In the Moment

In the Moment: NOVA International Film Festival

The inaugural season of the Northern Virginia International Film Festival, at the Angelika Film Center in the vibrant, youthful Mosaic District of Fairfax County, just wrapped up. Fernando A. Mico,...

In the Moment: An Interview with 1st Stage’s ‘Old Wicked Songs’ Musical Director Walter “Bobby” McCoy and Artistic/Managing Director Alex Levy

1st Stage’s production of Old Wicked Songs by Jon Marans has opened to high praise from reviewers and audiences alike. After seeing the show I wanted to learn more about something very specific; the...

In The Moment: Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company Presents ‘Persistent Voices’ at Dance Place 5/2-3 & Reston CenterStage 5/6

In early May, Daniel Phoenix Singh and the Dakshina/Daniel Phoenix Singh Dance Company will be premiering a dance theater work at Dance Place and at Reston’s CenterStage. The new work is inspired by...

In the Moment: ‘Pilobolus Dance’ Comes to The Alden Theatre This Friday

The world renowned Pilobolus will be bringing their “stunning, evocative and visceral” dance theater to the Alden Theatre, said Sarah N. Schallern, director, performing arts, McLean Community Center....

In the Moment: ‘Off the Wall’ at George Mason University on Saturday, April 18th

Its title beckons with a “come hither” attitude; Off the Wall. Three small intriguing words that are total catnip when strung together. And, then a connection to something called the Virginia Serious...

‘In the Moment’ An Interview with Choreographers Erica Rebollar and Helanius J. Wilkins on ‘Everything for the First Time’ at Atlas on 4/11 at 8 PM

The artistry and craft of two masterful choreographers are coming together for a stimulating, one night only performance at the Atlas Performing Arts Center with the tantalizing title, Everything for...

In The Moment: ‘Call Me William: The Life and Loves of Willa Cather’

“I shall not die of a cold. I shall die of having lived.” Willa Cather, Death Comes to the Archbishop. In her Death Comes for the Archbishop Cather she also wrote, “Where there is great love, there...

In the Moment: The Northern Virginia Review’s 29th Volume Unveiled

Searching out the unusual or off the regular trail is one of the joys of having this column with DCMetroTheaterArts. Recently I attended the unveiling of the 29th volume of the Northern Virginia...

In The Moment: ‘The Originalist’ at Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater

Arena’s resident playwright John Strand has developed an affectionate, quite delightfully complex, fictionalized account about Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia. Strand’s The Originalist has plenty...

In the Moment: Interviews of NextStop Theatre Company’s Evan Hoffmann, Katie Keyser, John Loughney, and Bobby Libby of ‘The Secret Garden’

We caught up with NextStop Theatre Company to learn more about its upcoming production of the musical The Secret Garden. The Secret Garden premiered on Broadway in 1991 and received multiple Tony...

In the Moment: George Mason University’s School of Dance’s GALA and Interviews with Students

“We expect that our Mason Dance Company will leave strong impressions,” said Susan Shields, director, George Mason University School of Dance. She was describing the multi-performance School of Dance...

In The Moment: Paata Tsikurishvili and Nathan Weinberger on ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at Synetic Theater

Synetic Theater’s terrific “silent” production of Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing had me wondering about the many technical design element decisions made long before an audience stepped into the...

In The Moment: An interview with Choreographer Shu-Chen Cuff of the Gin Dance Company on Appearing at Intersections at Atlas

Over the past several years, Shu-Chen Cuff and the Gin Dance Company have been making impressions on the DC area dance scene. Established in Reston, Virginia, the award-winning Gin Dance Company has...

In the Moment: A Tip of the Hat to Mary Stuart’s Todd Scofield

There is a “minor” character who has a key role in the terrific Mary Stuart production currently at the Folger Theatre. He has only a few moments of visibility. But, I want to call him out with a tip...

In the Moment: Chamber Dance Project Prepares for 2015 Summer Season at The Lansburgh

Who wouldn’t find it fascinating to listen to a performing artist describe a path to creativity to “put myself in a box as a way to take on a task or a new problem. Then to force myself to go and find...

In the Moment: Walnut Street Theatre’s Touring Company Brings ‘A Life in the Theatre’ to GMU’s Center for the Arts on February 6th

America’s oldest theatre, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA, also has a touring company component. The touring company is a regular presence at the George Mason University Center for the Arts,...

