2014

On DC Theatre Scene: Arts Journalist Randy Gener Survives Vicious Attack

From Joel Markowitz: 1/29/14: An update: A suspect was arrested today in the beating of Randy Gener. There was sad and shocking news this week when it became known that Journalist Randy Gener was...

Here are the 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations

Here are the 2014 Helen Hayes Nominations. 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Nominees Outstanding Choreography, Resident Musical Karma Camp Hello, Dolly! Ford’s Theatre and Signature Theatre Rachel Leigh Dolan,...

Tonight at 7:20 PM: The 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations Will Be Announced & Looking Back at Last Year’s Nominations and Recipients by Joel Markowitz

TONIGHT the 2014 Helen Hayes nominations will be announced from The National Theatre at 7:20 PM. Let us know who you would like to see nominated by leaving your choices in the Comment Box below....

‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ at Shakespeare Theatre Company by Alexa Marie Kelly

There might be a solution to bitter January cold. It’s a warm comedy of frivolous characters playing now at Shakespeare Theatre Company. In The Importance of Being Earnest, the meat of the action is...

“Gurney’s ‘Love Letters’ Like You’ve Never Seen it Before” at Flying Muskrats by Brennan Jones

If you’ve experienced A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, you might be skeptical. If you haven’t, here’s a crash course: Love Letters tells the story of Andy Ladd and Melissa Gardener, and their 50+ year love...

‘Natascia Diaz’ Presented by Strathmore by Douglas Lloyd

Natascia Diaz, a Washington area favorite and two-time Helen Hayes Award-winning actress/singer, made her Strathmore debut last night in winning style, as part of the Strathmore’s Music in the Mansion...

‘The Vagina Monologues’ at Greenbelt Art Center by Amanda Gunther

What would your vagina say if it could talk? Mine would say that you need to go see the Rude Mechanicals and their production of Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues at the Greenbelt Art Center....

An Interview with Director Sherrionne Brown on Directing ‘Harvey’ at Vagabond Players by Amanda Gunther

A Pooka is coming! And a Pooka is here! The Vagabond Players production of Harvey is going strong; an incredibly fascinating look at the people in our lives and how we respond to them, whether they’re...

‘An Inspector Calls’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Bev Fleisher

Who-done-its often involve multiple twists and turns, dead ends, and tangential material —all leading to the capture of the criminal and justice served at the last moment. Director Laurie Freed did a...

The 2014 Helen Hayes Awards Nominations to Be Announced Tomorrow at 7:20 PM at The National Theatre and Looking Back at Last Year’s Nominations and Recipients by Joel Markowitz

Tomorrow night the 2014 Helen Hayes nominations will be announced from The National Theatre at 7:20 PM. Let us know who you would like to see nominated by leaving your choices in the Comment Box...

‘The Wizard of Oz’ at Pied Piper Theatre at Hylton Performing Arts Center by Audrey Thornton

Veteran director Vincent Worthington, who also serves as Set Designer and Lighing Designer of Pied Piper Theatre, masterfully lead Piped Piper Theatre’s first musical production at the Hylton...

Meet The Cast and Director of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘The Wedding Dress’: Part 1: Meet Playwright Nelson Rodrigues by Luís Artur Nunes

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,...

‘GOLD’ by Cas Public of Canada at The Kennedy Center Family Theater by Yvonne French

I knew this was going to be a good performance when I saw the on the Web that it was choreographed by Hélène Blackburn and Pierre Lecours, “with the invaluable collaboration of dancers.” Blackburn and...

‘The Ballad of the Red Knight’ at Port City Playhouse and Red Knight Productions by Jenna Miller

I had a great time at The Ballad of the Red Knight – a comedic adventure that takes place in Medieval Story Land. The Red Knight is a prince known for using his silver tongue to negotiate rather than...

‘Take 2: Say I Do’ at Main Street Theater by Kim Moeller

As sweet as frosting on a wedding cake, Main Street Theater’s production Take 2: Say I Do offers an entertaining and comical evening of the challenges and joy that accompany the wedding of two people...

‘Wedding of Ordos’ at The Kennedy Center by Jessica Vaughan

Visit outer Mongolia at The Kennedy Center just in time for the Chinese New Year next Friday for the Wedding of Ordos, which is billed as a dance spectacle by the Ordos Song and Dance Theater, based...

