Reviews

‘The Beauty Queen of Leenane’ at Round House Theatre Bethesda by David Friscic

Playwright Martin McDonagh’s bleak and dour black tragi-comedy The Beauty Queen of Leenane is alive and well in its thrilling current production at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre. Under the...

Mladinsko Theatre’s Production of ‘Nijinsky’s Last Dance’ by John Stoltenberg

“I am Nijinsky,” says the actor/dancer Primož Bezjak, in a tone almost primal. “The great Nijinsky.” He speaks in Slovenian as his words appear on overhead screens in English. He has been sitting...

‘The Tempest’ at Daydreams and Nightmares Aerial Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows, and none so strange as those found at the Daydreams and Nightmares Aerial Theatre. Taking to the stage, and perhaps the space above it, is William...

‘Shrek the Musical’ at The Milburn Stone Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The freak flag is flying up at The Milburn Stone Theatre as they present Shrek the Musical to kick off their fall season! Directed and Designed by S. Lee Lewis, the popular fairytale characters, based...

‘Forever Plaid’ at Olney Theatre Center by Terry Byrne

In a week when the world’s buzzing about whether *N SYNC will stage a reunion at the VMAs and news of One Direction’s feature film has fans swooning, the stage is set for the ultimate boy band...

At La-Ti-Do TOMORROW at 8 PM: ‘SMASH’ Hits by Don Michael Mendoza

It’s that time of week again for La-Ti-Do: WINNER of DCMetroTheater Arts’ Special Award for Best of 2012! TOMORROW: MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013 AT 8 PM AT THE BLACK FOX LOUNGE – 1723 Connecticut Ave NW,...

Styx and REO Speedwagon at Pier Six Pavilion by Mike Spain

The Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore was sold out Friday night for REO Speedwagon and Styx. The outdoor amphitheater in the heart of Baltimore’s inner harbor offered some remarkable views of the harbor...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 8

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

An Interview with Styx’s Lawrence Gowan by Mike Spain

Styx is in town Friday night to perform with REO Speedwagon at Baltimore’s Pier Six Pavilion in Baltimore. I talked to Lawrence Gowan the lead singer and keyboard player from the band. We talked about...

Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo, Cheap Trick, and Brynn Marie at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

Cheap Trick and Pat Benatar rocked Wolf Trap with their vintage rock, while a rising country star proved she belonged on the bill as well. You might not know Brynn Marie now but if her 25-minute...

The Cult at The Fillmore by Marlene Hall

I finally saw The Cult perform on their Electric 13 Tour last night in support of their Choice of Weapon album to a capacity crowd at the new Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland. It was the first time...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 7

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

Nibbles And Sips Around Town: ‘The Sushi Bar in Del Ray, Gin, and Clyde’s Turns 50’ by Jordan Wright

The Sushi Bar in Del Ray There’s been a fine kettle of fish brewing in Del Ray. Raw fish, that is. Jilted by the adults-only restrictions at a new sushi bar, horrified moms lit up Twitter and the Del...

Chicago at Wolf Trap by Terry Byrne

When you put horns in a rock band, everything else gets amped waaaay up. We know this because we sat behind the yo-yoing knobs of the sound board at the Chicago concert at Wolf Trap on Monday night....

‘Neverwhere’ at Rorschach Theatre by Amanda Gunther

You have a good heart, and sometimes it’s enough to see you through life, but mostly it’s not. A riveting urban fantasy from fiction-writer mastermind Neil Gaiman comes to life on the stage as...

‘Bradass87’ at Universalist National Memorial Church by John Stoltenberg

Who is the real Bradley Manning? Does anyone know? Can anyone know? These pressing and compelling questions ricochet today even in mainstream news media, which—more beholden to elites than to...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 6

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore’ at The Rude Mechanicals at Greenbelt Arts Center by Amanda Gunther

Never yet have incest and murder so strangely met…that is until The Rude Mechanicals came to town with their production of ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore. Directed by Jaki Demarest and Paul Davis, John...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 5

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

‘Pippin’ at The Theatre Lab’s Musical Theatre Institute for Teens by Eric Denver

If you were unable to participate in the “Magic to Do” that The Theatre Lab had percolated during this weekend’s four performances of Pippin, then you missed the opportunity to witness a superb...