In the Moment: George Mason University Gets STEAMED

What is the arts role as a means to spark creativity for the American workforce in the post-recession world? Much is being said about keeping the competitive edge of the United States through what is...

‘In the Moment’: ‘Bessie’s Blues’ Remounted at MetroStage

It’s been a long time coming. But the time is right. The multi-Helen Hayes Award production, Bessie’s Blues is returning twenty years after it first appeared on The Studio Theater stage. It is being...

‘In the Moment’: Aquila Theatre’s ‘The Tempest’ Visits George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Friday, January 23rd at 8 PM

Bringing “the greatest works to the greatest number,” the nationally recognized Aquila Theatre, will bring its touring stage production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the George Mason...

‘In The Moment’: The Surprising Findings in Three New NEA Reports on the Arts

Well, this was an attention grabbing, eye-catching headline; “Surprising Findings in Three New NEA Reports on the Arts.” I found it on the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) home page along with...

In the Moment: ‘Poetry Out Loud’ at Signature Theatre on February 6, 2015

DCMetroTheaterArts is constantly on the look-out to learn about ways local theater companies make their venues available for community activities beyond presenting plays and musicals. We are aware of...

In the Moment: Parents Chime In On Their Kids Appearing in NextStop Theatre Company’s ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

Wonder what parents think of their children taking on a role in a theater production; one that is not school-based? With that in mind, I went to NextStop Theatre Company which is producing A Charlie...

In The Moment: An Interview with VA Museum of Fine Arts’ Jeffrey Allison on Photographer Jacques Henri Lartigue

The photo just jumped out at me. It had a joyful, playful performing arts feeling. But it was a photograph from a century ago by an artist I did not know. And I wanted to know more. So with a bit of...

In the Moment: Hub Theatre’s 2014-2015 Season Announced: Interviews with Helen Pafumi, Matt Bassett, & Kristen LePine

The Hub Theatre recently announced its full 2014-15 season. The season includes several mainstage productions and the annual Hub Playfest, along with developmental play readings. There will also be...

‘Green Porno Live on Stage’ With Isabella Rossellini at Lisner Auditorium

Green Porno. Now that’s a show title to bring interest. Add that it was adapted from a well-viewed Web series aired on the Sundance Channel and your reviewer wondered how it would be accomplished live...

In the Moment: “Julius Caesar’ at Folger Theatre

Let’s be provocative in this column. Let’s imagine a world where the debates within Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar are not between ambitious political people like Brutus, Mark Anthony, Cassius, and...

In the Moment: A Chat with the Director and Cast Members of George Mason University’s ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ Which Opens This Friday Night

Ah, theatrical heaven! Being in the midst of the usually unseen controlled chaos of a rehearsal, especially with a large cast. Such a delight, so much infectious, intense energy pervading a large,...

In the Moment: An Interview with Tom Teasley on His Live Score for ‘Nosferatu’ on October 25th at Workhouse Arts Center in Lorton, VA

“I invite you to participate in a merging of sight, sound, drama and fantasy. For fifty minutes I will take your imagination on a fantasy journey and return you safely to your seats!” Now that is how...

Aquila Theatre Brings ‘Wuthering Heights’ to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on October 5th and ‘The Tempest’ to Hylton Performing Arts Center on October 11th

Enduring works of live theater continue to be performed; even in this fast-changing digital age, with disruption to so much long-held, accepted wisdom. Classic works of literature and theater keep on...

In the Moment: An Interview with the Fredgren Studio Theater

A place to create is critical to the performing arts and artist. In Northern Virginia available space for emerging performing arts companies can be both difficult to locate and costly. So when a brand...

In the Moment: This Saturday 9/27/14: ‘ARTS by George!’ at George Mason University: An Interview with Co-Chair Mark Shugoll

ARTS by George, a signature event gala that supports scholarships and the Great Performance series at George Mason University, has raised more than $1 million. The co-chairs of this year’s gala are...

‘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,...

‘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...

‘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...

‘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...

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...

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...

‘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...

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...

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...

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...

Preview of ‘Abominable’ at The Hub Theatre by David Siegel

Hub Theater is producing the world premier of Abominable written by Playwright and Hub Artistic Director Helen Pafumi. The director is multi-Helen Hayes Award nominee Kirsten Kelly. The Hub describes...