Ford's Theatre

In-person performance to resume at Ford’s Theatre in October

Season to feature Civil Rights icons Marian Anderson and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., world premiere musical ‘Grace,’ and return of ‘A Christmas Carol.’

Remembering the power of live theater: My night of rapture under a ‘Silent Sky’

By Christopher Lancette I sit down at Ford’s Theatre a few months ago—back when there was no coronavirus and the world was normal—to watch a play. I have never been much of a theater guy. Not because...

Behind the lines: Laura C. Harris talks about seeing stars in ‘Silent Sky’ at Ford’s

When Laura C. Harris bursts onto the stage in Silent Sky at Ford’s Theatre, she is Henrietta Leavitt—hoop skirt and all—fresh out of college, brimming with confidence, and determined to find her place...

‘Silent Sky’ at Ford’s Theatre celebrates early female astronomers who reached for the stars

Two generations before the African American space scientists immortalized in the film Hidden Figures propped up America’s nascent space program, another group of pioneering female “computers” huddled...

Review: ‘Fences’ at Ford’s Theatre

As seen through the simple symbolism of a wooden fence, Ford’s Theatre’s season opener of August Wilson’s Fences is a brilliant and searing exploration of the tragi-conflicts and heroic triumphs of...

Review: ‘Into the Woods’ at Ford’s Theatre

I have loved Sondheim’s Into the Woods since seeing its original Broadway production. Three decades on, Ford’s Theatre’s current version carries the tradition forward proudly. For anyone unfamiliar...

Ford’s Theatre Announces 2019-2020 Season

Ford’s Theatre Director Paul R. Tetreault today announced the upcoming 2019-2020 theatrical season will include the following: August Wilson’s Fences Featuring Craig Wallace and Erika Rose A Christmas...

Theater and Policy Salon Conversation on Criminal Justice to Follow ‘Twelve Angry Men’ at Ford’s Theatre

Ford’s Theatre is partnering with the Theater and Policy Salon for a special post-performance discussion on “Justice” in Criminal Justice, following the 7:30 pm show of Twelve Angry Men on February...

Review: ‘Twelve Angry Men’ at Ford’s Theatre

Some sixty-five years since its original premiere as a black-and-white teleplay, Reginald Rose’s Twelve Angry Men remains timeless; all too intriguingly relevant as ever. In the Ford’s Theatre...

Kelsey Hunt Dresses the Stars in Ford’s Frothy Revival of ‘Born Yesterday’

“Born Yesterday is a winner.” Those are the words of my colleague, David Siegel, whose review of the gloriously effervescent comedy that just opened at Ford’s Theatre is full of superlatives....

Review: ‘Born Yesterday’ at Ford’s Theatre

What a sparkling production of Born Yesterday at Ford’s Theatre. Written in 1946 as the United States was standing powerful after the carnage of WWII, Garson Kanin’s script is delightfully subversive;...

Review: ‘The Wiz’ at Ford’s Theatre

Ford Theatre’s The Wiz, the Tony-Award-winning musical based on L. Frank Baum’s novel, will leave you enthralled, amazed, and bedazzled. The show is a cornucopia of colors, dancing, singing, sizzle,...

Review: ‘Jefferson’s Garden’ at Ford’s Theatre

The Ford’s Theatre production of Jefferson’s Garden (by Timberlake Wertenbaker), which had its American premiere on January 24, tries to balance the oft-tread narrative of Thomas Jefferson’s role in...

In the Moment: ‘Death of a Salesman’ at Ford’s Theatre

“There’s just no spot for you,” is the terse way that Willy Loman’s “snotnose” boss-man Howard tells Loman he is fired. Just go and don’t look back, “cause you gotta admit, business is business.” With...

Review: ‘Death of a Salesman’ at Ford’s Theatre

It’s hard to believe that nearly 70 years have passed since Arthur Miller penned his Pulitzer-winning masterpiece, Death of a Salesman; the perennially relevant social drama seems as timely as ever in...

Review: ‘Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?’ at Ford’s Theatre

A sampling of the audio from the packed house should serve as ample description for Ford’s Theatre’s stunning new production of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: raucous laughter, groans...

Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Ford’s Theatre

Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol is back at Ford’s Theatre in a production that is guaranteed to fill your heart with Yuletide cheer. Michael Wilson’s adaptation tells the classic tale of Ebeneezer...

WAPAVA Presents Its List of 2015-16 Season Archives 50 Productions from Washington, DC Area Theaters Preserved

Do you love DC-area theater, but missed seeing one of this season’s performances? Are you a theater professional and need to review the blocking or set design of a particular show? Or perhaps you are...

Magic Time! ‘Come From Away’ at Ford’s Theatre: ‘A show on its way to Broadway that’s so moving and inspiring I would see it again in a heartbeat’

When I saw this new musical on the fifteenth anniversary of 9/11, there were no more than ten minutes during it when my eyes were dry. They welled up from the first scene. Sure, I know I tear up...

Review: ‘Come From Away’ at Ford’s Theatre

Nestled in the northwestern part of the island of Newfoundland, lies the small town of Gander. In 2001, the population of Gander was 9,651. On September 11, 2001, that population increased by over...

Catching Up With Anne Kanengeiser at ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ at The Kennedy Center

As the National Tour of The Phantom of the Opera is about to end its run at The Kennedy Center, I had the pleasure of catching up with Anne Kanengeiser, who is starring as Madame Giry, before The...

2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘The Trial of Mrs. Surratt’

The world of 1865 Washington, DC is living and breathing in The Wandering Theatre Company’s production of The Trial of Mrs. Surratt. Lanie Robertson’s script explores the events surrounding the...

Roz White and Teresa Castracane on Appearing in ‘Black Pearl Sings!’ at MetroStage

Roz White and Teresa Castracane star in Black Pearl Sings! at MetroStage playing two extraordinary strong women from very different backgrounds. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers...

Review #2: ‘110 in the Shade’ at Ford’s Theatre

As the opening song exclaims, “Gonna Be Another Hot Day”- and like a refreshing breeze, the lilting lyrics and melodious music of the prolific theatre songwriting team of Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt...

Review: ‘110 in the Shade’ at Ford’s Theatre

Glorious vocals and a strong cast heat up Ford’s Theatre with the musical gem 110 in the Shade. With music and lyrics by The Fantasticks creators Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones, this rollicking musical,...

Magic Time! ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Ford’s Theatre

What’s the best way to stage a modern classic that is both reverential and revelatory? How does one mount a production that is respectful of the author’s intent yet freshly insightful. How can a...

Review: ‘The Glass Menagerie’ at Ford’s Theatre

Possibly the most lyrical and sentimentally poignant of all the plays written by Tennessee Williams, The Glass Menagerie still holds up as one of Williams’ most well-written plays....

‘Cock (or The Cockfight Play)’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre

In the blood sport known as cockfighting, two roosters are placed in a ring, called a “cockpit,” and fight until one of them dies. The same thing happens, in a metaphorical sense, in Mike Bartlett’s...

‘Dangereuse’ The Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘The Guard’ at Ford’s Theatre

Rembrandt once said, “Of course you will say that I ought to be practical and paint the way they want me to paint. Well, I will tell you a secret. I have tried and I have tried very hard, but I can’t...

‘Kiss Me Kate’ at NextStop Theatre Company

When Cole Porter’s classic musical Kiss Me Kate first premiered on Broadway, it featured a cast of 40 singers and dancers. This makes sense, as there are many roles in this show and enthusiastic,...

Extra! Extra! An Interview with Ben Cook: He’s Home and He’s in ‘Newsies’ at The National Theatre

Ben Cook is returning home and will be dancing his heart out in Newsies at The National Theatre. I had a chance to catch up with Ben. Joel: Please introduce yourself to our readers and tell them where...

‘Don’t Die in the Dark’ at Studio 1469

Last night, on the 150th anniversary of the assassination of President Lincoln at Ford’s Theatre, I was in a DC theater venue of a very different sort: a tiny white-box art-gallery space down an...

‘Don’t Die in the Dark’ Plays April 11-26th at Studio 1469 in Columbia Heights by Joe Brack

History lessons typically share the tale of the victor. Perhaps, the wrong side has a lesson as well. This new play is a glimpse into the wrong side of Our Great Emancipation. During America’s civil...

