Interviews and Features

Meet the Cast of ‘Dinner with Friends’ at Greenbelt Arts Center. Part 5: Brian Lewandowski

In part 5 of a series of interviews with Greenbelt Arts Center’s Dinner with Friends, meet Brian Lewandowski. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your work on our local stages. Who...

Interview: David London and Francis Menotti Discuss ‘Cerebral Sorcery’

Magic shows are often full of tricks and spectacle, “smoke and mirrors.” Going to a David London show though tends to take more of a psychological turn. There are still plenty feats of magic but, not...

Interview: Tom Teasley on his Percussion Composition for ‘Metropolis’ playing at Constellation Theatre Company through November 19th

For five nights only, world renowned percussionist Tom Teasley is performing an original composition set to Fritz Lang’s 1927 sci-fi film Metropolis. I saw the first performance at Constellation...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 6: Devora Zack

In part 6 of a series of interviews with Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance, meet Devora Zack. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have seen you perform before...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 5: Janet Constable Preston

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance, meet Janet Constable Preston. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have...

Meet the Cast ‘Spring Awakening’ at Ovations Theatre: Part 1: Marjorie Long and Josie Weinberg

In part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Ovations Theatre’s Spring Awakening, meet Marjorie Long and Josie Weinberg who share the role of Ilse. Joel: What is your name, age, high school...

Meet the Cast of ‘Dinner With Friends’ at Greenbelt Arts Center: Part 4: Jim Adams

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with Greenbelt Arts Center’s Dinner With Friends, meet Jim Adams. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your work on our local stages. Who did you...

In the Moment: ‘Birdman Live! at George Mason University Center

There has been a wealth of films about Broadway over the decades. Many oft these Broadway-related movies are from a too distant past even if still shown on AMC or Turner Classics. If the older films...

Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘TAME.’ Part 4: Madeline Burrows

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of Avant Bard’s production of TAME., meet Madeline Burrows. Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage? Madeline: Most...

Meet the Cast of ‘Dinner With Friends’ at Greenbelt Arts Center: Part 3: Michelle Johncock

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Greenbelt Arts Center’s Dinner with Friends, meet Michelle Johncock. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your work on our local...

Daisy Eagan: From Her Tony Award-winning Mary Lennox to Playing Martha in ‘The Secret Garden’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company

I rarely see a show twice, but I saw the Broadway production of The Secret Garden with Daisy Eagan 12 times. What a thrill it is to chat with her as she prepares to star as Martha in Shakespeare...

Meet the Cast of ‘Children of Eden’ at Damascus Theatre Company. Part 2: Kevin Sockwell

In part two of a series of interviews with the cast of Damascus Theatre Company’s Children of Eden, meet Kevin Sockwell. Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages? What...

“It’s Our Most Jewish Play This Season”: A Q&A With Adam Immerwahr About ‘The Christians’ at Theater J

For the second show in his first season as artistic director of Theater J, the nation’s largest and most prominent Jewish theater, Adam Immerwahr picked a play with the counterintuitive title The...

‘Our Place in the Universe’: An Interview with Flying V’s Jason Schlafstein

Founded in 2011, Flying V Theatre strives to inspire people to live life more through theater that unites high concepts and intimate moments. This year, the company was chosen as a NextLOOK artist...

Who’s in Town?: American Idol Winner Taylor Hicks, Performing at The Hamilton in DC on Friday, November 11th at 8pm

Taylor Hicks became a household name in 2006 when he won the fifth season of American Idol, becoming one of the most beloved winners of that iconic TV program. Over 200 million viewers watched the...

Meet the Cast of ‘Children of Eden’ at Damascus Theatre Company. Part 1: Cheryl J. Campo

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Damascus Theatre Company’s Children of Eden, meet Cheryl J. Campo. Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages?...

Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘TAME.’ Part 3: Jill Tighe

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Avant Bard’s production of TAME., meet Jill Tighe. Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage? Jill: The last play I did...

Meet the Cast of ‘Postmortem’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 5: Nora Zanger

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s Postmortem, meet Nora Zanger. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform...

Meet the Cast of ‘Dinner with Friends’ at Greenbelt Arts Center: Part 2: Jenna Jones Paradis

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Greenbelt Arts Center’s Dinner with Friends, meet Jenna Jones Paradis. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your work on our...

An Interview with The Performers of the ‘Aunt Sally Sideshow Reunion’ Performing Tomorrow 11/5 at 9:00 PM at the Bier Baron

I’ve said it before, for someone with a lot of friends who perform sideshow I’m kind of squeamish. I see, maybe, half of their acts, peeking through my fingers. Imagine my delight when I found out a...

Meet the Cast of ‘School of Rock’ at West Potomac High School: Part 3: Luke Simonsen

In Part 3 of a series of interviews of the cast of West Potomac High School’s School of Rock, meet Luke Simonsen. Please introduce yourself to our audience. I am Luke Simonsen and a junior at West...

Interview: Maestro Simeone Tartaglione on Conducting ‘Peter and the Wolf’ TOMORROW 11/5 at 2:30 PM and 4:30 PM at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn

Residents of the DC Metro Region are in for a treat this weekend. For two performances only at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn, Maestro Simeone Tartaglione will be conducting Peter and the Wolf. The 1936...

Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘TAME.’ Part 2: Brendan Edward Kennedy

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Avant Bard’s production of TAME., meet Brendan Edward Kennedy. Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage? Brendan: This...

In the Moment: Kenny Neal on his Sound Design for NextStop’s ‘Eurydice’

This is another of my columns that delves deeper into the technical design aspects of an area live theater production. In this case, it was the intriguing sound design of NextStop’s Eurydice that led...