‘Broke-ology’ at Theater Alliance by Bev Fleisher

Broke-ology, Theater Alliance’s inaugural production at the Anacostia Playhouse, is a celebration of ensemble work. There was no barrier between the stage and the audience or between the characters’...

‘Revenge of the Understudies’ at Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets at Signature Theatre by Emily Cao

They say revenge is best served cold, but tonight’s performance at the Signature Theater has proven that revenge is, in fact, most effectively served via a strong dose of Broadway balladry and a...

‘Gotas de Agua (Drops of Water)’ at Teatro de la Luna at Randolph Road Theater by Ramona Harper

Aplauso! Little hands needed little prompting to clap gleefully in applause for children’s theater production, Gotas de Agua (Drops of Water). Kids can be a tough crowd, but this enthusiastic...

‘You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown’ at Fauquier Community Theatre by Kim Moeller

Happiness is…for a theater devotee…seeing a group of kids on stage clearly having fun while they sing, dance, and act. I couldn’t help feeling happy at Fauquier Community Theatre’s whimsical...

Josh Groban at Wolf Trap by Anne Tsang

I can’t think of anything better than a beautiful fall-like night in the middle of the summer, picnicking on the lawn of the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, the company of a good friend, and the...

‘Antigone’ at Glass Mind Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Piety shown the dead is pity in vain. Though your loyal reverence will not be wasted if you come out to see the Glass Mind Theatre’s unique adaptation of Antigone as the final production of ‘Season 3:...

‘Full Bloom’ at Arcturus Theater Company by Marlene Hall

Arcturus Theater Company’s production of Suzanne Bradbeer’s Full Bloom is a story about a teenager, named Phoebe (Kyra Soleil) who is coming of age and whose life is paralleling the book Catcher in...

‘Grace Potter and the Nocturnals’ at Wolf Trap by Erica Laxson

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals graced Wolf Trap with their presence and boy was the crowd happy to be there! This popular rock and bluegrass group has quite a few devoted fans and they were rewarded...

Will Gartshore’s “Dressed Up: A Class-Conscious Cabaret” at Signature Theatre’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets by Kim Moeller

Signature Theatre’s summer cabaret series offers a great opportunity to get to know some of the area’s best performers in an intimate venue and last night’s performance by multiple Helen Hayes Award...

‘Medieval Storyland’ at Red Knight Productions at The Arts Barn by Mike Spain

Journey back in time at the Arts Barn with Red Knight Productions Medieval Storyland as they take you to a fantasy world filled with elves, dwarfs, wizards, knights, dragons, and most importantly a...

‘A Few Good Men’ at The Keegan Theatre by Max Johnson

Although this piece of theater that is nearly eponymous with its catchphrase, A Few Good Men is so much more than people not handling the truth. As Aaron Sorkin’s flagship drama, Men weaves poetic...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 4

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

‘Huey Lewis & The News “Sports” 30th Anniversary Tour with Special Guest: Scott Kurt’ at Wolf Trap by Marlene Hall

Wolf Trap was a soggy, fun, musical summer night with opening act Scott Kurt and main act Huey Lewis and the News. Scott Kurt is a DC area musician who played a 30-minute set. It was just him and his...

Sandy Bainum’s “S’Wonderful,” A Night of Ira Gershwin” at Signature Theatre’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets by Lauren Katz

Last night, Sandy Bainum was added to the long list of artists performing solo cabarets as part of Signature Theatre’s annual event, Sizzlin’ Summer Cabaret. For a two and a half week period,...

