Marlene Hall

National Memorial Day Concert preview

Every Memorial Day PBS throws a beautiful show to honor our military who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This year is no different, despite its not being live in front of a patriotic audience in front of...

‘Holiday Singin’ Pops’ kicks off the holiday season at Strathmore

To kickstart the Christmas season, the National Philharmonic and the National Philharmonic Chorale performed Holiday Singin’ Pops at the Music Center at Strathmore with guest performers. The two-act...

David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven Is Not Afraid to Testify

Musician David Lowery is a fascinating mix of contradictions. The co-founder of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven is a learned college math professor and a cool rocker musician, a proud and loving...

Review: ‘The Nutcracker’ by Ballet West at The Kennedy Center

Ballet West’s Nutcracker, conducted by Jared Oaks, is one of the most unique productions to hit the stage this season at the Kennedy Center. Steeped in lush colors, with a gorgeous set design and...

Review: ‘Dracula’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Local theatre gems exist everywhere and The Little Theatre of Alexandria is definitely one of the DC area’s theatrical treasures. An exceptional cast brought Halloween to Old Town Alexandria with its...

‘A Capitol Fourth’ on PBS Celebrates America’s 242nd Birthday

It’s too darn hot in the nation’s capital, and this just may be the hottest A Capitol Fourth of all time. Every year, PBS puts on an amazing show for the Fourth of July on the West Lawn of The U.S....

National Memorial Day Concert: Live Tonight From the US Capitol Building

I have reviewed the National Memorial Day Concerts several years in a row and they are always top notch events with distinguished talent. This year, the 29th-anniversary show, is no exception. The...

Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria

Holidays can bring out the blues, but A Christmas Carol will get you in the Christmas spirit of gratitude and love. The Little Theatre of Alexandria transforms you to the Dickensian time of Victorian...

Review: PBS Presents ‘A Capitol Fourth’

Every year PBS puts on a spectacular show with A Capitol Fourth and has the most talented people involved performing and behind the scenes. This year features The Blues Brothers with Dan Aykroyd, Jim...

Review: ‘The Sound of Music’ at The Kennedy Center

Art has a way to awaken the senses and make you feel alive. Art shakes the dreariness of everyday life off you as you bathe in the beauty of a live musical performance. The Sound of Music at The...

Review: Smithsonian Associates with Actor Alan Alda: ‘The Art and Science of Communicating’

Thursday night on a beautiful Spring evening, Alan Alda fans descended upon the George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium to hear him speak about his passion…communication! The event, during...

Interview: Jazz Chanteuse Changamiré

I met jazz chanteuse Changamire’ at a networking event. She quickly warmed up to me and gave me her latest jazz album “Love” to listen to. I was blown away. In our interview she shared how she got...

Review: ‘A Conversation with Alec Baldwin’ at Smithsonian Associates

A sold out crowd Wednesday night enthusiastically enjoyed the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor, writer, producer, comedian, and political activist Alec Baldwin’s...

Review: Smithsonian Associates in Collaboration with the Creativity Foundation presents the 15th Annual Benjamin Franklin Creativity Laureate Prize to Tim Robbins

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this event, but it was unlike any Smithsonian Associates’ event I’ve ever attended. It involved a laugh exercise, talks about prison reform through art, and how art...

Review: ‘Diane Rehm in Conversation’ at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History

Hosted by the Smithsonian Associates, at an event at the National Museum of Natural History, NPR host Tom Gjetlten interviewed former NPR radio host Diane Rehm about her new book, On My Own, her time...

A Report on Smithsonian Associates ‘Are the Cards Collapsing?: A ‘House of Cards’ Season 5 Preview’ with Professor Stef Woods

Wednesday night I did something very DC, I attended a talk on politics through the Smithsonian Associates. Not divisive politics, but pop culture politics about the show based on DC/ British politics...

Interview: Meet ‘The Duskwhales’

I first ran across the Duskwhales when they performed at the 9:30 Club on the Circus Life Podcast 3rd Anniversary Show in the Fall of 2016. I was mesmerized by their psychedelic dress, sound and...

