2013

National Chamber Ensemble Hosts its Holiday Concert this Sunday at 4:30 PM With Special Guest Avery Gagliano at the Rosslyn Spectrum

I had the chance to catch up with National Chamber Ensemble’s Artistic Director Leo Sushansky earlier this week, and asked him about his upcoming Holiday Concert. Joel: Word has it that National...

‘White Christmas’ at The Hippodrome Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Season’s greetings! And happy holidays! The one thing that could make this festive time of year even more perfect would be wonderful, glimmering, beautiful, shimmering snow! And there’s a healthy dose...

‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company by Anne Tsang

The opening number of Shakespeare Theatre Company’s production of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony Award-winning musical farce A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, “Comedy Tonight,” promises,...

‘The Lyons’ at Round House Theatre by David Friscic

Like a pride of carnivorous lions, the Lyons family is aggressively on the prowl for laughs (underneath the pain) In playwright Nicky Silver’s The Lyons now playing at Bethesda’s Round House Theatre....

Spooky Action Theater Awarded a $10,000 Matching Grant! Help Them Match It! by Roberta Alves

Spooky Action Theater has been awarded a $10,000 matching grant by the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities! Now we need to raise another $10,000 to match DC’s generosity. We want to keep...

The American Century Theater Presents a Live Recreation of 1936 Broadcast of Charles Dickens’ ‘A Christmas Carol’ Radio Drama via FREE Teleconference on Sunday, December 22, at 8:00 PM by Emily Morrison

The American Century Theater presents A Christmas Carol Radio Drama The American Century Theater presents a live recreation of the classic 1936 A Christmas Carol Radio Drama via FREE Teleconference on...

Olney Theatre Company’s ‘The King and I’ Extends Through January 5, 2014 by Heather Latiri

Olney Theatre Center Announces Extension of THE KING AND I Due to the positive response it has garnered from audiences and the multitude of almost sold-out shows, Olney Theatre Center announces the...

Synetic Theater’s Teens’ ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ Opens This Thursday at 8 PM by Alysa Turner

See the next generation of Synetic superstars in A Midsummer Night’s Dream Beginning this Thursday, December 5th at 8 PM at Synetic Theater-1800 South Bell Street, in Arlington, VA. Synetic Theater’s...

Mount Vernon Community Children’s Theatre Auditions for ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ to be Held Next Monday & Tuesday 12/9-10th

AUDITIONS for MVCCT’S Teen Production Much Ado about Nothing WHO: Teens 12–18 years old WHAT: Auditions for Much Ado About Nothing WHEN: December 9th & 10, 2013 Register online to audition at...

On Sunday, December 8th at 7:30 PM-‘Sandy Bainum & Friends’ Concert Benefits Adventure Theatre’s Recovery from the Gov’t Shutdown

On Sunday, December 8th at 7:30 PM Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC) singer Sandy Bainum is presenting a one-night-only to benefit Adventure Theatre MTC’s recovery from the government shutdown. Sandy and...

‘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...

‘A Civil War Christmas’ at CENTERSTAGE by Amanda Gunther

For a truly inspiring and uniquely heartwarming approach to the holidays CENTERSTAGE is offering up what is sure to become a touching musical classic in Paula Vogel’s A Civil War Christmas. Perfectly...

Tonight at 7:30 PM: ‘A Labor of Love’ Silver Anniversary Cabaret at Howard Community College by Carolyn Kelemen

TONIGHT at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre A Labor of Love’s A Silver Anniversary Cabaret will star local and Broadway stars who are there to raise money for the Emergency Fund of...

Magic Time! Reflections on ‘Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie’ by John Stoltenberg

Hootenanny is a word one hardly hears anymore. Whole generations have come along for whom it elicits blank stares and a big ”Huh?” The press release for Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie...

‘The Nutcracker’ at The Puppet Company by Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. presents Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, a holiday classic beautifully re-imagined through puppetry. The multi-talented Christopher Piper, who holds the titles of performer,...

Michael McDonald ‘This Christmas: An Evening of Holiday & Hits’
 at Strathmore by Derek Mong

Michael McDonald joyously kicked off an array of vibrant holiday programming at The Music Center at Strathmore with a Christmas concert that blended some of his timeless classics with modern...

‘Woody Sez: The Life & Music of Woody Guthrie’ at Theater J by Christina Marie Frank

Director Nick Corley lets the music speak for itself in Theater J’s production of Woody Sez, a story about famed American folk musician Woody Guthrie. There is simple but effective set design (Dust...

