2013

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The Chronic Single’s Handbook’ by Randy Ross

The Chronic Single’s Handbook, an original comedy by Randy Ross, is about a never-married hypochondriac who takes a trip around the world looking for the woman of his dreams. It’s a male spin on Eat,...

‘The 49th Annual Music Hall’ at The British Players by Francine Schwartz

On Saturday, June 23, 2013, I enjoyed a rousing good time at The British Players‘ Music Hall, the 49th anniversary of a popular event frequented by expatriates and former inhabitants of the British...

Composer George Fenton on ‘Frozen Planet’ at The NSO at Wolf Trap This Friday at 8:30 PM

This Friday, June 28th at 8:30 PM. Frozen Planet in Concert will turn The Filene Center at Wolf Trap into a wonderland of gorgeous images and sounds of The Arctic Circle. Composer George Fenton will...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Madam Ambassador’ by Duke Ryan

Madam Ambassador is a comedy of serious intent, but a comedy nonetheless. What I really want people to do is enjoy watching the conniving of Valerie Butts, bored senseless in a prairie town and...

‘Social Security’ at Cockpit in Court by Amanda Gunther

The old saying goes, “When Momma ain’t happy – ain’t nobody happy.” And naturally Momma isn’t going to be happy after being dumped in her eldest daughter’s upscale New York City apartment after...

‘An Evening with Bill Payne’ at The Birchmere by Mike Spain

Bill Payne started out his show Sunday night stating he was going to play the show like he was in his “living room.” It fit the crowd perfectly that consisted of long-time fans, friends, and even an...

‘Angel Street’ at Olney Theatre Center by Amanda Gunther

A delightfully twisted suspenseful drama lights up the stage at Olney Theatre Center this summer as they present the classic Victorian thriller Angel Street. Directed by John Going, this sharply...

‘Caesar and Dada’ at WSC Avant Bard by Terry Byrne

“Shakespeare does not need your help,” barks Franz, the jaded, tyrannical director character in WSC Avant Bard’s world premiere of Caesar and Dada. The irony is that repackaging the bard’s trunkful of...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Bully’ by Lee J. Kaplan

A hit in theatres and schools since its sold-out New York City premiere last Fall, Bully will appear at the Capital Fringe Festival in July and in the New York International Theatre Festival...

2013 Capital Fringe Festival ‘Rosemary with Ginger’ by Shawna Leonard

Rosemary with Ginger will spice up the stage at Capital Fringe Festival! Edward Allan Baker’s one-act play, Rosemary with Ginger, raises many questions about the nature of family devotion. How much is...

‘Man of La Mancha’ at Aldersgate Church Community Theater by Julia L. Exline

Aldersgate Church Community Theater presents Man of La Mancha, a Tony Award-winning musical version of Miguel de Cervantes’ beloved classic Don Quixote. With Book by Dale Wasserman, Lyrics by Joe...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Sanka, Ya Dead Mon’ by Philip Dallmann

Sanka, Ya Dead Mon is the story of Ben. Ben was an artist who never got to the point of struggling. Giving up his passion of music he followed his heart to Albany to one day marry the woman of his...

An Interview with The Beaux’ Stratagem’s Eric Poch by Amana Gunther

Swash-swash! Buckle-buckle! The clang of highwaymen’s swords are echoing asunder at Everyman Theatre in their production of The Beaux’ Stratagem. I got the chance to sit down with ensemble member Eric...

‘One Night with Janis Joplin’ at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater by Max Johnson

I came into One Night with Janis Joplin asking one major question: how will a production presented as “more of a full on concert than a play” by Artistic Director Molly Smith translate into an...

It’s a Done Deal! ‘The Andrew Keegan Theatre’ Arrives as The Keegan Theatre Purchases Church Street Theater! by Jeff Klein

THE KEEGAN THEATRE ANNOUNCES PURCHASE OF CHURCH STREET THEATER The Keegan Theatre has closed on the purchase of the Church Street Theater in Washington, DC. The theater, located at 1742 Church Street...

The In Series: ‘Pocket Opera: Love & Money’ by Jessica Vaughan

The In Series, DC’s premier company for intimate opera and classical concerts, closes their season with a creative pairing of two very different, moving pieces in Pocket Opera: Love and Money....