‘THIS’ at Vienna Theatre Company by Annie Bradley Ermlick

As described by Alan in Melissa James Gibson’s THIS, middle age is, “a sense of intense urgency mixed with exhaustion.” Making its Northern Virginia area debut, the Vienna Theatre Company presents the...

Baltimore Symphony at Strathmore: Marvin Hamlisch: One Singular Sensation by Jane Coyne

It was an honor and privilege to be at the Music Center at Strathmore on Thursday evening as Jack Everly led the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in a loving and moving tribute to the one, singular and...

‘Monty Python’s Spamalot’ at Toby’s Dinner Theatre by Amanda Gunther

If life seems jolly rotten then there’s something you’ve forgotten—Monty Python’s Spamalot is playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre! There is no better way to tickle your funny bone this season than with a...

The WATCH AWARDS Nominees React!-Part 1 by Joel Markowitz

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–...

‘The Flu Season’ at Single Carrot Theatre by Amanda Gunther

One cannot feel time in words alone, but it is there, ticking, moving, existing. Passing us by as time so often does, as we invest our lives in one thing or another. We as humans spend our lives...

Filichia on Friday: The Answers to the ‘2014 Broadway University Midterm Exam’ 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...

A New ‘A Little Night Music’ to Open at Damascus Theatre Company on February 7th by Director D. Scott Richards

First things first: I LOVE A Little Night Music. Seriously. Purists may question that when they see Damascus Theatre Company’s production, opening in February. For this production, I made the decision...

‘Opera on Tap’ Hosts ‘Love is in the Air’ on February 5th at The Black Lounge by Eric Tipler

The new DC Metro Chapter of Opera on Tap, a national movement that brings world-class opera to new audiences, will present its first concert on February 5th. The concert, entitled “Love is in the...

‘Stones in His Pockets’ at CENTERSTAGE by Amanda Gunther

People don’t go to the movies to be depressed that’s what they have the theatre for, or so says Centerstage’s production of Stones in His Pockets; a darkly humored Irish comedy that will tickle your...

‘The Ballad of the Red Knight,’ a Special Co-Production of Port City Playhouse and Red Knight Productions, Opens Tomorrow Night

Port City Playhouse, Alexandria’s award-winning theatre company, in conjunction with Red Knight Productions, is pleased to announce the world premiere presentation of The Ballad of the Red Knight....

Opening TOMORROW at Rockville Little Theatre: A New Take on ‘An Inspector Calls’ by Ken Kemp

Rockville Little Theatre brings a fresh perspective to J.B. Priestly’s “An Inspector Calls” for two weekends, starting tomorrow – January 24th at the F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre in Rockville, MD. The...

‘THIS’ Opens Tomorrow Night at Vienna Theatre Company

Opening Tomorrow: THIS by Melissa James Gibson – A story about Friendship, Adultery, Kids, Careers, Loss and Life at 40. Playing Jan. 24-25, Jan. 31-Feb 2 and Feb. 7-9 At Vienna Theatre Company...

La Cage aux Folles Opens January 31st at McLean Community Players

The McLean Community Players (MCP) present La Cage aux Folles, the only musical to win Tony Awards for Best Musical and twice for Best Revival of a Musical, opening on Friday, January 31st McLean’s...

‘Gypsy’ at Riverside Center Dinner Theater by Julia L. Exline

Riverside Center Dinner Theater presents Gypsy, a musical inspired by the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, a famous burlesque entertainer. With Book by Arthur Laurents, Music by Jule Styne, and Lyrics by...

’45 Seconds From Broadway’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse by Amanda Gunther

The show that takes place just seconds from The Great White Way, a comedy that encompasses Neil Simon’s style to perfection; all of that is now happening upon the Laurel Mill Playhouse stage as they...

‘Collected Stories’ at Dignity Players by Amanda Gunther

It is strongly advised that writers never be arbitrary, everything that is done must have a reason. Taking this notion, Dignity Players brings that sense of driven reason into their latest stage...

Inside the Music: An Interview with David Dubal, Guest Host of National Chamber Ensemble’s Feb 8th “Schubert and Champagne” Concert by Jane Coyne

Internationally celebrated pianist, author, teacher, writer, and broadcaster David Dubal is set to host National Chamber Ensemble’s “Schubert and Champagne” concert on Saturday, February 8, 2014 at...

An Interview with La-Ti-Do’s DonMike Mendoza and Regie Cabico by Rick Westerkamp

On Monday nights for the past two years, the DC/MD/VA area’s artists and arts enthusiasts alike have been packing the Black Fox Lounge in DuPont Circle, eager to take in that week’s set list of...

