic...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘Holon!’

by Isabel Echavarria Holon!, created and performed by Claire Alrich, Sarah Greenbaum, Sadie Leigh, and Meg Lowey, engages the audience in a dance and music-based performance. Rather than conveying a...

2018 Capital Fringe Review: ‘F*ck Tinder: A Love Story’

By Ellie Milewski What takes more courage than getting up on a stage by yourself and doing a one-man show? How about getting up on stage and doing an unscripted one-man show about the details of your...

Riverside Center Welcomes One Singular Sensation with ‘A Chorus Line’

Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia is excited to be celebrating 20 years of bringing the best of Broadway in Virginia with the legendary and iconic Broadway musical,...

The Ultimate Guide to Shepherdstown for the Contemporary American Theater Festival

by Allison Considine Ready for your next summer adventure or weekend getaway? Each July, the Contemporary American Theater Festival in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, presents new plays in the state’s...

How I Became A Jewish Mother of Fascism (Show Preview)

by Emily Canavan Opinion Since the 2016 election, I am sure you have noticed the term Fascist is being dusted off and nervously applied to our current president. I have banged my head against...

Attention Local Theater Companies: The Theatre Consortium is Currently Accepting Applications for Membership

by Doug Krentzlin The Theatre Consortium of Silver Spring recently announced on their website that they are currently accepting membership applications. The consortium consists of companies that...

Preview: ‘50 Ways…,’ a New Play Inspired by Paul Simon’s #1 Hit

By Tammy Enright 50 break-ups. 14 playwrights. 6 actors. 1 common theme. Directors Samir Bitar and Yana Landowne, longtime collaborators, engaged 14 playwrights to submit stories around a common...

Prepare for the Unexpected: An Interview with Christopher Bell, Artistic Director and Conductor of The Washington Chorus

Even in Washington, DC, a town unofficially known as the choral capital of the United States, Christopher Bell stands out as a milestone hire for The Washington Chorus (TWC). Bell, who just finished...

Preview: ‘Painted Ladies: Bosses of the Wild West’ at Capital Fringe

by Dara Gold Indulge in the vices of the Wild West and find out that these painted ladies are far more than meet the eye! Welcome to the tale of the unsung and unexpected lives of the women that were...

Review: ‘James and the Giant Peach’ by the Heritage Players

By Kylie Miller The Heritage Players began their run of James and the Giant Peach this weekend. Based on the book written by Roald Dahl, with lyrics and music by Justin Paul and script by Timothy...

Capital Gazette Shooting Victim Was Also A ‘Humorous, Witty’ D.C. Theater Reviewer

By Rachel Kurzius Wendi Winters was one of five staff members murdered while working at the Capital Gazette newsroom on June 28. But in addition to her thrice-weekly columns as a staff writer for the...

Avant Bard Responds to Immigrant Family Crisis

Avant Bard today announces its “Welcome Tempest-Tossed Campaign”: For the final weekends of its production of The Tempest, Avant Bard commits to donating one-half of all full-price ticket proceeds to...

It’s “A Swellegant, Elegant Party” with Bethesda Little Theatre

Have you heard? Bethesda Little Theatre (BLT) is putting on A Swellegant, Elegant Party June 22, 23, 24, 29, 30 and July 1 at the Montgomery College Cultural Arts Center – and it’s one you won’t want...

Wolf Trap Opera and Halcyon to Perform Kurt Weill Opera at Union Market

After their highly successful partnership in 2017 on Philip Glass’s The Fall of the House of Usher, Wolf Trap Opera and Halcyon reunite to present Kurt Weill and Bertholt Brecht’s The Seven Deadly...

Review: ‘The Wild Party’ by Ovations Theatre Senior Company

By Andy Arnold Ovations Theatre’s Senior Company ended the 2017-2018 season with Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party playing June 15 – 17. And what a party it was thanks to Darnell Patrick Morris’...

Review: ‘The Quickening’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre

By Andy Arnold Amanda Spellman, a DC-area theater veteran, is sensational as pregnant wife Beth Wells in The Quickening, now playing its world premiere at Fells Point Corner Theatre. Beth had to...

People Respect and Appreciate Authenticity: A Q&A with Storyteller Anne B. Thomas

While hitchhiking across Europe by herself at 18, Anne B. Thomas fell asleep in the back of a car, and when she woke she was lying by the side of the road. She tried to stand up but found she couldn’t...

