Reviews

Married to the Stage: ‘My Faire Children’ by Natalie McCabe

My husband may live in an imaginary village, but we both belong to the category of ‘imaginary friends.’ Recently, I sat down to chat with a kindergartner and his almost-three-year-old sister, who...

Interview with ‘TRIPTYCH’ Composer Robert Sirota and Collaborating Artist Deborah Patterson by Jane Coyne

Composer Robert Sirota will be in Baltimore next Sunday, September 9, 2012, to attend a concert featuring a performance of his work, TRIPTYCH, a hauntingly beautiful piece commemorating the victims of...

Special 50% TONIGHT AT 7:30 PM For Everyman Theatre’s ‘Time Stands Still’

Everyman Theatre is opening its 2012/13 season with the acclaimed Broadway hit, TIME STANDS STILL by Donald Margulies. Read DCMTA’s Amanda Gunther’s *****rave review! We are offering a special offer...

‘Baby Bear’s Birthday’ at The Puppet Co. by Julia L. Exline

On Saturday, September 1, 2012, Baby Bear’s Birthday was presented at The Puppet Company through their highly popular program, Tiny Tots @ 10:00. Tiny Tots is specifically designed for children 0-4...

‘The Temperamentals’ at Rep Stage by David Friscic

In Rep Stage’s production of The Temperamentals the ensemble of fine actors plunge into Jon Marans’ very observant play with intensity and verve. Playing with brisk efficiency under the astute...

‘Time Stands Still’ at Everyman Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The most culturally relevant modern dramatic play takes to the stage at Everyman Theatre as they launch their 2012-2013 season with Time Stands Still. Written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright...

‘The Producers’ at Zemfira Stage by Kim Moeller

“It was crass and crude and I enjoyed every minute of it!” That’s a line from the Mel Brooks musical comedy, The Producers. It’s also my summary of Zemfira Stage’s production now playing in Falls...

‘The King and I’ at Wolf Trap by Jennifer Perry

Richard Rodgers (Music) and Oscar Hammerstein II (Book and Lyrics) are a solid example of a composing team being ahead of the times. Just as in South Pacific, the dynamic duo takes on social issues in...

‘Reals’ at Theater Alliance by Grace Kim

Kicking off Theatre Alliance’s 10th anniversary season is Reals, written by well-known D.C. playwright and theatre scene heavyweight Gwydion Suilebhan and directed by Shirley Serotsky, who receives...

‘Body Awareness’ at Theater J by Anne Tsang

Theater J is starting its 2012-2013 “This is Who We Are” season with the captivating, poignant, and humorous Body Awareness by Annie Baker. Body Awareness, directed by Eleanor Holdridge, is set in the...

‘La-Ti-Do’ at Black Fox Lounge by Cyle Durkee

In one word: Amazing (I wish people would just trust me on that and go see it, but I also understand that I should probably let you know why {so here goes})! Ok, this is unique. La-Ti-Do (Monday...

‘The Fresh Beat Band’ at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

The Fresh Beat Band attracted a large crowd for a Tuesday afternoon show at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center. The weather was perfect with plenty of blue sky, seasonal temperatures, and no rain. The band...

Gia Mora’s ‘Sweethearts and Singletons’ at The Black Fox Lounge by Cyle Durkee

Are you a little nerdy (I certainly am)? Do you think the hottest thing about someone is their ability to discuss the almost science fiction levels of technology we are creating (shout out to the...

‘Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins’ at Arena Stage at The Mead Center for American Theater

With guns a-blazin’ you’ll know not to mess with Texas as Arena Stage presents the political powder keg Red Hot Patriot: The Kick-Ass Wit of Molly Ivins. Kicking off their 2012-2013 season with this...

Tonight at 8 PM: ‘La-Ti-Do’ With Joshua Morgan and Friends at The Black Lounge

TONIGHT AUGUST 27TH AT 8 PM At The Black Fox Lounge 1723 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20009 $10 cover charge at the door. Doors open at 7:50pm for an 8pm start. Come check out Joshua...

‘Straight No Chaser’ at Wolf Trap by Teal Ruland

Bond likes his a cappella shaken, not stirred, Santa likes his cold and with warm cookies, and a few presidents in South Dakota like theirs (and their faces) on the rocks. Me? None of the above. But...

‘The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas’ at Signature Theatre by Amanda Gunther

There’s trouble brewing at the chicken ranch! But Miss Mona and her girls promise that won’t ruin your good time as you come on down to Signature Theatre to see The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas....

‘Romeo and Juliet’ at National Players At Olney Theatre Center by Jessica Vaughan

The 8 actors in Romeo and Juliet by the National Players, under the direction of Jason King Jones, attack this play like it was written yesterday and no one in the world has seen it before. It is one...

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

Riverside Center Dinner Theater presents Phantom, with music and lyrics by Tony Award winner Maury Yeston (Nine and Titanic) and a book by Arthur Kopit. It’s based on Gaston Leroux’s 1910 novel The...

Cirque du Soleil’s ‘Dralion’ at Baltimore 1st Mariner Arena by Carolyn Kelemen

At Cirque du Soleil’s Dralion, which is playing now at Baltimore’s 1st Mariner Arena through Sunday, one can thrill to spectacles inside an air-conditioned arena never sullied by the hoof print of a...

‘Unnecessary Farce’ at Prince George’s Little Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The heat is on! The fuzz is staked out on a mission to take down the mayor for 16 million dollars in embezzled funds and everything’s all set to blow like a powder keg. If only the chief of police...

Alan Jackson With Special Guest Craig Campbell at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

Alan Jackson had Wolf Trap sold out due to his 34 number one songs, a couple of GRAMMY Awards, and 17 Academy of Country Music Awards. Alan crammed 22 songs into a 100 minute set in an effort to...

‘Lysistrata’ at Greenbelt Arts Center by Amanda Gunther

The premise is simple: the women are sick of the men never being at home because they are constantly at war. The women also want a say in how the government money is run so that the men will stop...

‘Hairspray’ at Glyndon Area Players by Amanda Gunther

I can hear the bells! They were ringing loud and clear at the Glyndon Area Players 2012 production of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Hairspray. It’s the Baltimore classic and you all know the...

Young Artists of America (YAA) Announces its 2012-2013 Season

Today, Young Artists of America (YAA) announced its 2012-2013 season. After an impressive season that included sold out performances of their VILLAINS! concert, a world-class premiere of THE PHANTOM...

‘Goldfish Thinking’ at Longacre Lea by Kim Moeller

I love everything about Goldfish Thinking. It has a smart and truly funny script, one of the finest ensemble casts I have seen this year, and an impressive leading actor in Heather Haney. The...

‘Totem’ at Cirque du Soleil at National Harbor by Amanda Gunther

The mysteries of man’s evolution set down under the bright blue and yellow big top is a stunning creation from Cirque Du Soleil rolls into Washington DC – Totem. A fascinating journey that traces the...

‘Sheer Madness’ at The Kennedy Center by Amanda Gunther

Sheer genius foams up as the 25th Anniversary performances of Shear Madness begin at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Heading for its 12,000th performance, the comic whodunit is...

Adventure Theatre MTC’s Ensembles: ‘Making History By Making Stars’ by Michael J. Bobbitt

Is it possible that musical theater could be the most popular extra-curricular activity for school aged kids? Is it possible that high schools musicals are earning just as much revenue as sporting...

‘Menopause The Musical’ at The Warner Theatre by Anne Tsang

Menopause The Musical (with lyrics and story by Jeanie Linders) playing at The Warner Theatre is an uproariously funny story about four woman who meet one fateful day over the lingerie sale bin at the...

‘A Maze’ at Rorschach Theatre by Amanda Gunther

There are two kinds of mazes – the one where you start on one side and work your way through to the other, and the kind where you start on the outside and work your way to the center. Rorschach...

Joe Walsh at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

Joe Walsh did not need an opening act on August 13th. The guitarist is well known for his work in the James Gang, The Eagles and his solo work. The weather was wonderful at Wolf Trap and the audience...

‘I Do! I Do’ at Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre by Julia L. Exline

Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre presents I Do! I Do!, an ode to the pleasures and pitfalls of marriage. Directed and choreographed by Hans Bachmann (who also stars in the show alongside Kristen Jepperson),...

‘Fuddy Meers’ at The Montgomery Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

If you’re ready for some unconventional fun with a memory-loss momma, a lisping, limping man in a ski mask, and a sock puppet with a potty mouth, then The Montgomery Playhouse’s production of Fuddy...

‘Iron Cross’ at University of Maryland’s Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Mike Spain

Great music transcends language barriers. Saturday night I wished I understood Burmese when I went to University of Maryland to see Iron Cross. I know I would have enjoyed the show even more. Iron...

‘Robin Hood: Occupy Sherwood’ at Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET) by Mike Spain

The ’99 Percenters’ of Sherwood Forest had already taken over FrederickCommunity College’s JBK Theatre well before the 7 PM World Premiere of Robin Hood: Occupy Sherwood. They carried signs and...

‘The Things We Do’ . . at Baltimore Playwrights Festival at Spotlighters by Amanda Gunther

Three new one-act plays from Baltimore area playwrights take to the stage at the Audrey Herman Spotlighters Theatre as a part of the 2012 Baltimore Playwrights Festival. It’s a mixed bag of things...

‘Xanadu’ at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre by Amanda Gunther

There’s some strange magic transforming the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre into a 1980’s roller-disco! Why it’s Xanadu! The romantic musical fantasy, inspired by the 80’s movie of the same name,...

‘Urinetown’ at The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts by Derek Mong

The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts delivers a ‘royal flush’ with its brilliant production of Urinetown directed with gusto by Delia Taylor. Urinetown has Music by Mark Hollman, Lyrics by Mark...

‘August: Osage County’ at The Keegan Theatre by David Friscic

Like a modern day variant of Long Day’s Journey Into Night, Tracy Letts’ superb sprawling epic of familial heart break and destruction – August: Osage County propels us into a world that is...

‘The Dukes of September’ at Wolf Trap by Mike Spain

On a beautiful August night at Wolf Trap an opening act is not needed when the featured act includes Steely Dan founder Donald Fagen, former Doobie Brother Michael McDonald, and Boz Scaggs who was...

‘The Comedy of Errors’ at Annapolis Shakespeare Company by Amanda Gunther

It sounds like a good idea to have an identical twin, be able to trade places when you need to, play fun pranks, cause confusion. Of course ideally one would need to know they have an identical twin...

‘Little Shop of Horrors’ at Olney Theatre Center by Amanda Gunther

Feed me. FEED ME!! You’ll hear the screams loud and clear as Olney Theatre Center lands a smashing success with an out of this world production of Alan Menken and Howard Ashman’s Little Shop of...

‘Double Consciousness’ by Holly Bass and Jaamil Olawale Kosoko at Dance Place by Breena Siegel

Double Consciousness is a fierce amalgam of the creative personalities of performance artists Holly Bass and Jaamil Olawale Kosoko. It is a unique and rare opportunity to experience the vibrant minds...

‘Dirty Rotten Scoundrels’ at Elden Street Players by Julia L. Exline

Elden Street Players presents Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, a decadent and hilarious musical with a bouncy score by David Yazbek and a laugh-filled book by Jeffrey Lane. The fun-filled production is...

‘Broadway’s Baddest Bitches’ at Glass Mind Theatre by Amanda Gunther

The place to be Sunday night was the Cabaret showdown as Glass Mind Theatre presented the kick-off to its third season with a charity gala event Broadway’s Baddest Bitches. Celebrating some of the...

Idina Menzel at Wolf Trap by Jane Coyne

It was a hot and steamy night at Wolf Trap last night. Part of this had to do with the weather, but most of it was due to the arrival of Broadway superstar Idina Menzel. As the evening began, NSO@Wolf...

Jerry Seinfeld at The Kennedy Center by Mike Spain

Jerry Seinfeld packed the Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall last night. Seinfeld has been doing stand-up comedy routines for 37 years and along the way appeared on late-night television shows and finally...

‘Following Sarah’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Every race has three parts: the first part you run with your head, where you do all the thinking, letting your mind take over. The second part you run with your legs; it’s all physical you don’t...

Stage Dad: ‘A Better Dad Now’ by Glenn Cook

I became a better father when my dad died. It was five years ago this past week – a lifetime in many respects. Dad had been ill for some time, thanks to a slightly toxic gene pool that forced him to...