University Shows

‘Rent’ at Montgomery College

Director David Gram has handed his audiences quite a treat with this faithful adaptation of the ground-breaking Jonathan Larson musical. Working with Music Director Jonathan Tuzman and Choreographer...

A Look at The Staged Reading of ‘A Family Reunion at Maryland Opera Studio

It can be hard for a modern audience to relate to opera. It’s not often in our lives that we encounter a countess, death by consumption or a lover in disguise. But almost every day, we encounter...

‘Unlimited: The Music and Lyrics of Stephen Schwartz’ at No Rules Theatre Company and the Benjamin T. Rome School of Music at The Catholic University

Having Composer Stephen Schwartz in the audience last night really pumped up the talented young cast of singers and musicians at Opening Night of the premiere of the new-and-improved Unlimited: The...

‘The Trestle at Pope Lick Creek’ at The George Washington University’s Department of Theatre and Dance

There were many moments in Naomi Wallace’s The Trestle at Poe Lick Creek, as interpreted by Director Jodi Kanter at The George Washington University’s Department of Theatre and Dance, when I inwardly...

‘Rashomon’ at American University

The stunning production of Rashomon, directed and adapted by Randy Baker at American University, is set at the City Gate to Kyoto, a court of law, and in a grove in the forest, circa 1100 AD. This...

‘Conversations I’ve Never Had’ at The Catholic University of America

Conversations I’ve Never Had is a brilliant, poignant, and funny new play written by CUA M.F.A. candidate, Kathleen Burke, and directed by Mary Resing. This is Burke’s first produced work at CUA,...

‘The Lost World’ at the University of Maryland’s School of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at The Clarice

There’s something about dinosaurs that fosters common ground — children and adults alike are fascinated by the extinct creatures. They’re the stars of the University of Maryland School of Theatre,...

‘The Mage Knights of the Eternal Light’ at The Catholic University of America

The Mage Knights of the Eternal Light is a smart, funny play by M.F.A. playwriting candidate Amanda Zeitler. This is her senior thesis project in Catholic University’s Department of Drama, but she has...

‘Spring Awakening’ at American University

There’s no show quite like Spring Awakening, and the students at American University, directed by Amber Jackson, delivered a rousing performance of the beloved musical Thursday night at the Greenberg...

‘Fires in the Mirror’ at Howard University

Anna Deavere Smith’s classic Fires in the Mirror is getting a fascinating production this weekend by a very talented ensemble of student actors at Howard University. And on two counts this iteration...

‘Juiced’ at The Clarice

Tia Nina’s Juiced rocked the Dance Theatre at The Clarice for a solid hour on Saturday, February 7, 2015. This trio of fearless performers, Leah Curran Moon as J Van Stone, Ilana Silverstein as Sammy...

‘A Sense of Wonder’ at George Mason University

Kaiulani Lee’s enthralling one woman show was one of the most engrossing hours I have ever experienced. Lee’s piece, A Sense of Wonder, is based on the life and works of Rachel Carson, best known for...

‘Half Life (a zombie letter for no one)’ at Mead Theatre Lab

“I’m not dead, I’m just hurt real bad,” says Regina, a young woman whose life is a painful wreck, a sorry mess. She’s homeless, rejected and shut out, even by her mother. She is an outsider so alien...

In the Moment: Walnut Street Theatre’s Touring Company Brings ‘A Life in the Theatre’ to GMU’s Center for the Arts on February 6th

America’s oldest theatre, Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, PA, also has a touring company component. The touring company is a regular presence at the George Mason University Center for the Arts,...

In the Moment: George Mason University Gets STEAMED

What is the arts role as a means to spark creativity for the American workforce in the post-recession world? Much is being said about keeping the competitive edge of the United States through what is...

‘Raisin’ Cane: A Harlem Renaissance Odyssey’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Inspired by the 1923 novel, Cane, by Jean Toomer, and the work of other renaissance artists, this multimedia presentation fronted by Jasmine Guy provided a look into the general trends and opposing...

‘In the Moment’: Aquila Theatre’s ‘The Tempest’ Visits George Mason University’s Center for the Arts on Friday, January 23rd at 8 PM

Bringing “the greatest works to the greatest number,” the nationally recognized Aquila Theatre, will bring its touring stage production of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest to the George Mason...

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Best of 2014: University Productions and Performances

The staff of DCMetroTheaterArts is honored to announce that their 2014 Best Productions and Performances honors in University productions go to: UNIVERSITY PRODUCTIONS: Absurdities: An Evening of...

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Best of 2015 #20: University Productions, Performances, and Ensembles

The staff of DCMetroTheaterArts is honored to announce that their 2015 Best Productions, Performances, and Ensembles honors in University productions go to: UNIVERSITY PRODUCTIONS: A Funny Thing...

The Moscow Ballet’s ‘Great Russian Nutcracker’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Be prepared to be dazzled. When this reviewer spotted hundreds of young children, mostly girls 3 to 16 in pretty party dresses, swarming through the lobby of George Mason University’s Center for the...

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

Catholic University’s new opera production Susannah more than does justice to this American classic with a world premier of a new chamber version of the music by CUA alum Brian Rice. He adapted the...

‘Cosi Fan Tutte’ at University of Maryland’s Maryland Opera Studio

It was a delightfully funny night of Mozart at the Maryland Opera Studio’s production of Cosi Fan Tutte at the University of Maryland on Friday, November 21, 2014. With only spartan sets and costumes,...

