Marlene Hall

‘Candice Bergen In Conversation with Madhulika Sikka’ at Sixth and I Synagogue

Candice Bergen is strongly linked to her famous character Murphy Brown. After Madhulika Sikka, the Executive Editor for NPR News, interviewed her Monday night, the similarities between the character...

Author Gretchen Rubin at Sixth and I Synagogue on Her New Book ‘Better than Before’

Gretchen Rubin is on a mission to change people’s lives for the better. Her insight for learning and curiosity is benefiting millions. One day she realized her life was passing her by and she didn’t...

Interview with Musician and Contestant on ‘The Voice’ Jack Gregori

DC based musician Jack Gregori is a self-described “singer-songwriter, guitar picker, and the creator of Human Country Jukebox” whose music focuses on “rabble-rousing outlaw country bands from the...

Interview with DC-Area Musician Paul Pfau and Contestant on ‘The Voice’

I’ve seen Paul Pfau play locally at Gypsy Sally’s and with The Nine Songwriter Series with Justin Trawick. He is a well-respected musician in the DC area. In 2011, Paul was nominated Best New Artist...

Author of ‘Wild’ Cheryl Strayed at National Geographic

Ever been lost and then found? Well apparently everyone experiences this according to Cheryl Strayed of the New York Times memoir bestseller Wild. Strayed talked to a sold out crowd, comprising mainly...

Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma at the Kennedy Center

An icy Sunday evening turned into a lush and warm, and enjoyable evening inside The Kennedy Center with the Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma. Many of DC’s dignitaries attended, including TV journalist...

Savion Glover’s ‘STePz’ at The Music Center at Strathmore

Friday night an enthusiastic and sold-out crowd voraciously devoured Savion Glover’s show STePz featuring American tap dancing icon Savion Glover, Marshall Davis, Jr, and the 3 Controversial Woman aka...

‘An Evening with Jason Alexander’ with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at Strathmore

Jason Alexander famously known for his role as George Costanza in Seinfeld, is also a seasoned, Tony Award-winning (for Jerome Robbins’ Broadway) Broadway performer. Last night with the BSO at...

‘Spring Awakening’ at Act Two @ Levine

On Saturday afternoon, I saw the eight-time Tony Award-winning rock musical Spring Awakening by Act Two at Levine‘s Pre-Professional Program in Arena Stage’s Kogod Cradle. The enthusiastic audience...

‘Mannheim Steamroller Christmas by Chip Davis’ at the Music Center at Strathmore

Saturday, Mannheim Steamroller performed at Bethesda’s Music Center at Strathmore. The soldout crowd was enraptured at the matinee and Mannheim Steamroller received a standing ovation at the end. For...

‘Missa Solemnis’ at The Washington Chorus

Wow, talk about a moving experience! Sunday night, the Grammy Award-winning The Washington Chorus performed Missa Solemnis by Ludwig van Beethoven to a sold-out and appreciative crowd at The Kennedy...

‘In the Next Room’ at Port City Playhouse

Port City Playhouse’s production of Sara Ruhl’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, In the Next Room, is filled with incredible actors, a clever set, and gorgeous Victorian time period outfits (designed by...

Henry Rollins on the DC Punk Scene at the Smithsonian

Tuesday night, October 14, 2014, a packed crowd listened to DC’s native son, Henry Rollins (aka Garfield). He shared his insights about the DC punk rock scene in the early 80s, where he played an...

Patti LuPone at ArtSpeak! at Blake High School

Last night I enjoyed an evening with American icon, Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award winner Patti LuPone at Blake High School at ArtSpeak!. ArtSpeak! has been around 18 years and the 850 people who...

Jonny Lang at The State Theatre

Jonny Lang Rocks The Historic State Theatre Before we delve into Jonny Lang though, the talented, opening band Runaway Saints from Nashville, Tennessee via Rhode Island did a great job warming up the...

