2016

Magic Time! ‘Constellations’ at The Studio Theatre

We enter a mini coliseum and take our seats on cushions of many colors on one of several rows of blue benches encircling the blank stage. The dim lighting feels hallowed; the music, reverential. There...

Review: ‘Collaborators’ at Spooky Action Theater

In these days of a re-igniting Cold War between Russia and the United States, those old grainy black-and-white films of a long thought dead dictator, Comrade Joseph “Uncle Joe” Stalin are being dusted...

Review: ‘Lost in the Stars’ at Washington National Opera #2

One of the most powerful musical dramas of the 20th century has just opened at The Kennedy Center, home of the Washington National Opera, for a one-week run. And theater lovers who long for the...

Review: ‘Our Town’ at the Apollo Civic Theatre

One of the American theatrical classics, Our Town, written by Thornton Wilder, and well-directed by Amanda Hartman, comes to life in a charmingly simplistic and emotionally resonant production at the...

Review: ‘A Wonderful Noise’ at Villanova Theatre

When’s the last time you saw a musical about the competitive world of barbershop quartet singing? I’m not positive, but I think A Wonderful Noise may be the first show of its kind. (Truth to tell, the...

Review: ‘Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical’ at Olney Theatre Center

Carmen: An Afro-Cuban Jazz Musical, in its world premiere at The Olney Theatre Center, is worthy of an endless stream of accolades including ‘dazzling,’ ‘amazing,’ ‘stupendous,’ ’emotional’, and...

Review: ‘The Way We Were’ at The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC

Yesterday, I was privileged to see the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s extremely intimate, engaging and musically creative concert of songs entitled The Way We Were. This stimulating and...

Review: ‘Sense and Sensibility’ at People’s Light in Malvern, PA

Taking a step back into the world of Jane Austen always promises a rainbow of young ladies in high-waisted dresses, men laced up in crisp white ties, and a cornucopia of ponderings on love, money, and...

Review: ‘Br’er Cotton’ at The Catholic University’s Department of Drama

It is exciting when new works of theater appear by young and promising playwrights. Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, whose Br’er Cotton premiered last night at The Catholic University of America’s Hartke...

Review: ‘A Grand Night for Singing’ at Montgomery Playhouse and Arts on the Green

Question: Where can you hear more than 30 wonderful songs from the legendary team of Rodgers and Hammerstein performed by talented local artists? Answer: The current production of A Grand Night for...

Review: Joshua Bell Plays Tchaikovsky at The BSO at Strathmore

Having the privilege to witness Joshua Bell play is an honor, but to see him play in celebration of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO’s) centennial is a once in a lifetime experience. Growing up...

Review: ‘Death of a Salesman’ at Curio Theatre Company in Philadelphia

Arthur Miller’s Pulitzer Prize-winning classic, Death of a Salesman, is being given a powerful production at the Curio Theatre Company. In an intimate setting, the themes of the American Dream, and...

Review: ‘Romeo and Juliet’ at Virginia Opera

Few stories have been as revised, re-told and reconstructed as Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet. But a rendition that is not as performed as it should be is the 19th century opera by French Romantic...

Meet The Cast of Spooky Action Theater’s ‘Collaborators’: Part 1: Paul Reisman

In Part 1 of our series with the cast of Spooky Action’s Collaborators, meet Paul Resiman. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform on the stage? Paul:...

All Performances Saturday 2/13 and Sunday 2/14 at WSC Avant Bard, Peter’s Alley Productions, and The Arlington Players Are On

All performances today, Saturday, February 13th and Sunday, February 14th Are On for: WSC Avant Bard Peter’s Alley Productions The Arlington Players

Review: ‘Lost in the Stars’ at Washington National Opera

In the scorching, emotional and honest opera of man in search of redemption, the opera–Lost in the Stars, now playing as part of the Washington National Opera series at the Kennedy Center —is a...

A Report on A New Works Reading of ‘Another Country’ by Maryland Opera Studio

The annual Maryland Opera Studio New Works Reading has a twofold mission – to give young artists the opportunity to collaborate with living composers and to give the composers an opportunity to have...

