Reviews

Magic Time! ‘Appomattox’ at Washington National Opera by John Stoltenberg

Appomattox, the magnificent and powerful opera by Philip Glass and Christopher Hampton that premiered at The Kennedy Center last night, looks at American history with a breathtaking urgency and...

‘ColorBlind: The Katrina Monologues’ at The Anacostia Playhouse

September of this year marked the tenth anniversary of the Katrina flooding. ColorBlind: The Katrina Monologues, a superb play written by Tom Flannery, and directed by a great director and actor,...

‘Guys and Dolls’ at Olney Theatre Center

The dice are rolling, the men are kicking face, and the audience is rolling in the aisles as Olney Theatre Center’s last show of the season, Guys and Dolls, opens this weekend. One of Frank Loesser’s...

‘On Your Feet’ at The Marquis Theatre in New York City

On Your Feet joins its fellow juke box musicals Jersey Boys and Beautiful in the growing list of this new genre that delivers a full evening’s entertainment using pop hits of another era to tell a...

‘Hair’ at Woodrow Wilson High School

Lorin Kayla Holland (Dionne), in all her tranquil beauty, set the mood perfectly for Wilson High School’s production of Hair. Action jumps in as Kellik Dawson (Hud), and Zac Nachbar-Seckel (Berger)...

‘A Wonderful Life’ at Reisterstown Theatre Project

Is there anyone who does not know the heartwarming story of A Wonderful Life? Following closely the original plot of the 1945 film, the musical version, with a book and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick and...

Dorado Schmitt and the Django Festival All-Stars at The Kennedy Center

Dorado Schmitt and the Django Festival All-Stars came to The Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater last night. And for a beautiful 80 minutes, the terror of the day vanished, syncopated out of existence by...

‘Fiddler on the Roof’ at Damascus Theatre Company

“Without our traditions, life would be as shaky as a fiddler on the roof!” Those satiric words are spoken by Tevye (Brian Lyons-Burke), the narrator and main character of the enduringly popular...

‘Danceworks Fall 2015’ at George Washington University’s Department of Theatre of Dance

International Guest Artists Bring Polish and Pizazz to MainStage at George Washington University Some of the most exciting new choreography in town is on view at this season’s DanceWorks 2015, where...

‘Marisol’ at Montgomery College’s Theatre Department

Marisol keenly follows the traditions of Magical Realism and Theater of the Absurd. It is clear that Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Becket, who are known for this genre, are major influences of the...

‘Shutter’ at The Alliance Theatre

In a house of Southern discomfort past history and brokenness is finally brought to the family dinner table after nearly 40 years. Shutter by Leslie Anne Ross captures the story of failure and...

‘War With the Newts’ at Georgetown University

When an actor comes on stage and tells you to silence your cell phone, etc., then identifies himself as a newt, you might be a bit perplexed. And when, further, he announces that all the humans you’ll...

‘Bachelorette’ at American University’s College of Arts and Sciences

Does validation of a woman’s self-worth come with being independent or having a husband? In American University’s exceptional production of Leslye Holland’s Bachelorette, directed by Carl Menninger,...

‘Macbeth’ at Villanova Theatre at Villanova University

More than four hundred years after Shakespeare wrote it, Macbeth remains a potent play. Its tale of how the lust for power corrupts is timeless, made even more enduring by some of the most legendary...

‘Underneath the Lintel’ at Lantern Theater Company in Philadelphia

To quote Lantern Artistic Director and director of this production Kathryn MacMillan, “Time is the currency by which we negotiate all the relationships in our lives.” And Underneath the Lintel is...

Spine: JOY and Twyla Tharp’s 50th Anniversary Tour

Twyla Tharp’s 50th Anniversary Tour came to the Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre last night. Four pieces: two short “Fanfares,” a Preludes and Fugues, and a Yowzie. And the stage was aflutter with...

‘King Charles III’ at The Music Box Theatre in New York City

If you haven’t heard of Charles III of Britain, don’t berate yourself. He hasn’t happened yet, but playwright Mike Bartlett has conjured up what might happen if and when Queen Elizabeth leaves us...

