Reviews

Tonight at 7 pm: Spooky Action Theater’s Free Performance of ‘The Asphalt Kiss’ by Nelson Rodrigues

TONIGHT AT 7 PM – Admission is Free The Asphalt Kiss by Nelson Rodrigues, directed by Abel Lopez Wed, Feb 26 @ 7 PM – Admission is Free Spooky Action Theater at The Universalist National Memorial...

‘Driving Miss Daisy’ at Dundalk Community Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Some things never change, even when we’re nearing the end. A person’s determination and stubborn nature does not go way of the wind simply because they can no longer do the things they used to do. If...

Arena Stage Announces its 2014-2015 Season

ARENA STAGE AT THE MEAD CENTER FOR AMERICAN THEATER ANNOUNCES ITS 65TH SEASON FEATURING FIVE WORLD PREMIERES, TWO MUSICALS, THREE COMEDIES AND A 25-WRITER COMMISSION FOR THE NATIONAL CIVIL WAR PROJECT...

The Kennedy Center and Pro Musica Hebraica Present: An Evening of Jewish Music and Poetry: Evgeny Kissin at The Kennedy Center by Bev Fleisher

Pro Musica Hebraica ended its seventh season in the packed Kennedy Center Concert Hall with a moving evening of music and poetry, both rendered exquisite by pianist and lover of Yiddish poetry, Evgeny...

‘Pluto’ at Forum Theatre by Amanda Gunther

“If I speak in the tongue of men or angels but do not have love I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal.” 1 Corinthians 13 or so the Bible says. What greater thing could there be to have in...

Josh Turner Punching Bag Tour with Ruthie & the Wranglers at Strathmore by Francine Schwartz

Josh Turner, a “little bit of country” and a lot of rock and roll, played Friday night at The Music Center at Strathmore. A full house of excited fans filled the Strathmore for a lively concert that...

George Dvorsky on ‘The Great American Songbook’ This Friday at 8 PM at Olney Theatre Center

This Friday, February 28th at 8 PM at Olney Theatre Center, Broadway Veteran George Dvorsky, who is now appearing in How To Succeed… sings from The Great American Songbook. He is joined by Helen Hayes...

‘Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean’ at Greenbelt Arts Center by Amanda Gunther

Tragedy struck America in 1955 when that beautiful Porsche went careening off the side of the highway, taking with it that teenage heartthrob, James Dean. And the nation was never the same....

‘Back to Methuselah’ at Washington Stage Guild by Amanda Gunther

If imagination is the beginning of creation, imagine a world where human beings could choose the length of their lives, creating for themselves an eternity of knowledge and power. Would you choose to...

‘The Yeomen of the Guard, or the Merryman and His Maid’ at Victorian Lyric Opera Company by Joel Markowitz

So far this year, the most fun that I have had in the theatre was yesterday at Victorian Lyric Opera’s (VLOC) sensationally entertaining production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s 1888 Yeomen of the Guard,...

‘The Cole Porter Project: It’s All Right With Me’ at The In Series by Jane Coyne

Cole Porter met the Capitol Steps at Source last night as the In Series premiered its highly entertaining musical review to a sold-out house of enthusiastic fans. Conceived, written, and directed by...

‘A Soldier’s Play’ at 2nd Star Productions by Maria Kuhns

2nd Star Productions’ A Soldiers Play takes place in 1944 at the U.S Army’s racially segregated Fort Neal, Louisiana. Set at the height of World II, this compelling drama by Charles Fuller won a...

‘Spring Awakening’ at Kensington Arts Theatre by David Friscic

I had never seen a production of Spring Awakening before so I was thrilled to attend the current production now playing at the highly –esteemed Kensington Arts Theatre(though, indeed, I had heard the...

‘Moby-Dick’ at Washington National Opera by Jessica Vaughan

Board the Pequod for the East coast premier of Moby-Dick­, a new, dynamic opera from composer Jackie Heggie and his frequent collaborator, librettist Gene Scheer. Herman Melville’s classic novel makes...

‘Rent’ at American University by Bev Fleisher

Jonathan Larson, who wrote the original book, music and lyrics for Rent, summarized the musical in one sentence: ‘Rent is about a community and about celebrating life in the face of death and AIDS at...

‘Godspell’ at The Catholic University of America by Jessica Vaughan

Long before Stephen Schwartz wrote about a wicked witch, he took on the Book of Matthew in the controversial and revolutionary musical Godspell. The musical was updated for a 2012 Broadway revival...

