Interviews and Features

Review: ‘Poe … And All the Others’ at Annapolis Shakespeare Company

Poe … And All the Others is an imaginative, entertaining production, with an incredibly creative use of space. With just two people, a minimum of props, and lighting, Annapolis Shakespeare Company...

Flying V’s ‘Be Awesome: A Theatrical Mixtape of the 90s’ Jon Jon Johnson’s Mixtape

Flying V is winding down its awesome run of Be Awesome: A Theatrical Mixtape of the 90s, and here is cast member Jon Jon Johnson’s personal Mixtape: Tool – Sober https://youtu.be/hglVqACd1C8 Mary J...

Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 3: Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 3: Tamarin Ythier

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Ruthless! The Musical at Creative Cauldron, meet Tamarin Ythier. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 2: Sophia Manicone

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Ruthless! The Musical at Creative Cauldron, meet Sophia Manicone. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

‘Hexwork – A Spellbinding Burlesk Revue’ Interviews with Eyrie Twilight and Mab Just Mab

There is a spiritual element and aspect of ritual to burlesque and sideshow, two artforms linked to Carnival (literally translated – a farewell to the flesh). Hexwork pushes those elements front and...

Interviews with the Cast of McLean Community Players’ ‘Comic Potential’ Part 3: Mike Scott

In Part 3 in a series of interviews with the cast of McLean Community Players’ Comic Potential, meet Mike Scott. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where our readers may have seen you perform...

Director Sun King Davis on ’43 1/2: The Greatest Deaths of Shakespeare’s Tragedies’ Playing 10/20-11/13 at Nu Sass Productions by Clare Shaffer

Clare Shaffer interviews Sun King Davis on Nu Sass Productions’ upcoming production of 43 1/2. Clare: What inspired you to create 43 1/2? Sun King: A lot of things went into the creation of 43 1/2....

Meet the Cast of ‘Ruthless! The Musical’ at Creative Cauldron: Part 1: Kathy Halenda

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Ruthless! The Musical at Creative Cauldron, meet Kathy Halenda. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Interviews with the Cast of McLean Community Players’ ‘Comic Potential’ Part 2: Scott Duvall

In Part 2 in a series of interviews with the cast of McLean Community Players’ Comic Potential, meet Scott Duvall. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where our readers may have seen you...

Meet the Cast and Director of Providence Players’ ‘Amadeus’ Part 5: Director Julie Janson by Chip Gertzog

In Part 5 of interviews with the cast and Director of Amadeus, meet Julie Janson who directs Providence Players of Fairfax’s production. Chip: Please tell our readers where they may have seen your...

Ayana Reed on Playing Carrie in ‘Blackberry Daze’ at MetroStage

Ayana Reed is a native Washingtonian who is appearing in Blackberry Daze at MetroStage. Here’s her journey… Please introduce yourself and tell our readers about your theater and vocal training and...

An Interview with Tony Award Winner Melba Moore-Appearing at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club-Tomorrow, October 2nd at 8 PM Night

Tonight I had the great pleasure of a brief but extremely rewarding and stimulating telephone interview with the Tony Award-winning (Purlie) and Grammy and Emmy –Award nominated singer and actress...

Meet the Cast and Director of Providence Players’ ‘Amadeus’ Part 4: Debora Crabbe and Bobby Welsh as The Venticelli by Chip Gertzog

Amadeus, the late Peter Shaffer’s Tony Award and Academy Award-winning masterpiece opens this Friday, September 30, 2016 at the James Lee Community Center Theater and kicks off the Providence Players...

Interviews with the Cast of McLean Community Players’ ‘Comic Potential’ Part 1: Frank Gorrell

In Part 1 in a series of interviews with the cast of McLean Community Players’ Comic Potential, meet Frank Gorrell. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where our readers may have seen you...

Craig Wallace on Playing Louis ‘Satchmo’ Armstrong in ‘Satchmo at the Waldorf’ at Mosaic Theater Company of DC

He is one of my favorite actors and now Craig Wallace has received rave reviews and standing ovations for his riveting and tour de force performance as Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong in Terry Teachout’s...

In the Moment: NextStop Theatre Company’s ‘Paper-Free Programs’

Seeking out budget efficiencies with the often limited resources of a non-profit is a constant. Many of us known this from our own experiences as non-profit board members or on staff. In these current...

Duane Richards II on Playing Willie and Simon in ‘Blackberry Daze’ at MetroStage

Duane Richards II is a native Washingtonian who is appearing in Blackberry Daze at MetroStage. Here’s his journey… Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers about your theater and vocal...

