2013

‘Twelfth Night or What You Will’ at Taffety Punk Theatre Company by Jessica Vaughan

For the Taffety Punk Company’s latest production of Twelfth Night, calling it by Shakespeare’s complete title makes the best sense, Twelfth Night or What you Will. You know something new and different...

‘Next to Normal’ at McLean Community Players by Kim Moeller

Next to Normal is the story of the Goodman family as they try to survive despite the fact that things are not normal, or even close to normal. It is a story of love, loss, commitment, worth, survival,...

Part 3: Wanderlust Theater Lab: Meet the Cast of ‘Butterfly’ by Tom Block and Roselie Vasquez-Yetter

THE CAST OF WANDERLUST’S BUTTERFLY Wanderlust Theater Lab comprises a growing collection of theatrical talent to draw from for its productions. It augments its repertory actors with open calls for...

Laurie Anderson’s ‘Landfall (Scenes from My New Novel)’ with The Kronos Quartet at University of Maryland

Tonight’s world premiere of Laurie Anderson’s Landfall (Scenes from My New Novel) at University of Maryland with The Kronos Quartet was certainly an experience. A masterful mixed-media performance...

Ben Lurye & Robert Bradley on Anne Arundel Community College’s ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

What’s a nice Jewish Boy playing Jesus Christ in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Jesus Christ Superstar at Anne Arundel Community College? Benjamin Lurye gives us the divine details. Ben: I joined this...

Our new ‘Other Reviews’ Feature

Starting today, we will be posting other reviews plus DCMTA’s reviews that have been written for shows playing in the DC Metro Area in our new ‘Other Reviews.’ I hope you like it. Click on the ‘Other...

‘Putting Normal Together’ Part 4: Meet Alex Stone, Catherine Callahan, Nick Dupre, & Quinn McCord

This is the final article of our behind-the-scenes look at McLean Community Players’ production of Next to Norrmal. Today, meet cast members Alex Stone, Catherine Callahan, Nick Dupre, & Quinn McCord....

Opening Tonight at The Writer’s Center: ‘The Pirate Laureate of Port Town’ by Playwright Zachary Fernebok

The Pirate Laureate of Port Town is a mouthful…like most good things! Movie popcorn, a drink at 5:00 Friday, and air after being submerged under water for a particularly unpleasant amount of time....

‘Our Town’ at Ford’s Theatre by Amanda Gunther

You have to love life to have life and you have to live to love it. But so few of those who have life even realize that they have it let alone love it. That dawning realization flashes through words...

‘FELA!’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company by Grace Kim

FELA! is perfect pleasure for your senses! From the moment you enter the theatre, the sounds of the pulsing drums and Afrobeat rhythms envelope you and draw you into another time and place. That time...

‘Barefoot in the Park’ at Compass Rose Theater by Amanda Gunther

A comedic romp up five flights of stairs (six if you count the stoop but who’s counting?) An empty apartment; a newlywed couple currently on the rollercoaster ride of their six whole days of being...

The Kennedy Center Announces Expansion Project To Add Education, Public Access, & Rehearsal Space by John R. Dow

David M. Rubenstein, Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, today announced an expansion project to be constructed south of the existing facility. The project will include...

‘Cabaret’ at The Keegan Theatre by Don Michael Mendoza

I walked into the Keegan Theatre expecting the usual production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret. I got to my seat, quickly took in my surroundings and noticed the basic set with banners telling me that I...

An Interview with BOOM Theatre Company’s Ryan Nicotra by Teresa McCormick Ertel

Thanks to the energetic and visionary direction of Ryan Nicotra, BOOM Theatre Company is quickly becoming Harford County’s premier spot for quality theater that is cerebral yet accessible. Ryan and...

‘Henry V’ at The Folger Theatre by Mark Dewey

Appelman and Cisek Plumb the Depths of Henry at the Folger Theatre For a long time I’ve associated Shakespeare’s Henry V with men who go to war to come of age, or men who start a war to come of age,...

‘Steel Magnolias’ at Way Off Broadway by Amanda Gunther

Half of Chinquapin Parish would give their eye teeth to see a stage production of Steel Magnolias. With all the beauties in the beauty shop gossip going non-stop you will too! And The Way Off Broadway...

The Helen Hayes Nominations Announced by Cate Brewer

Did you know there are 84 professional theatres in the Washington area? 84! Tonight, DC area theatre artists, press, Helen Hayes Award judges, and the folks from theatreWashington gathered at The...