Meet the Cast of ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ at Rockville Little Theatre: Part 2: Kieran Duffy

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast and director of To Kill a Mockingbird at Rockville Little Theatre. Meet Kieran Duffy. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may...

‘God Don’ Like Ugly’ at Venus Theatre Company

As a writer for this website, I’ve had the privilege of seeing shows at The Kennedy Center and The National Theatre, Arena Stage and Ford’s, Sidney Harmon Hall… a big budget, an elegant space, and an...

‘Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War’ at Ford’s Theatre

With a glorious mélange of words and music, Freedom’s Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War tells the story of America’s struggle to keep our nation together and abolish the wretched and cruel...

‘Hot Mikado’ at Glenelg Country School

For a show with more moving parts than a clock museum, it’s surprising how often Glenelg Country School’s Hot Mikado is in the groove. Revivals of this 1986 Ford’s Theatre staging are very hard to...

‘Driving Miss Daisy’ at Ford’s Theatre

It’s time to bring out the sweet tea and church crowns, because Ford’s Theatre has brought a taste of the South to Washington with its spectacular production of Driving Miss Daisy. Authentic,...

Scene Stealers-Week Ending 9/1/14

Here are this week’s Scene Stealers honorees, Congrats to all of you! ______ The Band Perry Singing “Pioneer’ at Wolf Trap on August 28, 2014 “My favorite moment of the night has to be when they...

Finding Their Purpose: Meet the Cast of Olney Theatre Center’s ‘Avenue Q’: Part 2: Stephen Gregory Smith

This is the 2nd part of a series of interviews with the cast of Olney Theatre Center’s Avenue Q. In Part 2: Meet Stephen Gregory Smith. Where have local theatregoers seen you perform this year? I was...

‘Avenue Q’ at Olney Theatre Center

It sucks to be you! Or at least it will suck to be you if you miss out on seeing Olney Theatre Center’s incredible production of Avenue Q! This Tony Award-winning, envelope-pushing, puppet-sex-having,...

‘Comfort and Joy’: Appearing in 1st Stage’s ‘Bat Boy:The Musical’: Part 3: Maria Rizzo

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of Bat Boy:The Musical at 1st Stage, meet Maria Rizzo. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they might have seen you on the...

Finding Their Purpose: Meet the Cast of Olney Theatre Center’s ‘Avenue Q’: Part 1: Rachel Zampelli

This is the first part of a series of interviews with the cast of Olney Theatre Center’s Avenue Q. In Part 1: Meet Rachel Zampelli. Joel: Rachel, where have local theatregoers seen you perform this...

‘Bat Boy: The Musical’ at 1st Stage

In 1992, the Weekly World News supermarket tabloid published an article with the headline “Bat Child Found In A Cave”. Over the past 20 years Bat Boy has been seen everywhere from running for the...

Magic Time! ‘Cock’ at The Studio Theatre

If this were a theater review it would be an effusive rave. The production of Mike Bartlett’s play Cock now at The Studio Theatre is impeccable: The lighting, the sound, the direction, the casting,...

‘Cock’ at The Studio Theatre

Buckle your seat belts. Love is often random, rarely planned, and always unpredictable. When you fall in love rational thinking is no longer common place. We can’t help who we love. But, in a fresh...

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Ford’s Theatre

Exhilarating— adj. “making one feel very happy, animated, or elated; thrilling.” E-X-H-I-L-A-R-A-T-I-N-G. Exhilarating; the perfect word used to describe your mood once you’ve attended the Ford’s...

Ford’s Theatre Reopens and Performances of ‘The Laramie Project’ Resume TONIGHT

Ford’s Theatre National Historic Site Reopens Tonight as Performances of The Laramie Project Resume From Ford’s Theatre: “We want to thank everyone for their patience this last week as we coped with...

‘Magic Time!’ ‘The Laramie Project’ at Ford’s Theatre by John Stoltenberg

If you’re a theater buff who’s worried that the shutdown’s shuttering of Ford’s Theatre and the shunting of The Laramie Project to a nearby church means audiences there must be getting something...

Ford’s Theatre’s ‘The Laramie Project’ Performance Schedule for October 8-15th

Performances of Ford’s Theatre’s The Laramie Project will continue at First Congregational United Church of Christ – 945 G Street NW, in Washington, DC, until the Federal Government Shutdown is over...