1st Stage

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Best of 2014: Best Ensembles in DC Area Theatres

The staff of DCMetroTheaterArts is honored to announce that their 2014 Best Ensemble honors go to: A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Castaways Repertory Theatre A Soldier’s Play at 2nd Star Productions...

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Best of 2014: Best Design of 2014 in DC Metro Area Theatres

The staff of DCMetroTheaterArts is pleased to honor the following designers for their work in 2014: CHOREOGRAPHY Michael J. Bobbitt for Carrie the Musical at The Studio Theatre Debbie Clark, Nancy...

Meet the Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’: Part 7: Bess Kaye by Alex Levy

This is part 7 in a series of interviews with the cast of 1st Stage’s One Man, Two Guvnors.‘ Meet Bess Kaye. Alex: How did you get involved in theatre? When did you know that you want to be an actor?...

Meet the Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’: Part 6: Mark Lee Adams by Alex Levy

This is part 6 in a series of interviews with the cast of 1st Stage’s One Man, Two Guvnors.‘ Meet Mark Lee Adams. Alex: How did you get involved in theatre? When did you know that you want to be an...

‘One Man, Two Guvnors’ at 1st Stage

1st Stage, One Man, Two Guvnors, Five Stars. Uproariously directed by Matthew R. Wilson, the madcap British farce, One Man, Two Guvnors, by Richard Bean, with songs by Grant Olding, is about a man who...

Meet the Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’: Part 3: Noah Schaefer by Alex Levy

This is part 3 in a series of interviews with the cast of 1st Stage’s One Man, Two Guvnors.‘ Meet Noah Schaefer. Alex: How did you get involved in theatre? When did you know that you want to be an...

Meet the Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’: Part 2: Megan Graves by Alex Levy

This is part 2 in a series of interviews with the cast of 1st Stage’s One Man, Two Guvnors.‘ Meet Megan Graves. Alex: How did you get involved in theatre? When did you know that you want to be an...

Meet the Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘One Man, Two Guvnors’: Part 1: Doug Wilder by Alex Levy

This is the first in a series of interviews with the cast of 1st Stage’s One Man, Two Guvnors.‘ Meet Doug Wilder. Alex: How did you get involved in theatre? When did you know that you want to be an...

Matchmaker! Matchmaker! Meet Tevye’s 5 Daughters at Arena Stage: Part 2: Maria Rizzo

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the daughters of Tevye in Arena Stage’s Fiddler on the Roof, meet Maria Rizzo. Joel: Introduce yourself to our readers, and tell them where they may have seen...

A ‘Tiny’ Interview with Director Jessica Aimone of ‘The Tiny House Plays’ and Playwright Danielle Mohlman

I got super-excited when I found out Pinky Swear is doing an immersive theatre piece (or pieces) at DC’s own Tiny House community, Boneyard Studios. I’m a huge fan of tiny houses and what they...

‘Take Me Out’ at 1st Stage

Just over ten years old, Richard Greenberg’s Take Me Out has already been widely accepted into the canon of Great American Plays. This is for good reason, as Greenberg’s tale of a baseball superstar...

‘An Evening with Danny Kaye’ at The American Century Theater

Brian Childers IS the exact personification of Danny Kaye in the wonderfully amusing and slightly manic current production at The American Century Theater (TACT), An Evening with Danny Kaye. Childers...

‘Comfort and Joy’: Appearing in 1st Stage’s ‘Bat Boy:The Musical’: Part 2: Jimmy Mavrikes

In Part Two of a series of interviews with the cast of Bat Boy:The Musical at 1st Stage, meet Jimmy Mavrikes. Joel: Introduce yourself and tell our readers where they might have seen you on the stage...

‘Comfort and Joy’: Appearing in 1st Stage’s ‘Bat Boy:The Musical’: Part 1: Farrell Parker

In Part One of a series of interviews with the cast of Bat Boy:The Musical at 1st Stage, meet Farrell Parker. Joel: Introduce yourself and tell our readers where they might have seen you on the stage...

Review: ‘Catch Me If You Can’ at McLean High School

McLean High School’s production of the Regional debut of Catch Me If You Can-a musical with a libretto by Terrence McNally and a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, of Hairspray fame, spins a...