AFI DOCS Film Festival – A Year of Exciting Change by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

AFI Docs, presented June 19-23, 2013, celebrates its 11th year and excellence in documentary filmmaking and storytelling on a variety of topics. The rebranded AFI Docs (formerly AFI Silverdocs)...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview ‘Tickets to an Event’ by Graham Pilato

Tickets to an Event — Where Anything Might Happen It’s a little bit of a gimmick. The “tickets” are for you to find us. They are as free as you are. We’re making cool interactive happenings, live, on...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘RFK’ by Russ Widdall

Actor Russ Widdall on being Bobby I was born in 1965. That year is identified as both the end of the Baby Boom and the beginning of Generation X. Straddling these two eras gave me a respect for the...

Synesthesia: ‘Happy Imagining with Audio Description’ by Yvonne French

Sitting in the wings of many plays, operas, and musicals is a mysterious person known as the audio describer. Before the show begins, they start describing the scenery through a small transmitter....

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The Actual Dance’ by Sam A. Simon

A Rare and Courageous Male Voice Brings to DC Fringe the Unique Perspective of the Love Partner in the Breast Cancer Struggle The Actual Dance is a true story. But did it really happen? You must...

‘The Pajama Game’ at Montgomery College Summer Dinner Theatre by Jessica Vaughan

For the 36th time, college students from Montgomery College and around the nation gather in Rockville for Summer Dinner Theatre. This year, they mount an energetic, hilarious production of the 1950’s...

‘Gypsy’ at Cockpit in Court by Amanda Gunther

Hold onto your hats and hallelujah! Momma’s gonna show it to you because everything is coming up Roses this summer season as Cockpit in Court presents Gypsy, with music by Jule Styne and lyrics by...

‘1776’ at The Milburn Stone Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Somebody ought to open up a window! And let the cool, cool considerate breeze of independence waft through! The Milburn Stone Theatre is proud to present a patriotic musical to kick off its summer...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The Crayon King, or Learning to Share’ by Jeffrey Higgins

A Silly Musical about a Serious Subject: Crayons Capital Fringe has a surprise visitor during the 2013 Festival and he has more crayons than anyone age 4 (or 5) to 93! The Crayon King, or Learning to...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Arlington National Cemetery: My Forever Home’ by Ellouise Schoettler

When I was a junior at Central High School in Charlotte NC I was cast as Mrs. Soames, the town busybody, in our school production of Our Town. Thornton Wilder’s play captured my imagination. I...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Dementia Melodies: It Ain’t Over ‘til It’s Over’ by Steve Little

Playing in clubs, I never felt irritated until one night when a bunch of drunk strangers called out, “Freebird.” “Play Freebird.” It was near the end of the night at a busy, smoky Capitol Hill bar. I...

Billy Idol at Wolf Trap by Anne Tsang

What’s better than the sound of rock and roll music and catchy familiar lyrics? Rock and roll music with a British accent, of course! Last night at the Filene Center at Wolf Trap, Billy Idol proved to...

Today’s Highlights at AFI DOCS-Errol Morris Celebrated at 6PM at National Archives & More

AFI DOCS PRESENTED BY AUDI OFFERS FRIDAY HIGHLIGHTS Errol Morris Honored at Guggenheim Symposium World Premiere of DOCUMENTED by Pulitzer Prize Winner Jose Antonio Vargas AFI DOCS presented by...

Bill Payne on Performing at The Birchmere on Sunday, June 23rd

Bill Payne is a founder and piano/keyboard player for the legendary band Little Feat. In his breaks from the band – he has played sessions for musicians like Jimmy Buffett, James Taylor, and The...

Film Review: ‘Plimpton’ by John Harding

George Plimpton was called a pioneer of “new journalism” by no less a literary master of the art than Tom Wolfe. Throughout the second half of the 20th century, Plimpton traveled in celebrated circles...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Murder on the Bare Stage’ by Stephen Mead

A Program of Masterful Literary-Poetic Suspense For some years in Britain and elsewhere, I (Stephen Mead) have been performing pieces of literature, mostly from the Victorian era, as dramatic...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘Big River (and Other Wayfaring Ballets)’ by Tina Barksdale

MOVEiUS Contemporary Ballet, the 2012 winner of Capital Fringe Audience Award, returns to the Fringe this summer for a deeper, more mysterious examination of an emotional journey. A contrast from last...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The Snuff Musical’ by Derek T. Pickens

Kinky Boots. Bring It On: The Musical. A Christmas Story: The Musical. What do all these musicals have in common? Well yes, they’re all Tony Award nominated musicals but there’s one other unifying...