Meet the Cast and Director of Providence Players’ ‘Amadeus’ Part 3: Julia Buhagiar as Constanze by Chip Gertzog

Amadeus, the late Peter Shaffer’s Tony and Academy award winning masterpiece opens next week, September 30, 2016, at the James Lee Community Center Theater and kicks off the Providence Players...

Come to KAT’s ‘Cabaret’: Part 2: Meet Chuck Dluhy

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s (KAT) Cabaret, meet Chuck Dluhy. Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you perform before on our local stages? What...

Who’s in Town?: An Interview With Anaïs Mitchell, Appearing with John Gallagher, Jr. Tonight 9/22 @7:30 PM at The Hamilton in DC

Anaïs Mitchell is a singer-songwriter and musician who has been called the queen of modern folk music. Her 2010 album Hadestown, a folk-opera based on the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice and set in the...

Who’s in Town?: John Gallagher, Jr. on Appearing with Anaïs Mitchell Tonight 9/22 @7:30 PM at The Hamilton in DC

John Gallagher, Jr. is a Tony-Award winning actor and musician. He won a Tony-Award in 2007 for his portrayal of Mortiz Stiefel in the rock musical Spring Awakening and was recently back on Broadway...

An Interview with Frankie Sin and Donny Vomit on ‘Shocked and Amazed: Strange for Hire’ at AMP This Saturday, 9/24

One of the things I love most about the burlesque and sideshow community is the sheer love for the craft and joy of performing that shines through when performers talk about their chosen artform. And...

In the Moment: ‘The 100th Meridian Project’ at George Mason University

Climate change is a sharp pointed object in the current 2016 political season. The language strewn about is often hot and more often than not, ad hominem to say the least But climatic issues are not...

An Interview with FringeArts President and Producing Director Nick Stuccio

Henrik: What inspired you to create FringeArts, Philadelphia’s annual theater arts festival—“a city-wide celebration of innovation and creativity in contemporary performance”? Nick: We went to the...

An Interview with Beth Hylton, Director of ‘Our New Girl’ Staged Reading TONIGHT at Everyman Theatre

Everyman Theatre is launching its 2016/2017 Salon Series of staged readings TONIGHT on Monday, September 19, 2016 at 7 PM. The Salon Series’ theme is Women’s Voices; all six plays selected for the...

2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival Review: ‘Nip’ at Tattoo Mom

“Who’s really sucking on who?” That’s the tagline to Nip, one of the most daring and shocking shows in this year’s Fringe Festival. Nip, written by Noemi Charlotte Thieves and directed by Amanda...

Meet The Cast of Castaway’s Repertory Theatre’s ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’: Part 3: Catherine Lyon

In Part 3 of our series of interviews with the cast of Castaways Repertory Theatre’s production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, meet Catherine Lyon (Big Mama). Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our...

Chatting with Rupert Holmes About Landless’ Symphonic/Metal Version of his Musical ‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’

He’s a triple threat! He’s won Tony awards for writing the book, score, and lyrics for his Tony award-winning Best Musical The Mystery of Edwin Drood, not to mention Tony nominations for the musical...

2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival Interview: ‘Revisiting Current Remounts of Past Hits with Terry Brennan, Tina Brock, and Greg Kennedy’

Three annual Fringe favorites have chosen to remount a past hit for this year’s festival, giving audiences a chance to see the acclaimed works they missed, or to revisit the shows they loved. I had...

Meet The Cast of The Castaways Repertory Theatre’s ‘Cat On A Hot Tin Roof’: Part 2: Lisa Arnold and Zell Murphy

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the cast of Castaways Repertory Theatre’s production of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof, meet Lisa Arnold (Dixie) and Zell Murphy (Reverend Tooker). Joel: Please...

In the Moment: Jessica Robinson on Better Said Than Done at ‘Fall for the Book’ on September 5th-30th

What can be more exhilarating and authentic than standing up in front of an audience to tell a true story about yourself? Maybe unnerving at first; to open up to possible ridicule from people who...

Renegade Company’s Mike Durkin on ‘Animal Farm to Table’ at the 2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival

Mike Durkin, an innovative Philadelphia director who has opened many doors, starts out this interview by giving a brutally honest self-assessment on the ongoing fluctuating weight issues in our...

A Preview with the Cast and Team of ‘The Vanity’ at Theatre Row in NYC

What do you get when you mix The Picture of Dorian Gray with Sunset Boulevard and Valley of the Dolls? A high-camp melodramatic parody on the consequences of aging in a profession where youth and...

The 2016 Philadelphia Fringe Festival: ‘Feed’: “Bring Your Appetites.This is a Play You Can Eat!” An Interview with the Applied Mechanics Collective

Applied Mechanics (AM) is a Philadelphia-based collaborative ensemble that has been making original, immersive theater since it was founded by Director Rebecca (Becky) Wright and Designer Maria...

