2014

‘The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer’ Plays Tonight Through Sunday at Artisphere by Barry Halvorson

THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER“Winner **Outstanding Solo Show** New York Fringe Festival TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY- FEB 6 + 7 + 8 + 9 at ARTISPHERE 1101 Wilson Blvd, in Arlington, VA...

‘Tracy Lynn Olivera: CD Release Party’ at Signature Theatre’s Winter Cabaret Festival by Douglas Lloyd

If you have the wintertime blues (and who doesn’t by now!), then one surefire way to lift your spirits this week is to head over to Signature Theatre to hear the glorious Tracy Lynn Olivera sing a...

Win a Free Pair of Tickets to Bowie Community Theatre’s ‘Dark Passages’-Enter by Sunday at 11:59 PM & 25% Off Discount

WIN A PAIR OF FREE TICKETS TO BOWIE COMMUNITY THEATRE’S DARK PASSAGES ______ DARK PASSAGES plays through March 16, 2013 at Bowie Community Theatre performing at the Bowie Playhouse – 16500 White Marsh...

Shakespeare Theatre Company Announces Its 2014-2015 Season

Midway through Shakespeare Theatre Company’s current season, Artistic Director Michael Kahn announced today the Company’s 2014-2015 Season. Kahn has put together a classic and entertaining season,...

Director José Carrasquillo on ‘La Señorita de Tacna’ (The Young Lady from Tacna) at GALA Hispanic Theatre

La Señorita de Tacna (The Young Lady from Tacna), by the Peruvian Playwright Mario Vargas Llosa, opens tonight at GALA Hispanic Theatre. I asked Director José Carrasquillo about the auditions and...

Meet The Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘The Wedding Dress’: Part 2: Meet Director Rebecca Holderness by Joel Markowitz

Spooky Action Theater is presenting The Wedding Dress by Nelson Rodrigues. The show is directed by Rebecca Holderness and stars Frank Britton, Michael Kevin Darnall, Dane Edidi, Stefanie Garcia,...

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater ‘Program A’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Alvin Ailey American Dance Celebrates Rich Heritage at the Kennedy Center Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater “came home” to the Kennedy Center last night, dancing a program of familiar works, a true...

This Friday, 2/7@7 PM & IT’S FREE: ArtSpeak! Brings Broadway’s Matthew Scott, Wilson Jermaine Heredia, and Aaron Lazar to Watkins Mill High School! by Robin Parker

ArtSpeak! Brings Broadway to Watkins Mill High School A FREE EVENT ArtSpeak! events are entertaining, funny, poignant and an absolutely great time! Where else can you experience a candid, unscripted...

‘Stomp’ at The National Theatre by Jessica Vaughan

The Off-Broadway classic Stomp stops once more in DC for an explosive celebration of sound, dance, comedy and every day household objects with a fine cast of veterans and new performers. Stomp won a...

‘War Horse’ at Hippodrome Theatre by Amanda Gunther

Pure awestruck inspiration is often hard to come by these days upon the stage, but a radiant beam of stunning and imaginative heart is blasting its way onto the stages of Baltimore as Broadway Across...

HCC’s Arts Collective Reschedules Auditions for ‘Ragtime’ to Saturday, February 8th from 10 am to 2 pm

HCC’s Arts Collective Reschedules Auditions for Ragtime To: SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 8th From 10 AM-2 PM. Appointments Still Available! Due to Recent Inclement Weather-Related Closure (2/3) at Howard...

‘Yellow Face’ at Theater J by John Stoltenberg

If there was an open casting call for the role of you, who should get the part and who shouldn’t? Must the actor be descended from a gene pool that arose in the same area on the globe that yours did?...

‘Impossible! A Happenstance Circus’ at Happenstance Theater by Amanda Gunther

Ladies and gentlemen! Step right up! A circus the likes of which you’ve never seen has come to Round House Theatre in Silver Spring compliments of the extremely engaging and enticing Happenstance...

‘Funny Money’ at 2nd Star Productions by Amanda Gunther

What would you do with 1,735,000 pounds? Hopefully do a better job of keeping your story straight than the zany characters in Ray Cooney’s Funny Money. An uproarious farce of epic proportions comes to...

Time for Three at the Kennedy Center by Emily Cao

Time for Three took to the Terrace Theater stage at The Kennedy Center on Monday night as part of the Fortas Chamber Music Concerts series. The internationally acclaimed, self-dubbed...

