Reviews

Ballet Across America III-Program C by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program C: As American As Apple Pie Hoist the flags. Toss the balloons. Throw some confetti, too. The third installment of Ballet Across America III (wrapping up at The...

‘Nunsense’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore by Amanda Gunther

When the saints go marching in they’re all heading straight for Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore to see the sensationally hysterical madcap musical revue Nunsense. The little sisters of Dundalk have...

‘My Favorite Year’ at Damascus Theatre Company by Maddie Gaw

Living in a cynical age, it’s refreshing to see a musical comedy like My Favorite Year. “Nice” and “Charming” are the first two words that come to mind, but this is no fluff piece. Behind every cutesy...

2013 Capital Fringe Festival Show Preview: ‘Dance of the Wasp and Spider’ by Suzanne Knapik

Dance of the Wasp and Spider asks bold questions: What, or who makes a shooter? Why do neighbors always seem shocked when that “nice but kind of quiet” kid goes on a shooting rampage? Why didn’t the...

‘The Beaux’ Stratagem’ at Everyman Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Disguise is human but finding yourself within your true self and that is indeed happiness. And the happiness is running so high it’s maddening over at Everyman Theatre as they close their inaugural...

Widespread Panic at Wolf Trap by Flora Scott

“Sudden uncontrollable fear or anxiety, often causing wildly unthinking behavior distributed over a large area and number of people” is the definition of Widespread Panic and, coincidentally, what...

‘Red’ at Elden Street Players by Maddie Gaw

“Artists should starve,” Mark Rothko insists in John Logan’s 2010 Tony Award-winning play Red. “Except me,” he concludes wryly. That one line encapsulates the play’s exploration of contrasts –...

‘Bent’ at Dominion Stage by Lauren Katz

When I read Martin Sherman’s Bent last year, I was extremely impressed with the intensity of the writing. I loved his choice to not only shed some light on an area of the Holocaust that is not...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview ‘The Encyclopedia Show DC!’ by Judson Lewis

Laugh Yourself Smart with The Encyclopedia Show DC! Hear Ye Hear Ye People of Capital Fringe! The time nears for you to do your civic duty and vote for the coveted position of “Vice President of...

‘The Red Mill’ at The Victorian Lyric Opera Company by Nicole Cusick

Lots of catchy numbers, great singing, some punny laughs, and a quick trip to Holland are only a few of the pleasures you will receive from seeing the very entertaining The Red Mill presented by The...

‘Ballet Across America III-Program B’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program B: Cheers for the Home team, the Washington Ballet While George Balanchine was again celebrated in Ballet Across America III at The Kennedy Center Opera House, last...

‘Mame’ at Bucks County Playhouse by Eric Denver

You “Open a New Window” at the beautiful and newly renovated historical landmark – Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) in New Hope, PA., and look what happens- a fabulous production of Jerry Herman’s Mame....

‘Les Misérables’ at The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts by Nicole Cusick

The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts’ Les Misérables seems like a mammoth of a production for artists to tackle. However, this magnificent production – that they built in 14 weeks – is one that...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘OK Stupid’s Secret Math Lab’ by Erin Bylander

Hello, and welcome to OK Stupid – the greatest online dating site in the Universe! We’ll help you find your ideal match – perfect in the eyes of Math, who both cherishes and loathes us, his flawed...

‘Ballet Across America III-Program A’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Ballet Across America III-Program A: Opening Night: A Trio of Top Troupes Takes The Stage For the return of Ballet Across America at The Kennedy Center Opera House, last night’s audience included...

Earth, Wind & Fire at Wolf Trap by Audrey Thornton

The musical high priests of ‘Cosmic Consciousness’ Earth, Wind & Fire played June 4, 2013 to a sold-out audience in The Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia. Spanning the musical genres of...

Young Artists of America’s 2013-2014 Season: ‘Show Boat’ & Jason Robert Brown Conducts ‘Songs For a New World’

Young Artists of America announces their 2013-2014 Season: “Breaking New Ground.” Young Artists of America is thrilled to announce our 2013-2014 Season titled “Breaking New Ground” that will set a new...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The DC State Players Present Agamemnon’ by Gabriel Swee

Join The DC State Players at the Capital Fringe Festival to watch the epic tale of Agamemnon when he returns home from victory in Troy. Have you ever seen a show that’s so bad, it somehow becomes...