Pianist Olga Kern in Recital at the 92nd Street Y in New York City

Dreamy music about the memories of childhood and a virtuoso spin through the themes of one of history’s greatest operas are the stuff of which great piano recitals are made. But it’s a mark of the...

From Beethoven to Rachmaninoff to Billy Joel: An Interview with Superstar Pianist Olga Kern

If you believe that a good way to judge music is on whether it sounds good and moves you, then you have a friend in international concert pianist Olga Kern. The Russian-bred, New York-based classical...

‘Oliver!’ at Arena Stage

From its opening number, Arena Stage’s innovative new production of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! is bursting with excitement and emotion. Director Molly Smith has stripped the classic musical based on...

‘Lights Rise on Grace’ at Azuka Theatre in Philadelphia

Lights Rise on Grace is a play that has a lot to say about race, sexuality and secrecy, but says it sparingly. Chad Beckim’s play depicts three characters who reveal a lot to the audience in speeches...

Wanda Sykes at The Warner Theatre

Four-time Emmy award-winning comedian, actor, writer, producer and DC-area native Wanda Sykes returned to The Warner Theatre last weekend with her signature sarcastic and straight-to-the-point comedy,...

‘Flamenco Men 2’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre

It is said that there are four elements of flamenco: Cante, or voice; Baile, or dance; Toque, or guitar, and; Jaleo – audience participation. All were in full force at GALA Hispanic Theatre’s...

‘Hansel & Gretel’ at Encore Stage & Studio

Encore Stage & Studio presents Hansel & Gretel, an adapted version of the classic story by The Brothers Grimm, with original music composed by Matthew Heap. Vera Morris’ gentler revision of this story...

‘Brigadoon’ at Compass Rose Theater

By the glow of a single light, nestled under the stairs on stage, pianist Eric Clark plays the overture of Compass Rose Theater’s latest production, Brigadoon. Add in bagpipes played by Christian...

‘Titus Andronicus’ at Chesapeake Shakespeare Company

“We are all undone!” a character hysterically cries halfway through Chesapeake Shakespeare Company’s production of Titus Andronicus. Well, thanks for stating the obvious. You would had to have been...

‘The Taming of the Shrew’ at Baltimore Shakespeare Factory

Baltimore Shakespeare Factory’s production of The Taming of the Shrew is a delightful romp of quick-witted dialog and rollicking physical comedy. With their commitment to presenting Shakespeare’s work...

‘Tartuffe’ at The University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at The Clarice

“Charges which you now repudiate you may find credible at a later date.” No, this isn’t a comment on the 2016 presidential candidates – it’s a smirky statement by Tartuffe, the titular character in...

‘Regular Singing’ in Repertory with ‘Sorry’ at Studio Theatre

Regular Singing, the 4th play in Richard Nelson’s Apple Family Cycle and now playing in repertory with Sorry (the 3rd play) at Studio Theatre, is a 2-hour dirge, a threnody if you will, with much...

The Apple Family Cycle: ‘Sorry’ at The Studio Theatre

You know that feeling you get when you go to something—you attend it as a visitor or you drop in as an interloper—and by the time that something ends, you feel as if you belonged to it? Well, there’s...

A Talk with Michael Riedel on His Book ‘Razzle Dazzle’ by Richard Seff

Michael Riedel, the theatre columnist for the New York Post and the co-host of the long running PBS show Theater Talk, sat with me for an hour on November 2nd, to discuss his valuable and readable new...

‘Watership Down’ at Simpatico Theatre Project and Drexel University’s Mandell Professionals in Resident Project (MPiRP) in Philadelphia

Watership Down, adapted by John Hildreth from Richard Adams’ novel of the same title, is far away from the world of reality, rich with metaphor and symbolism. Originally produced by Lifeline Theatre,...

‘Songs for a New World’ at Metropolitan Youth Theatre

Metropolitan Youth Theatre, an entirely student-run theatre company based in Lorton, Virginia, showcased major young adult talents of the DC Metro area with their compelling production of Jason Robert...