Indicoe Artist Mix n’ Mingle Coming Up on June 16, 2018

After launching seven months ago, arts organization Indicoe is hosting its first event: an Artist Mix N’ Mingle at Woolly Mammoth Theatre on June 16th from 5:30 to 7:30 PM. The event is held in...

Review: ‘Dancing in my Cockroach Killers’ at GALA Hispanic Theater

By Ellie Milewski Today, theater has grown into an extravagant event. It’s normal to spend hundreds of dollars on tickets, go to a fancy Broadway Theater, and wait after the show by the stage door to...

Charm City Ballet Announces Performances of ‘The Little Mermaid’ on June 9th and 10th

Charm City Ballet presents its original full-length ballet, The Little Mermaid, to be performed at The Gordon Center for Performing Arts, at 3506 Gwynbrook Ave in Owings Mills, for three shows:...

Breaking News: Kennedy Center Announces ‘Hamilton’ Ticket Lottery in Washington, DC

The Kennedy Center Announces a #HAM4HAM Hamilton ticket lottery in Washington, DC. 40 tickets will be sold for $10 each to every performance at the Kennedy Center Opera House (June 12-September 16)....

How Do You Like Me Now Productions Presents ‘Breaking the Code’ at Chesapeake Arts Center (news)

BREAKING THE CODE APPEARING AT CHESAPEAKE ARTS CENTER How Do You Like Me Now Productions, Inc. presents Breaking The Code by Hugh Whitemore, on weekends, June 8, 9 and 10 and on June 15, 16 and 17 at...

Fauquier Community Theatre’s ‘Into the Woods, Jr.’ Opens June 8

For nearly forty years, the non-profit theatre company, Fauquier Community Theatre (FCT) has presented stories to delight local audiences on the Vint Hill Theatre stage with professional ambition and...

Young Artists of America Nominated for Three Regional Emmy Awards

Young Artists of America’s televised performance of Young Artists of America: The Songs of Tim Rice that premiered on Maryland Public Television (MPT) in June of 2017, has been nominated for three...

News: The Highwood Theatre Presents All-Student Production of ‘West Side Story’

As the capstone of its first-ever ‘Year-Long Production,’ The Highwood Theatre is honored to bring the landmark musical, West Side Story, to the stage in downtown Silver Spring. The production – the...

2018 Helen Hayes Awards Recipients – Full List

Who took home awards on DC theatre’s biggest night? Click here for a full listing of all 2018 Helen Hayes Award nominees and recipients.

Review: ‘Farce of Nature’ by The Potomac Playmakers

By Karen Lane Spring is in the air and the current production in the Potomac Playmaker’s season, Farce of Nature by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope, and Jamie Wooten, is here to tickle your funny bone....

News: Avant Bard to Conjure a ‘Tempest’ for Our Changed Climate

Culminating its 28th season making theatre on the edge, Avant Bard proudly presents Shakespeare’s classic comedy The Tempest at Gunston Arts Center May 31 to July 1, 2018, directed by Artistic and...

Review: ‘South Pacific’ at St. Mark’s Players

By Andy Arnold You know the story. South Pacific brings a classic tale, outstanding voices, lively music, and a living set to Capitol Hill this month. Opening night offered plenty of energy for...

Review: ‘The Adams Family’ by Rooftop Productions

Full Disclosure? The Addams Family was a wild romp for the whole family! I made my way down to Oldtown Manassas to see Rooftop Productions’ take on The Addams Family. The story feels like a great...

News: Gaithersburg Book Festival Returns May 19 with Books, Poetry and Music

Singer-Songwriters and Poets Take the Stage at 9th Annual Gaithersburg Book Festival Gaithersburg, Md. – May 4, 2018 – Singer-songwriters and poets will share their talents at the 9th Annual...

News: Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, VA, Presents ‘Always…Patsy Cline’

Emmy Award-winning actress Sally Struthers returns for her fifth engagement at the Riverside Center for the Performing Arts in Fredericksburg, Virginia, as Louise Seger in Always…Patsy Cline opening...

Interview: Composer Gregory Spears Unpacks Thoreau in Upcoming DC World Premiere

On Saturday, April 28th at The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater, Vocal Arts DC will present their newly commissioned, world premiere of composer Gregory Spears’ song cycle, WALDEN (based on Henry...