Reviews

‘Million Dollar Quartet’ at The Hippodrome Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Goodness gracious great balls of fire! One night. Sun Records studio. And the four great legends of music— December 4, 1956 brought together ‘The King of Rock ‘n’ Roll,’ ‘The Man in Black,’ ‘The...

‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company by Grace Kim

Escape from your daily grind and let the beautiful poetry of Shakespeare’s lyrical tale take you to another realm. That realm belongs to darling mischievous Puck – as you will witness in Shakespeare...

‘A Christmas Carol’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia by Amanda Gunther

Bah! Humbug! The classic Christmas line echoed through the years by the notorious and original Grinch of Christmas; the timeless tale of Ebenezer Scrooge brought brilliantly to life with music, wonder...

‘The Commedia Puss in Boots’ at Maryland Ensemble Theatre (‘MET’) by Mike Spain

The Fun Company at the Maryland Ensemble Theatre has brought back the Commedia Troupe from last year’s wonderful production of The Commedia Pinnochio. This year it’s the cat with the sword – the...

FallFringe Review: ‘Burlesque + Belly Laughs’ by Cyle Durkee

Burlesque. Comedy. Together. Right? Can you go wrong with this? No. Let’s begin with the opening of the room. As people enter they are personally greeted by Justin Purvis. He is not a character, he is...

FallFringe Review: ‘R.U.X.’ (Rockwell’s Universal seXbots) by Cyle Durkee

Robot Sex. Perfect Fringe show, right? You would think so. And it almost is. R.U.X. is about an embattled businessman named Rockwell. Rockwell Jr. to be precise. His father’s company has been...

‘Mame’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death so live, Live, LIVE! The philosophy practiced proud and true by the bold and talented cast of Mame at Spotlighters Theatre this holiday...

Duncan Sheik and ‘Sunset Sessions Tour 2012’ at The Birchmere by Mike Spain

Duncan Sheik performed at The Birchmere last night with Courrier – an alternative rock band out of Austin,Texas – as a fitting opening act. The concert hall – with intimate seating with tables coming...

‘The Night Before Christmas’ at Theater Alliance by Flora Scott

My family always bought a live tree. It was trimmed with wood ornaments from far away lands, candy canes, tinsel, and was topped with a wax angel in a burgundy dress. But the finishing touch was the...

‘The Nutcracker’ at The Puppet Co. by Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, a holiday classic beautifully re-imagined through puppetry. The multi-talented Christopher Piper, who holds the titles of performer,...

‘A Chanticleer Christmas’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Amanda Gunther

A bright holiday tradition kicks off this festive season as George Mason University’s Center for the Arts presents A Chanticleer Christmas. Twelve men with the perfect voices for this jubilant time of...

‘Tap Dogs’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Jessica Vaughan

Six tap dancers brought the house down at The Music Center at Strathmore in a spectacular performance of the Aussie sensation Tap Dogs. It is a surround sound and sight experience as six dancers build...

Tonight: Tony Award Winner Duncan Sheik Brings ‘The Sunset Sessions Tour’ to Birchmere by Joel Markowitz

Tony Award winner Duncan Sheik (for his score of Spring Awakening) brings his THE SUNSET SESSIONS TOUR to The Birchmere – 3701 Mount Vernon Avenue, in Alexandria, VA TONIGHT at 7:30 PM. Joining him...

‘Luck Be a Lady: Megan Hilty Sings Sinatra and More’ by Francine Schwartz

One can never have too much Joie de Vivre. Further proof was Luck Be a Lady: Megan Hilty Sings Sinatra and More, featuring Broadway’s Megan Hilty and Aaron Lazar. Megan has starred in Gentlemen Prefer...

‘Jekyll & Hyde’ at The Kennedy Center by Mara Bayewitz

Jekyll and Hyde is simply miraculous, and chilling, sexy, romantic, ironic, dangerous, tragic, jaded, modern, classic, kinky, edgy, and absolutely spectacular. The musical is based on the acclaimed...

Filichia on Friday: ‘Finally – October Leftovers’ by Peter Filichia

This is the one article that got a way this month from Columnist Peter Filichia’s column on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday.’‘ This week: Finally, October Leftovers. PETER FILICHIA is the...