Film Review: ‘In a World . . .’ by Leslie Weisman

Carol Solomon, daughter of one of the great voice-over (V.O.) artists, Sam Sotto (Fred Melamed), has been getting by as a voice coach, so overshadowed vocally and cowed psychologically by her...

‘Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead’ at Jewish Theatre Workshop by Amanda Gunther

Something’s funny in the state of Denmark. Rottenly funny too as the Jewish Theatre Workshop presents Tom Stoppard’s Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. Directed by Brad Norris and Ariella McCown,...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 3

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

‘Countdown to the Happy Day’ at Baltimore Playwrights Festival by ZSun-nee Matema

It’s official, Baltimore actors are at the top of the acting ladder. The production, Countdown to the Happy Day by Thomas W. Stephen is absolutely breath taking! It has been selected to compete in...

Ke$ha at Wolf Trap by Erica Laxson

There’s more than one way to put on an incredible show, and I think Ke$ha had a hard time choosing just one because last night’s energized concert was full of surprises! The wildly popular rock and...

Favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ of the 2012-2013 DC Area Theater Season: Part 2

There were many wonderful Scene Stealing moments on DC Metro Area stages in our professional, community, children’s, and university theaters during the past theater season (August 1, 2012-August 1,...

‘Hair’ at StillPointe Theatre Initiative by Amanda Gunther

Black! White! Yellow! Red! Copulate in a king-sized bed! Peace! Love! Share! Give! See Hair at StillPointe Theatre Initiative! The revolutionary Tribal Love-Rock Musical, with Book and Lyrics by...

The Capitol Steps at The Ronald Reagan Building by Eric Denver

So, it’s a Friday night and you had it with a week of work and all you want to do is crash. Now, it’s Saturday night and you want to find a great place to go on a date. Fret no more…I have the perfect...

‘All in the Timing’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre by Amanda Gunther

A six pack of comedy is coming your way as the summer sizzles to a close. Fells Point Corner Theatre presents All in the Timing by David Ives, a series of six one-acts that are sure to bring about a...

Mary Chapin Carpenter and Shawn Colvin at Wolf Trap by Bev Fleisher

Yes, Virginia, ‘The Twist and Shout,’ formerly a dance haven in the Elks Lodge in Bethesda, is still alive whenever Mary Chapin Carpenter steps on stage. “Down at the Twist and Shout” was one of the...

‘Peter Frampton’s Guitar Circus’ Featuring B.B. King at Wolf Trap by Jessica Vaughan

Three guitar greats, Peter Frampton, B.B. King, and Roger McGuinn of The Byrds wowed the Wolf Trap crowds in a light-hearted, fun concert with some of the most serious guitar playing around. Frampton...

Bob McDonald’s ‘Bob’s Broadway Blowout’ at Signature Theatre’s ‘Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets’ by Derek Mong

As part of the Signature Theater’s Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets series on Friday, August 9, 2013, Baritone Bob McDonald brought audiences to their feet as he performed a bonafide medley of classic...

Carrie Manolakos at ‘Sizzlin’ Summer Cabarets’ at Signature Theatre by Yvonne French

If a pop singer was ever gutsy and gusty at the same time it is Carrie Manolakos. She can belt out long notes and switch in a nanosecond to a tone that ends with a breathy whisper—or vice versa. The...

Don McLean and Judy Collins at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

On paper Don McLean was the headliner and Judy Collins was the opening act last night at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. In reality the two legends split the time equally and Judy Collins just performed...

‘Les Misèrables’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia by Amanda Gunther

Do you hear the people sing? The beating of their hearts echoes the beating of the drum, as the show is about to start at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia. Presenting the regional premier of the Tony...

Magic Time! Film Review: ‘Lovelace’ by John Stoltenberg

In 1972 some men made a film that did her wrong. Unspeakably and indelibly wrong. The film was named Deep Throat. Now some men—with two women producers—have made a film that does right by her. It’s...