Meet the Cast of ‘School of Rock’ at West Potomac High School: Part 2: Tony Lemus

In Part 2 of a series of interviews of the cast of West Potomac High School’s School of Rock, meet Tony Lemus. Please introduce yourself to our readers. I am Tony Lemus and I have participated in...

Meet the Cast of Avant Bard’s ‘TAME.’ Part 1: John Stange

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Avant Bard’s production of TAME., meet John Stange. Joel: Where have local audiences seen you perform recently on stage? John: Busy year. Working...

Magic Time! ‘In the Cage, She Has a Fighting Chance’: A Q&A With Stephen Spotswood About His New Play ‘Girl in the Red Corner’ at The Welders

This seems to be the season in DC Metro Theater for pugilistic women. Women who box claimed the stage in Jen Silverman’s Collective Rage (just closed at Woolly Mammoth Theater Company). A woman who...

Meet the Cast of ‘Postmortem’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 4: Carole Preston

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s Postmortem, meet Carole Preston. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 4: Director Laurie Freed

Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have seen you perform before on local stages. Laurie: My name is Laurie T. Freed and I am the director of A Delicate Balance by Edward...

An Interview with the Producers and the Creative Team of ‘IN MY BODY’ at The Prince Theater

The popular creative team of composer and musician Dan Martin and lyricist and artist Michael Biello, well-known for their many artistic ventures in both New York and the City of Brotherly Love, are...

Meet the Cast of ‘H.M.S. Pinafore’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 1: Brian Binney

In part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of 2nd Star Productions’ H.M.S. Pinafore, meet Brian Binney Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages? What...

Meet the Cast of ‘Dinner with Friends’ at Greenbelt Arts Center: Part 1: Director Bob Kleinberg

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Greenbelt Arts Center’s Dinner with Friends, meet Director Bob Kleinberg. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your work on our...

Life as ‘The Other Place’: An Interview with Jane Ridley

Life as THE OTHER PLACE: An interview with Jane Ridley, actor and theater professor. Background: UK and US Childhood Henrik: You were born in the UK and were briefly transplanted to the US as a child....

Meet the Cast of ‘School of Rock’ at West Potomac High School: Part 1: Josh Turner

In Part 1 of a series of interviews of the cast of West Potomac High School’s School of Rock, meet Josh Turner. Introduce yourself to our readers. Josh: My name is Josh Turner and I have been doing...

Meet the cast of ‘Postmortem’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 3: Sydney Ouellette

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s Postmortem, meet Sydney Ouellette. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 3: Leah Mazade

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance, meet Leah Mazade. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have seen you...

Meet the Cast of ‘Postmortem’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 2: Dell Pendergrast

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s Postmortem, meet Dell Pendergrast. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Magic Time! Mike Daisey on Playing ‘The Trump Card’ in the Turbulence of Trump

You might say The Trump Card keeps getting dealt one new hand after another. Since Mike Daisey’s monologue played to acclaim in August at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Donald Trump’s campaign for...

An Interview with Martha Stuckey: A Debut Album Launch for Red 40 & the Last Groovement in Philadelphia

Fresh out of the recording studio, Red 40 & the Last Groovement is getting ready for the release of their debut album, She’s Keen to Feed, with a launch party concert at FringeArts on Saturday,...

Come to KAT’s ‘Cabaret’: Part 5: Meet Liz Weber

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s (KAT) Cabaret, meet Liz Weber. Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages? What roles have...

Come to KAT’s ‘Cabaret’: Part 4: Meet Jonathan M. Rizzardi

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s (KAT) Cabaret, meet Jonathan M. Rizzardi. Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local...

Come to KAT’s ‘Cabaret’: Part 3: Meet Matt Trollinger

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s (KAT) Cabaret, meet Matt Trollinger. Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages?...

Meet the Cast of ‘Postmortem’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 1: Gemma Davimes

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Mongomery Playhouse’s Postmortem, meet Gemma Davimes. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform...

Leslie Odom, Jr. Discusses ‘Hamilton,’ His Career, and the ‘Evening of Unexpected Delights’

You know him as Aaron Burr, Sir, the damned fool who shot Alexander Hamilton. Now get to know Leslie Odom, Jr., the man behind America’s most notorious villain. I spoke with Odom in advance of the 6th...

In the Moment: Ping Chong & Company Comes to Reston’s CenterStage

A non-traditional, very timely theater experience is arriving at Reston’s CenterStage from the creative risk-taking minds of award-winning Ping Chong + Company. What the Ping Chong + Company will be...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 2: Louis Pangaro

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance, meet Louis Pangaro. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have seen you...

Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 4: Alan Naylor

Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 4: Meet Alan Naylor. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you appear on local stages and...

Meet the Cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s ‘A Delicate Balance’: Part 1: Nancy Blum

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Peace Mountain Theatre Company’s A Delicate Balance, meet Nancy Blum. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell readers where they have seen you...

An Interview with Playwright Larissa FastHorse

Larissa FastHorse is one of the playwrights participating in Center Stage’s Wright Now Play Later project, which kicks off today. I had a chance to chat with FastHorse last month, when she was in town...

Flying V’s ‘Be Awesome: A Theatrical Mixtape of the 90s’ Bob Manzo’s Mixtape

Flying V is winding down its awesome run of Be Awesome: A Theatrical Mixtape of the 90s, and here is cast member Bob Manzo’s personal Mixtape. Bob Manzo: Meat Puppets – Backwater Butthole Surfers –...