‘Ain’t Misbehavin” at Riverside Center Dinner Theater by Julia L. Exline

Riverside Center Dinner Theater presents Ain’t Misbehavin’, a Tony Award-winning musical that celebrates the life and music of Thomas “Fats” Waller. Conceived by Richard Maltby, Jr. and Murray Horwitz...

‘Ladies Swing the Blues’ at MetroStage by Audrey Thornton

The world premiere of the musical Ladies Swing the Blues, book and lyrics by Thomas W. Jones II and music by William Knowles, was presented on Sunday, January 27, 2013 at MetroStage in Alexandria,...

Here are the 2013 Helen Hayes Award Nominations

The 2013 Helen Hayes nominations were announced tonight at The National Theatre. Here are this year’s nominees. Visit DCMetroTheaterArts for more coverage beginning tomorrow. The recipients of this...

Watch The Helen Hayes Nominations LIVE Tonight at 6:45 PM

Want to be there live to witness the unveiling of the Helen Hayes Award nominations? Well, this year, you can be there LIVE from The National Theatre as nervous theatres await the opening of the...

Part 3: ‘On the Road From Canterbury to Pointless Theatre’ by Scott Whalen

Found Object Puppetry Puppetry is one of the world’s oldest performance styles. It is an art that spans millennia, continents, cultures, and mediums. Whether it be banraku puppets from Japan or shadow...

‘The Unexpected Guest’ at Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre by Julia L. Exline

The Lazy Susan Dinner Theatre presents famed crime writer Agatha Christie’s The Unexpected Guest, a thrilling murder mystery directed by Jeffrey Davis. Filled with surprising plot twists, this...

Tonight at 7 PM: ‘From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook’ in Waterbury, Connecticut

OVER 100 BROADWAY PERFORMERS AND 100 NEWTOWN STUDENT PERFORMERS SET FOR TONIGHT’S From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook TONIGHT, January 28th at 7 PM at The Palace Theater in...

’30th Annual Choreographers’ Showcase’ at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Rick Westerkamp

When I attend a showcase of multiple artists’ works, I expect that the program will be distributed evenly between those that intrigue, and those that bore. It’s a good evening in the theatre when one...

‘La Clemenza de Tito’ at The In Series by Jessica Vaughan

The In Series wishes happy birthday to Mozart with a fresh, modern take on his opera La Clemenza de Tito. This classic story of a conspiracy to take down a leader by a woman scorned is set in a 1960s...

‘Tomfoolery’ at Elden Street Players by Andrew Baughman

Let’s get one thing out of the way. Tomfoolery, Cameron Mackintosh and Robin Ray’s 1980 revue of “words and music of Tom Lehrer,” is nerdy. Some might even consider it dated, but Lehrer’s patently dry...

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at The Music Center at Strathmore by Derek Mong

The Grammy Award- winning Ladysmith Black Mambazo returned to The Music Center at Strathmore on Friday night. The South African a cappella ensemble transported audiences back to their home in...

‘Third’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Jessica Vaughan

Rockville Little Theatre‘s production of Pulitzer Prize winner Wendy Wasserstein‘s last play Third is layered, powerful, and very funny. It’s set the year we went to war in Iraq on a college campus...

‘Terri White at Barbara Cook’s Spotlight’ at The Kennedy Center by David Friscic

Terri White, Broadway musical favorite and recent star of The Kennedy Center’s production of Follies and the recent Broadway production of Finian’s Rainbow, held the audience in the palm of her hand...

‘Proposals’ at Vienna Theatre Company by Kim Moeller

In the midst of the cold and wintry Washington weather, Vienna Theatre Company’s production of Proposals offers warmth and laughter with a visit to the Hines family cabin during a summer day in late...

‘Birdland Big Band’ at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

A dynamic, new ensemble directed by Tommy Igoe (Drums); Nick Marchione, August Haas, Mat Jodrell, and Brandon Lee (Trumpets); Dave Bargeron, Mark Miller and James Borowski (Trombones); Nathan...

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Reviewers on the WATCH AWARDS Nominations by Joel Markowitz

Here’s reactions by some of the DCMTA reviewers to the WATCH AWARD Nominations announced this past Sunday: Andrew Baughman: “It is good to see 2nd Star Productions receive so many nominations. For...

‘The Lunch and Judy Show’: ‘1963-A Million Years Ago’ by Judy Stadt

I am the host and creator and writer and editor of The Lunch and Judy Show. For four years – every week – DCMTA’s Joel Markowitz and I have been schmoozing for 4 years about theatre in DC, Philly and...