Review: ‘Stupid F**king Bird’ at Maryland Ensemble Theatre

Written by Aaron Posner and “sort of adapted from Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull,” Stupid F**king Bird is a highly imaginative and humorous depiction of the love triangles and life lessons between...

Review: ‘Southern Baptist Sissies’ at Spotlighters Theatre

Audrey Herman’s Spotlighter’s Theatre has once again proved why they are one of the most valued members of the Baltimore theatre scene with their production of Southern Baptist Sissies. Del Shore’s...

Review: ‘Legacy Street’ at The Catholic University’s Department of Drama

Legacy Street, a new play by Lauren Jane Redmond, an MFA Playwriting candidate at The Catholic University of America, premiered last night at the Callan Theatre. A gritty look at violence in the...

Review: ‘I Love You Because’ at The Players Club of Swarthmore in Swartmore, PA

New York may have millions of people, but it can be a lonely place if you are searching for love and coming off a failed relationship. I Love You Because features 4 young people navigating these...

Review: ‘The Vagina Monologues’ at Laurel Mill Playhouse

Laughs and tears, cheers and sizzlers or Learning to love the “C” word Vagina. Vagina. Vagina. Cunt. Pussy. Twat. Snatch. There. I said it. The Vagina Monologues is an episodic play about vaginas....

Review: Joilet Harris: ‘From Me to You With Love’ at The Arden Cabaret Series in Philadelphia

“A chance at an intimate, up close and personal conversation.” That is how Matthew Decker, Arden Theatre Associate Artistic Director and Cabaret Series Director, described the goal of The Arden...

Review: ‘Big Love’ at American University

The cast of American University’s Big Love, written by Charles L. Mee and directed by Isaiah M. Wooden, was masterful in communicating the big and complex issues raised in the play. Without harangues...

Review: ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at StillPointe Theatre Initiative

Over the past several years, StillPointe Theatre Initiative has emerged as “the little theater company that could.” They have become known for two things: staging ambitious works with very limited...

Filichia on Friday: ‘There’s a Little CABIN at Encores!’

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: There’s a Little CABIN at Encores! Purchase Peter...

Review: ‘Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles’ at The Merriam Theater in Philadelphia

From the British Invasion to the Psychedelic Sixties, the Fab Four from Liverpool defined the music and lifestyle of the watershed decade of our post-modern era. Rain: A Tribute to the Beatles...

In the Moment: The Hub Theatre’s Emerging Writers Festival

If we in the theater universe want to nurture new and emerging playwrights, I would think the earlier we are there for them, the more likely we can be helpful. Once again, The Hub Theatre is providing...

Meet the Cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s ‘A Grand Night for Singing’: Part 4: Danny Santiago

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of A Grand Night for Singing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Danny Santiago. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where we may have seen your...

Eddie’s Travel Picks: A Visit to The Ivy Hotel in Baltimore, MD

Recently I had the honor to spend the night at the Ivy Hotel located in midtown Baltimore at 204 East Biddle Street at Calvert. It opened in June of 2015 in a house that was built in 1889. Of course...

Review: ‘Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet’ at Howard University

Last night I had the great satisfaction of watching Howard University students take on the challenge of a certifiably risk-taking play—Tarell Alvin McCraney’s Marcus; Or the Secret of Sweet—and with...

Nibbles and Sips Around Town: Pudding it Together: ‘Valentine’s Day Recipes to Charm Your Sweetheart’

Valentine’s Day Recipes to Charm Your Sweetheart These recipes from Nielsen-Massey are too delicious not to share. For the Decadent Chocolate Pudding be sure to use only the best semi-sweet chocolate...

Meet the Cast of McLean Community Players’ ‘1776’: Part 4: Scott Gustaveson

In Part 4 of a series of interviews with the cast of McLean Community Players’ 1776, meet Scott Gustaveson. Please introduce yourself and tell our readers where they may have seen you perform on local...

Meet the Cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s ‘A Grand Night for Singing’: Part 3: Lauren-Nicole Gabel

In Part 3 of a series of interviews with the cast of A Grand Night for Singing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Lauren-Nicole Gabel. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where we may have seen...