Interviews: McLean High School’s ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Plays Tonight thru Sunday

Catch Me If You Can opens tonight and plays through this Sunday, April 27, 2013 at McLean High School -1633 Davidson Road, in McLean, VA. For tickets, purchase them online, or at the door. INTERVIEWS...

Catch This! McLean High School’s ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Interviews-Part 4: Choreographer Marielle Burt

In Part 4 of ‘Catch This! McLean High School’s’ Catch Me If You Can Interviews, meet Choreographer Marielle Burt. Joel: Tell us about your design experience and why you wanted to work on this...

Catch This! McLean High School’s ‘Catch Me If You Can’ Interviews-Part 3: Musical Director Walter (Bobby) McCoy

In Part 3 of ‘Catch This! McLean High School’s’ Catch Me If You Can Interviews, meet Musical Director Walter (Bobby) McCoy. How long have you worked at MHS and where did you get your musical training?...

‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ at 1st Stage

Mounting Martin McDonagh’s The Cripple of Inishmaan as their springtime offering is a perfect way for 1st Stage to shake off the chill of winter and welcome in the warmer weather. Directed by Steven...

Steven Carpenter on Directing ‘The Cripple of Inishmaan’ at 1st Stage

While Martin McDonagh grew up in England, his parents were native Irish and as a boy he travelled nearly every summer to the west of Ireland to spend time with relatives. He was regaled by his uncles...

‘Souvenir: A Fantasia on the Life of Florence Foster Jenkins’ at 1st Stage by Julia Scherer-Hoock

In the age of Rebecca Black and William Hung, the idea that someone could be famous for their mediocrity is not exactly far-fetched. However, before YouTube and American Idol made catapulting yourself...

THE BEST OF 2013: ‘Favorite Designers of 2013′ by The Staff of DCMetroTheaterArts

Here are the choices of The Staff of DCMetroTheaterArts for for our Favorite Designers in a Musical and Play in 2013. Congrats to all the honorees and to every designer who worked on our local stages...

THE BEST OF 2013: ‘Favorite Ensembles in a Musical and Play’ by The Staff of DCMetroTheaterArts

Here are the choices for our Favorite Ensembles in a Musical and Play in 2013. Congrats to our honorees and to every ensemble who worked on our local stages in 2013. Please leave your list of...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 7: Zachary Fernebok (Freddy) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 7 and our final interview in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Zachary Fernebok. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of...

THE BEST OF 2013: ‘Favorite Directors of a Musical and Play′ by The Staff of DCMetroTheaterArts

Here are the choices for Best Director in a Musical and Play by the staff of DCMetroTheaterArts. Congrats to our honorees and to every director who worked on our local stages in 2013. Please leave...

THE BEST OF 2013: ‘Favorite Supporting Actor and Actress in a Play′ by The Staff of DCMetroTheaterArts

It’s that time of the year when everyone makes their list of favorites, and the staff of DCMetroTheaterArts, have selected their favorites of 2013. For the next week, we will be posting a new category...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 6: Jason Glass (Tim) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 6 in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Jason Glass. Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Noises Off? I love...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 5: Blair Bowers (Brooke) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 5 in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Blair Bowers. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Noises Off?...

Show Cancellations Tonight-Sunday, December 8th

Updated 9:00 pm Here are shows canceled tonight due to the weather and projections for icy weather: 1st Stage’s performances of Noises Off are cancelled. Annapolis Shakespeare Company-A Midsummer...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 4: Kate Karczewski (Poppy) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 4 in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Kate Karczewski. Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Noises Off? Mostly...

‘Noises Off’ at 1st Stage by Amanda Gunther

Words. Doors. Bags. Boxes. Sardines. That’s theatre. That’s life. But don’t panic! Let the actors at 1st Stage do all the panicking for you so that you can laugh along to the uproarious farce Noises...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 3: Matthew Pauli (Lloyd) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 3 in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Matthew Pauli. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Noises Off?...

Lee Mikeska Gardner Becomes the Artistic Director of The Nora Theatre Company

Lee Mikeska Gardner – a local triple threat: director, actor, and Arts Administrator – is becoming the Artistic Director of The Nora Theatre Company. Why did she take this amazing opportunity? In an...

