Community Theater

‘Equus’ at Taking Flight Theatre Company by Audrey Thornton

Equus, Peter Shaffer’s 1973 Tony Award-winning psychological drama, inspired in part by a true story, tells the story of over-worked middle-aged psychiatrist Tel Monks (Dr. Dysart) and his young...

‘The Soul Collector’ at Port City Playhouse by Joel Markowitz

I am a big fan of playwright and actor David Emerson Toney and actress extraordinaire and director Deidra Starnes – and I was thrilled when I heard that David’s play The Soul Collector would have its...

‘Sunlight’ at Colonial Players by Amanda Gunther

Through the darkness there is a light. And when two sides of the debate heat up churning amid that darkness it is often hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Directed by Terry Averill,...

‘Cantorial’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Julia L. Exline

The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents Cantorial, a ghost story written by Ira Levin and directed by C. Evans Kirk, who also contributes the set design. While this isn’t your typical ”creepy” ghost...

‘These Shining Lives’ at Silver Spring Stage by Amanda Gunther

It isn’t a fairytale, though it may start like one. And it isn’t a tragedy, though it does end like one. It’s a story, and more than that it’s Silver Spring Stage’s fall offering of Melanie Marnich’s...

‘What I Did Last Summer’ at McLean Community Players by Francine Schwartz

McLean Community Players’ production of A.R. Gurney’s What I Did Last Summer is beautifully directed by Adriana Hardy, and is a showpiece for young actors whose ability to inhabit a collection of...

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ at StillPointe Theatre Initiative by Amanda Gunther

You are cordially invited to tea at the Brewster residence. A splendid time is guaranteed for all as Aunties Abbey and Martha will entertain you with their unusually sweet and eccentric charm — you...

‘NightoftheLivingDead (the musical) at Kensington Arts Theatre by Joel Markowitz

You have to tip your hat to the folks at Kensington Arts Center (KAT) for supporting and hosting the World Premiere of NightoftheLivingDead (the musical), the musicalized and new interpretation of the...

The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s ‘Cantorial’ Opens This Weekend by Director C. Evans Kirk

C. Evans Kirk tells us about directing The Little Theatre of Alexandria’s new production Cantorial – which opens this weekend. “Written by famed American dramatist Ira Levin (author of Rosemary’s Baby...

‘Next to Normal’ at The Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

Define normal. Everyone thinks it is the standard by which we compare how well our lives are going, but it turns out when you look at what’s ‘normal’ you’ll find that it is rarity — most people’s...

‘You Can’t Take it With You’ at Providence Players of Fairfax by Julia L. Exline

Providence Players of Fairfax presents You Can’t Take it With You, written by Moss Hart and David S. Kaufman and winner of the 1937 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Directed by Chip Gertzog, this satire...

‘The Clean House’ at The Elden Street Players by Julia L. Exline

The Elden Street Players presents The Clean House, a thought-provoking comedy by Sarah Ruhl. Director Susan Devine has a tall order with this play, as it covers a broad spectrum of emotions, from...

‘Legally Blonde: the Musical’ at Reston Community Players by Joel Markowitz

This is the year of the blonde in pink! Dozens of schools, community theatres, and a dinner theatre in the DC Metro area have opted to try their hand at producing the popular Broadway musical Legally...

Part Seven: Letters From the Living Dead: “This house…this place” by Stephen Gregory Smith

“As we rounded round the hill, past the boating shop, we’d stop and turn the corner by the mill – and I’d see this house…this place…” Long gone are Barbie dolls and handmade sets in my basement. Long...

‘A Flea in Her Ear’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Mara Bayewitz

Mistaken identity? Check. Double entendres that would make your grandmother stifle a giggle? Check. Over-the-top characters going in one door and coming out another? Check mate. Ladies and gentlemen,...

Friday Fire Sale at ‘Farragut North’ at Silver Spring Stage by Michael Kharfen

From Michael Kharfen from Silver Spring Stage: This just in on the wire: “the polls have been extended for Farragut North with two more shows this Friday October 12 and Saturday October 13!” As you...

