Columns

Interview with Director and Filmmaker Jay Taylor on ‘Masse’ by Teresa McCormick Ertel

Director and filmmaker Jay Taylor speaks to Teresa McCormick Ertel about his latest project, Massé – a feature length contemporary film noir described as “Old Hollywood meets the modern era.” Teresa:...

The Best of 2012: Part 10: Designers, Cabarets & Concerts, Dance & University Shows

Here are DCMetroTheaterArts writers’ choices for their favorites designs of production in the the DC Metro Area in 2012. I always felt that Designers never received enough ‘ink’ or credit or respect...

The Best of 2012: Part 9: ‘Solo Performances, Children’s/Young Adult, Directors, Performances & Special Award

BEST SOLO PERFORMANCES Joe Brack in My Princess Bride at DC Capital Fringe Festival. Alex Brightman in How I Paid for College at The Hub Theatre. Mike Daisey in The Agony and The Ecstasy Of Steve Jobs...

The Best of 2012: Part 8: ‘Best Director of a Play and Best Supporting Actor and Actress in a Play’

Here are our choices for Best Director of a Play and Best Actor and Actress of a Play in 2012. Feel free to leave a comment and share your favorites of 2012 with our readers by leaving comment at the...

The Best of 2012: Part 7: ‘Best Play’ and ‘Best Actor’ and ‘Best Actress in a Play’

Here are the writers of DCMetroTheaterArts’ choices for Best Plays of 2012 and Best Performances by an Actor and Actress in a Play in 2012 in the DC Metro Area. Congrats to everyone on our list and to...

The Best of 2012: Part 6: ‘Best Ensemble of a Play’ and ‘Best Ensemble of a Musical’

Here’s our favorite Ensembles from plays and musicals in 2012 on DC Metro Area stages. Congrats to everyone on these lists and to everyone who appeared on our local stages in 2012! BEST ENSEMBLE OF A...

Ann Lowe on Directing Prince George’s Little Theatre’s ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ by Teresa McCormick Ertel

Prince George’s Little Theatre is in production for Ken Ludwig’s Moon Over Buffalo, which is a hilarious farce/comedy that takes the audience into the world of a theater company. It’s being produced...

The Best of 2012: Part 5: ‘Best Director, Best Musical Direction, and Best Choreography of a Musical’

For the next week we will be posting lists of our favorites of 2012 in several categories. These lists reflect the opinions of members of the writing staff of DCMetroTheaterArts. We were allowed to...

The Best of 2012: Part 4: ‘Best Performance by Supporting Actor and Actress in a Musical’

For the next week we will be posting lists of our favorites of 2012 in several categories. These lists reflect the opinions of members of the writing staff of DCMetroTheaterArts. We were allowed to...

The Best of 2012: Part 3: ‘Best Performance by an Actor and Actress in a Musical’

For the next week we will be posting lists of our favorites of 2012 in several categories. These lists reflect the opinions of members of the writing staff of DCMetroTheaterArts. We were allowed to...

My Favorite Quotes From DCMTA’s 5 Star ‘Best Shows’ for December 15-22nd by Joel Markowitz

Here’s my favorite quotes from our 5-star reviews of our ‘Best Shows’ for December 14-21. Here we go! (1) Christmas Gift! at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center. Audrey Thornton: “Christmas Gift!...

Jordan Wright and Nibbles and Sips Picks ‘The Most Notable Cookbooks Of 2012’ by Jordan Wright

This year’s cookbooks brought us a wealth of ways to be engaged in food in one way or another – grow it, cook it, eat it, share it, broadcast it. While some cover the cuisines of far-off cultures,...

My Favorite Quotes From DCMTA’s 5 Star ‘Best Shows’ for December 8-14th

Here’s my favorite quotes from our 5-star reviews of our ‘Best Shows’ for December 8-14th. Here we go! (1) Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Judy Kuhn at The Kennedy Center. Jennifer Perry: “Likewise, her...

Ranting With Cyle: ‘When the Show Speaks to Me’ by Cyle Durkee

In our last foray into the philosophies of theater we began our journey into the relationship that we, as people, have with the art that we call theater (and pretentious people call theatre). We began...

Lauren ‘Coco’ Cohn on Playing Rosie in ‘Mamma Mia!’ on Broadway by Joel Markowitz

There is one performance that I will always remember and that’s Coco Cohn’s performance of three kooky characters in Glimpses of the Moon at MetroStage. I was really happy to find out that Lauren...

Anthony Rapp, Eleasha Gamble, and Heidi Blickenstaff at ArtSpeak Tonight at BCC High School at 7 PM

Tonight at 7 PM at Bethesda Chevy Chase High School – Anthony Rapp (RENT), Heidi Blickenstaff (Title of Show) and Eleasha Gamble (Oklahoma!) will be the special guests at ArtSpeak – a program...