‘A Journey with Richard: A Deaf Man’s Commentary on ‘Richard III’ at NextStop Theatre Company’ by Michael Sprouse

The house lights dims, and the stage is flooded with elegant people dressed up for a formal occasion. I spot a man who looks around trying to fit in, and awkwardly raising his glass and barely...

Playing (with) Gender in WSC Avant Bard’s ‘Orlando’: Acting Insights from Sara Barker and Jay Hardee by John Stoltenberg

Orlando, WSC Avant Bard’s upcoming production, is based on Virginia Woolf’s classic 1928 novel in which Woolf based the character Orlando on the woman she was madly in love with. In both the book and...

‘From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert for Sandy Hook’ Released on DVD and Double-CD Set Tomorrow, iTunes on 2/7, & on Blu-ray on 2/18 by Joel Markowitz

From Broadway With Love: A Benefit Concert For Sandy Hook DVD And Double-CD set Released Tomorrow, February 4th, as two volumes digitally via iTunes on February 7th, and on Blu-ray on February 18th....

‘Richard III’ at NextStop Theatre Company by Michael Sprouse

Often we struggle to be heard, to be recognized. In this production of Shakespeare’s Richard III, directed by Dr. Lindsey Snyder, Richard is not depicted in the usual interpretation, but rather,...

‘The Best Man’ at The Keegan Theatre by David Friscic

The Keegan Theatre’s current production of Gore Vidal’s political drama The Best Man is solid entertainment in the best sense of the word. Never having read the play or having seen any previous stage...

‘Richard III’ at NextStop Theatre Company by Sophia Howes

After the discovery of Richard III’s remains in a Leicester car park in August 2012, it was concluded that far from being a hunchback, as some have stated, he suffered from scoliosis, an abnormal...

‘How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying’ at Olney Theatre Center by Amanda Gunther

How to enjoy a night out at the theatre – Step one: Purchase tickets to the first show of the 76th season at Olney Theatre Center. Step two: Make sure the tickets say How to Succeed in Business...

‘Clybourne Park’ at The Arlington Players by Julia Scherer-Hoock

It is tempting to be fooled into believing that we live in a post-racial America. After all, institutionalized racism is long gone, we’ve elected a black president (twice) and black culture is...

‘Richard III’ at Folger Theatre by Sophia Howes

Richard, We Hardly Knew Ye Richard III is one of Shakespeare’s most popular plays, and with good reason. In his fascinating interview posted on the National Theatre’s website, Sir Ian McKellan notes...

‘Die, Mommie, Die!’ and ‘Romeo and Jules’ at Rainbow Theatre Project by Phil McDermott

What better way to spend a sub-freezing evening in D.C. than at a delightful reading of Charles Busch’s 1990’s camp classic Die, Mommie, Die!. That’s just what an SRO audience at Source last Monday...

Act Two@Levine’s Pre-Professional Program and ‘Parade’ at The Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage by Jane Coyne

It is always a privilege to support aspiring young artists and the wonderful organizations and professionals who provide them with training and opportunities to explore and experience the performing...

‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.’ at Bravo@KAT by Bev Fleisher

All of us were raised with the enchantment of fairy tales, from Thumbelina (Hans Christian Andersen) and Cinderella (Charles Perrault), to Rapunzel (Brothers Grimm), many of them later popularized by...

‘La Cage aux Folles’ at McLean Community Players by Eric Denver

La Cage aux Folles, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman (Hello, Dolly! and Mame), and book by multiple Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein (Torch Song Trilogy and Kinky Boots), opened on Broadway in...

Matt Baughman’s ‘Matt’s Movie Rank Tank’ Debuts on DCMTA by Matt Baughman

Hello and welcome to the inaugural post of “Matt’s Movie Rank Tank.” But first things first, allow myself to introduce…myself (Points to anyone who knows that reference). My name is Matt (duh!) and...

Synesthesia: Audio-Described Performances in February 2014 by Yvonne French

Synesthesia: Audio-Described Performances in February 2014 ______ Tuesday, February 4, at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, February 15, at 2 p.m. Audio Describer: Richard Collins; Program Notes: Sylvia Rosenthal...

Filichia on Friday: ‘January’s Leftovers and February’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:...

Interviews with the 2014 Helen Hayes Nominees: Part 2: Tobias Young (Piragua Man in ‘In the Heights’) by Amanda Gunther

Here’s an interview with Tobias Young who is nominated for Outstanding Supporting Actor, Resident Musical for playing Piragua Man in In the Heights at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. ______ Es calor! The...

The Washington Ballet’s ‘Blues/Jazz Project’ at Sydney Harman Hall by Carolyn Kelemen

DC Ballet shakes up expectations Yes, even classical ballerinas let their hair down once in a while. They relish tossing off those stiff upper body movements and tapping their feet to a syncopated...