‘Spring Awakening’ at Dominion Stage by Doug Poms

Spring Awakening, the 2007 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, is back in the DC area in a new production at Dominion Stage. The much beloved show with music by Duncan Sheik and a book and lyrics by...

‘The Marvelous Wonderettes’ at Montgomery Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

Go Chipmunks! It’s 1958 and it’s the night of the Super Senior Prom at Springfield High School! The Crooning Crabcakes have been banned from performing at the dance because their lead singer got...

‘Promises, Promises’ at The Arlington Players by Julia L. Exline

The Arlington Players presents Promises, Promises, the 1968 Tony Award-winning Best Musical based on Billy Wilder’s 1960’s screenplay and Academy Award-winning Best Picture The Apartment, with music...

‘Avenue Q’ at Red Branch Theatre Company by John Harding

In a make-believe Michelin Guide to musical highways and byways, Avenue Q would hardly rank as more than a Broadway roundabout. It’s a tuneful goof on Sesame Street, peopled mainly by sexually...

2012-2013 Season Preview for McLean Community Players by Chris Hardy and Joel Markowitz

McLean Community Players (MCP) just concluded their 2011-2012 season with a highly successful production of Legally Blonde. To find out what they have in store for next season, I interviewed Chris...

‘Arsenic and Old Lace’ at Vpstart Crow Productions by Jessica Vaughan

Vpstart Crow Productions puts the laughs in black comedy, opening their 2012 season with Arsenic and Old Lace. You know you shouldn’t be laughing at people murdering each other – but you do. Lisa Anne...

‘Rumors’ at The Fredericktowne Players by Mara Bayewitz

You know when you go to your favorite neighborhood restaurant and the wait is too long, so you shlepp to another place farther away-and that becomes your NEW favorite restaurant? This is what happened...

‘Dracula’ at Bowie Community Theatre by Julia L. Exline

Bowie Community Theatre presents Dracula, the Broadway play written in 1924 by Hamilton Deane and later revised by John L. Balderston, based on the novel of the same name by Bram Stoker. Staging one...

‘Farragut North’ at Silver Spring Stage by Amanda Gunther

Vote Morris! Vote Pullman! Vote corruption! However, if you intend to vote – Silver Spring Stage is your polling place with their production of Beau Willimon’s Farragut North. A neck-and-neck race to...

‘The Tempest’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

A storm has washed ashore one of Shakespeare’s fine comedies as Laurel Mill Playhouse presents The Tempest as the first show of their 2012/2013 season. With a powerful sorcerer, an air spirit, an...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at KAT 2nd Stage by Mike Spain

This past Saturday afternoon’s performance of KAT 2nd Stage’s production of The Wizard of Oz at The Arts Barn in Gaithersburg was sold out. It was a family production and the Arts Barn was a welcoming...

‘Funny Money’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Julia L. Exline

The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents Funny Money, a British farce by Ray Cooney about an ordinary man who finds himself in an extraordinary situation. Shawn G. Byers directs this comedic...

‘Don’t Bury The Story in a Musical’ by David Rohde

Every musical has a story for the audience to enjoy, so don’t bury it on stage. In the musical Li’l Abner, a rousing chorus number declares the praises of “Jubilation T. Cornpone,” a legendary general...

‘The Producers’ at Zemfira Stage by Kim Moeller

“It was crass and crude and I enjoyed every minute of it!” That’s a line from the Mel Brooks musical comedy, The Producers. It’s also my summary of Zemfira Stage’s production now playing in Falls...

‘Unnecessary Farce’ at Prince George’s Little Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The heat is on! The fuzz is staked out on a mission to take down the mayor for 16 million dollars in embezzled funds and everything’s all set to blow like a powder keg. If only the chief of police...

‘Fuddy Meers’ at The Montgomery Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

If you’re ready for some unconventional fun with a memory-loss momma, a lisping, limping man in a ski mask, and a sock puppet with a potty mouth, then The Montgomery Playhouse’s production of Fuddy...

