Interviews and Features

New Ways to Dream: Meet Paul Tonden, Star of Reston Community Players’ ‘Sunset Boulevard’

Norma Desmond is waiting for her close-up in Reston Community Players’ sumptuous rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, opening this Friday, February 27, 2015. Inspired by Billy Wilder’s...

It’s The Pictures That Got Small: Meet Joshua Redford, Star of Reston Community Players’ ‘Sunset Boulevard’

Norma Desmond is waiting for her close-up in Reston Community Players’ sumptuous rendition of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Sunset Boulevard, opening this Friday, February 27, 2015. Inspired by Billy Wilder’s...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 6: Nicole Mullins-Teasley

In Part 6 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Nicole Mullins-Teasley. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen...

Visual Arts Viewpoint: An Interview with Artist Elsabé Dixon

Artisphere Artist in Residence Elsabé Dixon sits at a table before an array of black on white biomorphic forms lining the gallery walls like magnified micro-organisms. Upon closer inspection, webs of...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 5: Daniel Douek

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Daniel Douek. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘Last of the Whyos’: Part Four: Meet Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi by Roberta Alves

This is the forth in a series of interviews with the cast of Spooky Action Theater’s Last of the Whyos. In Part Four: Meet Lady Dane Figueroa Edidi. Roberta: Why did you want to become a member of the...

Meet the Cast of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Kensington Arts Theatre: Part 5: Carl Williams

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Kensington Arts Theatre, meet Carl Williams. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers...

Meet the Cast of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Kensington Arts Theatre: Part 4: Teresa Danskey

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Kensington Arts Theatre, meet Teresa Danskey. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers...

Meet the Cast of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Kensington Arts Theatre: Part 3: Emma Lord

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Kensington Arts Theatre, meet Emma Lord. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where...

Meet the Cast of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Kensington Arts Theatre: Part 2: Matt Baughman

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Kensington Arts Theatre, meet Matt Baughman. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers...

‘Boeing, Boeing’ Opens Tomorrow Friday, 2/13 at Montgomery Playhouse-Meet the Cast: Renetta Morelli, Jim Breen, Anne Vandercook, Christina Fox, Jason Damaso, and Corrie Bolcik

The very funny Boeing, Boeing opens tomorrow night at 8 PM at The Montgomery Playhouse, in partnership with Arts on the Green, performing at The Gaithersburg Arts Barn-311 Kent Square Road, in...

Meet the Cast of ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Kensington Arts Theatre: Part 1: Dylan Echter

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee at Kensington Arts Theatre, meet Dylan Echter. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers...

Meet the Cast of Clandestine Arts’ ‘Bare: A Pop Opera’ Opening Next Thursday, February 19th at DCAC by Tyler Everett Adams and Joel Markowitz

Clandestine Arts’ Bare: A Pop Opera, opens on Thursday, February 19, 2015 at The District of Columbia Arts Center (DCAC)- 2438 18th Street, in Washington, DC. Bare: A Pop Opera is a moving story about...

How the Writer of ‘Life Sucks’ Reimagined the Women of ‘Uncle Vanya’: A Q&A with Aaron Posner, Judith Ingber, and Monica West

John Stoltenberg: It’s great that Molly Smith, artistic director of Arena Stage, and Eric Schaeffer, artistic director of Signature Theater, have initiated what will become the Women’s Voices Theater...

The Duke Ellington Orchestra Comes to Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club on Saturday and Sunday February 14th and 15th

What better way to set the mood than swaying with your sweetheart to the tune of “Prelude to a Kiss”? Just in time for a weekend of love, the Duke Ellington Orchestra swings into town for two shows at...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 6: Corrie Bolcik

In Part 6 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Corrie Bolcik. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 5: Jason Damaso

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Jason Damaso. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 4: Christina Fox

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Christina Fox. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 4: Malarie Novotny

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Malarie Novotny. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 3: Anne Vandercook

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Anne Vandercook. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘Last of the Whyos’: Part Three: Meet Tia Shearer by Roberta Alves

This is the third in a series of interviews with the cast of Spooky Action Theater’s Last of the Whyos. In Part Three: Meet Tia Shearer. Roberta: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of...

Magic and Mayhem: An Interview with David London and Harley Newman as They Appear at The Black Cat Tomorrow-February 6th at 9:30 PM

One of the things I love most about the variety arts is that since it’s a retro art form there’s a lot of room to be innovative. One of the most innovative performers I know is magician David London....

Meet the Cast of the McLean Community Players’ Production of 13: Part Three: Celine Jelinski, Gabrielle Gardner, Jayne Saxon Zirkle, Olivia Kulczycky, Rachael Cranston, and Rebecca Blacksten by Laura Beth Dailey

13 is a hilarious, coming-of-age rock musical with music and lyrics by Tony-Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The story centers around Evan Goldman,...

Meet the Cast of ‘Godspell’ at Olney Theatre Center: Part 3: Allie Parris

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Godspell at Olney Theatre Center, meet Allie Parris. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 2: Jim Breen

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Jim Breen. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Meet the Cast of ‘Boeing, Boeing’ at Montgomery Playhouse: Part 1: Renetta Morelli

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Boeing, Boeing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Renetta Morelli. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast of ‘Godspell’ at Olney Theatre Center: Part 2: Kurt Boehm

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of Godspell at Olney Theatre Center, meet Kurt Boehm. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the past...

Peter Hillard, Matt Boresi, and Bob Wood of UrbanArias on ‘Blue Viola’ Playing Today and Tomorrow

Introduce yourself to our readers, and tell us the kind of work that you do. Tell us a bit about UrbanArias. Wood: UrbanArias is a five-year-old company dedicated to producing short (defined as 90...

