Columns

Michele Shay, Director of August Wilson’s ‘Seven Guitars,’ Shares His Philosophy and Wisdom, and Discusses Her Inspired Production at No Rules Theatre Company

“We are addicted to ‘story’ and we become inspired by each others lives,” says Michele Shay, the Director of No Rules Theatre Company’s current production of August Wilson’s Seven Guitars. My...

Magic Time! A Conversation With ‘Yentl’ Playwright Leah Napolin

Leah Napolin’s Yentl would have to be on any short list of best plays about religion and gender—and the production now at Theater J would have to be among its finest incarnations. Based on “Yentl the...

‘Seven Guitars’ at No Rules Theatre Company

Under the affecting direction of Michele Shay, No Rules Theatre Company’s production of August Wilson‘s Seven Guitars raises an intimate, open-eyed awareness of lives without long-term satisfaction,...

Magic Time! ‘Metamorphosis’ at Alliance for New Music-Theatre

As a short story by Franz Kafka awoke one morning from uneasy dreams, it found itself onstage transformed into a live action graphic novel. Wait, what? Translation: The adventurous Alliance for New...

‘Nevermore’ Opens Tomorrow at Pandemonium Theatrical Productions Performing at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA

Ah, September has come; with it the nights grow longer. Soon enough a cooler nip in the evening air. And then, could it be, really be, Halloween with all its fun and frolic. But there is also the...

Spine: Who’s the Fool in ‘Fool for Love’?

Round House Theatre has opened its 2014 season with Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love (1983), one of his many scripts–Curse of the Starving Class (1976), Buried Child (1979), True West (1980) and A Lie of...

‘Fool for Love’ at Round House Theatre

Burnished to an earthy golden, Director Ryan Rilette’s absorbing, sensually deep, measured take on Sam Shepard’s Fool for Love(1983) is full of the stickiness of love and repulsion. There are...

Magic Time: ‘Belleville’ at The Studio Theatre

I’ve been crazy about Amy Herzog’s writing since I saw 4000 Miles last year at Studio Theatre. When I saw After the Revolution at Theater J last season, I just flipped. Herzog is, as I said then, on...

‘Making Sparks’: Meet the Managing Director, Cast, and Director of Theater Alliance’s ‘Spark’ Part 2: Sarah Strasser

Spark by Caridad Svich opens this weekend at the Anacostia Playhouse and runs through September 28, 2014. This gritty, powerful drama tells the story of a veteran returning from war, and the ongoing...

‘Making Sparks’: Meet the Managing Director, Cast, and Director of Theater Alliance’s ‘Spark’ Part 1: Elliott Bales

Spark by Caridad Svich opens this weekend at the Anacostia Playhouse and runs through September 28, 2014. This gritty, powerful drama tells the story of a veteran returning from war, and the ongoing...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: ‘Cambridge, Maryland’

In an area where watermen and their history have customarily been the prime subject of writerly interest, it was “Chesapeake” author James Michener who noted the architecture of Cambridge’s High...

‘Nevermore’ Comes to Pandemonium Theatrical Productions at the Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA From 9/12-10/10/14

Ah, September has come; with it the nights grow longer. Soon enough a cooler nip in the evening air. And then, could it be, really be, Halloween with all its fun and frolic. But there is also the...

‘Yentl’ at Theater J

In Theater J’s beautiful, eloquent, and thrilling new production of Yentl, such profound new life has been breathed into Isaac Bashevis Singer’s beloved novella that at its heart this retelling is...

A Report From Page-to-Stage: ‘Hand Jobs’

The distinctive work of playwright Alan Sharpe returned to the Page-to-Stage Festival Saturday night with a reading of six short plays collectively titled Hand Jobs, presented by the African-American...

A Report From Page-to-Stage: ‘Carved in Stone’

After the entertaining staged reading at last year’s Page-to-Stage Festival of Mario Baldessari’s comedy The Good Devil, In Spite of Himself (coauthored with Tyler Herman), I called it in my report “a...

Filichia on Friday: ‘August’s Leftovers and September’s Brainteaser’

It’s an honor to bring Peter Filichia’s column every week on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday’ to our readers on DCMetroTheaterArts. THIS WEEK: August’s Leftovers and September’s Brainteaser...

Meet the Cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’ Part 6: Carol V. Calhoun (Emma)

In Part Six of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s production of Masquerade, meet Carol V. Calhoun (Emma). Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?...