‘A Little House Christmas’ at Adventure Theatre MTC by Julia L. Exline

Adventure Theatre MTC presents A Little House Christmas, based on the beloved book series of Laura Ingalls Wilder (Little House on the Prairie), and adapted by James DeVita. Recommended for ages 4+,...

Rhonda Vincent at Brunswick High School by Mike Spain

When you arrived at Brunswick High School on Sunday you knew you were at the right place with Rhonda Vincent’s Martha White tour bus parked in the parking lot. They had food inside including barbeque...

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

“you may not believe it but there are people who go through life with very little friction or distress.” – excerpted from Charles Bukowski’s poem, “The Aliens” What makes ordinary people and ordinary...

Filichia on Friday: ‘It Says Here in These Books …’ by Peter Filichia

Here is Columnist Peter Filichia’s column on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday.’‘ This week: It Says Here in These Books PETER FILICHIA is the theater critic for the Star-Ledger in Newark, New...

‘A Broadway Christmas Carol’ at MetroStage by Julia L. Exline

MetroStage presents Kathy Feininger’s A Broadway Christmas Carol, the classic Dickens tale retold through parodies of famous Broadway show tunes. Michael Sharp directs and choreographs this silly,...

‘Cinderella’ at Olney Theatre Center by Amada Gunther

His royal highness Christopher Rupert Vwindemier Vlandamier Carl Alexander Francois Reginald Lancelot Herman Gregory James — is giving a ball! And not just any ball! But the ball of a lifetime, a...

‘Seussical’ at Imagination Stage by Mariya Danilenko

Seussical at Imagination Stage brings the curious land of Dr. Seuss tales, and many of their characters, all together in one theatre. It is a holiday show designed for children and families, and is a...

‘Don Giovanni’ at The Lyric Opera House by Amanda Gunther

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s famous Don Giovanni is being presented for a limited engagement at The Patricia and Arthur Modell Performing Arts Center at The Lyric Opera House. In conjunction with The...

Howard Levy with David Siebold at The Barns at Wolf Trap by Francine Schwartz

Friday night, The Barns at Wolf Trap hosted multiple Grammy Award winner, an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica. The man is a superb pianist, innovative composer, recording artist,...

‘The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg’ at The Kennedy Center by Grace Kim

The Kennedy Center’s production of the 2010 Newbery Honor Book winner by Rodman Philbrick, The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figg, is a perfect show for the kids to see. Adapted by Tom Isbell and...

FallFringe Review: ‘The Brontes’ by Cyle Durkee

I used to think that the best thing about the old west was that you could ride around doing just about anything you wanted, as long as you had a big gun (and you were willing to mortgage your soul for...

FallFringe Review: ‘McGoddess’ by Cyle Durkee

Imagine a story of a man’s life. Now imagine that it is told by his daughter. Now imagine that that daughter is hilarious. Got it? Great. That is where we begin this journey. So keep that in mind as...

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

If you have two hours to spare this beautiful Sunday afternoon, and want to enjoy a world-class venue in a beautiful performing arts space, hurry to reserve your family seats at the Hylton Performing...

‘James Joyce’s The Dead’ at Quotidian Theatre Company by Jessica Vaughan

Quotidian Theatre Company’s powerful and moving production of James Joyce’s The Dead is their first musical, or, as Director and company co-founder Jack Sbarbori puts it, a “play with music.” He has...

Olivia Newton-John at The Music Center at Strathmore by Jane Coyne

The Music Center at Strathmore was filled to the brim Friday night as four-time Grammy Award winning singer Olivia Newton-John, seemingly timeless in looks, personality, and talent, took the stage to...

‘Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Linda Lavin’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Linda Lavin, the perennial “Broadway Baby” – literally, in her knockout performance in The Kennedy Center’s production of Follies and, figuratively, as a growing Broadway legend with her numerous...

‘The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company

The Shakespeare Theatre Company has shifted venues for a start; to a cozy pub as they present The National Theatre of Scotland’s The Strange Undoing of Prudencia Hart. A storytelling show that takes...

‘The Merry Widow’ at Catholic University by Flora Scott

Because Ward Recital Hall at Catholic University is an old ecclesial building originally intended as a facility for liturgical music, there will always be an undeniable piety in it’s structure and...

‘Die Zauberflöte’ (‘The Magic Flute’) at U of MD’s Maryland Opera Studio

Die Zauberflöte (The Magic Flute) is widely considered to be Mozart’s masterpiece, a label which brings with it high expectations. Fortunately, those expectations were more than amply fulfilled in the...

fallFringe: ‘Double Consciousness Redux’ by Cyle Durkee

Double Consciousness Redux (DCR){carpel tunnel is something that is going to happen to other people}) begins with a haunting scene in which comes onto the stage assisted by two nurses in white. The...

‘Flamenco: Territorio DeMente’ at Gala Hispanic Theatre by Colleen Sproull

A full house greeted me as I took my seat at the trendy Gala Hispanic Theatre for an exciting evening of Flamenco: Territorio DeMente, part of Fuego Flamenco VIII. A Flamenco virgin, I was mystified...

‘The Jungle Book’ at Synetic Theater’s Teen Ensemble by Jennifer Perry

Like its adult (mainstage) counterpart, the Synetic Theater Teen Ensemble clearly has a knack for adapting well-known works of literature, highlighting the salient themes for today, and presenting the...

‘San Francisco Ballet Program B’ by Breena Siegel

San Francisco Ballet, the oldest professional ballet company in the country, wins hearts over with their classical version of Romeo & Juliet. The age-old story is set again the backdrop of sweeping...

“You For Me For You” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Working well into their 33rd season entitled My Roots My Revolutions, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company presents the world premier of Mia Chung’s You For Me For You. A gripping drama with comic heart...

‘Six Characters in Search of an Author’ at WSC Avant Bard by Francine Schwartz

Nobel Prize-winning playwright Luigi Pirandello’s Six Characters in Search of an Author opened WSC Avant Bard’s new season. The theatre is located in the Arisphere, in downtown Roslyn – two blocks...

‘The Amazing Night-time Adventure of Little Hawelmann’ at Imagination Stage by Julia L. Exline

Imagination Stage presents The Amazing Night-time Adventure of Little Hawelmann, a puppetry delight created and performed by the founders of Theater der Nacht, Heiko, and Ruth Brockhausen. Brought all...

Quotidian Theatre Company’s ‘The Dead’ Part 3: Interview of Marni Nixon by Janice Hall

In the final segment of our interview, Marni Nixon and I are joined by David Dubov, who will be playing the role of Freddy Malins in the Quotidian Theatre production of James Joyce’s The Dead. David...

‘My Fair Lady’ at Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater by Joel Markowitz

Arena Stage has a holiday gift waiting for you on the Fichandler Stage – a ‘loverly,’ joyful, colorful, funny, brilliantly acted and beautifully sung production of the much loved musical My Fair Lady....

The San Francisco Ballet ‘Program A’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

San Francisco Ballet heightens dance expectations Hoist the flags! Uncork the champagne! Let the balloons fly high and wide! The DC ballet season has popped! And it took the oldest ballet company in...

Quotidian Theatre Company’s ‘The Dead’ Part 1: Interview of Marni Nixon by Janice Hall

In early September of this year, several weeks before our rehearsals for James Joyce’s The Dead were scheduled to begin, Jack Sbarbori and Stephanie Mumford, the founders of Quotidian Theatre Company,...

‘Frost/Nixon’ at Greenbelt Arts Center by Amanda Gunther

“I am not a crook.” The vehemently certain words of Richard Nixon defending his actions during the Watergate Scandal made infamous as one of his taglines throughout the course of history. The chance...

‘The Brontes’ Plays through November 18th at FallFringe by Debra Buonaccorsi & Steve McWilliams

Dizzy Miss Lizzie’s Roadside Revue, is back with there 2012 Capital Fringe hit THE BRONTES. Dizzy Miss Lizzie has brought audiences to their feet with productions of Finn McCool, The Oresteia, and The...

‘Crimes of the Heart’ at Sandy Spring Theatre Group by Mike Spain

The Sandy Spring Theatre Group brings their production of Beth Henley’s Crimes of the Heart to the Arts Barn in Gaithersburg. Director David Fialkoff has assembled a stellar cast for this dark comedy....

‘Meet Me in St. Louis’ at Damascus Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

“Clang! Clang! Clang! Went the trolley!” And you’d better jump on quick for the Damascus Theatre Company’s production of Meet Me In St. Louis. Directed by Chad Wheeler with Musical Direction by Mary...