Reviews

“Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ Like You’ve Never Seen it Before” at Flying Muskrats by Brennan Jones

If you’ve experienced A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, you might be skeptical. If you haven’t, here’s a crash course: Love Letters tells the story of Andy Ladd and Melissa Gardener, and their 50+ year love...

‘Natascia Diaz’ Presented by Strathmore by Douglas Lloyd

Natascia Diaz, a Washington area favorite and two-time Helen Hayes Award-winning actress/singer, made her Strathmore debut last night in winning style, as part of the Strathmore’s Music in the Mansion...

‘The Vagina Monologues’ at Greenbelt Art Center by Amanda Gunther

What would your vagina say if it could talk? Mine would say that you need to go see the Rude Mechanicals and their production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues at the Greenbelt Art Center....

An Interview with Director Sherrionne Brown on Directing ‘Harvey’ at Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

A Pooka is coming! And a Pooka is here! The Vagabond Players production of Harvey is going strong; an incredibly fascinating look at the people in our lives and how we respond to them, whether they’re...

‘An Inspector Calls’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Bev Fleisher

Who-done-its often involve multiple twists and turns, dead ends, and tangential material —all leading to the capture of the criminal and justice served at the last moment. Director Laurie Freed did a...

The 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations to Be Announced Tomorrow at 7:20 PM at The National Theatre and Looking Back at Last Year’s Nominations and Recipients by Joel Markowitz

Tomorrow night the 2014 Helen Hayes nominations will be announced from The National Theatre at 7:20 PM. Let us know who you would like to see nominated by leaving your choices in the Comment Box...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Pied Piper Theatre at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Veteran director Vincent Worthington, who also serves as Set Designer and Lighing Designer of Pied Piper Theatre, masterfully lead Piped Piper Theatre’s first musical production at the Hylton...

Meet The Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘The Wedding Dress’: Part 1: Meet Playwright Nelson Rodrigues by Luís Artur Nunes

Spooky Action Theater is presenting The Wedding Dress by Nelson Rodrigues. The show is directed by Rebecca Holderness and stars Frank Britton, Michael Kevin Darnall, Dane Edidi, Stefanie Garcia,...

‘GOLD’ by Cas Public of Canada at The Kennedy Center Family Theater by Yvonne French

I knew this was going to be a good performance when I saw the on the Web that it was choreographed by Hélène Blackburn and Pierre Lecours, “with the invaluable collaboration of dancers.” Blackburn and...

‘The Ballad of the Red Knight’ at Port City Playhouse and Red Knight Productions by Jenna Miller

I had a great time at The Ballad of the Red Knight – a comedic adventure that takes place in Medieval Story Land. The Red Knight is a prince known for using his silver tongue to negotiate rather than...

‘Take 2: Say I Do’ at Main Street Theater by Kim Moeller

As sweet as frosting on a wedding cake, Main Street Theater’s production Take 2: Say I Do offers an entertaining and comical evening of the challenges and joy that accompany the wedding of two people...

‘Wedding of Ordos’ at The Kennedy Center by Jessica Vaughan

Visit outer Mongolia at The Kennedy Center just in time for the Chinese New Year next Friday for the Wedding of Ordos, which is billed as a dance spectacle by the Ordos Song and Dance Theater, based...

‘THIS’ at Vienna Theatre Company by Annie Bradley Ermlick

As described by Alan in Melissa James Gibson’s THIS, middle age is, “a sense of intense urgency mixed with exhaustion.” Making its Northern Virginia area debut, the Vienna Theatre Company presents the...

Baltimore Symphony at Strathmore: Marvin Hamlisch: One Singular Sensation by Jane Coyne

It was an honor and privilege to be at the Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday evening as Jack Everly led the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a loving and moving tribute to the one, singular and...

‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre by Amanda Gunther

If life seems jolly rotten then there’s something you’ve forgotten—Monty Python’s Spamalot is playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre! There is no better way to tickle your funny bone this season than with a...

‘The Flu Season’ at Single Carrot Theatre by Amanda Gunther

One cannot feel time in words alone, but it is there, ticking, moving, existing. Passing us by as time so often does, as we invest our lives in one thing or another. We as humans spend our lives...