Wu Promotions Presents: Peking Opera — 120th Anniversary of Mei Lanfang: ‘Classic Plays of the Mei School’ at The Kennedy Center

What a fabulous immersion into the dazzling world of the Peking Opera as The Kennedy Center hosted two performances to celebrate the 120th Anniversary of the birth of Mei Lanfang, a Jingju (Peking...

Meet the Cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’ Part 5: Timothy Jansen (Steven)

In Part Five of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s production of Masquerade, meet Timothy Jansen (Steven). Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?...

Meet the Cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’ Part 4: Sarah Scott (Kelli)

In Part Four of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s production of Masquerade, meet Sarah Scott (Kelli). Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?...

Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 4: Casey Baum (Eugene)

In Part Four of a series of interviews with the director and cast of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, meet Casey Baum (Eugene). Joel: Please introduce yourself, and tell our...

Meet the Cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’ Part 3: Lauren Giglio (Janet)

In Part Three of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s production of Masquerade, meet Lauren Giglio (Janet). Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?...

Magic Time! Free for All at Shakespeare Theatre Company: ‘The Winter’s Tale’

William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale is a play I’d never seen or read or even known a thing about. So the experience of discovering it via The Shakespeare Theatre Company’s smashingly good...

An Interview with Broadway’s Pippin: Kyle Dean Massey

Kyle Dean Massey is currently playing the title role in the Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin on Broadway, directed by Diane Paulus. I had the honor of interviewing him last week. Teresa: Last...

‘The Reel Deal’: Watch Kyle Osborne’s Movie Video of ‘Sin City: A Dame To Kill For’

Here are the Washington, DC area showtimes. Sin City: A Dame To Kill For website. LINKS Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of...

In the Moment: Reduced Shakespeare Company Brings ‘Extravaganza’ to Reston Community Center’s CenterStage September 12-21st

The Reduced Shakespeare Company (RSC) has been performing in the DC area for well over two decades, thanks to the folk at the Reston Community Center’s CenterStage and The Kennedy Center. Coming soon...

Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 3: Sophie Speciale (Nora)

In Part Three of a series of interviews with the director and cast of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, meet Sophie Speciale (Nora). Joel: Tell me a little about yourself and...

Nibbles And Sips Around Town – A Conversation With Pastry Chef Joseluis Flores

You may have noted that I only occasionally report on desserts. Often they can be so cloyingly sweet, targeted to a juvenile palate, or just something to bump up the check total. And unless there is a...

Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 2: Annalie Ellis (Laurie)

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the director and cast of Prince George’s Little Theatre’s Brighton Beach Memoirs, meet Annalie Ellis (Laurie). Joel: Where have local theatregoers seen you...

Meet the Cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’ Part 2: Alie Kamara (Kyle)

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s production of Masquerade, meet Alie Kamara (Kyle). Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage? Alie:...

‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ at Zemfira Stage

The inner friskiness of the 20-member cast, many making their Zemfira Stage debuts, took over after intermission, to make the opening night of Monty Python’s Spamalot ultimately a lively evening of...

Filichia On Friday: Take ‘The 2014 Broadway University Entrance Exam’

It’s an honor to bring Peter Filichia’s column every week on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday’ to our readers on DCMetroTheaterArts. THIS WEEK: I challenge you to take: The 2014 Broadway...

Meet the Cast of ‘Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s ‘Masquerade’: Part 1: Kelly Richards (Diana)

In Part One of a series of interviews with the cast of Wolf Pack Theatre Company’s Masquerade, by William Leary, meet Kelly Richards. Joel: Where have theatregoers seen you perform on the stage?...

Meet the Director and Cast of PGLT’s ‘Brighton Beach Memoirs’: Part 1: Director Ken Kienas

I have been involved with community theater for a long time. My bio says that I’ve been doing theater productions over 30 years, but it’s not so easy count the years. I was in the cast of two musicals...

In the Moment: ‘Gidion’s Knot’ Moves From Forum Theatre to NextStop Theatre Company: Interviews with Artistic Directors Michael Dove and Evan Hoffman and Director Cristina Alicea

I have been intrigued by the partnerships and reaching-out that the one-year old NextStop Theatre company has been developing. The company, performing in Herndon, Virginia and drawing audiences from...

Is ‘The Laramie Project’ a Convenient Untruth?

A new book about the Matthew Shepard murder challenges the theater community to reevaluate a cherished play. By JOHN STOLTENBERG

‘The Reel Deal’: Watch Kyle Osborne’s Movie Video of ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’

Kyle Osborne reviews Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Here are the Washington, DC area showtimes. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles website. LINKS Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of Guardians of the Galaxy....