Jay Gilliam on The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s ‘The Way We Were’ at Atlas on 2/12 & 13

Jay Gilliam tells us about the upcoming performances of The Way We Were at The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Lang Theatre this Friday, February 12th at 8 PM and...

‘A Grand Night for Singing’ Opens This Friday at The Arts Barn

Montgomery Playhouse in Partnership with the City of Gaithersburg – Arts on the Green Presents: A Grand Night for Singing Music and Lyrics by Rodgers and Hammerstein Book by Walter Bobbie Directed by...

Meet the Cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s ‘A Grand Night for Singing’: Part 2: Jennifer Georgia

In Part 2 of a series of interviews with the cast of A Grand Night for Singing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Jennifer Georgia. Joel: Please introduce yourself and tell us where we may have seen your...

In the Moment: Megan Graves as Snug in Folger Theatre’s ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’

Ha! Minor role indeed. It’s only Snug one of the Rude Mechanicals in Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. But special fan’s props are due to the gentle, shy Snug in the current Folger Theatre...

Auditions for Arts Collective@HCC’s ‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ on 2/27/16 for its May-June Production

Howard Community College’s (HCC) Arts Collective proudly announces open auditions for actors 16 and up for the Tony award-winning musical, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, under the...

Magic Time! ‘Backstage with the Women of ‘The Sisters Rosensweig’ at Theater J’

When I recently read Wendy Wasserstein’s The Sisters Rosensweig, which opened in 1992, I sensed it was written in response to the women’s movement at the time. Wasserstein’s 1988 The Heidi Chronicles,...

Review: ‘Senorita y Madame’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre

The rivalry between Helena Rubinstein and Elizabeth Arden—two women who actually invented the cosmetics industry—is largely forgotten today. Yet the story of these feminist icons, who at one time...

Tim Gillham on The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC’s ‘The Way We Were’ at Atlas on 2/12 & 13

Tim Gillham tells us about the upcoming performances of The Way We Were at The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC at Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Lang Theatre on February 12th at 8 PM and on...

Review: ‘OLIVÉRio: A Brazilian Twist’ at The Kennedy Center’s Theater for Young Audiences

The Kennedy Center has produced yet another world premiere production for this season’s Theater for Young Audiences. This time, they have taken Charles Dickens’ Oliver Twist and brought the story to...

Review: ‘Pirates of Penzance’ at H-B Woodlawn by Jessica Cruz

After its debut in 1879, The Pirates of Penzance has been produced and performed many times and was even made into a movie in 1983. A combination of W.S. Gilbert’s libretto and Arthur Sullivan’s music...

Join Performing Arts Association of Linthicum (PAAL) for ‘Finian’s Rainbow’ This Sunday at 3 PM at North County High School in Ferndale, MD

Inspired by Joel Markowitz’s recent interview with J. Ernest Green, focusing on his upcoming Live Arts Maryland’s Finian’s Rainbow concerts February 12 and 13th at Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts,...

Review: ‘JACK and Phil, Slayers of Giants, INC’ at Imagination Stage

There’s no doubt that you have heard the tale of Jack and the Beanstalk, but have you ever heard of JACK and Phil, Slayers of Giants, INC? Imagination Stage has produced Playwright Charles Way’s take...

Review: ‘for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf’ at Creative and Performing Arts Center

Ntozake Shange’s music-drama, for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf [“for colored girls”] (1976), comprises a seminal work of poetry, music, and improvisational dance....

Review: ‘Monsters of the Villa Diodati’ at Creative Cauldron

In the second installment of Creative Cauldron’s initiative, “Bold New Works for Intimate Stages”, the ingenious duo of Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith has turned out a mesmerizing new musical,...

Review: ‘Talley’s Folly’ at Peter’s Alley Theatre Productions

Talley’s Folly is a beautifully written two-person play by Lanford Wilson, reinventing the timeless love story of a couple who, despite their many differences are trying to find a way to make their...

Meet the Cast of The Montgomery Playhouse’s ‘A Grand Night for Singing’: Part 1: Brian Lyons-Burke

In Part 1 of a series of interviews with the cast of A Grand Night for Singing at Montgomery Playhouse, meet Brian Lyons-Burke. Please introduce yourself and tell us where we may have seen your work...