2014

SPINE: Theatre, History & Culture in the Belly of the Beast: ‘The Last Days of Judas, Jesus, Justice, and the Born Again?’

“When will the cold Christ Quit breathing twice” Robert Hazel, American Poet Apparently never, or at least not until a new god, Christ’s child perhaps, takes his place on Mount New York City. Until...

‘The 12 Dancing Princesses’ at Encore Stage & Studio

Encore Stage and Studio presents The 12 Dancing Princesses, adapted for the stage by Matthew Heap. Executive Director Sara Strehle Duke, Artistic Director Susan Alison Keady, and Director Sarah Conrad...

‘Titus Andronicus’ at Faction of Fools

I’ll be the first to admit that I was… concerned when I heard that one of DC’s funniest acting troupes was staging one of Shakespeare’s trickiest tragedies. I’ll also be the first to admit that I...

Meet the Cast of NextStop Theatre Company’s ‘Into the Woods’ Part 6: Suzanne Stanley and Ryan Manning

In between battling witches, wolves, and giants the cast of NextStop Theatre Company’s Into the Woods shared with us their journey of preparing for their roles in this popular Stephen Sondheim...

‘Carousel Latino: ‘Cancionero Latino: A Latino Romantic Songbook’ at The In Series

The In Series, one of DC’s local artistic treasures, mounts an earnest and breezy series of cabaret evenings billed as Carousel Latino. The second evening is Cancionero Latino: A Latino Romantic...

‘Rajaton: The Music of ABBA’ at The Kennedy Center Concert Hall

The Kennedy Center Concert Hall had its roof blown off last night in an explosion of sound, light, dance and sheer grooviness. The National Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Pops conductor...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at The Lyric

Baltimore is off to see the wizard! The Wonderful Wizard of Oz! Following the yellow brick road all the way from Toronto the touring production of the MGM film classic The Wizard of Oz touches down at...

‘tick, tick… BOOM!’ at Quackensteele Theatre Company

Choosing a show for a company’s inaugural production is like deciding on a dress for the debutante ball. The primary goal is to draw attention, to dazzle the room and attract the eyes of the crowd....

Film Review: ‘Madame Parliamentarian’: A Film by Rouane Itani

Rarely do we see the poetically evocative adjective “arabesque” outside the ballet. So being invited to “An Arabesque Event” held an irresistible charm. As it turned out, the title was more figurative...

Nibbles and Sips: Taberna del Alabardero Celebrates 25 Years, Toro Toro Opens, New Farmers Market Opens in Mosaic District, Cassatt/Degas Exhibit at the National Gallery of Art, Great Taste of Tyson’s, and “Fed Up” Makes the Case Against Sugar

Taberna del Alabardero Celebrates 25 Years, Toro Toro Opens, New Farmers Market Opens in Mosaic District, Cassatt/Degas Exhibit at the National Gallery of Art, Great Taste of Tyson’s, and “Fed Up”...

‘Speaking of Shakespeare, Falstaff, and King Henry IV’ with Stacy Keach and Edward Gero at the Woman’s National Democratic Club

What’s the best place to enjoy a scrumptious lunch surrounded by ever-changing exhibits by local artists, while hearing celebrated actors and writers engage each other in stimulating, illuminating...

Suspect Arrested Tonight in the Frank Britton Assault

Tonight 18-year-old Elijah Jeremiah Smith of Washington, DC, was arrested in the assault and robbery of actor Frank Britton earlier this week in Silver Spring, MD. According to Montgomery County...

‘Last Call’ at Nameless’ Happy Hour Theatre

In Washington, D.C., there is probably no more sensitive and emotionally laden topic than gentrification. So it is refreshingly relevant that the new company Nameless chose to premiere the first show...

‘Carousel Latino: Lady of Spain’ at The In Series

The In Series, one of DC’s local artistic treasures, mounts an earnest and breezy series of cabaret evenings billed as Carousel Latino. The first evening, Lady Of Spain is a collection of popular...

‘The Secret Garden’ at McLean High School Choral Society

The McLean High Choral Society is putting on a magical performance of The Secret Garden even as it weathers budget cuts that did away with a formal class for a 50-year-old Renaissance-style singing...

‘Comfort and Joy’: Appearing in 1st Stage’s ‘Bat Boy:The Musical’: Part 1: Farrell Parker

In Part One of a series of interviews with the cast of Bat Boy:The Musical at 1st Stage, meet Farrell Parker. Joel: Introduce yourself and tell our readers where they might have seen you on the stage...

