2012

The Helen Hayes Awards Nominees: Vishal Vaidya, Dan Van Why, Alan Wiggins and Rachel Zampelli by Joel Markowitz

Nominees Vishal Vaidya, Dan Van Why, Alan Wiggins, and Rachel Zampelli. Joel: Where were you when you found out that you had been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award, and what was your first reaction?...

‘Incorruptible’ at The University of Maryland Baltimore County by Amanda Gunther

The Dark Ages bring about a plethora of negative connotations: plague, pestilence, death, etc. But if I told you there was comedy to be found amid this dreary bleak time perhaps you might be the one...

Helen Hayes Awards Nominees Maximilien Baud, Noah Chiet, and Matthew DeLorenzo

Nominees Maximilien Baud, Noah Chiet, and Matthew DeLorenzo Joel: Where were you when you found out that you had been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award, and what was your first reaction? Maximilien:...

Film Review: ‘Blue Like Jazz’ by Bari Biern

Steve Taylor directs this indie film, adapted from a 2003 memoir by American author, Don Miller. In Blue Like Jazz, nineteen-year-old Miller (Marshall Allman) is a dedicated parishioner who volunteers...

‘Come Fly Away’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Twyla Tharp, the innovative dance pioneer and Kennedy Center Honors recipient, joins forces with the smooth, lush, and swinging vocals of Frank Sinatra to conceive the glorious and witty homage to...

‘Nibbles and Sips Around Town Does Brunch’ by Jordan Wright

I’m often asked, “Where shall we go for brunch?” “It depends,” I evasively respond, clueless as to your expectations. Prefer outdoors, indoors or lavish buffet? Quick and cheap or farmer’s market...

Karma and Brianne Camp on Their ‘Hairspray’ Helen Hayes Awards Nomination by Joel Markowitz

Joel: Where were you when you found out that you had been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award, and what was your first reaction? Brianne: I was with my mother sailing into New York Harbor on The Disney...

‘The Music of Bill Monroe with Rowan, Rice, McCourys’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Mike Spain

Peter Rowan, Tony Rice, and The Travelin’ McCourys, who are some of the biggest names in Bluegrass came together to honor Bill Monroe at The Music Center at Strathmore in a program called The Music of...

Tenor Jesús Daniel Hernández on ‘De Mi Corazón Latino [From My Latin Heart]’ at The In Series by Joel Markowitz

Not only does Jesús Daniel Hernández posses a beautiful tenor voice, he also has a remarkable story to tell about his life, his training, being discovered, and his career. Jesús tells us about De Mi...

The Playwrights: Helen Hayes Awards Nominees Deb Margolin, Jason Lott, and Helen Pafumi by Joel Markowitz

The Playwrights: Deb Margolin, Jason Lott, and Helen Pafumi _____ Joel: Where were you when you found out that you had been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award and what was your first reaction? Deb: I...

‘Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus’ at Round House Theatre by Pat Davis

Crown of Shadows: the wake of odysseus, written by Jason Gray Platt and premiering at Round House Theatre, is witty and surprising. Gray Platt, at twenty-seven, is already quite accomplished, with an...

‘Working – A Musical’ at The Keegan Theatre by Doug Poms

The Keegan Theatre brings to Washington the not-often performed musical, Working – A Musical, a show based on the well-known book of the same name from the 1970s by Studs Terkel that features a series...

‘Arias with a Twist’ at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

A enticing invitation for your imagination’s indulgence comes to you from Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company’s production of Arias With A Twist. It’s an explosion of creativity when the minds of Joey...

Rachel Grossman on dog&ponydc’s Helen Hayes Awards Nomination for Beertown by Joel Markowitz

Rachel Grossman talks about dog&ponydc’s Helen Hayes Awards nomination for Beertown and the teamwork that made the show such a hit. Joel: What were you nominated for and why did you want to be part of...

Steve LaRocque on Playing Father Jack in ‘Dancing at Lughnasa’ at Quotidian Theatre Company

Old friends are the best friends. Shortly after I came to the Washington DC area in 1994, I had a chance to portray the irascible S.B. O’Donnell in Brian Friel’s play Philadelphia, Here I Come. I...

‘Musings from the Back of the Theater: Deathtrap at McLean Community Players Revisited’ By Jerry Bonnes

Twenty-five years ago I was directing the play, Deathtrap in Virginia. I stood in the back of the theater at one of the many critical moments of the play. All eyes were fixed on the stage. But my...