‘A Family Reunion’ at The In Series by Jessica Vaughan

A Family Reunion at the In Series is a world premier 20 years in the making by DC Librettist William Moses and Composer Chris Patton. Moses also directed this touching piece about the universal value...

‘A Labor of Love’ Silver Anniversary Cabaret Tomorrow Night-December 2nd at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College to Raise Money for the Emergency Fund of AIDS Alliance of Howard County by Carolyn Kelemen

Tomorrow night at 7:30 PM at Howard Community College’s Smith Theatre A Labor of Love’s A Silver Anniversary Cabaret will star local and Broadway stars who are there to raise money for the Emergency...

Alice Smith in Concert at The Howard Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Lovely & Amazing SHE. She is Alice Smith. She is also the title of Alice Smith’s sophomore, March 2013 CD release. This was a project that Smith initiated through crowd funding (and financed half of...

‘Classic Albums Live: The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’ at the Music Center at Strathmore by Justin Schneider

I have good news for the music lovers out there. Classic Albums Live is exactly what it says on the tin: world-class musicians playing classic rock albums in their entirety, live. At the group’s...

The Joffrey Ballet’s ‘The Nutcracker’ at The Kennedy Center by Ramona Harper

Who said it’s too early to start putting up Christmas decorations? After seeing The Joffrey Ballet’s enchanting Kennedy Center Friday night performance of The Nutcracker, I’m headed straight for the...

‘NSO Pops: An Evening with Matthew Morrison’ by Jessica Vaughan

Matthew Morrison, the TV and theater star with the golden pipes makes his solo debut at the Kennedy Center with his unique take and touching renditions of Broadway standards from My Fair Lady to West...

TrueTheatergoers’ TheaterThoughts: ‘Early Closings’ and Rate Your Shows and Win $100 in Tickets by John and Stephen Hauge

Every Friday we will be sharing John and Stephen Hauge’s TheaterThoughts from their popular site TrueTheatergoer. “From John Hauge: “My brother Stephen and I created the TrueTheatergoer.com website in...

Filichia on Friday: ‘November’s Leftovers and December’s Brainteaser’ by Peter Filichia

Here is a new article from Peter Filichia’s column on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday.’ It’s an honor to bring Peter’s column every week to our readers on DCMetroTheaterArts. This week:...

‘The Lunch and Judy Show’: ‘Enjoying My Memories’ by Judy Stadt

I am the host and creator and writer and editor of The Lunch and Judy Show. I am so honored to bring you The Lunch and Judy Show on DC Theater Arts. DCMTA’s editor Joel Markowitz has been a regular...

‘If/Then’ (Revisited) by John Stoltenberg

The first time I saw If/Then, I knew I would be seeing it again. The show’s beauty, originality, and heart won me over, and that experience increased all the way through. I wrote a review for...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: Cedar Restaurant, Fogo de Chao, FLO Wines, Puro Café, and Iron Gate by Jordan Wright

Cedar’s Aaron McCloud Creates Amazing Dishes with Olives from Spain As one of eight U.S. chefs selected to highlight the use of Spanish olives in their cuisine by Olives From Spain, Cedar’s Executive...

Meet the Director and Cast of Annapolis Shakespeare Company’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: Part 2: Nick DePinto (Puck) by Joel Markowitz

This is the Part 2 in a series of interviews with the director and cast members of Annapolis Shakespeare Company‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Meet Nick DePinto. How did you become involved with this...

Meet the Director and Cast of Annapolis Shakespeare Company’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’: Part 1: Director Kristin Clippard by Joel Markowitz

This is the first interview in a series of interviews with the director and cast members of Annapolis Shakespeare Company‘s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Meet Director Kristin Clippard. Joel: How did you...

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?...

Synesthesia: Accessible Shows Galore This Winter-November 2013 Through February 2014 by Yvonne French

NOVEMBER 2013 ASL Interpreted: Friday, November 29, 2013 at 8:00 pm; Saturday December 7 at 8:00 pm; Sunday December 8 at 2:00 pm; and Saturday December 21 at 2:00 pm Open Captioning available all...