Andrew Varela on Playing Javert in ‘Les Miserables’ at The National Theatre by Joel Markowitz

The 25th Anniversary production of Les Misérables will be playing at The National Theatre from December 13-30th. I am a Les Miz fanatic and have the seen the show over 20 times and one of my all-time...

Daniel Cooney on Playing Bill Austin in ‘Mamma Mia!’ on Broadway by Joel Markowitz

I have been a big fan of Daniel Cooney since I saw him play Edgar Allan Poe and The Baker in Signature Theatre’s productions of Nevermore and Into the Woods. Recently, I was happy to learn that Daniel...

An Interview with E. Faye Butler on Playing Sister Juba in “Pullman Porter Blues’ at Arena Stage by Joel Markowitz

E. Faye Butler returns to Arena Stage as Sister Juba in Pullman Porter Blues. E. Faye fills us in on the history of The Pullman Porters and how they helped African Americans to come into the middle...

DCMTA’S “Favorite Quotes From Our Favorite Shows of the Week” – November 22-29, 2012 by Joel Markowitz

Here’s something new on DCMetroTheaterArts! Every Friday, I will be posting my favorite quotes from our 5-star reviews of the week. Here we go! (1) Dreamgirls at Signature Theatre. Andrew L. Baughman:...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Six: Meet Jonathan Walker by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 6 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet Jonathan Walker. Jonathan: My name is Jonathan Walker and to be honest, I...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Five: Meet BJ Gruber by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 5 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet BJ Gruber. BJ: My name is BJ Gruber and I’ve been acting professionally for...

E. Faye Butler on Playing Sister Juba in ‘Pullman Porter Blues’ at Arena Stage by Joel Markowitz

E. Faye Butler returns to Arena Stage as Sister Juba in Pullman Porter Blues. E. Faye fills us in on the history of The Pullman Porters and how they helped African Americans to come into the middle...

Rhonda Vincent at Brunswick High School by Mike Spain

When you arrived at Brunswick High School on Sunday you knew you were at the right place with Rhonda Vincent’s Martha White tour bus parked in the parking lot. They had food inside including barbeque...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Four: Meet Derek Tatum by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 4 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet Derek Tatum. Derek: My name is Derek John Tatum and I am originally from...

Catherine Flye on Playing Mrs. Higgins in ‘My Fair Lady’ at Arena Stage by Joel Markowitz

When I heard that Molly Smith was bringing My Fair Lady to Arena Stage this season, a friend of mine and I had a conversation of “Let’s cast the show.” When it came to the role of Mrs. Higgins we both...

‘The Outlaws” and Special Guest ‘Kenny Young Band’ at Weinberg Center for the Arts by Mike Spain

If you love guitar driven music be it Southern Rock, blues, or something in between then the Weinberg Center for the Arts was the place to be on Friday night. The up and coming Kenny Young Band opened...

Married to the Stage: ‘Dragon Eye Creations’ Scott and Kathy Griffith’ by Natalie McCabe

Sometimes, being married to the stage takes you to strange places and leaves you with more than just enhanced party skills. Johnny, for example, has always wanted to learn woodworking, creating items...

Nibbles and Sips Goes Mobile ‘From DC to AC to NYC and Back to DC’ by Jordan Wright

The Federalist – A Peaceful Retreat in the Heart of Downtown What an eclectic array of events in just the past few weeks! Here are some highlights. We cozy into a leather banquette for a quiet,...

Keb’ Mo’ at The Music Center at Strathmore

Keb’ Mo’ looked like a vintage blues man as he walked out on The Music Center at Strathmore’s Concert Hall stage with his resonator guitar. He opened his show with the beautiful “Every Morning”...

‘Galactica’ with Jeffrey Johnson at Black Fox Lounge by Cyle Durkee

Galactica is the drag queen. Jeffrey Johnson is the man behind the makeup. It’s important that you know that as you go into his cabarets, because you get to spend the night with both. And what a...

Actor John Dow on Appearing in ‘Heroes’ at Everyman Theatre by Joel Markowitz

Luck usually doesn’t strike twice, but that’s exactly what happened to veteran actor John Dow when he got cast in two productions of Tom Stoppard’s Heroes. Why did you want to be part of this...

Bill Largess on ‘Mary Rose’ at Rep Stage by Joel Markowitz

Bill Largess is a busy man. He’s a teacher, Artistic Director, and an actor, and is now appearing in Mary Rose at Rep Stage. What is Mary Rose about and why did you want to be in this production? Mary...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Two: Meet Zack Powell by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 2 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Meet Zack Powell. I’m Zack Powell. I am a 26 years old white male, dashing,...