‘Frost/Nixon’ at The Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

“…Therefore, I shall resign the Presidency effective at noon tomorrow.” Those words that shook a nation when uttered from 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon are now coming to life as...

Adventure Theatre and Musical Theater Center Merge and Become ‘Adventure Theatre MTC’ by Joel Markowitz

Adventure Theatre and Musical Theater Center today announced their agreement to merge. I am so happy for both of them. It’s a great union and the possibilities are endless. From Producing Artistic...

‘Enchanted April’ at Silver Spring Stage by Amanda Gunther

Let enchantment bridge the gap between your befores and afters at the Silver Spring Stage’s production of Enchanted April. Directed by Laurie T. Freed this fun little comedy is perfect for springtime....

An Interview with Come Fly Away’s Ashley Blair Fitzgerald by Carolyn Kelemen

Ashley Blair Fitzgerald swings back into town When you dance in a Twyla Tharp show, you’ve got to do more than pirouettes or pretty ballet steps. Tharp’s choreography is unique. It’s gutsy, quirky and...

‘The Pirates of Penzance’ at The Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre by Julia L. Exline

Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre reprises Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance, a two-act operetta that was first produced in December of 1879, and still proudly remains in production to this day,...

The Male and Female ‘The Odd Couple” at Sterling Playmakers by Queen ‘Lottie’ Yard

Sterling Playmakers delivers a one-two punch with Lora Buckman’s production of both the male and female versions of The Odd Couple. Written by Neil Simon, the Tony Award-winning play, The Odd Couple,...

‘Aida’ at The Lopez Conservatory Program by Mike Spain

The Lopez Conservatory Program production of Elton John and Tim Rice’s musical Aida demonstrated they can produce talented young actors who will have bright futures in theatre. After watching the show...

Strathmore Presents: ‘Joshua Bell and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields’ by Jane Coyne

(Actually, 5 stars muliplied to infinity) Joshua Bell and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields came to Strathmore on Friday April 13, 2012 at 8pm. They were so fabulously pure and good that the...

‘Hello Dolly’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Put on your Sunday clothes and head down to Spotlighters Theatre to see a great classic revived to its glory days in their production of Hello, Dolly! Directed by Fuzz Roark, this Broadway sensation...

‘Baby’ at Rockville Musical Theatre by Joel Markowitz

Rockville Musical Theatre is performing the musical Baby in the intimate The Gaithersburg Arts Barn. The show has a score by David Shire and lyrics by Richard Maltby, Jr. and a book by Sybille...

‘Sleeping Beauty’ at The Kennedy Center by Mike Spain

David Gonzalez presents a version of Sleeping Beauty the audience has not seen or heard before. Gonzalez follows in the footsteps of others – like Disney and The Grimm Brothers – who have added their...

‘John & Beatrice’ at The Hub Theatre by Pat Davis

The Hub Theatre’s production of John & Beatrice is riveting. The play is funny, poetic, suspenseful, and deep. A young woman advertises that she is an heiress who has never loved anyone and says she...

‘Emily Skinner’ at The Barbara Cook Spotlight Series at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Broadway musical singer and stage actress Emily Skinner dazzled the crowd at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theatre Friday evening, April 13th, for a scintillating set of 13 songs interspersed with...

Designers Colin K. Bills, David Ghatan, and Matt Rowe on their Helen Hayes Awards Nominations by Joel Markowitz

The Designers: Colin K. Bills, David Ghatan, and Matt Rowe Joel: Where were you when you found out that you had been nominated for a Helen Hayes Award, and what was your first reaction? Colin: This...

‘ALICE (in wonderland)’ at The Washington Ballet by Carolyn Kelemen

Alice (in La La Land) takes us on a heady trip Moments before last night’s world premiere of ALICE (in wonderland), Septime Webre bounced onto the Eisenhower Theater stage as he has done so many times...

‘The Soldier’s Dream’ at Iron Crow Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

The precarious balance of a family on the edge of loss is a profound thing. Their struggle to come to terms with what is happening and how to fill the void of the loved one that is dearly departing is...

Anna Caterina Antonacci at The Kennedy Center by Simon Chin

If Anna Caterina Antonacci had taken a more conventional path, the Italian soprano would likely be enjoying the peak of a major international career. She possesses a remarkable vocal instrument,...