Making Some Noise: Behind the Scenes of 1st Stage’s ‘Noises Off’: Part 1: Director Doug Wilder by Joel Markowitz

This is the first in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Director Doug Wilder. Why did you want to direct this show at 1st Stage? Sometimes...

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC presents “Sparkle, Jingle, Joy” by Craig Cipollini

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC (GMCW) will kick off its 33rd season with a holiday concert entitled Sparkle, Jingle, Joy with special guest star Matt Alber to be presented on December 20, 2013...

1st Stage is Celebrating the New Metro & its 6th Season at Fundraiser This Sat Night 10/19 From 7-11:30 PM

1st Stage Celebrating the Arts and Development in Tysons at Their Fundraiser This Saturday, October 19th at 7 PM As Metro gets close to opening its new Silver Line stations, one organization eagerly...

Meet Director Stevie Zimmerman of 1st Stage’s ‘The Pitmen Painters’ by Joel Markowitz

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Pitmen Painters, we meet Director Stevie Zimmerman. Joel: Why did you want to direct this show and do it at First Stage? Stevie: I had been...

‘The Pitmen Painters’ at 1st Stage by Julia L. Exline

“Why do we assume that the educated and privileged have more to say than anyone else?” 1st Stage presents The Pitmen Painters, a fascinating true story written by famed writer Lee Hall about...

Meet The Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘The Pitmen Painters’ Part 2: MiRan Powell by Joel Markowitz

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Pitmen Painters, we meet MiRan Powell. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of this production at 1st Stage? MiRan: I didn’t...

Meet The Cast of 1st Stage’s ‘The Pitmen Painters’ Part 1: James Miller

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of The Pitmen Painters, we meet James Miller. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of this production at 1st Stage? James: The script...

‘Blithe Spirit’ at 1st Stage by Yvonne French

Blithe Spirit at 1st Stage in Tysons is a guilty pleasure on two levels. First, it lets you take a peek at paranormal stereotyping and second, it lets you glimpse how different a first and second...

‘Never the Sinner: The Leopold & Loeb Story’ at 1st Stage by Yvonne French

In 1st Stage’s gripping production of Never the Sinner: The Leopold and Loeb Story, seven actors explore homosexual power struggles, murderous thrill-seeking, and reportorial sensationalism in the...

‘Italian American Reconciliation’ at 1st Stage by Colleen Sproull

On a snowy night, I longed to stay inside and hibernate, but I braved the bad drivers and salt trucks to trek to 1st Stage for John Patrick Shanley’s Italian American Reconciliation. I’m so glad I...

December 31st at 8 PM ‘Altar Boyz’ Performance Added at 1st Stage! by Eileen Mandell

If you missed the exuberance of Altar Boyz at 1st Stage – you can catch up! Added for one night only: December 31 at 8 PM. Purchase tickets here or call the box office (703) 854-1856. Meet all the...

My Favorite Quotes From DCMTA’s 5 Star ‘Best Shows’ for December 8-14th

Here’s my favorite quotes from our 5-star reviews of our ‘Best Shows’ for December 8-14th. Here we go! (1) Barbara Cook’s Spotlight: Judy Kuhn at The Kennedy Center. Jennifer Perry: “Likewise, her...

‘Tomfoolery’ musical to Open at Elden Street Players January 25th By Matthew Thompson

Tomfoolery musical to Open at Elden Street Players January 25th with Apologies from Producer; Tom Lehrer to Blame Although many of those involved with Elden Street Players had high hopes for the 25th...

‘Altar Boyz’ at 1st Stage by Julia L. Exline

1st Stage presents Altar Boyz, a musical comedy with a book by Kevin Del Aguila and music and lyrics by Gary Adler. Steven Royal directs this hilarious and catchy satire about a Christian boy band who...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Six: Meet Jonathan Walker by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 6 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet Jonathan Walker. Jonathan: My name is Jonathan Walker and to be honest, I...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Five: Meet BJ Gruber by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 5 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet BJ Gruber. BJ: My name is BJ Gruber and I’ve been acting professionally for...

‘They’re the Altar Boyz’ Part Four: Meet Derek Tatum by Joel Markowitz

Here is Part 4 of our series of behind the scenes interviews with the director and cast of 1st Stage’s Altar Boyz. Now, meet Derek Tatum. Derek: My name is Derek John Tatum and I am originally from...