‘Superior Donuts’ at Silver Spring Stage by Amanda Gunther

Pick an adjective. Any adjective. Engaging, compelling, exciting; all good choices when it comes to describing Silver Spring Stage’s production of Superior Donuts. Written by Tracy Letts and Directed...

An Interview with Eric Greene, Talise Trevigne, and Matthew Worth on The Opera ‘Moby-Dick’ at Washington National Opera by Teal Ruland

Jake Heggie’s whale of an opera, Moby-Dick, makes its east coast premiere at The Kennedy Center this evening at the Washington National Opera. Based on the famous 19th-century novel by Herman Melville...

‘Honest Abe: The Wit and Wisdom of Abraham Lincoln’ at Sandy Spring Theatre Group by Paul M. Bessel

Exactly 150 years ago this weekend, Abraham Lincoln went to the theater and saw a play starring Booth (Edwin, not John Wilkes). This same weekend in 2014, I also went to the theater and was moved by a...

‘An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

If you were going to create a time capsule to preserve a glorious musical theatre partnership, you need look no further than Mandy and Patti in Concert now playing at The Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower...

‘Picasso at the Lapine Agile’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse by Manda Gunther

Picasso and Einstein walk into a bar. Add in a couple more cleverly conceived curious characters and you’ve got a recipe for ridiculous comedy that will tickle your funny bone until your sides are...

‘Absurdities: An Evening of Ionesco’ at The George Washington University by Yvonne French

A pair of quintessential absurdist plays–The Bald Soprano and The Chairs by Eugene Ionesco–will lift you from the humdrum and deposit you in a place where language takes on a refreshing new meaning ....

‘The Rope In Your Hands’ at Doorway Arts Ensemble by Joel Markowitz

I am ashamed to admit that I had forgotten all about Hurricane Katrina, but tonight for 55 emotional minutes – the brilliant Siobhan O’Loughlin, directed by Danielle Skraastad, playing 13 different...

‘Sleeping Beauty’ at The Puppet Co. by Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents the iconic classic Sleeping Beauty, directed by Allan Stevens and adapted for puppets by Duane T. Bowers. Nestled in the family-friendly Glen Echo Park, The Puppet...

Matt’s Movie Rank Tank – ‘Special Oscar Edition-Part 2: Best Supporting Actress’ by Matt Baughman

It’s OSCAR season!!! And in honor of this joyous time of year, leading up to the telecast on March 2nd, I will be positing a series of rankings of the nominees for Supporting Actor, Supporting...

Carolyn Cole: The Farewell Tour at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

“This is a rock concert! There’s not going to be any of that ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ stuff tonight!” True to her word, Helen Hayes Award-winning artist Carolyn Cole took to the stage Wednesday night...

‘American Idiot’ at The National Theatre by John Stoltenberg

Among the exhilarating pleasures of seeing American Idiot now on tour at the National Theatre is experiencing this angsty, amped-up ode to antiestablishment disaffection performed full force in DC’s...

‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ at Maryland Ensemble Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Clink. The sound of chimes and deception. Clink. The look of houseboys and studs. Clink. The illusion of truth or the truth of illusion; it’s all blended into Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia...

‘Superior Donuts’ at Colonial Players of Annapolis by Amanda Gunther

You may not recognize it, even if you’ve talked about it, think you’ve seen it, or may even think you’ve written it. We’re talking about the great American play. And it’s happening at the Colonial...

New Whisperings: Meet KAT’s Director and Cast of ‘Spring Awakening’: Part 4: Harrison Smith (Moritz) by Joel Markowitz

In Part 4 of our series of interviews with the director and cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s Spring Awakening, meet Harrison Smith (Moritz). Joel: Why did you want to appear in Spring Awakening at...

‘La Vida Que Me Das…Y No Me Alcanza’ (Such a Life You’ve Given Me… And It’s Not Enough) at Teatro de la Luna by Jenny Sutton

At first glance, the title La Vida Que Me Das…Y No Me Alcanza (Such a Life You’ve Given Me… And It’s Not Enough) may read as a soapy, heart-wrenching drama for middle-aged women. However, after...

Angelique Kidjo at Lisner Auditorium by Bev Fleisher

Béninoise singer-songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo worked most of the audience into an exuberant dancing frenzy at her performance last night at Lisner Auditorium. Her 17-song set combined the...

New Whisperings: Meet KAT’s Director and Cast of ‘Spring Awakening’: Part 3: Ryan Alan Jones (Melchior) by Joel Markowitz

In Part 3 of our series of interviews with the director and cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s Spring Awakening, meet Ryan Alan Jones (Melchior). Joel: Why did you want to appear in Spring Awakening at...