‘3 By Samuel Beckett’ at Arcturus Theater Company by Rick Westerkamp

As I sat in the intimate DCAC theatre, awaiting 3 by Samuel Beckett, I thought of the following Beckett quote: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better.” As I mulled...

‘Hairspray in Concert’ With the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra @ The Music Center at Strathmore by Jennifer Perry

John Waters’ classic cult film Hairspray is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year. After the huge success of the film-based musical on Broadway – which won several Tony Awards, spawned more than...

Tomorrow at 8 PM: The legendary Tony Bennett @ The Warner Theatre, ‘A must see experience’ by Don Wehner

The biggest party of the weekend, with the legendary, Tony Bennett TOMORROW NIGHT: SATURDAY, JANUARY 26TH AT 8 PM At The Warner Theatre “Tony Bennett has not just bridged the generation gap, he has...

Filichia on Friday: ‘The 2013 Broadway University Mid-Term Exam’ by Peter Filichia

Here is this week’s new article from Peter Filichia’s column on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday.‘ It’s an honor being allowed to bring Peter’s column every week to our readers on DCMTA. This...

This Saturday @10 AM: The DC Theatre Community Unites for ‘March on Washington for Gun Control’ by Cindy Powell

The local theatre community is well represented as Matt Gardiner – Signature Theatre’s Associate Artistic Director – leads two dozen DC-area actors/singers who will perform two songs at The March on...

‘Sing the Truth: Angélique Kidjo, Dianne Reeves, and Lizz Wright’ at Strathmore by Audrey Thornton

If you were fortunate enough to catch the last performance of Sing the Truth’s legendary tour at The Music Center at Strathmore on Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 8:00 p.m., you were part of the wildly...

‘The Minotaur’ at Rorschach Theatre Company by Amanda Gunther

We all at some point wish our stories were different. But our stories are our own and that’s just the way it is. Or is it? What if your story change? What if you did have a choice? What if it didn’t...

‘Come to Their Cabaret’: Michael Innocenti & Christina A. Coakley on Keegan Theatre’s ‘Cabaret’ by Cate Brewer

Christina A. Coakley and Michael Innocenti are putting on the finishing touches on their new production of Kander and Ebb’s Cabaret at The Keegan Theatre. The show begins performances on Saturday. I...

‘Not By Bread Alone’ at Nalaga’at Theater Ensemble at New York University’s Skirball Center by Mark Dewey

Not By Bread Alone: Extraordinary Food Before taking my seat for Sunday’s performance of Not By Bread Alone, I stepped into the men’s room and blew my nose — really honked it. The guy at the next sink...

‘Beauty and the Beast’ at Hippodrome Theatre at the France-Merrick Performing Arts Center by Amanda Gunther

Be their guest! Be their guest! And put their spectacular show to the test! I’m certain it will pass with flying colors as NETworks presents Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. Landing at Hippodrome...

What Version of ‘Cabaret’ Did Damascus Theatre Company Select? by Keith Tittermary

Damascus Theatre Company presents Cabaret. Music by John Kander; Lyrics by Fred Ebb; Book by Joe Masteroff; Based on the play I Am A Camera by John Van Druten and Stories by Christopher Isherwood....

Lynn Sharp Spears on Her Career and Playing Mother Abbess for the 3rd Time

Who am I? I am a person who likes to create; whether it’s a role in a play, directing or designing for stage or screen, or making a piece of art. As a result I have worn many different hats so far in...

‘SoLe Sanctuary’ with Savion Glover at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Audrey Thornton

Savion Glover, artist, actor, choreographer and tap dance superstar extraordinaire, is widely known to everyone, young or old, who loves tap. His latest offering, SoLe Sanctuary offers audiences a...

Over 100 Broadway and 100 Newtown Student Performers Set for ‘From Broadway With Love’ Benefit on 1/28@7

OVER 100 BROADWAY PERFORMERS AND 100 NEWTOWN STUDENT PERFORMERS SET FOR: From Broadway with Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook on January 28th at 7 PM at The Palace Theater in Waterbury, CT From...

‘The Music Man JR.’ (The ‘Music’ Cast’) at Bravo@KAT at Olney Theatre Center by Amanda Gunther

76 trombones led the big parade— with roughly 110 great youth actors right behind. OK— maybe not 110 all at once on the stage, but somewhere close to that in the two casts of The Music Man JR. that...

Part Two: Wanderlust Theater Lab: An Interview with Founder Roselie Vasquez-Yetter and Playwright Tom Block

Playwright, author and visual artist Tom Block began writing plays a few years ago. His work immediately attracted the attention of Wanderlust Theater Lab’s founder Roselie Vasquez-Yetter. She led...