Interview: Musician Rachel Levitin

Musician Rachel Levitin embodies passion. She is passionate about her music, life, and friends and is grateful for everything. When she sings, her whole body is enraptured in the music. It is a...

Review: ‘Mannheim Steamroller Christmas’ By Chip Davis at Strathmore

A large, stylish Christmas crowd was on hand Sunday night as Mannheim Steamroller “steamrolled” into Bethesda’s Music Center at Strathmore to perform Mannheim Steamroller Christmas By Chip Davis,...

Review: ‘Handel’s Messiah; with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore

George Frideric Handel’s Messiah was first performed during Easter in Dublin close to 275 years ago, and I saw why it has become an annual Christmas tradition. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra with...

Review: ‘War Virgin’ at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

In honor of Veterans’ Day, I took in a showing of War Virgin. I first met the playwright, West Point grad and Iraqi War veteran Laura Westley, at the Army/Navy game in Philadelphia several years ago....

Review: Concerto for Violin, Rock Band & String Orchestra: Composed by R.E.M.’s Mike Mills for Robert McDuffie Featuring Fifth House Ensemble at Strathmore

When I saw Mike Mills of R.E.M. was coming to town, I knew I had to see him because I grew up on his music. R.E.M.’s music was a huge part of my life. Mills and Robert McDuffie didn’t disappoint by...

Review: Bryan Adams at Wolf Trap

If you’re looking for the fountain of youth, look no more, it’s called Rock ‘N Roll. Boyish and Renaissance man Bryan Adams transported through a time machine from the 1980s to grace Wolf Trap’s stage...

Review: Don Henley at Wolf Trap

Seeing American icon in concert Don Henley is a must! He is Americana at its best! A musician to the core, his musical craftsmanship holds up to the test of time. A founding member of one of the most...

Review: ‘Ira Glass: Seven Things I’ve Learned’ at Wolf Trap

Usually when attending Wolf Trap it is to partake in either a concert or an opera, or a musical. Ira Glass’ unique show shook things up a bit, as he shared Americans’ personal stories and his life...

2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘SpookyMsgPlsFwd!’

If you’re looking for an adult comedy featuring a unicorn, funny dialogue and wicked costumes SpookyMsgPlsFwd! is a show for you! This fast-paced comedy imagines a world 60 years after the election of...

2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘PowerPlays’

This clever play is composed of five vignettes with a talented cast and minimalist stage, written by ‘The Gang of Five’: Marilyn Bennett, J T Caruso, Dimitri Neos, Michelle Rago, and Sarah Dimont...

A Report on Last Night’s ‘A Capitol Fourth’ Rehearsal

What do you get when you combine Smokey Robinson, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny Loggins, Team USA Olympians, the National Symphony Orchestra, and more? The incredible production of A Capitol Fourth produced by...

An Interview with Pleasure Train’s Will Berger

Through an email interview with DC based Pleasure Train’s bassist Will Berger, we talked about the band’s favorite venue to play in, their musical journey highlight so far, and how they write their...

An Interview with Patrick Garrity of ‘Round About’

I interviewed Patrick Garrity, who plays rhythm guitar and sings, about his band Round About, their favorite venue to play in the DC area and how they write their music. The band won Honorable Mention...

An Interview with Eric Lynum of The Dolly Rockers

The Dolly Rockers are based in the Washington, DC area. Band members are Eric Lynum (vocalist, guitar), Larry D. (guitarist), Megan Strings (violin), Mike Trippi (bass), Derrick Decker (drums), and...

Review: Buddy Guy and The Damn Right Blues Band at The State Theatre

Buddy Guy is a man who does not act his age of 79 years young! He is a cool cat and an American blues legend. He played to an enthusiastic capacity crowd Wednesday night at the State Theatre and the...

Review: The Cult at The Fillmore

The real rock stars and rock band of our time is The Cult. While Guns ‘N Roses is gearing up for their reunion tour, The Cult has been going strong for 20+ years even employing Guns ‘N Roses drummer...

Review: The Peking Acrobats 30th Anniversary National Tour at Strathmore

Cirque du Soleil meets the East is an apt description of the The Peking Acrobats, which even features a clown/comedian like Cirque du Soleil’s shows. The Peking Acrobats pushed the human capacity...

