Reviews

‘The Velocity of Autumn’ at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater by Nicole Cusick

With the stage in total darkness the house is consumed with loud noises of a storm and sirens evoking a very chaotic state. It last for about a minute, just enough to make your heart begin to race,...

Thelonious Monk International Jazz Saxophone Competition Finals & All-Star Gala Concert at The Kennedy Center by Francine Schwartz

On Monday, September 16, 2013, the Finals of this year’s Thelonious Monk International Jazz Competition took place at The Kennedy Center. This famous event is not only an opportunity to hear some of...

‘Art’ at Dignity Players by Amanda Gunther

A difference in opinion is nothing to stake a friendship on, and certainly nothing to lose one over, though it would seem that three long-time friends find themselves in exactly such a predicament as...

‘A Young Lady of Property’ at Rep Stage by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

In Rep Stage’s first show of its 21st season, the setting is Late Spring, 1925. The journey to a small, nondescript Texas town unexpectedly seduces audiences with the compelling people of Harrison,...

‘The Marriage of Maria Braun’ at SCENA Theatre by Emily Cao

“My time is just beginning.” Truer words have never been spoken by any character. Maria Braun’s straightforward declaration is the essence of Robert McNamara’s The Marriage of Maria Braun at SCENA...

‘Come Blow Your Horn’ at The American Century Theater by Francine Schwartz

The American Century Theater (TACT) has an ambitious portfolio of theater performances, defined by their mission statement as presenting the classics of the 20th Century. The last play I reviewed here...

‘The Children’s Hour’ at Port City Playhouse by Emily Cao

Port City Playhouse presents The Children’s Hour, the first production of their 2013-2014 Season: A Salute to the American Voice, an homage to distinguished American playwrights that bring unique...

‘Animal Crackers’ at CENTERSTAGE by Amanda Gunther

“A party. I came here for a party. And what happened? Nothing. Not even ice cream.” A calamitous catastrophe of comedy rolls its way into CENTERSTAGE to start off their 2013/2014 season with a...

‘Gee’s Bend’ at MetroStage by Ramona Harper

“This ensemble was exquisite” — praise testimony of a theatergoer after seeing Gee’s Bend at MetroStage. Amazing how a cast of just four performers are able to transform the simple life of the women...

‘Tristan and Isolde’ at Washington National Opera by Jessica Vaughan

Washington National Opera opens the season with a transformative production of Richard Wagner’s epic tragedy Tristan and Isolde for his bicentennial birthday. He wrote both the music and the libretto....

‘Cabaret Barroco’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre by Nicole Cusick

Gala Hispanic Theatre begins its 38th season by paying homage to the Spanish Golden Age. The spirit of a 17th century corralas found its way to 14th Street with the world debut of Cabaret Barroco,...

‘Molière’s Don Juan’ at Faction of Fools by Justin Schneider

Casanova. Lothario. Bill Clinton. Among the world’s famous playboys, the figure of Don Juan holds a special place in the theatre. Faction of Fools, DC’s premiere commedia troupe, have taken a stab at...

‘Detroit’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Are you able to walk up to your neighbor’s house and borrow a cup of sugar? Does anyone even do that anymore? Or is it just easier to go down to the 24-hour food mart and buy what you need rather than...

Free Performance of ‘The Agony of David’ on Monday, 9/23/13 at 8 PM at Ingleside at Rock Creek by Anthony E. Gallo

A Seventh Street Playhouse Presentation THE AGONY OF DAVID Monday, September 23, 2013 at 8:00 PM At INGLESIDE AT ROCK CREEK 3050 Military Road NW, in Washington, DC by Anthony E. Gallo This two-act...

Heidi Blickenstaff at Signature Theatre’s ‘Autumn Cabaret Festival’ by Derek Mong

After seeing Heidi Blickenstaff perform alongside Patina Miller, James Clow, Alan H. Green, Patina Miller, and Matthew Scott, last year in the Kennedy Center’s production of First You Dream: The Music...

‘Bell’ at National Geographic by John Stoltenberg

Having heard tantalizing details about Bell in a pre-opening interview, I attended the National Geographic Live production with the sort of eager/anxious anticipation one might have felt watching the...

‘Saburo Teshigawara/KARAS’ at The Kennedy Center by Rick Westerkamp

Saburo Teshigawara, Artistic Director of Saburo Teshigawara/KARAS and choreographer of Mirror & Music, is an artist of the highest degree. Mirror & Music, having its North American premiere at The...