Film Review: ‘Gloria’ by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

What is it about the name ‘Gloria’ that inspires songs and films written about tough minded, independent woman making their own way in an imperfect world? One can’t help but think of Laura Brannigan’s...

‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ at The Kennedy Center by John Stoltenberg

If you’re willing to let your inner child stay up after bedtime and go out and play at The Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater instead, you’re in for an evening of theatrical wonderment and...

‘Peter and the Starcatcher’ at The Kennedy Center by Tiffany Draut

Rick Elise’s Peter and the Starcatcher, based on the book by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson, played to a most appreciative crowd last night at The Kennedy Center. The play tells the story of how Peter...

Bravo@KAT Presents ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR’ Tonight Through Sunday 1/31-2/2

In 1991, the animated feature Beauty and the Beast became the first animated film to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Prompted by the unprecedented success of the film, and by...

Eitan Mazia on Playing Leo Frank in ‘Parade’ at Act Two @ Levine This Weekend at The Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage

First of all, I cannot thank Director Kevin Kuchar enough for allowing me the privilege to play this role, especially at such a young age. It’s an especially unique opportunity for me because I’ve...

Arts Collective @HCC Holds Auditions for ‘Ragtime the Musical’ Tomorrow 2/1 and Mon 2/3

Open Auditions: All Ages and Ethnicities Encouraged to Attend HCC’s Arts Collective Announces Auditions for Ragtime TOMORROW, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1ST AND MONDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2014 Arts Collective...

‘Violet’ at Ford’s Theatre by Amanda Gunther

A stunning production is playing on the stage at Ford’s Theatre as the musical Violet carries on their 2013/2014 season. With music by Jeanine Tesori, and book and lyrics by Brian Crawley, this...

Amanda Silverstein on Playing Lucille Frank in Act Two @ Levine’s ‘Parade’ This Weekend at The Kogod Cradle at Arena Stage

Parade is not just a musical. It isn’t one of those shows where the audience wants to get up and dance and leaves feeling they have been entertained. To me, Parade is an intense story that should make...

Interviews with the 2014 Helen Hayes Nominees: Part 1: David Gregory (Usnavi in ‘In the Heights’) by Amanda Gunther

Here’s an interview with David Gregory who is nominated for Outstanding Lead Actor, Resident Musical for playing Usnavi in In the Heights at Toby’s Dinner Theatre. ______ Lights up — this time they’re...

A Father and Son, Two Sisters, and Others React to Their WATCH AWARD Nominations

How did thy feel when their names were announced as a WATCH AWARD nominee? A Father and a Son Are Nominated Outstanding Special Effects Chip Gertzog and Jimmy Gertzog Chip Gertzog & Jimmy Gertzog–...

Mariinsky Ballet’s ‘Swan Lake’ at The Kennedy Center by Carolyn Kelemen

Swooning over the first “Swan” Like those fabled swallows renowned for returning to Capistrano each spring, swans settle regularly in our area this time of year. Back in the heyday of classical ballet...

Part 1 of ‘Monty Python’s Spamalot at Toby’s: The Series of Interviews That Goes On and On’: Director/Choreographer Mark Minnick by Amanda Gunther

While I may not be Arthur, King of the Britains, I am on a noble quest to discover as many incredible details as I can as I take you behind-the-scenes at Toby’s Dinner Theatre’s newest production of...

31st Annual Choreographers Showcase at Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center by Rick Westerkamp

The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center hosted the 31st Annual Choreographers’ Showcase this past weekend. The program welcomed seven modern dance works, which were all adjudicated by Sidra Bell and...

Pete Seeger Dies at Age 94. Here are Videos of The Weavers and His Career by Joel Markowitz

Pete Seeger, one of my heroes, died yesterday at Age 94. I am a huge Weavers fan and I listen to their LPS, cassettes, and CDs all the time. He was such a gentle man who believed in spreading positive...

Ladysmith Black Mambazo at The Barns of Wolf Trap by Erica Laxson

Ladysmith Black Mambazo performed at The Barns at Wolf Trap last night, just 24 hours after they won their 4th Grammy Award for Live: Singing For Peace Around The World, the 2013 Best World Music...

‘Ragtime’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Bev Fleisher

I am a big fan of The Little Theatre of Alexandria because of their consistency in presenting top-notch productions – which always run like clockwork – so I was disappointed that their opening night...

‘Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song’ at MetroStage by Bev Fleisher

The press opening performance of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines, was a tour de force. I strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in...