University Shows

‘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...

‘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...

‘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...

Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘For the Love of Oscar, A Dramedy’ at The New Milennium Howard Players

The New Millennium Howard Players‘ mission is to present “Compelling, cathartic theater from the African American cultural perspective that will touch spirits, challenge thought, move, inspire, evoke...

‘Top Girls’ at George Washington University

I may have missed it, but to my knowledge no playwright in the current Women’s Voices Theater Festival set out to write a feminist-socialist play and explicitly said so. (Not that there’s anything...

Meet the Cast of ‘The Most Happy Fella’ at Catholic University: Part 5: Bobby Cook Gallagher

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of Catholic University’s The Most Happy Fella, meet Bobby Cook Gallagher. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them where they may have...

Meet the Cast of ‘The Most Happy Fella’ at The Catholic University of America: Part 4: Harrison Smith

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of Catholic University’s The Most Happy Fella, meet Harrison Smith. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them where they may have seen you...

‘The Most Happy Fella’ at The Catholic University

Be ready for a big production when you see The Most Happy Fella at The Catholic University of America’s Hartke Theatre. A 27-piece orchestra, lavish staging, more than 30 actors, gorgeous singing, and...

Meet the Cast of ‘The Most Happy Fella’ at The Catholic University of America: Part 3: Drew Stairs

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Most Happy Fella, meet Drew Stairs, who plays Joe in Catholic University’s upcoming production, which plays this weekend October 23-25, 2015....

Meet the Cast of ‘The Most Happy Fella’ at The Catholic University of America: Part 2: Emma Nadine Onasch

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Most Happy Fella, meet Emma Nadine Onasch, who plays Rosabella in their upcoming production, which plays this weekend October 23-25, 2015....

Meet the Cast of ‘The Most Happy Fella’ at The Catholic University of America: Part 1: Mackenzie Newbury

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Most Happy Fella, meet Mackenzie Newbury who plays Cleo in their upcoming production which plays this weekend October 23-25, 2015. Joel:...

‘The Most Happy Fella’ Plays This Friday through Sunday 10/23-25 at Catholic University’s Hartke Theatre

The Most Happy Fella’ Depicts May-December Romance The Catholic University of America’s Hartke Theatre Friday, October 23 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 PM; and Sunday. October 25th at 2...

‘The Threepenny Opera’ at American University

American University’s new production of The Threepenny Opera is a stunning re-imagining of Bertolt Brecht’s classic work of “epic theatre.” Director Cara Gabriel, Scenic and Lighting Designer Jason...

‘The Basilisk of Barnagasso’ at The George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance

An exuberant troupe of seven players (and some ad-libbing stage hands) fabricated a screwball, madcap adventure of star-crossed lovers and lost fortunes, vagabonds, soldiers, bandits, hired thugs and...

‘African Americans’ at Howard University

Are customs and cultures completed eradicated and evaporated when people from other continents, countries and cultures come to this great land we call “America?” I had the distinct pleasure of seeing...

‘The Most Happy Fella’ Plays October 23-25th at Catholic University’s Hartke Theatre

The Most Happy Fella’ Depicts May-December Romance The Catholic University of America’s Hartke Theatre Friday, October 23 at 7:30 PM; Saturday, October 24th at 7:30 PM; and Sunday. October 25th at 2...

‘Intimate Apparel’ at the University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at The Clarice

While cleaning out her grandmother’s house, Lynn Nottage found a sepia passport photograph of her great-grandmother holding her two daughters. Nottage knew her great-grandmother had been a seamstress...

The University of Maryland Wind Orchestra and Concert Choir Perform Anton Bruckner’s ‘Mass in E Minor’ at The Clarice

When you think of a 19th century Mass, you might imagine a grandiose piece of music, featuring a large orchestra, lengthy solos and dynamic percussion. Anton Bruckner’s Mass in E Minor, composed in...

‘Godspell’ at Montgomery College

Stephen Schwartz’ 1971 rock musical works best when it brings a “joyful noise.” Director David Gram and the cast and crew have done exactly that with this latest production. Based on the Gospel of St....

Interviews With the Directors of ‘Love, Loss and What I Wore’ at Arts Collective@HCC

Love, Loss and What I Wore, a play by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron and based on the book by Ilene Beckerman opened at the Howard Community College Arts Collective this last weekend. It continues...

Bernadette Peters at ‘Arts By George’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

“Let Me Entertain You” belted Bernadette Peters as she burst onto the stage to begin the Arts by George! benefit at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts. And boy did she ever—this diva of the...

‘Eurydice’ at Villanova Theatre in Villanova, PA.

Eurydice, Sarah Ruhl’s fresh take on a classic Greek myth, is irreverent and deadly serious at the same time. It’s profound… and at times it’s also profoundly silly. And its willingness to jump...

‘Selma ’65’ at The Catholic University

Walking into the Callan Theatre at The Catholic University of America, one might be a little confused at what they are about to see. Two projector screens display an ominous white and black forest...

‘NextNow Fest’ Runs Today Through Saturday at The Clarice

NextNOW Fest 2015 is a multi-day, multi-arts festival of fun and discovery that brings artists and audiences together in surprising and intriguing ways! This year, Reggie Watts—the larger-than-life...

‘Ode to Peace: A Symphonic Choral Concert’ at The Clarice

Lights dim as the sirens of an air raid swarm the area. A sea of blue gowns dazzle up top, while black and white tuxedos populate an expansive auditorium. A moment of silence brings memories of fallen...

‘Legally Blonde the Musical’ at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre

“Omigod You Guys” Legally Blonde the Musical at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre is like a totally fun evening! The musical is full of laughs, lessons and a lot of pink. The songs are so...

‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ at Montgomery College’s Summer Dinner Theatre

As promised by the lead character, Pseudolus (Gregory Atkin), there is indeed “something for everyone” at Montgomery College’s Summer Dinner Theatre production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to...

‘Under Kafka’s Spell – Różewicz and The Trap’ at Ambassador Theater

The Ambassador Theater is back with its biggest production to date, showcasing a work of one of the greatest post-war poets and playwrights of the 20th century – Polish-born Tadeusz Różewicz. Produced...

‘The Human Capacity’ at University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

“Everyone is born with the capacity for cruelty and for mercy.” It’s what we do with that capacity that defines our fate. The University of Maryland School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies’...

‘Servant of Two Masters’ at Montgomery College

I had a blast at Montgomery College’s manic and hysterical production of Servant of Two Masters. Filled with humor, manic pacing, gorgeous costumes by Peter Zakutansky, a clever set by Elizabeth...

Keith Lockhart Conducting The BBC Concert Orchestra at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

The DC Metro area is blessed with a plethora of very good orchestras and symphonies, all very close by, and all worthwhile. Yet hearing the BBC Concert Orchestra, under the direction of Keith...

‘The Revolutionists’ at The Catholic University Department of Drama (Review)

The Revolutionists, an ambitious and promising new play by Lauren Gunderson, is getting a spiffy first full production courtesy of The Catholic University Department of Drama prior to its professional...

‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at Anne Arundel Community College

Anne Arundel Community College’s Spring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera opens at an auction within the dilapidated Paris Opera House, in the year 1911. Among the items up...

‘Crime and Punishment’ at Maryland Opera Studio at The Clarice

The many faces of “Crime and Punishment”at Maryland Opera Studio Part of the beauty of performing opera is having the opportunity to make a role one’s own. To make sure the nine second-year students...

‘Doctor Faustus’ at Gallaudet University Theatre and Dance Program

A steampunk staging of Christopher Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus without any spoken or signed language? Just movement and mime and lighting and scenic effects? Sounds crazy, right? Well, depending on the...

‘DanceWorks Spring 2015’ at the Department of Theatre & Dance at The George Washington University

This dance variety show featuring undergraduate choreography and dancers unfolds with a consistent contemporary theme, but some pieces achieve more variety of movement than others. These Five Women,...

‘Emerge’ at Howard University

Watching the annual student spring dance concert last night at Howard University, I was taken aback from the get-go. What I saw was so impressive in conception and execution, so powerful in its...

George Mason University’s Center for the Arts Announces 25th Anniversary Season of Great Performances at Mason by Jill Graziano Laiacona

Celebrating 25 years of bringing outstanding performing arts to George Mason University and audiences in the greater Washington, DC area, George Mason University’s Center for the Arts in Fairfax...

‘An Experiment with an Air Pump’ at George Mason University

Shelagh Stephenson’s 1997 An Experiment with an Air Pump toggles between the dawn of the 19th and 21st centuries to examine the role of science in society, bioethics and the status of women at the...

DCMTA Scene Stealers-Week Ending March 31, 2015 Part 1

Here is Part 1 of our favorite ‘Scene Stealers’ in March 2015. Congrats to our honorees! ______ Alex Alburqueque, as Leporello, in Don Giovanni at The In Series singing “Lovely Lady” “Don Giovanni...

‘Slow Falling Bird’ at Georgetown University

The final production of the 2014-2015 Georgetown University Theatre season is Slow Falling Bird, as part of the 2014-15 Georgetown University Theater & Performance Studies Program’s “Where We’re From:...

‘Cinderella’ at The Russian National Ballet Theatre at Hylton Performing Arts Center

I attended the Russian National Ballet Theatre’s enchanting Cinderella on Friday night at the Hylton Performing Arts Center. Cinderella moves to George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on April...

‘Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead’ at The George Washington University

You’d be hard pressed to find a better theatrical catharsis for high school angst than Dog Sees God, Bert V. Royal’s funny/poignant reimagining of characters from the Peanuts comic strip playing this...

‘Rigoletto’ at The Catholic University’s Benjamin T. Rome School of Music

The Catholic University of America, Benjamin T. Rome School of Music had its opening night of Giuseppe Verdi’s opera Rigoletto this past Thursday night at the Hartke Theatre, in a wonderful showcase...

Nathan Blair: Preparing to Conduct ‘Rigoletto’ on Saturday, March 21st at Catholic University’s Hartke Theatre

Nathan Blair is a young conductor who is about to take the podium to conduct The Catholic University’s upcoming production of Rigoletto. He is an amazing talent, and you can see him conduct Verdi’s...

In the Moment: George Mason University’s School of Dance’s GALA and Interviews with Students

“We expect that our Mason Dance Company will leave strong impressions,” said Susan Shields, director, George Mason University School of Dance. She was describing the multi-performance School of Dance...

‘Anything Goes’ at Howard University

Howard University’s Department of Theatre Arts’ Anything Goes, currently on the boards at the Ira Aldridge Theater, is a show to which everyone should go see. It is not to be missed. This production...

Mahler’s Fifth Symphony with the University of Maryland Symphony Orchestra at The Clarice

Not just any conservatory or university school of music can mount a concert featuring Gustav Mahler’s Symphony No. 5. It may not have familiar tunes, but Mahler’s Fifth is a landmark composition from...

‘Good Kids’ at University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies

Who knows for sure what really happened when sexual assault is the charge and impetuous youth, just out to have a good time, are exploring the possibilities? Good Kids, presented by the University of...