‘Shall We Schmooze?’ Eileen Ward on Playing Anna in ‘The King and I’ at Olney Theatre Center by Joel Markowitz

I love Olney Theatre Center’s production of The King and I and I am thrilled to have a chance to schmooze with the King and his School Teacher. Here is my interview with Eileen Ward who is playing...

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 2: Mario Baldessari (Selsdon) by Joel Markowitz

This is Part 2 in a series of interviews with the cast and director of 1st Stage’s production of Noises Off. Meet Mario Baldessari. Joel: Why did you want to become a member of the cast of Noises Off?...

‘Speech & Debate’ at Montgomery College’s Communication and Performing Arts Department by Leslie Weisman

Montgomery College Communications and Performing Arts Department’s production of Stephen Karam’s Speech & Debate, which closed on Sunday is whip-smart, sophisticated, and incisive. First, there’s...

‘The Apple Family Plays: That Hopey Changey Thing’ at The Studio Theatre by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Heartily consumed, easily digested and readily recommended, The Apple Family Plays at Studio Theatre present an engrossing slice of family life populated by challenging, complex, ordinary people full...

‘The Apple Family Plays: Sweet and Sad’ at The Studio Theatre by Jessica Vaughan

A shining ensemble carries the second offering in Richard Nelson’s The Apple Family Plays: Sweet and Sad. For this piece in the series, the world event bringing the Apple clan together is the tenth...

The Embassy of Italy presents National Chamber Ensemble The Italian Violin, from Baroque to the Nineteenth Century by Jane Coyne

In a wonderful evening of music hosted by the Embassy of Italy, National Chamber Ensemble performed a spectacular concert of Italian music featuring the artistry of NCE Artistic Director and violinist...

‘If/Then’ at The National Theatre by John Stoltenberg

The fresh new musical If/Then—now in a tryout run at The National Theatre on its way to Broadway (where it is destined to be embraced by theatergoers who will want to see it again and again)—is more...

‘Into the Woods’ at Spotlighters Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Every moment is a moment in the woods; a brief and fleeting moment of magical mystery and fairytale wonder. Stephen Sondheim’s classic Into The Woods takes to the stage to defy holiday traditions of...

The American Voices Festival: ‘Musical Theater Master Session with Sutton Foster’ by Nicole Cusick

This weekend Opera Singer Renee Fleming hosted a series of master classes followed by expert panels at The Kennedy Center to connect students with successful professionals who could offer exceptional...

‘Lyle the Crocodile’ at Imagination Stage by Julia L. Exline

Imagination Stage presents Lyle the Crocodile, an upbeat musical based on the book by Bernard Waber and adapted for the stage by Kevin Kling. Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and with Musical Direction...

American Voices Festival’s “Pop/Rock Master Session” with Renée Fleming, Ben Folds, and Sara Bareilles by Marlene Hall

For the first time ever, The Kennedy Center along with world renowned soprano singer Renée Fleming with partial sponsorship by Ann and Tom Friedman put together the American Voices Festival. American...

‘A Broadway Christmas Carol’ at MetroStage by Bev Fleisher

For anyone tired of the ‘same old, same old’ holiday offerings, or others looking for something to add to the tradition fare, A Broadway Christmas Carol is a joyous and wonderfully wrapped holiday...

‘If/Then’ Opens Tonight at The National Theatre by Joel Markowitz

I will be there tonight at 6 PM when the new Tom Kitt/Brian Yorkey musical If/Then officially opens at The National Theatre after almost 3 weeks of previews. My fingers are crossed that I will be...

‘Pocket Opera x2: ‘The Spirits & The Heart’ at The In Series by Jessica Vaughan

The In Series has launched another unique and intimate production of two very different operas, Puccini’s Le Villi [The Spirits] and Heart of Madrid, which explores the zarzuela or light opera...

American Voices Concert with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops Conducted by Steven Reineke at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

The only explanation for the magnificence that graced The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts’ Concert Hall on Saturday evening is that National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) Pops conductor...

‘Miracle on 34th Street’ by Meredith Wilson at Toby’s The Dinner Theatre of Columbia by Amanda Gunther

The age old question that hangs around the holiday season that has been debated, discussed, commercialized, and caused quite the stir over the years: Is there a Santa Claus? Doubt no more, for Toby’s...

‘Show Boat’ at Young Artists of America-With Video Highlights by Jessica Vaughan

Young Artists of America wowed the sold-out crowd with classics from Show Boat for their annual fundraising gala at the beautiful Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. The 85 high-school aged...