2015

Meet the Playwright, Director, and Cast of ‘Tying the Knot’ Part 7: Claire Malkie by Daniel Douek

In Part 7 of a series of interviews with The Playwright, Director, and cast of Tying the Knot at the Baltimore Playwright’s Festival, meet Claire Malkie (Server). Daniel: Tell our readers where they...

Noah Chiet on Performing in ‘One in the Chamber’ at The Mead Theatre Lab

Noah Chiet talks about playing Adam in the critically acclaimed One in the Chamber, now playing at The Mead Theatre Lab. Joel: When did you first get the ‘theater bug’ and what is your first memory of...

‘The Fix’ at Signature Theatre by David Siegel

“Public office is a minefield” so you better just “Grit your teeth, sell the lies” though “maybe I’m just too blunt to survive” are lyrics that provide some of the central posits in The Fix now...

‘The Fix’ at Signature Theatre by Katie Bogdan

“If I can’t be the wife of the president, you bet your ass I’ll be the mother.” These words, sung by Violet Chandler (Christine Sherrill), set the roller coaster of a ride that is The Fix in motion....

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons at Wolf Trap

Few people in the world have a voice so iconic that they are recognizable after only one note. What was inescapable last night in that bandstand in Virginia is that Frankie Valli is without a doubt...

Donate to Help Director Gabriele Jakobi With Her Medical Bills

In June 2015, Theater Director Gabriele Jakobi (Gabi) suffered a serious stroke while preparing to direct Chekov’s The Three Sisters for Scena Theatre in Washington, DC. As a result, her medical bills...

‘John’ at Signature Theatre in New York City

There are many plays that are known for their sparkling dialogue, others for their rapid fire words that require actors who can deliver them in machine gun manner. Now we have the prolific and...

Arts Collective @ HCC’s ‘Underground Rooftop Coffee House: Voices from the Edge’ on Thursday, September 10, 2015 AT 7 PM by Susan G. Kramer

Arts Collective’s “What Improv Group?!?!” partners with HCC’s Creative Writers and HoCoPoLitSo to fuse improv with powerful stories inspired by poets and writers Howard Community College’s (HCC) Arts...

Update: The March on Washington for Gun Control Presents “26 Pebbles” on Monday, August 24th at 8 PM at Arena Stage

Monday, August 24, 2015 at 8 PM At Arena Stage-In the Kogod Cradle 1101 6th St., SW in Washington, DC 20024 Price: $20. Tickets are available at the Arena Stage Sales Office, by phone 202-488-3300, or...

Reflections from The Cast of ‘A Conversation With the Man That Killed My Son’ Playing This Sat and Sun 8/22 & 23 at Dynamic Wellness in DC by Gwen Lewis

This upcoming Saturday and Sunday, Jacqui Brown’s powerful play A Conversation with the Man Who Killed My Son will have only two performances at Dynamic Wellness – 402 H Street Northeast, in...

In The Moment: A Preview of the DC Shorts Film Festival & Screenplay Competition September 10-20th

Ah, the end of August. The August month-long Congressional recess will be ending soon. DC area schools at all levels are opening momentarily. We can only hope that the recent mid-summer-time swoon of...

Meet the Playwright, Director, and Cast of ‘Tying the Knot’ Part 6: Suzanne Young, by Daniel Douek

In Part 6 of a series of interviews with The Playwright, Director, and cast of Tying the Knot at the Baltimore Playwright’s Festival, playing at Fells Point Corner Theatre, meet Suzanne Young...

Meet the Director and Cast of ‘Calendar Girls’ at McLean Community Players, Part 2: Kathryn (Katie) Johnston

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with The Playwright, Director, and cast of Calendar Girls at McLean Community Players, meet Kathryn (Katie) Johnston. Tell our readers where they may have seen you...

Last Weekend for ‘The Wiz’ at The Gaithersburg Arts Barn-Watch the Preview Video!

It’s the final weekend for The Wiz at The Gaithersburg Arts Barn. DCMTA’s Anne Vandercook said in her review: “Rarely have I ever witnessed a harder working ensemble. This group really put their all...

‘Rocky Horror’ Dipped in Chocolate Plays August 28th and August 30th

ROCKY HORROR DIPPED IN CHOCOLATE By Earl Melvin and Michael Harris EarlOrrin Productions will premiere, Chocolate Covered Rocky Horror the nation’s first all-African-American shadow cast ensemble of...

LA-TI-DO Premieres at 54 Below on Tuesday, September 1st at 9:30 PM

LA-TI-DO, the collision of musical theatre and spoken word poetry, Premieres at 54 BELOW, BROADWAY’S SUPPER CLUB 54 BELOW, Broadway’s Supper Club, presents La-Ti-Do on September 1, 2015 at 9:30 pm....