Come to KAT’s ‘Cabaret’: Part 1: Meet Sarah Jane Bookter

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s (KAT) Cabaret, meet Sarah Jane Bookter. Joel: Please introduce yourself to our readers. Sarah: Hello! I am Sarah Jane...

Magic Time! “I Think About How Badly I Can Break a Heart Today”: A Q&A with Audrey Cefaly, Author of ‘The Gulf’ at Signature Theatre

John: I first discovered your writing when I saw Maytag Virgin during the Women’s Voices Theater Festival, and as I said when I interviewed you back then, “it was one of those experiences of an...

In the Moment: An Interview With Rick Davis on ‘Arts By George!’ on Saturday, September 24, 2016 at George Mason University’s Center for The Arts

These are times of increasing emphasis on STEM as the seemingly set future direction for American students; when there is serious discussion that college bound students and their parents be presented...

Meet the Cast and Director of Providence Players’ ‘Amadeus’ Part 1: Meet David Whitehead (Salieri) by Chip Gertzog

Amadeus, the late Peter Shaffer’s Tony and Academy Award-winning masterpiece opens September 30, 2016, and kicks off the Providence Players’ 2016-2017 season. Chip: Please tell our readers where they...

Meet the Cast of Hard Bargain’s ‘Radio Golf’: Part 4: Mack Leamon

In Part 4 of interviews with the cast of Hard Bargain Players’ Radio Golf, meet Mack Leamon. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen you appear on our local stages and the roles you...

Meet the Cast of Hard Bargain’s ‘Radio Golf’: Part 3: DeJeanette Horne

In Part 3 of interviews with the cast of Hard Bargain Players’ Radio Golf, meet DeJeanette Horne. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen you appear on our local stages and the roles...

Meet the Cast of Hard Bargain’s ‘Radio Golf’: Part 2: Baakari Wilder

In Part 2 of interviews with the cast of Hard Bargain Players’ Radio Golf, meet Baakari Wilder. Joel: Please tell our readers where they may have seen you appear on our local stages and the roles you...

In the Moment: ‘A Dream Within A Dream: Madness’ Playing 9/7-10/31 at The Torpedo Factory

Many know Alexandria’s Torpedo Factory Arts Center (TFAC) as a re-purposed war-time munitions plant now a prominent and beloved non-profit home for artists to create works in a publicly accessible...

Catching Up With Anne Kanengeiser at ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at The Kennedy Center

As the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera is about to end its run at The Kennedy Center, I had the pleasure of catching up with Anne Kanengeiser, who is starring as Madame Giry, before The...

Meet Amy Staats from ‘The Last Class: A Jazzercize Play’ Tonight Through Sunday at The Klunch at Trinidad Theatre

Amy Staats plays MJ in The Last Class: A Jazzercize Play, playing tonight through Sunday at The Klunch performing at The Capital Fringe’s Trinidad Theatre. Joel: How did you get involved with The Last...

Meet Playwright Megan Hill from ‘The Last Class: A Jazzercize Play’ Tonight Through Sunday at The Klunch at Trinidad Theatre

Megan Hill is not only the playwright of The Last Class: A Jazzercize Play, but she gets a real workout playing the Instructor this weekend at The Klunch performing at The Capital Fringe’s Trinidad...

An Interview with The Bang Group’s David Parker on ‘Stuck on You’ at Philadelphia’s GayFest! 2016

“Dance theater with a queer sensibility, high spirits, and a spirit of adventure”: An interview with The Bang Group Co-Founder David Parker, performing at Philadelphia’s GayFest! 2016 Laughs abound as...

Meet the Cast of Hard Bargain’s ‘Radio Golf’: Part 1: Lolita Marie

In Part 1 of interviews with the cast of Hard Bargain Players’ Radio Golf, meet Lolita Marie. Joel: Where have local theatergoers seen you on the stage, and what roles have you performed? Lolita: Hard...

In the Moment: Theatre Communications Group Reaches Out to Veterans

Reaching out to new or underserved audience for audience development is likely a major, on-going activity for any local theater troupe. Given the large number of military families and veterans in the...

In the Moment: A Chat With Fight Choreographer Casey Kaleba

How often do we theater-goers find ourselves totally in disbelief when we witness stage violence or physicality? Do you, as I do, find yourself in complete awe of the unnerving movements and actions...

A Preview of ‘Radio Golf’ Which Opens This Friday, August 12th @8PM at Hard Bargain Players

Radio Golf was August Wilson’s last play and was completed in 2005. I came across it about 8 years ago which was right around the time the United States was about to elect its first African American...