Kyle Osborne’s Movie Video Review: ‘Maleficent’

Kyle Osborne reviews ‘Maleficient.’ If you saw the film, please tell us if you agree or disagree with Kyle by leaving a comment in the’Comment Box.’ Click here to watch the review of Maleficent:...

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society Holding Auditions on Sunday & Monday, 6/1-2 for “The Electric Pharoah” and ‘Gründlehämmer’ Video

The Baltimore Rock Opera Society (BROS) is holding auditions this Sunday and Monday, June 1 and 2 for “badass” actors, singers and dancers for their upcoming world-premiere, The Electric Pharaoh....

5 Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/29/14

Here are our 5 Top Scene Stealers for the week ending May 29, 2014. Congrats to all our honorees! ______ (1) Frank Britton as Pontius Pilate Testifying in ‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot‘ at Forum...

’42nd Street’ at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre

Come and meet those dancing feet on the avenue down at the docks of Annapolis as the Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre presents 42nd Street to kick-off their summer of 2014 season. With well-dressed...

Hungarian Opera Star Andrea Rost Celebrates the 25th Anniversary of the Fall of the Iron Curtain Tomorrow at 5:30 PM at the Warner

Andrea Rost performs Tomorrow Night, May 29th at 5:30 PM at the Warner for the Hungarian American Coalition gala celebrating the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Iron Curtain and of a free and...

‘The Last Days of Judas Iscariot’ at Forum Theatre

Redemption on Trial Celebrating Forum Theatre’s 10th Season, is the Helen Hayes-nominated return production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, directed by John Vreeke.The 2005 play written by Stephen...

Meet the Cast of NextStop Theatre Company’s ‘Into the Woods’ Part 5: Priscilla Cuellar

In between battling witches, wolves, and giants the cast of NextStop Theatre Company’s Into the Woods shared with us their journey of preparing for their roles in this popular Stephen Sondheim...

Win a Free Pair of Tickets to ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’ at Quackensteele Theatre Company;Enter by Noon Tomorrow

We are giving away one pair of tickets for each one of these performances of tick, tick…BOOM! at Quackensteele Theatre Company For These Performances: Friday May 30th @ 8PM Saturday May 31st at 8PM...

A Close-Up with the Director and Cast of Quackensteele’s ‘tick, tick…BOOM!’

Quackensteele Theatre Company’s production of tick… tick… BOOM! opens this Friday. It’s the inaugural production for the new theatre company. Meet Director Walter Ware III and cast members Madeline...

‘The Schemings of Scapin’ at Annapolis Shakespeare Company

Bodies are humorous again! For two years running now! Returning for their second annual “Comedy in the Courtyard” series, Annapolis Shakespeare Company is back and bringing the laughter to...

Actor Frank Britton is Assaulted and Injured on His Way Home From the Cast Party of ‘Judas Iscariot’ Last Night

Actor Frank Britton was mugged and beaten on his way home last night from the cast party after the opening of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot at Forum Theatre. He is in Holy Cross Hospital in Silver...

Nameless’ ‘Happy Hour Theater’ Opens ‘Last Call’ This Thursday May 29th at 6 PM

NAMELESS THEATRE PREMIERES, LAST CALL A PROVOCATIVE LOOK AT A GENTRIFYING DC Last Call, by A’Leighsha C. Butler, directed by Nia M. Barge May 29th and June 5th Happy Hour Starts at 6 pm. Show Starts...

‘An Evening With Danny Kaye’ With Brian Childers Returns to The American Century Theater July 16-August 18th

The American Century Theater (TACT) wishes to announce a change in its scheduled production lineup for July/August 2014. In place of The American Century Songbook, TACT is thrilled to welcome Helen...

‘GI Film Festival’s Final Day’ by Marlene Hall

The GI Film Festival wound up its week long film festival yesterday. Films started at 10 a.m. and finished at 7 p.m. The first block was the Transitioning Short Block: a collection of short films...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: ‘Spring Cookbooks And A Sensational First Novel From Ruth Reichl’

Delicious! A First Novel from Ruth Reichl When seasoned food writer and four-time James Beard Award-winner Ruth Reichl debuts her first novel (two more are planned), foodies everywhere sit up and take...

The McLean High School Choral Society, Threatened by Budget Cuts, Stages What May Be its Last Production-‘The Secret Garden’-This Thursday Through Sunday

The McLean High School Choral Society (MCS) stages the enchanting musical The Secret Garden. Led by Performing Arts Department head, Linda Martin, the group brings this captivating classic of...