‘Becky Shaw’ at Round House Theatre’ by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly. The harsh dose of reality … Sometimes it takes the truth of a stranger to show us who really are. For many, it is easier to perpetuate a false truth or a lie, than to...

‘The Hampton Years’ at Theater J by Amanda Gunther

To create art simply the sake of it being beautiful is not enough. The artist must infuse their essence, their very being into the work so that all of them becomes a part of what they are creating....

2013 Capital Fringe Festival Show Preview: ‘In Search of the Perfect G-String,’ by Yvonne Caruthers

When asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” how many kids say, “I want to play the cello in a major orchestra with a famous conductor and travel the world”? But that’s what happened to...

‘Stupid Fucking Bird’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Life is what you make of it; happy or miserable, good or bad, it doesn’t matter because life just goes on and on and on. Human beings are flawed. They have needs.They want more. It’s true of all of us...

‘Company’ at Signature Theatre by David Friscic

Signature Theatre has outdone itself with its current production of Stephen Sondheim’s breakthrough musical Company. This musical of a modern man searching for commitment with the condition of having...

National Chamber Ensemble presents ‘The Three B’s: Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms’ by Jane Coyne

I really like the National Chamber Ensemble, the adventuresome and enjoyable programs they present, and the talented and friendly musicians who make up this wonderful group. I go to a lot of concerts,...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Mark Twain’s Riverboat Extravaganza!’ at Pointless Theatre by John Hamilton

After wrapping up our first official show The Sleeping Beauty in Summer 2010, Director Matt Reckeweg started talking about the future of Pointless Theatre. At the time, it seemed as if our puppet...

‘Camelot’ at 2nd Star Productions by Amanda Gunther

In short, there’s simply not a more congenial spot for ‘Happily Ever After’ than here in Camelot! And 2nd Star Productions delivers a resplendent happy musical with a rousing cast of characters as...

‘Signs of Life’ at American University by Jessica Vaughan

American University staged a very special reading of a very special musical Signs of Life about an important part of our history. It was billed as a drama with music, and that is the simple truth of...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Outside the Wire’ by Jim Stanton

Outside the Wire comes to 2013 Capital Fringe Festival July 11-28th! Sergeant Mark Mercer comes home from the war in Iraq only to realize that life will never be the same. Through live theater and...

‘The Embroidery Girl’ at The Kennedy Center by Francine Schwartz

Last night the Kennedy Center Opera House hosted The Embroidery Girl, undertaken by the China Wuxi Performing Arts Group, and the Agis Center for Arts and Humanities. There was a substantial turnout...

‘Private Lives’ at Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

Extraordinary how potent cheap music is. Particularly when one is on one’s honeymoon. Their second honeymoon with their second husband. Especially when one’s first husband is on his honeymoon with his...

‘A Delicate Balance’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

When daylight comes again, order comes with it. And after a long night in the house of Agnes and Tobias you’ll be praying for just that: order, and anything to make sense of the chaos that goes down...

‘The Death of the Marquis de Sade & Dante’ at Tantehorse Company at Atlas by Justin Schneider

If I were writing a one-word review, that word would be “Astounding.” But much more deserves to be said about Tantehorse‘s The Death of the Marquis de Sade & Dante, a ‘Must-See’ production at Atlas...

‘The Mikado’ by The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players at Wolf Trap by Erica Laxson

Wolf Trap’s summer season is in full swing and tonight is the last hilarious performance of The Mikado by the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players. Artistic director Albert Bergeret brought this...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Mme. Macbeth’ by Timothy King

King’s Players presents Mme. Macbeth, a new perspective on a classic. Walking down 7th Street NW, heading from a performance of Georgetown Theatre Company’s Night of the Living Theatre (by Dead...