‘La Perdida’ at Catholic University

La Perdida, a re-imagining of Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale, occurring in Mexico during the celebration of The Day of the Dead, opened last evening at the Callan Theater at Catholic University. The...

Arts Collective at Howard Community College Presents ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ December 4 – 14th by Susan G. Kramer

This December, Howard Community College’s (HCC) Arts Collective (AC) proudly presents the timeless holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life, a play by James W. Rodgers based on the film by Frank Capra...

‘Translations’ at The Masqueraders at The United States Naval Academy

I will be honest with you – at first I thought I might need a translator to help me write this review because Brian Friel’s Translations is filled with several languages – Greek, Gaelic, Latin, and...

The Czech Philharmonic at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts

Sometimes there’s reason to doubt why a symphony orchestra needs all those violins. Many of the labor disputes that are running around the country’s major professional ensembles, including a recent...

‘The Rez Sisters’ at American University

Had you asked me moments before The Rez Sisters, American University’s tremendous and thought provoking new play, began, I would have told you I didn’t think bingo was all that interesting. Well, that...

‘Les Liaisons Dangereuses’ at Anne Arundel Community College

The plot of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, by Christopher Hampton, makes those old TV soap operas, Peyton Place and Dynasty look like child’s play. The main characters are corrupt, malicious and cruel....

‘Collidescope: Adventures in Pre-and Post-Racial America’ at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

On the eve of a grand jury’s decision on the killing of Ferguson’s Michael Brown, Collidescope: Adventures in Pre-and Post-Racial America is a boldly courageous indictment on the origins of racial...

‘A Little Business at the Big Top’ at TheaterSpace at George Mason University

Masterful! David Gaines solo performance was clever, skilled and totally engrossing. Using only his body, facial expressions and some gibberish, he transported the audience to the circus, both in the...

‘Not About Nightingales’ at Howard University

Although it was written in 1938, six years before his breakthrough hit The Glass Menagerie, Tennessee Williams’ Not About Nightingales was only produced in 1998, due to the persistence of actor...

‘Urinetown The Musical’ at The George Washington University

George Washington University’s Department of Theatre & Dance and the Department of Music have joined forces to create a production of Urinetown The Musical that is simply a pisser! You must pee-lieve...

‘The Mystery of Edwin Drood’ at George Mason University’s School of Theater and School of Music

Charles Dickens left his novel The Mystery of Edwin Drood unfinished when he died in 1870. Over a hundred years later, Rupert Holmes took advantage of that ambiguity to create a unique musical, where...

Meet the Cast of ‘Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown’ at American University: Meet Drew Copeland

In our series of interviews with the director and cast of American University’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, meet cast member Drew Copeland. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and...

Meet the Cast of ‘Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown’ at American University: Meet Jesse D. Saywell

In our series of interviews with the director and cast of American University’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, meet cast member Jesse D. Saywell. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers...

Meet the Cast of ‘Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown’ at American University: Meet Patrick Kavanagh

In our series of interviews with the director and cast of American University’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, meet cast member Patrick Kavanagh. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers...

Meet the Cast of ‘Women On The Verge Of A Nervous Breakdown’ at American University: Meet Sarah Yoney

In our series of interviews with the director and cast of American University’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, meet cast member Sarah Yoney. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and...

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

Carousel was Rodgers and Hammerstein’s favorite musical and Catholic University returns it to its glory days with a full orchestra, a big cast, and talented stars. It’s one of the reasons I love...

‘Vanishing Point’ at The George Washington University

The George Washington University Department of Theatre and Dance is presenting the world premiere of Vanishing Point. This production has a clear purpose well beyond providing students the opportunity...

‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown – A New Musical’ at American University

Talent on the Verge American University’s Department of Performing Arts is currently presenting the Washington DC premier of the Broadway musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Although...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 6: Meet Mary Efimetz

In Part 6 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Mary Efimetz. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared in and...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 5: Meet Hasani Allen

In Part 5 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Hasani Allen. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared in and...

Meet the Director and Cast of American University’s ‘Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown’: Meet Director Carl Menninger

In our series of interviews with the director and cast of American University’s Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown meet Director Carl Menninger. Joel: Carl, tell us about your position and your...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 4: Meet Catherine Purcell

In Part 4 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Catherine Purcell. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 3: Meet Harrison Smith

In Part 3 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Harrison Smith. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared in...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 2: Meet Luke Garrison

In Part 2 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Luke Garrison. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared in...

Meet the Cast of ‘Carousel’ at Catholic University: Part 1: Meet Philip da Costa

In Part 1 in a series of interviews with the cast of Carousel at Catholic University, meet Philip da Costa. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers and tell them what other shows you have appeared in...

‘Sweeney Todd’ at Virginia Opera Company

Fog was already filling the vast Concert Hall at the George Mason University Center for the Arts when I settled in to watch the first show of Virginia Opera Company’s 2015 season, Sweeney Todd: The...

‘The Me Nobody Knows’ at University Of Maryland School Of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center

The plight of urban youth took a contemporary turn in the University Of Maryland School Of Theatre, Dance, and Performance Studies’ opening night revival of the 1970s Broadway hit, The Me Nobody...

‘Oedipus the King’ at Catholic University

Oedipus the King has long been considered the archetypical tragedy. Jam packed with irony, Sophocles lays bare the heartbreak of the human condition. People and especially the ruling elites, no matter...