‘The Pillowman’ at 4615 Theater Company

Two days before seeing the closing performance of Martin McDonagh’s The Pillowman by the newish 4615 Theater Company, I received an email from director and 4615 Artistic Director Jordan Friend: “About...

‘Henry IV Part I’ at the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory

“What is honor?” It’s what King Henry IV is fighting to uphold. It’s what Harry Percy, the Hotspur, is fighting to defend. It’s what Prince Henry is trying to gain. But what is it? Falstaff, the old...

‘Summer Hummer IV: Foreplay!’ at Signature Theatre Benefits theatreWashington’s ‘Taking Care of Our Own’

Summer Hummer IV: Foreplay! made its two-show debut last night at Signature Theatre. If you didn’t plan properly or were on vacation, you missed a provocative evening of fun and frolic at Signature’s...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘What Do Women Want? Playwrights Edition’

The opening of the Women’s Voices Theater Festival is a good time to reflect on the state of gender parity in the American theatre, in respect to playwrights. The numbers are, frankly, appalling....

‘Next Fall’ at Upcounty Theatre

Next Fall, Geoffrey Nauffts’ mind-bending play opened Friday for a brief run at Upcounty Theatre at Germantown’s Black Rock Center for the Arts. It is an excellent production with a superb acting...

‘Summer Hummer IV: Foreplay!’ Takes Off Tonight at 7:30 and 9:30 PM at Signature Theatre

Summer Hummer IV: Foreplay! the take-it-off burlesque is back at Signature Theatre TONIGHT, August 17th, for two shows to raise funds for theatreWashington’s Taking Care of Our Own. Purchase your...

The Women’s Voices Theater Festival: ‘#DeathParty’: ‘How We Died of Disease-Related Illness’ and ‘Bones in Whispers’ at Longacre Lea

The eagerly anticipated Women’s Voices Theatre Festival kicked off with the opening of Longacre Lea’s production of two world-premiere one-acts, which the company collectively dubs #DeathParty. The...

‘Ode to Peace: A Symphonic Choral Concert’ at The Clarice

Lights dim as the sirens of an air raid swarm the area. A sea of blue gowns dazzle up top, while black and white tuxedos populate an expansive auditorium. A moment of silence brings memories of fallen...

DCMetroTheaterArts’ Summer 2015 Scene Stealers: Part 1

The summer of 2015 brought many Scene Stealing moments and here is Part 1 of some of our favorites. ______ Hassan Allen as Hero and Molly Janiga as Philia Singing “Lovely’ in A Funny Happened on the...

‘Tying the Knot’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre

Michael Paulsen has news for his nearest and dearest; he’s getting married! Word of the impending nuptials is not being taken well, however. You see, Michael is only three months out from ending a...

‘Shrek the Musical’ at Glyndon Area Players

All the components of a phenomenal production march across the stage of the Sacred Heart School Auditorium for the Glyndon Area Players’ (GAP) 2015 summer musical: Shrek The Musical. There are clever...

Lyle Lovett & His Large Band at Wolf Trap

Genre-bending artist Lyle Lovett tore up the stage at the Filene Center with his Large Band. It feels like three bands in one – a country band heavy on guitar and fiddle, a blues band with a full horn...

‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged!)’ at The District Players

All the world’s a stage, and all the Shakespearean plays merely subject to minor editing in the name of comedy. Whether it’s breaking down the beats of an Othello rap or perfecting the sous-vide...

Filichia on Friday: ‘The 2015 Broadway University Entrance Exam’

It’s an honor to bring Peter Filichia’s column every week on Kritzerland called ‘Filichia on Friday’ to our readers on DCMetroTheaterArts. This Week: The 2015 Broadway University Entrance Exam....

In The Moment: An Interview with Richard Heinrich, Mario Baldessari, and Lynn Sharp Spears on Spooky Action Theater’s Reading of ‘The Bison Beast of Dubois’ on 8/22 & 23

Having recently returned from some time away in Wyoming from the hustling of DC, my eyes widened when I saw an email from Spooky Action Theatre for several staged readings for a play that takes place...

Counting Crows at Wolf Trap

With the ascension of their seventh studio album, Somewhere Under Wonderland, California-based folk-rock band Counting Crows returned to Wolf Trap last night, reunifying droves of primarily 30 to...

‘Solomon and Marion’ at Anacostia Playhouse

Anacostia Playhouse hosts “dog days of summer theater festival” this August 2015 and for its mid-August show they have Solomon and Marion, Lara Foot Newton’s touching drama about the search for...

Tom Teasley’s Musical Accompaniment of the 1926 Animated Film, ‘The Adventures of Prince Achmed’ at Constellation Theatre Company

In his own singular musical fashion, Tom Teasley skillfully hooked his Constellation Theatre Company audience to take a venture to the long ago and far away but in a most modern manner. Teasley was a...