On the Road: The Soundtrack of Summer Tour on May 25, 2014

The Soundtrack of Summer Tour rolled through Orange Beach, Alabama on Saturday, May 25, 2014. The tour is being co-headlined by Styx and Foreigner and includes a special guest Don Felder as the...

Meet Director Liz Mykietyn and the Cast of The Providence Players of Fairfax’s ‘Rumors’ by Chip Gertzog

This weekend, The Providence Players of Fairfax (PPF) open Neil Simon’s Rumors in Falls Church for a three-week run. Meet Director Liz Mykietyn. Tell us about yourself Liz. How long have you been...

Department Chair and Artistic Director Kevin Kuchar on Act Two @ Levine’s ‘Pre-Professional Program’ by Lauren Selman

With the close of their second season of Pre-Professional training just two weeks ago, I had a chance to catch up with Department Chair and Artistic Director Kevin Kuchar, from “Act Two @ Levine” to...

GI Film Festival: ‘Heroes Then and Now’ and Awards Announced

Saturday night the GI Film Festival continued its weeklong run at the Old Town Theater with huge VIPs in attendance. GIFF welcomed actor Adam Driver of the HBO Hit Girls and soon starring in Star...

‘On the Wheels of a Dream’ Part 4: The Family Group: Santina Maiolatesi (Mother), Cory Jones (Father), and Brian Nabors (Younger Brother)

In New Rochelle, a family who was really just your ordinary upper class family of the time, came to experience life far different from the one they knew when Mother discovered a baby in the dirt of...

‘The Wiz’ at The Creative and Performing Arts Center at The Hylton Performing Arts Center

Since Judy Garland first went over the technicolor rainbow in 1939, audiences across America have been captivated by the story of Dorothy, Munchinland, and the Wicked Witch of the West. The story of...

GI Film Festival Presents: ‘Salute to Hollywood Patriots’

Last night The GI Film Festival showed two film block segments at the Old Town Theater in Alexandria, Virginia. The features were: When Hollywood Went to War and Travis: A Soldier’s Story. The house...

‘A Prairie Home Companion’ with Garrison Keillor and Special Guests: Heather Masse & Vince Giordano

“I hear that old piano…”. These famous words open Garrison Keillor’s weekly program every Saturday night throughout the year. Wolf Trap has returned to tradition once again as it premiers its 2014...

‘The Eccentricities of a Nightingale’ at The Rude Mechanicals

Even the most knowledgeable theatre fan would be forgiven for not being familiar with Tennessee Williams’ lesser-known play The Eccentricities of a Nightingale. Unlike other works from the legendary...

An Interview With Kieyontaye D. Johnson-Carter, Author of ‘Love in Time of HIV’

When I first saw Love in Time of HIV in May 2012, I was deeply impressed. Giving voice to a young generation’s encounter with the health crisis left them by their elders, the play by Kieyontaye D....

‘Filichia on Friday’: ‘Welcome, 2014-2015!’ 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: Welcome...

‘Taking Tiger Mountain’ at The Baltimore Annex

The Baltimore Annex Theater is shaking things up with an adaptation of Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy written by Guo Tai Gong. Adapted and Directed by the company’s Artistic Director Evan Moritz....

Washington Performing Arts: Chris Botti

Washington Performing Arts Produces an Electrifying Concert Grammy-winning trumpeter Chris Botti was born to entertain. A mesmerizing trumpet player, Botti can play hot and he can play smooth. Botti...

Meet The Director and Cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s ‘Les Misérables’: Part 8: Camryn Shegogue (Eponine)

In Part 8 of our series of interviews with the director and cast of Kensington Arts Theatre’s Les Misérables, meet Camryn Shegogue. Joel: Please introduce yourself, tell us who you play, and where...

Kyle Osborne’s Video Movie Review of ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past’

Here is Kyle Osborne’s Video Review of ‘X-Men: Days Of Future Past.’ If you saw X-Men: Days Of Future Past, please leave a comment in the ‘comment box’ below and let us know what you thought about the...

5 Top Scene Stealers of the Week-Week Ending 5/22/14

Every Thursday we will be announcing our 5 Top Scene Stealers of the Week. Here are our 5 Top Scene Stealers for the week ending May 22, 2014. (1) Ben Carr as Tom in the final scene of These Shining...

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,...

‘Yakety Yak’: Part 3: Jay Adriel on ‘Smokey Joe’s Café’ at Arena Stage

In Part Three of our series of interviews with the cast of Arena Stage’s Café, meet Jay Adriel. Joel: Why did you want to be a part of the cast of Smokey Joe’s Café at Arena Stage? Jay: I knew it...