Part Three: Letters From the Living Dead: ‘Exploring the Farmhouse’ by Stephen Gregory Smith

Exploring the Farmhouse Last night, I spent about four hours in the Farmhouse with my trusty Co-Director, Jenna Ballard. How did we do this without the cast and a set? We went to my basement. For...

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at Elden Street Players by Julia L. Exline

Elden Street Players presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a decadent and hilarious musical with a bouncy score by David Yazbek and a laugh-filled book by Jeffrey Lane. The fun-filled production is...

Part One: ‘Letters from the Living Dead’ by Stephen Gregory Smith

Welcome to the Farmhouse Hello everyone, and welcome to the Farmhouse. My name is Stephen Gregory Smith, and I will be your tour guide through this isolated, remote house in rural Western...

‘Sweeney Todd’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Julia L. Exline

The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, a macabre musical about a wronged man and his consuming fixation on revenge. Directed by...

‘Legally Blonde – The Musical’ at McLean Community Players by Julia L. Exline

McLean Community Players presents Legally Blonde—The Musical, an infectiously silly show carried by actors with great dance moves, voices, and comedic timing. Directed by Mike Replogle, Legally Blonde...

‘Love, Sex, and the I.R.$.’ at Bowie Community Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Everybody wants to save money on their taxes. And when you room with your best friend post college and his first name happens to be an ambiguous unisex name the logical thing to do is to change his...

‘Stop Kiss’ at Silver Spring Stage by Amanda Gunther

To end the season with a heart-stopping, deeply emotional show is to go out with a bang and Silver Spring Stage does just that with their production of Stop Kiss. Director Chris Curtis brings to the...

Ruby Griffith Awards Set for This Sunday, July 14th by David Bradley

This year’s Ruby Griffith Award Ceremony, hosted by The British Players, will be held on Sunday, July 15 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Bretton Woods Recreation Center, 15700 River Road, in Germantown, MD.....

‘A Chorus Line’ at Rockville Musical Theatre by Lauren Katz

Up until last night, I thought A Chorus Line was nothing more than a musical about an audition. I now realize I was completely wrong. Because of the brilliant writing, strong vocalists, and...

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at Aldersgate Community Church Theater by Erica Laxson

Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s most famous musicals and Aldersgate Community Church Theater has done it more than justice with their summer production. DC...

‘All the King’s Women’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Elvis Presley, one of the iconic cultural figures in the 20th century, might be dead, but the spirit of the ‘King of Rock and Roll’ is alive in admiration and reverence with The Little Theatre of...

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at Damascus Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Damascus Theatre Company’s production of Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, directed by Rachelle A. Horn, with musical direction by Marci Shegogue, is a fast-paced upbeat epic musical that...

‘Flowers for Algernon’ at The Elden Street Players by Amanda Gunther

What if ignorance really is bliss? The heart-warming, inspiring tale of Charlie Gordon comes to life at The Elden Street Players production of Flowers for Algernon. Directed by Gloria DuGan, this...

Jessie Roberts on Directing ‘Next to Normal’ at Taking Flight Theatre Company

I was not expecting to direct Next to Normal now or any time soon when I was told about the opportunity with Taking Flight Theatre Company (TFT). Bobby McCoy, our Music Director, and I interviewed...

‘A Little Night Music’ at The Arlington Players at The Mead Center by Doug Poms

A Little Night Music, the 1973 Tony Award Best Musical winner, features one of Stephen Sondheim’s loveliest scores, filled with grand waltzes, witty barbs and poignant ballads (including the popular...

‘The Hot L Baltimore’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

What do three hookers of various age and experience, a cantankerous old man, a sweet southern story teller, a disturbed young lesbian and her equally disturbed kid brother have in common? They all...

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at 2nd Star Productions by Kim Moeller

There’s a fantastic cart-dragging, cow-milking, heartwarming Tevye at The Bowie Playhouse in 2nd Star Production’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. Local favorite Fred Nelson tackles the starring...

‘Next to Normal’ at Taking Flight Theatre Company by Lauren Katz

Last night, I witnessed one of the first area Community Theatre productions of the Pulitzer Prize winning and Tony Award-winning musical Next to Normal. After seeing the show on Broadway a few years...