Meet the Director and Cast of ‘Kiss Me Kate’ at NextStop Theatre Company: Part 1: Director Michael J. Bobbitt

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of Kiss Me Kate at NextStop Theatre Company, meet Director Michael J. Bobbitt. Joel: Please tell our readers about yourself and about other shows on...

Meet the Cast of McLean Community Players’ ‘Calendar Girl’: Part 1: Diane Sams

Meet the cast of McLean Community Players’ Calendar Girls. In Part 1, meet Diane Sams. Joel: Tell our readers where they may have seen you on local stages. Diane: I have been around the area for a...

Fantastic News! ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ to Have A Spring 2016 Run At NYC’s Second Stage

Some wonderful news about the critically acclaimed production of Dear Evan Hansen now playing at Arena Stage: It’s having a Summer 2016 production at Second Stage. What a smart move to put it in a...

A Personal Tribute to No Rules Theatre Company and to Joshua Morgan Who is Broadway-Bound

A few days ago I received a letter notifying me that No Rules Theatre Company had closed. I looked at it, put it down, and then looked at it again and a lot of tears flowed because I loved this...

The March on Washington for Gun Control Presents “26 Pebbles” on Monday, August 24th at 8 PM at Arena Stage

Monday, August 24, 2015 at 8 PM At Arena Stage-In the Kogod Cradle 1101 6th St., SW in Washington, DC 20024 Price: $20. Tickets are available at the Arena Stage Sales Office, by phone 202-488-3300, or...

Jim Gaffigan’s ‘Contagious Tour’ at Wolf Trap

Jim Gaffigan brought his “Contagious” tour to Wolf Trap on Wednesday, August 12, 2015, treating the sold-out crowd to jokes and quips about the oddities of life that made for near-constant laughter....

Meet the Playwright, Director, and Cast of ‘Tying the Knot’ Part 5: Felix Hernandez by Daniel Douek

In Part 5 of a series of interviews with The Playwright, Director, and cast of Tying the Knot at the Baltimore Playwright’s Festival, playing at Fells Point Corner Theatre, meet Felix...

McLean Community Players Presents Tim Firth’s ‘Calendar Girls’ September 18 – October 3, 2015

McLean Community Players Present Tim Firth’s Calendar Girls September 18 – October 3, 2015, in McLean’s Alden Theatre The McLean Community Players (MCP) present the area premiere of Tim Firth’s...

‘The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!)’ Takes Center Stage at The Arts Barn

In partnership with Damascus Theatre Company, Arts on the Green presents The Musical of Musicals (The Musical!) by Joanne Bogart and Eric Rockwell. The show runs September 11 through 27, 2015, with...

Vagabond Players Opens 100th Season with ‘Greater Tuna’ on September 4th

The Vagabond Players, America’s oldest continuously operating little theatre, proudly opens its 100th Season with the larger than real life comedy, Greater Tuna on September 4, 2015, and running...

Culture Club at Wolf Trap

They say that timing is everything, and that certainly seemed to be the case for reunited iconic ’80s sensation Culture Club who returned to Wolf Trap last night to ecstatic embrace. The nearly...

‘The Pretties’ at Glass Mind Theatre

The Pretties, written by Ann Turiano, and directed by Lynn Morton, is a retelling of Aeschylus’ ancient trilogy, The Oresteia. The Oresteia tells the story of Orestes and his quest to avenge his...

‘2015 Page-to-Stage Festival’ Schedule for Saturday, September 5-Monday, September 7, 2015 at The Kennedy Center

This year’s 14th Annual Page-to-Stage Festival takes place: Saturday, September 5th from 10:30 a.m.–11 p.m. Sunday, September 6th from 6–7 p.m. Monday, September 7, from 11 a.m.–10:30 p.m. Venues...

‘Really Rosie’ at The Heritage Players

Heritage Players is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, and so is its newest production, Really Rosie, which is directed by Stuart C. Kazanow. Written by Maurice Sendak, with music by Carole...

‘The Wiz’ at The Gaithersburg Arts Barn

Opening almost a half a century ago, in 1974, The Wiz: The Super Soul Musical “Wonderful Wizard of Oz” is a fun evening based on The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum. Featuring a rock, gospel,...

An Interview With Matt Provance, Zach Goubeaux, and Director Brennan Jones on The District Players’ ‘The Complete Works of Shakespeare (Abridged!) Which Plays August 14-16th by Nicole Andres

A week before opening night I sat down with actors, Matt Provance, Zach Goubeaux, and Director Brennan Jones to talk about how they prepare to take on all 37 works of William Shakespeare in just 100...