‘Caught in the Net’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Julia L. Exline

The Little Theatre of Alexandria presents Ray Cooney’s Caught in the Net, a comedic farce that follows the chaotic evening of a London taxi driver, whose long-kept double life races towards a head-on...

“Signature’s Funny Ladies” at Autumn Cabaret Festival at Signature Theatre by Don Michael Mendoza

“Funny” is an understatement when it comes to describing the performers of Signature Theatre’s Funny Ladies Cabaret because all of the women were hands down, knee-slappin’ hilarious actresses! The...

ZZ Top at Wolf Trap by Christina Frank

For most bands longevity means staying together long enough to put out a second or, if lucky, a third album; but for ZZ Top (lead vocalist and guitarist Billy Gibbons, vocalist Dusty Hill, and drummer...

‘After the Revolution’ at Theater J by John Stoltenberg

Who would have guessed that a family drama about everyday ethics and far-left ideology could be so engrossing and engaging, the characters so real and riveting, that what happens on stage enters one’s...

Depeche Mode at Jiffy Lube Live by Marlene Hall

Last night at Jiffy Lube Live, Depeche Mode gave its sold out crowd of devotees a show to remember in support of its new CD Delta Machine. This wasn’t just a concert – it was a spiritual experience!...

‘Agnes Under the Big Top’ at Forum Theatre by Maddie Gaw

Forum Theatre’s season debut begins with a tongue-in-cheek pre-show announcement. It acknowledges a sort of cultural sameness that we feel as theatergoers, and as city-dwellers, particularly about...

‘The Misanthrope’ at Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

To err is human, to forgive divine, though in this comedy of manners you’ll find very little divinity as no one seems to be in the forgiving mood. The Vagabond Players opens their 98th season with...

‘Gift of Forgotten Tongues’ at Venus Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Would you really want to live in a world without words? Take a moment and think about this. A perfect understanding between people; never a miscommunication, no more terrorism or wars. But a life...

Revolve Has ‘Cycle Broadway’ Theme Ride This Friday, 9/13 @ 6:30 pm

Revolve announces Theme Ride Fridays! A Different and Exciting Theme Ride Every Friday During the Month of September at 6:30 pm Revolve today announced Theme Ride Fridays! – a special offering and...

‘Nick Blaemire and the Hustle: Nerd Soul’ at Signature Theatre’s Autumn Cabaret Festival by Douglas Lloyd

Signature Theater treated an enthusiastic audience on Friday Night to an evening of the smooth, soulful sounds of Nick Blaemire and the Hustle, which was part of Signature’s Autumn Cabaret Festival....

‘Saint Joan’ at BEDLAM Theatre at Olney Theatre Center by Jenna Miller

Saint Joan is George Bernard Shaw’s version of the rise and fall of Joan of Arc. Joan was an illiterate, teenage farm girl in 15th Century France who claimed to hear voices. God’s word was passed to...

‘Completely Hollywood (Abridged)’ at Maryland Ensemble Theatre by Keith Tittermary

Could you imagine what would become of the classic Meg Ryan/Billy Crystal movie, if the leading man were played by Clint Eastwood? You would get When Dirty Harry Met Sally. On Sunday night at Maryland...

‘Hamlet’ at BEDLAM Theatre at Olney Theatre Center by Amanda Gunther

Though this be madness, yet there is method in it. To take on one of Shakespeare’s epic dramas with only four actors portraying all of the characters; the very definition of insanity, but a well...

‘Abduction from the Seraglio’ at The In Series by Jessica Vaughan

The In Series, DC’s own pocket opera company, has commissioned a new libretto for Mozart’s famous comic opera, Abduction from the Seraglio in an impressive and truly hilarious start to the season....

‘Torch Song Trilogy’ at The Studio Theatre by John Stoltenberg

Some plays don’t age well; they get dated but dusted off anyway. Some time-travel okay, and get mounted in modern dress. But rare is the work that—while still set in the period years ago when it was...

‘Dancing in the Wings’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Dancing in the Wings, a musical by Debbie Allen, returns again to the Hylton Performing Arts Center on George Mason University’s Manassas Campus. Adapted from the 2000 book by Debbie Allen and Kadir...

‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Everyman Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Time is the longest distance between two points; between the beginning of a tale and the end of one, and Everyman Theatre sets out to find a time gone by in The Glass Menagerie as they open their...

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at Zemfira Stage by Emily Cao

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels is – comparatively – a little-known comedic musical. Based on a funny 1988 film of the same name starring Michael Caine and Steve Martin, the musical, with music and lyrics by...

‘The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Rings’ at Wolf Trap by Jessica Vaughan

Thanks to the Filene Center Orchestra and three choirs, Wolf Trap gave audiences a chance to re-experience cinema history and one of the most stunning compositions of our time in Howard Shore’s score...

‘Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company by Lauren Katz

I will admit, I found it a bit difficult to contain my excitement as I walked towards Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall for Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience last night....

‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Truth and illusion, who knows the difference anyway? That only grazes the surface of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf playing now at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre. Kicking off...

‘Miss Saigon’ at Signature Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The heat is on in Saigon! It’s the last night of the world and it’s burning up fast at Signature Theatre as they blast open their 2013/2014 season with the rarely produced Tony Award-Winning Musical,...

‘Argonne’ at Baltimore Annex Theater by Amanda Gunther

Concluding the season with a newly created work, Baltimore Annex Theater presents Argonne, a production written and directed by Kaitlin Murphy and Evan Moritz. Set in an undisclosed futuristic society...

‘Twentieth Century’ at Prince George’s Little Theatre by Amanda Gunther

All aboard! Boarding passes ready as you step aboard the Twentieth Century, ready to take you on an uproarious adventure at Prince George’s Little Theatre. A two hour “train trip” will have you...

Donna McKechnie’s ‘Same Place, Another Time’ at Olney Theatre Center by David Friscic

Broadway legend Donna McKechnie wowed the crowd at her recent one-woman show Same Place, Another Time at the Olney Theatre Center. This iconic star of such past hits such as Promises, Promises,...

Reporting from The Page-to-Stage Festival: ‘5 Plays’ from Catholic University of America by Leslie Weisman

The Catholic University of America (CUA) presented five readings of new plays on Saturday afternoon. Circulation by Robert Montenegro Language lovers who like their grammar lessons steeped in...

Tonight at 7 PM: Donna McKechnie Performs ‘Same Place, Another Time’ at Olney Theatre Center

While A Chorus Line is being performed at Olney Theatre Center Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award-winning Cassie from the original Broadway cast, is bringing her one-woman cabaret Same Place, Another...

Lyle Lovett and His Large Band at Wolf Trap by Jessica Vaughan

Lyle Lovett wowed loyal crowds at Wolf Trap with a diverse program of his genre-defying hits like “Church” and “That’s Right (You’re Not From Texas).” Over the years, no one’s been sure what box to...

Nibbles And Sips Around Town: ‘Uber Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj Has a New Baby – nopa Kitchen+Bar’ by Jordan Wright

Uber Restaurateur Ashok Bajaj Has a New Baby When it comes to cooking up success, Ashok Bajaj has a formula that could well be called the ‘ultimate dish’. It’s simple, really. Hire a talented chef,...

12th Annual Page-to-Stage Schedule at The Kennedy Center Tomorrow, Sunday, and Monday & It’s FREE!

The 12th Annual Page-to-Stage Festival 2013 Takes Place on: Saturday, August 31, 12–10:30 p.m. Sunday, September 1, 6–7 p.m. Monday, September 2, 11 a.m.–10 p.m. In venues throughout The Kennedy...

Carly Rae Jepsen and Hot Chelle Rae at Wolf Trap by Derek Mong

I might not have gotten any phone numbers from the Carly Rae Jepsen concert last night at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, but I sure did have a blast jamming (with hundreds of fellow teen/tween-boppers) to...

‘The Resurrection of Alice’ at The Essential Theatre by John Stoltenberg

If you like theatrical storytelling—the kind that catches you by the heartstrings, gets you all wrapped up, then doesn’t let loose until the very end—you’re going to love The Resurrection of Alice....

“Bringing ‘A Chorus Line’ to Olney”: Part 2: My History With ‘A Chorus Line’ by Stephen Nachamie

In Part Two of “Bringing ‘A Chorus Line’ to Olney,” Director/Choreographer Stephen Nachamie takes us on his journey of appearing in and directing and choreographing A Chorus Line. I began in theatre...