‘Stones in His Pockets’ at CENTERSTAGE by Amanda Gunther

People don’t go to the movies to be depressed that’s what they have the theatre for, or so says Centerstage’s production of Stones in His Pockets; a darkly humored Irish comedy that will tickle your...

‘Gypsy’ at Riverside Center Dinner Theater by Julia L. Exline

Riverside Center Dinner Theater presents Gypsy, a musical inspired by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, a famous burlesque entertainer. With Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Jule Styne, and Lyrics by...

’45 Seconds From Broadway’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

The show that takes place just seconds from The Great White Way, a comedy that encompasses Neil Simon’s style to perfection; all of that is now happening upon the Laurel Mill Playhouse stage as they...

‘Collected Stories’ at Dignity Players by Amanda Gunther

It is strongly advised that writers never be arbitrary, everything that is done must have a reason. Taking this notion, Dignity Players brings that sense of driven reason into their latest stage...

Inside the Music: An Interview with David Dubal, Guest Host of National Chamber Ensemble’s Feb 8th “Schubert and Champagne” Concert by Jane Coyne

Internationally celebrated pianist, author, teacher, writer, and broadcaster David Dubal is set to host National Chamber Ensemble’s “Schubert and Champagne” concert on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at...

‘Scapin’ at Constellation Theatre Company by Justin Schneider

“Beautiful women, graphic violence, and, um, some sort of conclusion.” Toss in “excellent clown-work” and you’ve got a pretty good snapshot of Constellation Theatre Company’s production of Scapin....

‘Glassheart’ at Rorschach Theatre by John Stoltenberg

The evening began enchantingly. The audience was seated on four sides of a square playing area lit by stage lighting, so we could look across and see one another’s faces in that wonderful expectant...

The Pre-Professional Program of Act Two @ Levine Presents ‘PARADE’ January 30-February 2nd at Arena Stage’s Kogod Cradle

The Pre-Professional Program of Act Two @ Levine is proud to present PARADE In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, a...

‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ at Aldersgate Church Community Theater by Julia L. Exline

Aldersgate Church Community Theater presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr., with Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, and Book by Linda Woolverton. Corey Latta directs an...

‘Miss Nelson is Missing’ at Adventure Theatre MTC by Julia L. Exline

Adventure Theatre MTC presents a musical version of Miss Nelson is Missing, based on the beloved children’s books by Harry Allard and directed by Jennifer Nelson, with Music Direction and...

‘Tales of Beatrix Potter’ at The Puppet Co. By Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents Tales of Beatrix Potter, a trio of classic stories by Beatrix Potter, performed by Applause Unlimited’s Christopher Hudert. Director, Puppet Master, and Set Designer...

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Drama Learning Center by John Harding

If you somehow missed the first 24 annual Putnam County spelling bees, can you spell u-n-l-u-c-k-y? Well, you still have a chance to catch The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in a wonderfully...

Magic Time! ‘Miss Nelson is Missing’ by John Stoltenberg

I had not been to kid’s theater since I was a kid. As an inveterate theater buff, I was dimly aware there was much highly praised professional children’s theater in the DC Metro area—but I was certain...

‘Les Misérables’ at Reston Community Players by Beverly Fleisher

Reston Community Players’ production of Les Misérables is la plupart magnifique! From the moment the curtain rose on a group of prisoners, including Jean Valjean, toiling in misery to “Look Down,” to...

‘Charles Ross One Man Lord of the Rings’ at The Birchmere by Jenna Miller

Charles Ross One Man Lord of the Rings, written and performed by Ross and directed by TJ Dawe, is exactly as the title says: Ross reenacts the Lord of the Ring trilogy of films on stage by himself....

‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The tale of star-crossed lovers, thwarted by fate before their stories even began; the Bard’s oldest and most tragic love tale. We’ve seen it all before, we’ve heard it all before, but The Audrey...

‘La Vie En Rose’ at the In Series by Jessica Vaughan

The In Series travels to France for a weekend of performances of the very special La Vie En Rose, a program of French chansons, or secular, lyrical songs, sung by a cadre of talented, local opera...

‘Bad Dates’ at Bay Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Maybe thunderstorms really are a gift of The Buddha. Maybe owning too many pairs of shoes isn’t really such a bad thing. And maybe going out to see Bay Theatre Company’s production of Bad Dates is an...