Doing the Timewarp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Part Seven: Chad W. Fornwalt

Here’s Part Seven of meeting the cast of The Washington Savoyard’s The Rocky Horror Shows. Today: meet Chad W. Fornwalt. I am Chad W. Fornwalt (Brad). I am happy to be working with Washington...

Doing the Timewarp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Part Six: Danny Tippett

Here’s Part Six of meeting the cast of The Washington Savoyard’s The Rocky Horror Shows. Today: meet Danny Tippett. My name is Danny Tippett. I appeared most recently in Legally Blonde the Musical at...

Composer and Musician Tom Teasley on ‘The Conference of the Birds’ by Joel Markowitz

Tom Teasley is not only a brilliant composer, musician, and performer, but he is one of the nicest people in our theatre community. He is full of passion and energy and watching him perform in a show...

Doing the Timewarp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Part Five: Caroline Wolfson

Here’s Part Five of meeting the cast of The Washington Savoyard’s The Rocky Horror Shows. Today: meet Caroline Wolfson. I’m Caroline Wolfson and this is my DC professional debut. I just graduated in...

Doing the Timewarp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards ‘The Rocky Horror Show’ Part Four: Ryan Patrick Welsh

Here’s Part Four of meeting the cast of The Washington Savoyard’s The Rocky Horror Shows. Today: meet Ryan Patrick Welsh. My name is Ryan Patrick Welsh. I graduated from Catholic University’s musical...

Meet The ‘Big Kids’ by Joel Markowitz

As Big, The Musical-TYA concludes its run this weekend at Adventure Theatre-MTC, I had a chance to interview the five talented young members of the cast: Brendan DeBonis, Marley McKay, Maya Brettell,...

Meet Into the Woods’ Alexandra Pool, Matt Succi, Matthew Lincoln-Bugg & Rafael Medina @ George Mason University

Journey into the woods as we meet four cast members – Alexandra Pool, Matt Succi, Matthew Lincoln-Bugg & Rafael Medina – of George Mason University’s production of Into the Woods, playing this weekend...

‘Into the Woods’ Brittany Martz, Jacob Lash, Kate Merryman, and Miranda Carver at George Mason University

Journey into the woods as we meet four cast members – Brittany Martz, Kate Merryman, Jacob Lash, and Miranda Carver – of George Mason University’s production of Into the Woods, playing this weekend at...

Meet Kyle Imperatore (Baker) and Cara Pellegrino (Baker’s Wife) of George Mason University’s ‘Into the Woods’

Meet The Baker and The Baker’s Wife in George Mason University’s production of Into the Woods. My name is Kyle Imperatire. I am 19 years old and I grew up in the town of Mastic Beach on Long Island,...

Let’s Rally Behind Spooky Action Theater!

Today I received an email from Julie Jacobson who informed me and the theatre community that ‘neighborhood opposition’ could lose Spooky Action Theater their home in the Universalist National Memorial...

Doing the Timewarp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards’ ‘The Rocky Horror Show’: Part Three: Aaren Keith

Here’s Part Three of meeting the cast of The Washington Savoyard’s The Rocky Horror Shows. Today: meet Aaren Keith. I am Aaren Keith. I recently graduated and made the move to DC to be a part of...

‘Going Into the Woods’: Part Two: Musical Director Dennis M. Layendecker by Joel Markowitz

Dr. Dennis M. Layendecker, director of the School of Music and University Heritage Chair of Music, will conduct the Mason Symphony Orchestra for George Mason University’s Department of Theater and...

Married to the Stage: Part 6: ‘Skills We Learned Toiling in Other Time Zones’ by Natalie McCabe

Not long ago, my aunt observed me knitting away and asked where I had learned the skill. “Well, when you work in other centuries, you just pick things up,” I replied. She laughed, but it’s true. When...

Parker Esse on Directing and Choreographing Catholic University’s ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ by Joel Markowitz

Choreographer Parker Esse who was the recipient of a Helen Hayes Award for his high-kickin’, foot-stompin’, hand-clappin’ choreography for Arena Stage’s Oklahoma!, is back in town to direct and...

Doing the Time Warp: Meet the Cast of Washington Savoyards’ “The Rocky Horror Show”: Part 2: John Loughney

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the cast of Washington Savoyards’The Rocky Horror Show – we meet John Loughney, who is playing Riff Raff. Joel: Why did you want to be part of this...

‘Hungry for Music’ Presents Musical Visions: Live Music and Art Auction on November 8th by Jordan Wright

Eighteen years ago the non-profit Hungry for Music was founded by local entrepreneur Jeff Campbell – a man inspired by a vision to heal the world through music. The idea germinated back in 1992 while...