‘Scapin’ at Constellation Theatre Company by Justin Schneider

“Beautiful women, graphic violence, and, um, some sort of conclusion.” Toss in “excellent clown-work” and you’ve got a pretty good snapshot of Constellation Theatre Company’s production of Scapin....

‘Glassheart’ at Rorschach Theatre by John Stoltenberg

The evening began enchantingly. The audience was seated on four sides of a square playing area lit by stage lighting, so we could look across and see one another’s faces in that wonderful expectant...

LA-TI-DO Celebrates Two Years This Thursday 1/23 at 7 PM by Don Michael Mendoza

Join us to celebrate 2 years of La-Ti-Do! THIS THURSDAY, JANUARY 23, 2014 AT 7 PM La-Ti-Do At The Black Fox Lounge 1723 Connecticut Avenue Northwest Washington, DC 20009 Admission: Suggested Donation...

The Pre-Professional Program of Act Two @ Levine Presents ‘PARADE’ January 30-February 2nd at Arena Stage’s Kogod Cradle

The Pre-Professional Program of Act Two @ Levine is proud to present PARADE In 1913, Leo Frank, a Brooklyn-raised Jew living in Georgia, is put on trial for the murder of 13-year-old Mary Phagan, a...

Aquila Theatre’s ‘Fahrenheit 451’ at George Mason University’s Center for the Arts by Audrey Thornton

From the first scene to the last, Aquila Theatre’s riveting posthumous production of Ray Bradbury’s 1953 play, Fahrenheit 451 was superb; the best I have seen in casting, design, lighting and music...

‘Beauty and the Beast Jr.’ at Aldersgate Church Community Theater by Julia L. Exline

Aldersgate Church Community Theater presents Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr., with Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman, and Tim Rice, and Book by Linda Woolverton. Corey Latta directs an...

‘Miss Nelson is Missing’ at Adventure Theatre MTC by Julia L. Exline

Adventure Theatre MTC presents a musical version of Miss Nelson is Missing, based on the beloved children’s books by Harry Allard and directed by Jennifer Nelson, with Music Direction and...

‘Tales of Beatrix Potter’ at The Puppet Co. By Julia L. Exline

The Puppet Co. Playhouse presents Tales of Beatrix Potter, a trio of classic stories by Beatrix Potter, performed by Applause Unlimited’s Christopher Hudert. Director, Puppet Master, and Set Designer...

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Drama Learning Center by John Harding

If you somehow missed the first 24 annual Putnam County spelling bees, can you spell u-n-l-u-c-k-y? Well, you still have a chance to catch The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee in a wonderfully...

The Playwright’s Playground: Part II: ‘Creative Consciousness: An Interview with – Anu Yadav’ by Sydney-Chanele Dawkins

Female theatre artists make up more than 50 percent of those involved in the theatre, yet the number of female playwrights being produced is dramatically lower. Welcome back to the conversation, and...

TrueTheatergoers’ TheaterThoughts: ’Potential Nominees for 2014 Helen Hayes Awards’ and Rate Your Shows and Win $100 in Tickets by John and Stephen Hauge

Every week 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...

Magic Time! ‘Miss Nelson is Missing’ by John Stoltenberg

I had not been to kid’s theater since I was a kid. As an inveterate theater buff, I was dimly aware there was much highly praised professional children’s theater in the DC Metro area—but I was certain...

The 14th WATCH AWARDS Nominations Announced!

The 14th Annual Washington Area Theatre Community Honors‘ (THE WATCH AWARDS) nominations were announced tonight at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. Here are this year’s nominees: 14th Annual...

‘Les Misérables’ at Reston Community Players by Beverly Fleisher

Reston Community Players’ production of Les Misérables is la plupart magnifique! From the moment the curtain rose on a group of prisoners, including Jean Valjean, toiling in misery to “Look Down,” to...

‘Charles Ross One Man Lord of the Rings’ at The Birchmere by Jenna Miller

Charles Ross One Man Lord of the Rings, written and performed by Ross and directed by TJ Dawe, is exactly as the title says: Ross reenacts the Lord of the Ring trilogy of films on stage by himself....

WATCH AWARDS NOMINATIONS ANNOUNCED TONIGHT!

The 14th Annual Washington Area Theatre Community Honors‘ (THE WATCH AWARDS) nominations will be announced tonight at The Birchmere in Alexandria, VA. The WATCH Award Ceremony will take place on...