Film Review: Much Ado About Nothing’ by Leslie Weisman

No doubt about it: this is not your father’s (not to mention your English teacher’s) Shakespeare. Joss Whedon’s Much Ado About Nothing opens with a close-up of a man’s bare feet inserting themselves...

An Interview with Bruce Randolph Nelson on ‘The Beaux Stratagem’ at Everyman Theatre by Amanda Gunther

“When a man is courting, his is not himself, he the oil-painting on which the sketch is based.” A witty line of comedy delivered from the lovely character Kate Sullen in Everyman Theatre’s production...

‘CityDance Presents: Conservatory Dancers In Concert 2013’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Jane Coyne

On Sunday, June 16, 2013, on the main stage at The Music Center at Strathmore, CityDance presented its Conservatory Dancers in their final concert of the 2012-2013 Season. It was a beautiful and...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: The British Players’ ‘Old Time British Music Hall’ by Chrish Kresge

The British Players’ Old Time British Music Hall is an annual event which has been taking place in the Washington/DC area since 1964. Originally called The British Embassy Players, the group now puts...

2013 Capital Fringe Preview: ‘What It’s Like? One Veterans Tale of Addiction, Survival and PTSD’ by Richard D. Graham Jr.

What It’s Like? One Veterans Tale of Addiction, Survival and PTSD focuses on the experiences of myself, Richard D. Graham Jr., United States Marine Corps. and Persian Gulf War veteran combined with...

Source Festival: ‘A Frontier, as Told by the Frontier’ by Nicole Cusick

A Frontier, as Told by the Frontier is not your average ride at the local amusement park, but it is certainly a piece of theatre that holds the mirror right up to the way of the American life for us...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘The Tragical Mirth of Marriage & Love: Short Scenes by Anton Chekhov’

Pallas Theatre Cordially Invites You to… The Tragical Mirth of Marriage & Love: Short Scenes by Anton Chekhov Some marriages are tragical. Some farcical. All are challenging! Marriage. So hot right...

Melissa Etheridge at Wolf Trap by Anne Tsang

The amazing Melissa Etheridge kicked off her 2013 Summer Tour last night at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA with a rousing performance of the free-spirited, rocking and rolling “Shout...

Tommy Emmanuel With Anthony Snape at The Birchmere by Mike Spain

Tommy Emmanuel performed a sold out show at The Birchmere Concert Hall on Sunday night. He had another large crowd on hand for Monday’s show, which I attended. The show featured up-and-coming...

Matthew Scott on Playing Bobby in Signature Theatre’s ‘Company’ by Joel Markowitz

Matthew Scott is wowing audiences and critics with his performance as Bobby in Signature Theatre’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Company. I am a big fan of Matthew’s and I was so delighted when I...

2013 Capital Fringe Show Preview: ‘BenchMARKS’ by Melanie F. Bevell-Jackson

“When the anger comes out it is not a sign of my trying to impose myself on to you…it is a sign of my fear, my terror, my heartache…It is the only emotion left…for it was what got me through those...

‘The Mashup Fest: Urban Legend Edition’ at Landless Theatre Company

It’s that time of year again! Nope, not Christmas time, not supper time, but MASHUP TIME!! The third annual Mashup Fest hosted by Landless Theatre Company takes to the stages late night at GALA...

The Keegan Theatre Announces a 7-Show 2013-2014 Season As Renovations Begin by Jeff Klein

THE KEEGAN THEATRE ANNOUNCES AMBITIOUS SEVEN-SHOW SEASON Theater Will Go Dark in Spring 2014 as Renovations Begin The Keegan Theatre is pleased to announce its 2013-2014 season, which has been...

‘Snow White and Rose Red’ at Elden Street Players by Julia L. Exline

Elden Street Players for Young Audiences presents Carter Bunch’s Snow White and Rose Red, a stage adaptation of the classic story’s roots – before a bold and daring sister was traded out for seven...

2013 Capital Fringe Preview: ‘The Politician’ by Karin Lee

Peter Peters is a Washington creature. By day, he lives on a steady diet of sound bites and policy briefs. At night, he dreams of Senate confirmations and missions accomplished. In The Pundit, last...

‘Red Bastard’ at Warehouse Theater by Flora Scott

His Mission: To Charm, Disarm, Shock, and Seduce…His Target: YOU. But when I checked out his website, he looked rather menacing to me. I was a bit scared. I was scheduled to review Red Bastard on it’s...