An Interview with Local Musician Jason Masi

Jason Masi, a former standout soccer star found his calling in music and hasn’t looked back since. He delves into his music life and what he finds through it by living the dream as a full-time...

An Interview with Local DC Musician Kate Moran on The Rainbow Rock Band

Alexandria, Virginia native and musician Kate Moran is a renaissance woman! She started the Del Ray Music Festival, has a Ph.D in Special Education, formed the Kate Moran Band in 2006 and then the...

Review: ‘Holy Holy’ at The Birchmere

The best way to celebrate artist David Bowie’s life is to attend a Holy Holy concert. Even David Bowie would have approved. The show played The Man Who Sold the World album with the drumhead featuring...

Duncan Sheik and Suzanne Vega at The Barns at Wolf Trap

Last night, composer, Tony Award winner and musician Duncan Sheik opened up the show with a simple set. His set included himself with an acoustic/electric guitar/synthesizer and his drummer and piano...

Madeleine Peyroux at The Barns at Wolf Trap

Last night, jazz virtuoso Madeleine Peyroux shared her enormous talent with an appreciative crowd that held onto her every note. Peyroux’ witty comedic chops were also on display between and even...

David Gregory on His Book ‘How’s Your Faith? An Unlikely Spiritual Journey’ at Sixth & I

David Gregory gave an insightful and even at times humorous talk on his new book How’s Your Faith? An Unlikely Spiritual Journey about his journey to faith. After leaving his job as the moderator at...

Elizabeth Gilbert on Her Book ‘Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear’ at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

Attending an Elizabeth Gilbert speaking event is like attending a rock concert. The ardent devotion and following of her work is intense, but inspiring! I’ve been to a lot of book talks, but this was...

NSO Pops: ‘Rajaton: Best of The Beatles’ at The Kennedy Center

I had never seen an a cappella group accompanied by a symphony orchestra before and I was thrilled to see that happen last night when the Finnish a cappella group Rajaton sang The Beatles hits backed...

Interview with Musician John Lee of The Electric Trio, Playing Monday Nights at Tryst Café

I met John Lee after a set at Tryst Café. His band The Electric Trio is phenomenal. I especially appreciated their jazz cover of The Cure songs. He shared his musical inspiration, his favorite venues...

Adam Ezra and Kathryn Calder at Gypsy Sally’s

Sunday night, Adam Ezra and Kathryn Calder rocked the joint! Adam Ezra had a solo set of 45 minutes laying bare his vulnerability. In between his songs he shared the stories behind the music, which...

An Interview With Kathryn Calder Who is Performing Tomorrow at 8 PM at Gypsy Sally’s

Here’s my interview with Kathryn Calder, who is performing at Gypsy Sally’s tomorrow night at 8 PM. Canadian indie rock musician Kathryn Calder has found much success as one of the keyboardists and...

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ at Wolf Trap

Wow, just wow! There is a reason why Million Dollar Quartet is a Tony Award-winning musical. It features a talented cast, amazing singing, and musicianship, incredible music, awesome dance moves by...

Author Chuck Palahniuk at Sixth & I Historic Synagogue

Chuck Palahniuk knows how to make an entrance. This slim and fit figure in his casual outfit and grey glasses, strode into the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue confidently with his coffee cup to loud...

Recap of ‘The GI Film Festival’ – May 18-24, 2015

The GI Film Festival is in its ninth year and has grown so big. It ended yesterday at the huge and swanky Angelika Film Center in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, VA. They showed a record number of...

GI Film Festival Opens Tonight and Runs Through May 24th at Angelika Film Center

GI Film Festival Opens Tonight through May 24th at Angelika Film Center The GI Film Festival (GIFF) is back in town for the ninth year in a row. It runs from May 18-May 24, 2015 with its primary...

Interview of Dana Perino by Angela Greiling Keane at The National Press Club

Former National Press Club President Angela Greiling Keane interviewed Dana Perino in front of a full crowd, including former White House press secretary Marlin Fitzwater, Friday night at the National...