Interview with Jonny Lang Who is Performing Tonight at The State Theatre

Blues guitarist and singer Jonny Lang has had a blessed life. He was a musical child prodigy. He gets to make a living playing music, has a loving wife and four kids, and gets to travel the world. He...

An Interview with Moses Kamai Director of The Northern Virginia Ukulele Society

Moses Kamai is the Director and Organizer of the Northern Virginia Ukulele Society, for the past 5 and a half years in Reston, Virginia. He organizes, plans, teaches, and performs with members of the...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Joiceville 101.3 LIVE’

Joiceville is directed and written by Rodrigo G. Pool Arce, composed by Justin Paschalides, and stars Rodrigo G. Pool Arce, Will MacLeod and Carrie Helton Parsons. This is The Office on speed at a...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Desire Moments’

When I first arrived to the theater, I met family members and friends of the playwight. Apparently she attended UVA, like me, so I was digging the Wahoowa spirit in the house. Desire Moments is...

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘This Gonna Be on the Test, Miss?’

(Best of the Capital Fringe) This Gonna Be on the Test, Miss? is written and performed powerfully and hilariously by Ronna J Levy and directed by Kel Haney. Originally conceived in Matt Hoverman’s Go...

Ben Folds and The National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap

Ben Folds Rocks the Suburbs with the NSO at Wolf Trap Ben Folds grew up playing drums and was always inspired by the orchestra. His lush music received a new spin by playing with the National Symphony...

‘Il Volo’ at Wolf Trap

Last night’s Il Volo concert is THE best show/concert I’ve seen at Wolf Trap in a long time! After every song, the singers received standing ovations from the crowd, which seemed to shock the humble...

‘GI Film Festival’s Final Day’ by Marlene Hall

The GI Film Festival wound up its week long film festival yesterday. Films started at 10 a.m. and finished at 7 p.m. The first block was the Transitioning Short Block: a collection of short films...

GI Film Festival: ‘Heroes Then and Now’ and Awards Announced

Saturday night the GI Film Festival continued its weeklong run at the Old Town Theater with huge VIPs in attendance. GIFF welcomed actor Adam Driver of the HBO Hit Girls and soon starring in Star...

GI Film Festival Presents: ‘Salute to Hollywood Patriots’

Last night The GI Film Festival showed two film block segments at the Old Town Theater in Alexandria, Virginia. The features were: When Hollywood Went to War and Travis: A Soldier’s Story. The house...

‘GI Film Festival’ Opens Tonight and Runs Through May 25th at the Old Town Theater

The GI Film Festival (GIFF)-nicknamed ‘Sundance for the Troops’-is back in the DC area for the eighth year. GIFF showcases the military’s stories authentically through film while featuring receptions,...

‘How I Learned to Stopped Worrying and Love the Numbers with Kai Ryssdal’ at Strathmore

There was a special treat in Bethesda this week for regular listeners of NPR – to celebrate 25 years of Marketplace from American Public Media, host Kai Ryssdal and the Marketplace team are bringing a...

‘An Evening with Branford Marsalis’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Seeing one of Jazz’ masters like Branford Marsalis perform is one of life’s greatest pleasures. I had the honor of watching jazz great Marsalis at George Mason Performing Arts Center Saturday night....

Matt Nathanson and Noah Guthrie at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Acoustic Show with Matt Nathanson and Opening Act Noah Guthrie By Marlene Hall Thursday night at the George Mason University’s Performing Arts, Matt Nathanson performed with his partner Aaron Tap....

‘D.C. Stands for the Troops’ Benefit Concert at Lisner Auditorium

Saturday night at George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium was the inaugural Stand for the Troops’ Rescue Coalition Benefit Concert with the George Washington University Office of Military and...

An Interview with ‘Kids in the Hall’ Kevin McDonald by Marlene Hall

Kevin McDonald is from the famed Canadian, sketch comedy group Kids in the Hall. He is back again in DC, February 22d at 10:00 am to teach a sold-out sketch writing workshop at The Comedy Spot in...