‘Is He Dead?’ at Providence Players of Fairfax by Kim Moeller

Farce: Highly exaggerated situations, improbable plot twists, physical humor, deliberate absurdity or nonsense, and broadly stylized performances. Is He Dead?, the latest production from Providence...

‘Macbeth’ at Annex Theater by Amanda Gunther

Something wicked this way comes as Annex Theater presents the Bard’s most cursed production, Macbeth. Directed by Evan Moritz, this gender bent production of the classic tragedy has women interspersed...

‘The Guardsman’ at The Kennedy Center by Nicole Cusick

It is easy to love to laugh or laugh at love, whichever you prefer along with The Guardsman at The Kennedy Center. The original play written by Ferenc Molnár, tells the story of The Actor and The...

‘The 39 Steps’ at Run Rabbit Run Theatre by Mark Dewey

The 39 Steps: a Whirlwind Comes to Purcellville Playwright Patrick Barlow calls The 39 Steps “an adaptation,” and I would assert that every production of it is an adaptation of that adaptation, which...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Funny Stories 2’ by James Judd

A Little Murder in the Middle: James Judd’s Funny Stories 2 It took a murder and a trip to prison to bring James Judd back to the Capital Fringe. “It’s not that I wasn’t anxious to return,” said Judd...

‘Lost Songs of Broadway: 1970s’ at Signature Theatre by Julia Exline

Signature Theatre presents Lost Songs of Broadway: 1970s, a cabaret comprised of 16 ‘forgotten’ Broadway tunes, conceived and directed by Matthew Gardiner, with Music Direction and Piano by Howard...

‘Clementine in the Lower 9′ at Forum Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Heart, Soul, and the Blues There is a calm before any storm. The hurricane of human turmoil, and the whirlwind of hope that remains afterwards, is the story of Clementine in the Lower 9. The profound,...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Smellin’ Up the Den!’ by Scott Courlander

Smellin’ Up the Den!: The Classiest Potty Humor at Fringe “Will we lose the audience when Jesus calls Hitler a little bitch?” I wonder aloud. “Well he was a little bitch,” Katie pipes in. “If we...

Film Review: ‘We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks’ by Erica Laxson

WikiLeaks has been critically captured by filmmaker Alex Gibney (Taxi to the Dark Side, Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room) in the digitally layered David & Goliath story of Julian Assange in We...

2013 Capital Fringe Preview of Lois Cecsarini’s ‘Eve’s Big Fat Family Reunion’ by Bonnie Williams

Lois Cecsarini makes her Fringe debut this year with Eve’s Big Fat Family Reunion, a heartfelt musical comedy. The musical rolls together Cecsarini’s 22-year diplomatic career and recent seminary...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Carry a Big Stick’ by Catherine Aselford

Carry a Big Stick is not your typical Fringe show, and the story behind it isn’t typical either. Playwright Paul Handy is a judge, not a starving artist. Director Catherine Aselford was planning to...

‘The Real Thing’ at The Studio Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Does art influence life? Or, is life imitating the art? What is love and at it what cost? What is right? What is real? It’s all a game of sorts. The Studio Theatre in its final production of the...

Miřenka Čechová Performs ‘Light in a Darkness & The Death of the Marquis De Sade/Dante’ at ATLAS 5/31-6/2

Acclaimed actress Miřenka Čechová, and her company Tantehorse from the Czech Republic will mount Dante-Light in a Darkness, a piece that combines surreal and decadent poetry with elements of physical...

‘Act A Lady’ at Iron Crow Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

There’s no trick to acting a lady, you simply need less as if your whole existence fatigues you. This great notion is a poignant point of exploration as Iron Crow Theatre Company closes out their...

‘Blithe Spirit’ at 1st Stage by Yvonne French

Blithe Spirit at 1st Stage in Tysons is a guilty pleasure on two levels. First, it lets you take a peek at paranormal stereotyping and second, it lets you glimpse how different a first and second...

‘Romeo and Juliet’ at The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at The Music Center at Strathmore by Jessica Vaughan

It was a night of flying fingers and familiar classics with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra at the Music Center at Strathmore for Romeo and Juliet. The three pieces chosen for the evening could not...