Schmoozing with Helen Hayes Awards Nominees Ben Cook and Chris Dinolfo by Joel Markowitz

Nominees Ben Cook and Chris Dinolfo talk about their performances in Billy Elliot and King Lear. Their performances were full of passion and energy and were a joy to watch. Joel: Where were you when...

‘Pinocchio’ at The Puppet Co. by Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. presents Pinocchio, the classic story of a wooden puppet’s adventurous quest to become a real, live boy! Directed by Allan Stevens, this production is recommended to be enjoyed by...

‘The Whipping Man’ at Centerstage by Amanda Gunther

They say it’s the dark tales that start out on stormy nights and this story is no exception. Centerstage’s production of Matthew Lopez’s The Whipping Manis a chilling tale of justice and freedom come...

‘The Seafarer’ at Scena Theatre by Kevin O’Connell

In Conor McPherson’s The Seafarer, Richard Harkin says of his brother, Sharky, “It’s a well-known fact in this whole area that my brother has that rare gift which is, unfortunately, the opposite of...

Schmoozing With the 2012 Helen Hayes Awards Nominees: Flye, Hébert, Mendenhall, Riegler and Russotto by Joel Markowitz

I am so happy to begin a series of short interviews with this year’s Helen Hayes Award nominees with five of my favorite local actors – Catherine Flye, Mitchell Hébert, Jennifer Mendenhall, Kirstin...

Film Review: ‘JIRO DREAMS OF SUSHI’ by Bari Biern

His restaurant seats ten. He serves no appetizers, no side dishes, no desserts. He consistently earns three Michelin stars, a rating that implies that the dining experience alone is worth a trip to...

’35mm: A Musical Exhibition’ at Stillpointe Theatre Initiative by Amanda Gunther

They say a picture is worth 1,000 words, but what about a song? Can one picture inspire a song? How about fifteen photos? Each photo creates a different song completely disconnected from the other...

Introducing ‘Capital Sound’ on DC Theater Arts by Mike Spain

Welcome to Capital Sound! My new column will focus on covering the music scene in the local area around Washington,, DC. Any night one can hear the rhythms and beats seeping out of the countless...

An Interview with CityDance’s Lorraine Spiegler by Jane Coyne

I recently had the opportunity to visit with Lorraine Spiegler – Director of Studio Education of and Conservatory at CityDance. CityDance is a wonderful arts organization, and they have very exciting...

Strathmore Presents: ‘Kevin Costner and Modern West’ on Thursday, April 5, 2012 by Jane Coyne

Kevin Costner brought his band Modern West to Strathmore on Thursday night. Kevin Costner … as in Academy and Golden Globe Award winning actor, as in Dances with Wolves, The Body Guard, Field of...

A Group Picture of the 2012 Helen Hayes Nominees by Joel Markowitz

Last night a reception was held at Rivers at the Watergate in Washington, DC to honor this year’s Helen Hayes Awards nominees. It was a wonderful event filled with lots of schmoozing, many pats on the...

‘Rapunzel’ at Imagination Stage by Julia L. Exline

Imagination Stage presents Rapunzel, a musical fairytale adventure, with Book and Lyrics by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, and Music by Michael Skloff. Director Kathryn Chase Bryer gives a unique...

‘SPIDERMUSICAL: A Second Chance for Awesome’ at Landless Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

Look up in the sky! Slinging through the trees! It’s a bird – it’s a plane – it’s – a nerdy teenage boy in a comical musical farce? Yes! Our Spidey senses are tingling! You read it here first...

Kathryn Kelley on Playing Emily Dickinson in ‘The Belle of Amherst’ at Bay Theatre Company by Joel Markowitz

Kathryn Kelley is portraying the poet Emily Dickinson in Bay Theatre Company’s production of The Belle of Amherst, and is receiving raves from local critics and audiences. I asked Kathryn to talk...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia by Amanda Gunther

Follow the yellow brick road. Follow the yellow brick road. Follow follow follow follow follow the yellow brick road all the way to Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Columbia, as they present the timeless...

New York City Ballet at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

New York City Ballet Carries on the Message of the Master Ballet troupes have their ups and downs and dancers come and go, but the New York City Ballet soars high and steady because of a dance style...

NIBBLES AND SIPS AROUND TOWN: Hop On In! by Jordan Wright

Seems like the holidays stacked up on us this year. It’s times like these we wish we were still in school or had paid federal holidays. But noooo – we’re still hopping around finding the best places...