‘International Guitar Night’ Featuring: Brian Gore, Italy’s Pino Forastiere, Mike Dawes from England, and Quique Sinesi from Argentina at The Barns at Wolf Trap by Francine Schwartz

The Barns at Wolf Trap had a full house on Thursday nightt, bringing 2014’s International Guitar Night for a return engagement. This year’s tour featured Brian Gore from Santa Cruz, Italy’s Pino...

‘The Tallest Tree in the Forest’ at Arena Stage by David Friscic

The epic journey of the civil rights movement, the political struggles of the times, and the fruitless hatred of humankind towards those they do not understand are beautifully realized –and mirrored...

Christie Dashiell at The Mansion at Strathmore by Beverly Fleisher

Christie Dashiell and her band graced the stage at the Mansion at Strathmore on Wednesday night with a seven-song set. Her skills as a jazz vocalist and composer brought joy throughout the...

National Chamber Ensemble Presents: ‘David Dubal, Schubert, and Champagne!’ on Saturday, February 8th at 7:30 PM by Jane Coyne

National Chamber Ensemble, David Dubal, Schubert, and Champagne! Program Sonata in A minor “Arpeggione” for Cello and Piano, D. 821 Six Dances (David Dubal, piano) Piano Trio in E flat No. 2 Op.100...

‘Crimes of the Heart’ at Everyman Theatre by Amanda Gunther

As humans it’s healthy to talk about our lives, especially the problems in our lives. And it often helps to do so when you’re having a bad day; especially if you’re in the Magrath family where bad...

‘Tribes’ at The Studio Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Every word we speak – whether verbally or by signing – can be a brick to build or a bulldozer to destroy. You don’t have to have the ability to hear . . . to want to be heard. How do you live out...

‘Bang the Drum Slowly’ at The American Century Theater by David Friscic

The American Century Theater (TACT), a stalwart presence in the DC area theatre community, is now presenting the stage adaptation by Eric Simonson of Mark Harris’ novel (the second in a series of...

‘A Steady Rain’ at The Capital City Players by Jessica Vaughan

The Capital City Players tackle a contemporary classic with Keith Huff’s A Steady Rain – about family, love, lies, betrayal and what it means to carry a badge. Ultimately this exceptionally...

‘Over the River and Through the Woods’ at Prince George’s Little Theatre

Tengo familgia! In English it doesn’t translate to anything more than “support your family” but in Italian it means so much more. Prince George’s Little Theatre is proud to present Over the River and...

‘Look Homeward, Angel’ at Compass Rose Theater by Amanda Gunther

Our lives are like a photograph; a picture that captures a moment, showing everything and nothing simultaneously. Even so, the deep complexities of relationships we share with others keep us frozen to...

‘Coyote on a Fence’ at Colonial Players by Amanda Gunther

As of October 2013 the state of Maryland became the sixth state to abolish the death penalty. The state of Maryland no longer utilizes capital punishment as a sentence for prisoners found guilty of...

‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat’ at First Act at Act Two@Levine by Eric Denver

In the small intimate confines of the blackbox theater within the Strathmore complex, Saturday afternoon was a spectacular day for Chapter 39 of Genesis. First Act, a new program of Act Two @ Levine,...

Bettye LaVette in Concert at The Howard Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

If nothing else, Bettye LaVette is a survivor. She is a survivor, and a living testament of what God-given talent, determination, and a strong will of staying true to oneself can be in the harsh,...

Nellie McKay at the Mansion at Strathmore by Francine Schwartz

As a part of a new series, Say It With Song, Nellie McKay sold out the first of two evening events at the atmospheric Mansion at Strathmore on Thursday, January 9th. She is a prolific jazz singer and...

‘Harvey’ at Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

People are people no matter where you go. Unless they’re not people, in which case they might be a giant white rabbit measuring in at six feet eight inches— I’m sorry, six feet eight and a half...

‘Blame it on Beckett’ at Montgomery Playhouse at the Gaithersburg Arts Barn by Yvonne French

Ever wonder what goes on–not behind the scenes–but beneath the surface of the performing arts? Such as what might have led to a Bolshoi Ballet star dancer’s conviction for throwing acid on the...