An Interview with Playwright Julia Jarcho On Her Play ‘Grimly Handsome’ Staged at George Mason University’s Harris Theatre on 9/12@8 PM

The singular voice of 2013 Obie Award-winning playwright Julia Jarcho is coming to the area. Wait, you haven’t heard of her? Well, she hasn’t yet been produced in the DC area, not even her visionary...

‘Nibbles And Sips Around Town’: Jose Andres’ Evocative America Eats Tavern, Penn Commons Opens, Cuba Libre’s Ceviche Classes, Restaurant Week, Vapiano’s “Dinner and a Movie Deal”, Mount Vernon’s Colonial High Jinks, and The National Gallery of Art’s Garden Café

Jose Andres’ Evocative America Eats Tavern Jose Andres’ newly minted America Eats Tavern in the Ritz-Carlton Tyson’s Corner evokes the casual elegance of Long Island’s tony Hamptons (Sag Harbor...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: ‘Voyage To The 7,000 Islands Of The Philippines’

Voyage to the 7,000 Islands of the Philippines One of the most beautiful and evocative cookbooks to cross my path of late is the recent issue 7,000 Islands – A Food Portrait of the Philippines by...

Glyndon Area Players’ ‘Les Misérables’: An Interview with Henry Cyr (Marius)

It’s summer, which for my family means volunteering with our favorite community theatre group – Glyndon Area Players. Under the detailed direction of GAP founder Homero Bayarena, participating in GAP...

An Interview With Director Laurie Nelson on ‘Some Enchanted Evening’ at George Mason University on Saturday, August 9, 2014 at 7:30 p.m

DCMetroTheaterArts (“DCMTA”) is interested in highlighting community performing arts events that focus on emerging musical theater talent and fresh voices. With well over 100 professional and...

The Playwright’s Playground: The Playmakers CATF 2014: Associate Producing Director Peggy McKowen Looks Ahead to the 25th Anniversary and Talks About Contributing to a Culture of “YES,” Motherhood and the Changing Look of Theatre

The curtain closed yesterday, August 3, 2014, on the 24thseason of five plays at the Contemporary American Theater Festival, but the anticipation to next season’s 25th anniversary has already started....

The Playwright’s Playground: The Playmakers CATF 2014: Actress, Daphne Gaines Gives an Insider’s Look at ‘The Ashes Under Gait City’ and Her Simone the Believer Character

This Special Edition of The Playwright’s Playground continues The Playmaker Series: CATF 2014. In a series of in depth conversations, I speak with the artistic teams and talent associated with the...

Scene Stealers-Week Ending August 2, 2014

Here are this week’s Scene Stealers! Congrats to all the honorees! Kathryn Barrett-Gaines as Clelia Breaking Plates in Parlor Room Theatre’s The Nerd “Also, very amusing are the Walgrave’s; Ticky...

The Playwright’s Playground: The Playmakers CATF 2014:  Playwright Charles Fuller Talks About His Life, the Encouragement of Ralph Ellison, and the Complicated People in His Play ‘One Night’

This Special Edition of The Playwright’s Playground continues The Playmaker Series: CATF 2014. In a series of in depth conversations, I speak with the artistic teams associated with the plays at this...

The Reel Deal: Watch Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of “Guardians of the Galaxy”

Kyle Osborne reviews Guardians of the Galaxy. https://youtu.be/Y2bj8e9_zjo Here are showtimes for Guardians of the Galaxy in the DC area. LINKS Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of Lucy. Kyle...

‘Filichia on Friday’: Allie Goes to Texas While Ben Rolls Along Merrily-Y

Here is a new article from Peter Filichia’s column on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday.’ It’s an honor to bring Peter’s column every week to our readers on DCMetroTheaterArts. This week: Allie...

The Playwright’s Playground: Playwright Aaron Posner Talks About Inspiration, Adaptations and That ‘Stupid Fucking Bird’

Aaron Posner is a director and playwright whose impact is nationwide, and he is one of the hardest working men in theatre. Posner’s Award-wining play Stupid Fucking Bird (Helen Hayes – Outstanding...

The American Century Theater’s Jack Marshall On Closing TACT and His Favorite Productions

When The American Century Theater announced that next season was going to be their last, I knew I had to ask Artistic Director Jack Marshall about his favorite productions and memories. Joel: Why is...