‘Etiology’ at The Catholic University of America by Francine Schwartz

The Catholic University of America’s Department of Drama presented a very moving production of Etiology, a new play – an M.F.A. playwriting thesis – written by Teri Gillmor. The passionate production...

‘The Wedding Dress’ at Spooky Action Theater by Justin Schneider

“Mysterious and evocative”: these were the words that Spooky Action Theater’s Artistic Director Richard Henrich used to describe their production of Nelson Rodrigues’ The Wedding Dress. And after...

‘The Merry Wives of Windsor’ at Chesapeake Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

What cannot be eschewed must be embraced; well, embrace it, baby because the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company is bringing the funk and they’re bringing it fierce! Mounting their midwinter’s production...

New Whisperings: Meet KAT’s Director and Cast of ‘Spring Awakening’: Part 2: Catherine Callahan (Martha) by Joel Markowitz

In Part 2 of our series of interviews with the director and cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s Spring Awakening, meet Catherine Callahan (Martha). Joel: Why did you want to appear in Spring Awakening...

‘We Are Proud To Present’… at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

How far is too far? Do different rules apply when you’re discussing the subject of race? Can you truly ever walk a mile in someone else’s shoes? Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company continues to boldly push...

‘Much Ado About Nothing’ at Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre by Alyssa Denton

Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre brings William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing to life in 1982 Italy Spun into an Olivia Newton John and Madonna-esque 1982 Mount Vernon Community...

New Whisperings: Meet KAT’s Director and Cast of ‘Spring Awakening’: Part 1: Joanna Frezzo (Ilse) by Joel Markowitz

In Part 1 of our series of interviews with the director and cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s Spring Awakening, meet Joanna Frezzo (Ilse). Joel: Why did you want to appear in Spring Awakening at...

‘La Señorita de Tacna (The Young Lady From Tacna)’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre by Jessica Vaughan

Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 2010, always wanted to be a playwright. La Señorita de Tacna, written in 1981, was his first play. His literary roots...

‘Let’s Fall in Love: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings Streisand, Songbook Classics, & More’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

A Valentine’s Day treat was offered to all those who were lucky enough to attend celebrated jazz and cabaret artist Ann Hampton Callaway’s concert Let’s Fall in Love: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings...

Meet The Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘The Wedding Dress’: Part 3: Meet Dane Edidi by Joel Markowitz

In Part 3 of our series with the director and cast of Spooky Action Theater’s The Wedding Dress, meet Dane Edidi. Why did you want to become a member of the cast of The Wedding Dress? How could I not?...

‘Love Letters’ at The Flying Muskrat Theatre Company by Joel Markowitz

Advertised as “Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ Like You’ve Never Seen it Before” The Flying Muskrat Theatre Company’s production, directed with much love by Leanne G. O’Neill and Assistant Director Brennan...

‘Our Funny Valentine with Chelsea and Geoff Packard’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

It’s a cold, blustery winter night on the eve of a major storm, but, the air was warm with love and affection at the Signature Theatre Wednesday night as the powerhouse Broadway couple Chelsea Packard...

THEATRE CLOSINGS TODAY/WHO’S OPEN

Here are THEATRE CLOSINGS-Updated 7:40 PM 2nd Star Productions-Funny Money. Adventure Theatre MTC-Miss Nelson is Missing. Arena Stage: Mother Courage and Her Children and The Tallest Tree in the...

‘A Little Night Music’ at Damascus Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

A weekend in the country is exactly what you’re in for if you head up to the Damascus Theatre Company’s production of A Little Night Music at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn this month. The Sondheim...

‘Seminar’ at Round House Theatre by David Friscic

Floating windows at the top of the stage! That Is not, necessarily, the first thing you marvel at in the Round House Theatre’s current and stimulating new play Seminar for, indeed, all the elements of...

Matt’s Movie Rank Tank – ‘Special Oscar Edition-Part 1: Best Supporting Actor’ by Matt Baughman

It’s OSCAR season!!! And in honor of this joyous time of year, leading up to the telecast on March 2nd, I will be positing a series of rankings of the nominees for Supporting Actor, Supporting...

‘Rumpelstiltskin’ at Imagination Stage by Julia L. Exline

Imagination Stage presents the old childhood tale Rumpelstiltskin, written for the stage by Mike Kenny and directed by Janet Stanford. Scenic Designer Daniel Pinha drapes the stage with an entwined...