An Interview with Singer/Songwriter Margot MacDonald by Marlene Hall

Margot MacDonald is an acclaimed loop pedal vocalist and songwriter based in DC who recently celebrated the release of her fourth album, Canvas. She is in excellent company with loop pedal vocalists...

NSO Pops: ‘Happy Holidays! with Brian Stokes Mitchell’ by Marlene Hall

Tony Award winner and Baritone Brian Stokes Mitchell and the NSO Pops got the crowd into the holiday spirit with his show Happy Holidays! With Brian Stokes Mitchell, conducted with gusto by Steven...

American Voices Festival’s “Pop/Rock Master Session” with Renée Fleming, Ben Folds, and Sara Bareilles by Marlene Hall

For the first time ever, The Kennedy Center along with world renowned soprano singer Renée Fleming with partial sponsorship by Ann and Tom Friedman put together the American Voices Festival. American...

An Interview with Musician Scott Kurt by Marlene Hall

Scott Kurt is a local musician – make that a hard working local musician – who is on his way up to the big leagues. He has opened for Huey Lewis and the News at Wolf Trap this summer to earning four...

Interview with Army Sergeant First Class Julie Boehler, Principal Timpanist of the US Army Band-“Pershing’s Own” by Marlene Hall

Sergeant First Class Julie Angelis Boehler is the Principal Timpanist of The United States Army Band “Pershing’s Own.” In 2003, she became the first female Timpanist to serve in The U.S. Army Band....

Guitarist Gregg Hammond on ‘Guitars Not Guns’ by Marlene Hall

Musician and guitar teacher Gregg Hammond works with the nonprofit Guitars Not Guns in Washington, DC. According to Guitars Not Guns the theme of Guitars Not Guns is “Changing the World, One Kid at a...

‘Pet Shop Boys’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Marlene Hall

Before there was Daft Punk, Deadmau5, and Paul van Dyk, there was The Pet Shop Boys. Last night the Pet Shop Boys, lead singer Neil Tennant and keyboardist Chris Lowe turned Strathmore into a fashion...

Depeche Mode at Jiffy Lube Live by Marlene Hall

Last night at Jiffy Lube Live, Depeche Mode gave its sold out crowd of devotees a show to remember in support of its new CD Delta Machine. This wasn’t just a concert – it was a spiritual experience!...

Matthew Sweet with Olivia and the Mates at The Birchmere by Marlene Hall

Last night, Matthew Sweet rocked the house with his “sweet” music. It brought me back to the 1990s. I could definitely hear the influence of REM in his music. Matthew Sweet is on a 9-stop tour this...

The Cult at The Fillmore by Marlene Hall

I finally saw The Cult perform on their Electric 13 Tour last night in support of their Choice of Weapon album to a capacity crowd at the new Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was the first time...

‘Full Bloom’ at Arcturus Theater Company by Marlene Hall

Arcturus Theater Company’s production of Suzanne Bradbeer’s Full Bloom is a story about a teenager, named Phoebe (Kyra Soleil) who is coming of age and whose life is paralleling the book Catcher in...

‘Huey Lewis & The News “Sports” 30th Anniversary Tour with Special Guest: Scott Kurt’ at Wolf Trap by Marlene Hall

Wolf Trap was a soggy, fun, musical summer night with opening act Scott Kurt and main act Huey Lewis and the News. Scott Kurt is a DC area musician who played a 30-minute set. It was just him and his...

Interview With Musician Matthew Sweet by Marlene Hall

Matthew Sweet is a musician, composer, and art collector. He burst onto the music scene in 1991 with his highly acclaimed and popular album Girlfriend. I had the honor of interviewing Mr. Sweet about...

Capital Fringe Review: ‘BenchMARKS’ by Marlene Hall

BenchMARKS produced by Project E/C, written by Melanie Fiona Bevell-Jackson, and directed by Colleen Theresa Brown “is dialogue and flashback vignettes that provide a peek into the lives of two men...