‘Any Given Monday’ at the Greenbelt Arts Center

Darkness can be a guilty pleasure. Bruce Graham’s Any Given Monday, currently onstage at the Greenbelt Arts Center, is a dark comedy-drama that makes you laugh in all the wrong places. Under the able...

‘The Voice of Anne Frank’ by Miřenka Čechová at Atlas Performing Arts Center

Yesterday, Miřenka Čechová, the acclaimed author of physical theater, actor, dancer, choreographer, and director from the Czech Republic, returned to DC for a one night-only performance of The Voice...

‘God’s Favorite’ at The Thurmont Thespians

The best aspect of great community theater is you never know where you’ll find it. It could be an elaborate setting in an old movie house. It could be in a modern black box in the local community...

‘Painting Churches’ at The Montgomery Playhouse and The City of Gaithersburg at The Arts Barn

It’s sheer joy watching three performers execute their craft with passion. Add in an incredibly-written, intelligent and thought-provoking narrative and a warm and intimate venue, and with The...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘Kerrmoor’ at The Interrobang Theatre Company and The Strand Theater Company

Three women, bound by blood and tradition. One community in dire straits. And a centuries old rite that can mend all ills. Kerrmoor, written by Susan McCully and directed by Eve Muson, takes us deep...

‘Henri IV Part 2’: The Re-Gendered Henry IV Repertory at Brave Spirits Theatre

After stifling a rebellion and slaying your opponents to the throne, what else is there to do? According to Shakespeare, you commiserate on themes of life and death while making a lot of sex and fart...

‘Thérèse Raquin’ at Roundabout Theatre at Studio 54 in New York City

Young Therese Raquin is in terrible trouble. We realize this the moment the curtain rises revealing a small and desolate village on the Seine in the year 1868. The entrance of Therese, (Keira...

‘Legally Blonde: The Musical’ by Other Voices Theatre at the Performing Arts Factory

Fantastically directed by Susan Thornton and excellently musically directed by Pete Meyers, Other Voices Theatre’s Legally Blonde: The Musical is an extremely high-energy show with outstanding...

‘The Secret Garden’ at Center Stage

When I was a child, I read Frances Hodgson Burnett’s classic novel, The Secret Garden. Like many other children my age, I relished the loveliness of the story and wished for a garden of my own....

Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s ‘Off the Cuff: A Season of Vivaldi’

The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra has some fun as they tackle Vivaldi as part of their Off the Cuff series. The series includes a smaller gathering of strings, about 35 in all, and an informal...

Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Michele Lee: ‘Nobody Does It Like Me, The Music of Cy Coleman’

Broadway, Television, Film and Concert artist Michele Lee beguiled at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater with a disarming and engaging set of songs written by the prolific Broadway composer Cy...

The Reel Deal: Watch Kyle Osborne’s Movie Video Review of ‘Spectre’

Here is Kyle Osborne’s Movie Video Review of ‘Spectre.’ Watch the Trailer: Here are DC Showtimes. Check out other Movie Video Reviews by Kyle Osborne.

‘No Exit’ at Nu Sass

What better theater piece to consider for an immersive, “locked-away” experience than Jean-Paul Sartre’s No Exit. For that alone, Nu Sass deserves and earns plaudits for its very nifty No Exit. No...

‘Intimate Apparel’ at CCBC Catonsville

This semester, CCBC Catonsville’s theatre department has taken on Lynn Nottage’s play, Intimate Apparel. Set in the New York City of 1905, the play tells the story of Esther, an African American...

‘The Book of Mormon’ at Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center

The Book of Mormon is like a short, bracing vacation from political correctness. Between now and November 15th, taking a seat in Baltimore’s Hippodrome Theatre signals your willingness to stifle the...

Spine: Mosaic Theater Company’s ‘Unexplored Interior’: A ‘Theatre of Conscience’

The Mosaic Theater Company has arrived, and Washington’s dense theatrical geography has a different colored star on the horizon. Its inaugural production, the world premiere of Unexplored Interior by...

‘The Children’s Hour’ at Howard University

If you have never seen or heard of The Children’s Hour by Lillian Hellman, then you are missing out on a masterful piece of social commentary. Written in 1934, the play was highly controversial with...