Meet the Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘Last of the Whyos’: Part Two: Meet Michael Kevin Darnall by Roberta Alves

This is the second in a series of interviews with the cast of Spooky Action Theater’s Last of the Whyos. In Part Two: Meet Michael Kevin Darnall. This past Monday night Michael Kevin Darnall was...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 3: Carole Long

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Carole Long. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast of ‘Godspell’ at Olney Theatre Center: Part 1: Jordan Coughtry

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Godspell at Olney Theatre Center, meet Jordan Coughtry. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Interviews with Artists Stephen Blickenstaff, Isaac Bidwell, Todd Gardner, and John Detrich on their Pop up Gallery Show at ‘Shocked & Amazed Presents: Strange For Hire’

This Saturday, January 31st, Shocked & Amazed Presents: Strange For Hire will perform at the Artisphere in Rosslyn. Accompanying the performance art will be a pop up gallery art show featuring artists...

Visual Arts Viewpoint: An Interview with Baltimore Artist Jim Condron

Visual Arts Viewpoint takes a look inside the contemporary visual arts in the area. Talking to artists, curators, and gallerists, this is a forum not just to spotlight their creative work and...

The Highwood Theatre Opens ‘Other Desert Cities’ on February 6th by Sarah Scott

Some families lie to the world, some families lie to each other, and some families even lie to themselves. In the Wyeth family, you get all three. Jon Robin Baitz’s drama Other Desert Cities delves...

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...

An Interview with Isaac Solomon

On the evenings of November 14, 15, 21, and 22, 2014 Isaac Solomon performed the role of Link in Hairspray at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Greenbelt, MD. I had a chance to talk with Isaac about...

An Interview with the ‘Strange for Hire’ Sideshow Duo Frankie Sin and Donny Vomit

Think that sword swallowing, fire eating, and burlesque are all lost entertainments of a bygone era? Think again. Strange for Hire, presented by Shocked and Amazed! and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not,...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 2: Zak Zeeks

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Zak Zeeks. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘Last of the Whyos’: Part One: Meet Randolph Curtis Rand by Roberta Alves

This is the first in a series of interviews with the cast of Spooky Action Theater’s Last of the Whyos. In Part One: Meet Randolph Curtis Rand. Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Last...

Meet the Cast of ‘I Hate Hamlet’ at 2nd Star Productions: Part 1: Fred Nelson

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of I Hate Hamlet at 2nd Star Productions, meet Fred Nelson. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you in the...

Meet the Cast of the McLean Community Players’ Production of ’13’: Part Two: Alex Weinstein, Brett Hungar, Cole Sitilides, Ryan Selig, Will Hemmingson, and Winston Oughourli by Laura Beth Dailey

13 is a hilarious, coming-of-age rock musical with music and lyrics by Tony-Award winning composer Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The story centers around Evan Goldman,...

In the Moment: An Interview with WSC Avant Bard’s Tom Prewitt on ‘Othello’

On horror’s head horrors accumulate. (Othello Act 3, Scene 3) So why did Othello do what he did? Why did he take the life of Desdemona, the woman he loved? Why did he take his own life? Certainly...

Meet the Cast of the McLean Community Players’ Production of ’13’: Part One: Bailey Drew, Cuinn Casey, Izzy Gaskill, John Ray, and Tori Garcia by Laura Beth Dailey

13 is a hilarious, coming-of-age rock musical with music and lyrics by Tony-Award-winning composer Jason Robert Brown and a book by Dan Elish and Robert Horn. The story centers around Evan Goldman,...

An Interview with ‘Shocked and Amazed Presents: Strange for Hires’ Producers Alex Doll and James Taylor

Sideshow is one of the oldest and most intriguing forms of performance. Think it’s a 19th century relic? Think again. On Saturday, January 31, 2015, Shocked & Amazed Presents: Strange For Hire will...

An Interview with Jasmine Guy on ‘Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on January 24, 2015

On the evening of January 24, 2015, the renowned star of stage, television, and film, Jasmine Guy will present for one-night only, “Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey,” along with the...

Unusual Suspects: Meet the Cast of Reston Community Players’ Upcoming ‘Rehearsal for Murder’

Reston Community Players heats up the winter with the thrilling whodunit Rehearsal for Murder January 16-31, 2015. Audiences are invited to test their wits as they enter a world of backstage drama...

Whodunit? Reston Community Players Offers a Heady Mix of Backstage Suspects in Thrilling ‘Rehearsal for Murder’ Playing January 16-31, 2015

Reston Community Players opens the thrilling whodunit Rehearsal for Murder This Friday, January 16th. Audiences are invited to test their wits as they enter a world of backstage drama where nothing is...

Meet the Cast of Metropolitan Youth Arts Theatre’s ‘The Last Five Years’: Part 2: Kyra Smith by Sam Cornbrooks

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the cast of Metropolitan Youth Arts Theatre’s The Last Five Years, meet Kyra Smith. Sam: Introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Meet the Cast and Director of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s ‘The Tempest: Part 4: Director Ethan McSweeny

In Part Three of a series of interviews with the cast and director of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s The Tempest, meet Director Ethan McSweeny. Michael: I think a lot of people around town know who you...

Meet the Cast of Metropolitan Youth Arts Theatre’s ‘The Last Five Years’: Part 1: Ben Cherington by Sam Cornbrooks

In Part One of a series of interviews with the cast of Metropolitan Youth Arts Theatre’s The Last Five Years, meet Ben Cherington. Sam: Introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen...