Reviews

Landless Theatre Company’s ‘Doyle and Debbie Show’ returns

This “toe-tapping, hysterical parody” of yesteryear’s country western stars plays one weekend only, November 12 to 14.

A charming story underbaked in ‘Waitress’ at Capital One Hall

Sara Bareilles’ engaging and emotional score remains a source of joy, but this non-Equity tour is a pale shadow of its Broadway counterpart.

In poetry and song, Theater Alliance’s ‘Chorus Within Her’ centers women

The performance is both a container for this period’s pain and loss and a meditation on what persists and resists.

A top-notch ‘On the Town’ from Rockville Musical Theatre

The show’s sights are fixed on the joy of living this day — joy that the production gives the audience abundantly.

ExPats’ prison drama ‘Pankrác ’45’ is moving and unforgettable

It is 1945. Five women share a cell in the famous Pankrác Prison in Prague. Their meeting is fictional, but the events they describe are true.

NSO creates fine embroidery with Tortelier conducting

The entire program was united in evoking pastoral landscapes and idylls.

Upbeat ‘Little Women: the Broadway Musical’ uplifts at UMD

An evening of delightful entertainment by the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies.

Dad and daughter wing it in ‘Birds of North America’ at Mosaic

Climate change, human choices, and the desire to find understanding color this compelling and unique narrative.

‘N’ at Keegan sheds light on a forgotten history of racism in theater

A compelling play based on the fascinating connection between renowned white playwright Eugene O’Neill and stellar Black actor Charles Gilpin.

The National Symphony Orchestra meets its audience at The Anthem

Musicians ditched their concert dress for casual-cool wear more in tune with the industrial-chic locale.

Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE takes a soul-infused journey from mercy to grace

At Kennedy Center, a rich triptych of works with historical underpinnings of the African American experience.

Rooftop Productions takes a stab at Sondheim’s ‘Sweeney Todd’

A worthwhile engagement with the glories and complexities of the “dark operetta.”

Delightfully eerie listening in ‘A Midnight Dreary’ from We Happy Few

An entertaining audio series perfect for Halloween.

Constellation Theatre’s ‘Mysticism & Music’ goes nowhere

Despite aesthetically engaging music and an enthusiastic cast, the production does not work.

Brazilian All Stars’ sultry sound comes to Parilla Performing Arts Center

At the newly renovated venue on the campus of Montgomery Community College, the audience was demanding an encore and dancing in the aisles.

Colonial Players entertains with complex ‘By the Way, Meet Vera Stark’

An illuminating exploration of Black erasure through typecasting in Hollywood.

Dance and acting blend thrillingly in ‘Giselle’ from Ballet Theatre of Maryland

Drama and emotion as the company returns home to Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts.

In ‘Hadestown’ at Kennedy Center, a wildly exciting theatrical carnival

Borrowing from Greek mythology, a musical of love, loss, and the power of dreams.

The comedy in Olney’s ‘Thanksgiving Play’ comes with a side of snark

Now available to stream: Playwright Larissa FastHorse’s satire about white “wokeness,” a brilliant middle finger.

Two centenarians recall their lives in ‘Having Our Say’ at Creative Cauldron

Who doesn’t love listening to older relatives telling stories about back in their day?

In time for Halloween, a haunting ‘Girls’ Night (with Spirits)’ from the Welders

An audio play about a Black woman who believes her home is being haunted—a realistic, immersive, and enjoyable audio play with fun twists in the script.

A powerful and meaningful ‘Celia and Fidel’ at Arena Stage

A new play based on a fight between Cuba’s most influential female revolutionary and its most notorious political leader.

Explosively beautiful ‘Hadestown’ gets down at Kennedy Center

The music steals the show, but there is much, much more to enjoy.

Little Theater of Alexandria has a winning thriller in ‘Wait Until Dark’

Good acting and taut direction in an enjoyably suspenseful evening of theater.

Sterling Playmakers debuts an original romantic comedy, ‘The Social Secretary’

Those who aren’t ready for summer to end will find warmth, love, and laughter in this beach read brought to life.

Smart showtune satire from Reston Community Players teens

Their ‘Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’ is meta entertainment and unbridled fun.

‘Where We Belong’ to play at Baltimore Center Stage prior to U.S. tour

Performing solo, Madeline Sayet personifies her Mohegan heritage of women as powerful carriers of their culture.

Synetic Theater’s ‘Madness of Poe’ is deliciously horrific

Neatly combines Poe’s gift for Victorian horror with the brilliance that Synetic is known for.

Unabashed comfort and joy in ‘The Book of Mamaw’ at 1st Stage

A solo performer’s tribute to his maternal grandmother, who raised him and gave him the tools he needed to engage with life.

Spooky Action’s unrealistic ‘Realistic Joneses’ is a complete treat

The text keeps us off-kilter in a way that tickles us silly even as a sobering undercurrent churns.

‘Proof’ from Peter’s Alley does the math on real-life loss

The prize-winning play grapples with issues of trust and faith in relationships.

How to be a hero: The lesson of ‘Remember This’ at Shakespeare Theatre

David Strathairn’s spectacularly affecting performance as Jan Karski becomes not only an emotional but a moral experience.

With ‘Flyin’ West,’ Everyman Theatre delivers on its commitment to EDI

Pearl Cleage’s groundbreaking play features pioneering Black women overcoming daunting odds.

Paul Taylor Dance Company opens Kennedy Center dance season with verve

Two familiar works ease us back into the theater on a high note.

‘My Lord, What a Night’ becomes truly thrilling at Ford’s Theatre

Imagined musings on the historically real friendship between Marian Anderson and Albert Einstein, two powerful voices for freedom.

‘Becoming Dr. Ruth’ returns to Theater J and welcomes us in

The evening encourages us to engage with Dr. Ruth’s memories as well as to contemplate what might be our own.

A grand night of singing in ‘A Familiar Melody’ at NextStop

A revue of beloved showtunes makes for a giddy reunion of artists and audience.

Shavian wit meets its match in ‘Dear Liar’ from Washington Stage Guild

Lively and brilliant letters between George Bernard Shaw and the original Eliza Doolittle from before there was Zoom.

‘Bright Star’ shines at Riverside Center for the Performing Arts

A powerful and transformative story full of heartbreak and hope.

‘Teenage Dick’ at Woolly Mammoth is entertaining and revelatory

A funny, scary adventure rife with incandescent ideas.

Tune in to Kennedy Center’s big 50th birthday party Friday on PBS

Celebrating 50 years of the National Cultural Center, the evening is hosted by six-time Tony winner Audra McDonald.

In ‘Prepping for Widowhood,’ it’s ladies night and never too late

Best Medicine Rep channels women of a certain age ready for their next act.

Adventure Theatre’s ‘Luchadora!’ a fantastic show for the whole family

The tale of a teen tomboy, set in the world of Mexican wrestling.

A dazzling solo performance in ‘Bo-Nita’ from 1st Stage

Terri Weagant juggles accents and body postures to give us five distinctly and flamboyantly desperate people we won’t soon forget.

That goofy guy Patton Oswalt kicks off Kennedy Center comedy season

He slayed the audience for over an hour and got a standing O.

Shakespeare Theatre Company’s ‘The Amen Corner’ returns in glory

The acclaimed production of James Baldwin’s classic is back for two weeks only.

Round House Theatre’s ‘Quixote Nuevo’ is a comedic quest at its best

A man who imagines he’s Don Quixote runs after adventure and tilts the world.

Wildly theatrical ‘Swindlers’ opens at Baltimore Center Stage

The actors are all in top form, but we don’t learn enough about their characters to become invested in what happens to them.

‘Good People’ kicks off Keegan’s 25th season with a blazing success

A play deeply attuned to the ways people from disparate backgrounds interact and feel, it will bring you straight to the essence of what it is to be human.

Lorca’s ‘Doña Rosita the Spinster’ is pure pleasure at GALA

Spanish actress Mabel Del Pozo brilliantly creates a portrait of a woman who struggles with but finally eludes how society would fix her.