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Petite Rouge: A Cajun Red Riding Hood, the musical that rocked Imagination Stage two years ago, opens at New York’s Musical Theatre Festival’s 45th Street Theatre on Tuesday, Sept 25th and runs through Tues, Oct 6th.

Written by prolific local playwright Joan Cushing (best known for Junie B. Jones and the Miss Nelson series), and directed and choreographed by Michael J. Bobbitt, Artistic Director of  Adventure Theatre, the production stars Washington talents Felicia Curry, Bobby Smith, Tracy McMullan, Billy Bustamante, and Cyana Cook.  (more…)

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 ACCIDENTAL CELLIST:

Schmoozing With Amy Ziff

by Joel Markowitz

(more…)

 

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• Ah, Wilderness!
• By Eugene O’Neill
• Produced by American Century Theatre
• Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Eugene O’Neill’s Ah, Wilderness! shows a light, playful side of the playwright that we probably otherwise wouldn’t know was there.  Yes, there are undertones and hints of the themes that possess his dark and long days’ journeys — references to virtue, manifestation of one’s character, social commentary. And there are the “must haves” in an O’Neill play: a strong take charge even if ineffective mother, and the raving drunk lost in an alcoholic stupor. Actually this piece has not one but two inebriated characters.  It’s an interesting exercise, connecting the dots to sleuth the “O’Neill touch” in this uncharacteristic writing.  Ah, Wilderness! could have plateaued as a simple excursion of art appreciation were in not for several stand-out cast members who breathe life into this rather drawn out, nostalgic tale.  (more…)

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THE RHYTHM MAN IS HONORED  

• GIL MEAD: A CELEBRATION
• Monday, Sept 17th in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall
• Written by Joel Markowitz
• Photos of the evening’s performers taken at the after party by Joel Markowitz

With the lush sounds of strings playing “Bali Ha’I,” from the overture of South Pacific, the Celebration Orchestra, conducted by George Fulginiti-Shakar, began the festivities to honor and thank DC’s theatre’s best friend and fan, Gilbert Mead, in the Kennedy Center Concert Hall on Monday, September 17^th at 6 PM.

As the screen above the orchestra flashed the names of theatres, dance groups, libraries, and arts-related programs which Gilbert and Jaylee supported with their time and financial generosity, it was almost unbearable to think that this kind man would not be seen anymore on opening nights, at The Helen Hayes Awards or at his Watergate home tickling the ivories.

But at the same time, you couldn’t help smile and applaud this generous man who always had a kind word for actors and directors and anyone associated with the theatre. (more…)

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We have some new and very exciting features about to be added to DC Theatre Scene. Here are just a few:

expanded performance coverage, our new children’s theatre website KidsStage.com, more audio features, new video features

We are looking for a few more friends with skills in marketing, graphics design, writing, video production, audio engineering, Wordpress editing, grants writing, and website management (PHP and MySQL).

If you are passionate about theatre and have some time to volunteer, write us at theshow@dctheatrescene.com

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My Children!  My Africa!

Directed by Serge Seiden
Produced by Studio Theatre
Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

No one writes like Athol Fugard. And nothing touches like a Fugard drama. He sets up scenes with such amazing grace and develops such true-to-life characters that you feel that you not only know them, but have known them for years. Watching his dramas unfold is more like living them, they’re so actively engaging without a passive moment in sight. My Children! My Africa! currently playing at Studio Theater, is a stunning example of Fugard’s virtuosity as a writer, a chronicler of a period, and revealer of souls, by showing his striking ability to capture and relate intense moments of human interactions.

(more…)

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Titanic: The Musical

• Story & Book by Peter Stone
• Music & Lyrics by Maury Yeston
• Produced by Toby’s: The Dinner Theatre of Columbia
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

Occasionally, the American Theatre Wing has awarded a Tony “for adding luster to the Broadway season” (for example, Liza Minnelli in 1974). Occasionally, in a season of lackluster new musicals, an award is given pretty much for just showing up. That more or less sums up the prizes bestowed on Titanic: The Musical in 1997, which was eerily reminiscent of the kudos to Big River in 1985. Had Titanic opened one season later (in company with The Lion King, Ragtime, and Side Show among others) would it have warranted even a nomination? (more…)

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Last winter’s  play about two Belfast boys whose boyhoods fell in the midst of The Troubles is coming back for an encore. Keegan Theatre just announced the return of Owen McCafferty’s Mojo Mickybo, once again featuring Christopher Dinolfo as Mojo and Michael Innocenti as Mickybo. 

The play, directed by Eric Lucas and  last seen at Theatre on the Run, comes to Washington’s Church Street Theatre for a brief 2 1/2 week run Nov 15th thru Dec 1st. More info here. (more…)

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Merrily We Roll Along

• Music & Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim
• Book by Peter George Furth
• Directed by Eric Schaeffer
• Produced by Signature Theatre
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

There are some shows that audiences love to hate. Merrily would seem to be the Sondheim show people hate to love. (more…)

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Accident

• Written and performed by Amy Ziff
• Produced by Theater J at Studio Theatre 2ndStage
• Reviewed by Ronnie Ruff.

Ok…. sorry to say but DC Favorite Amy Ziff is dead. The poor gal slipped in the tub and had a run in with a very sharp straight razor. Smoothly shaved legs have never cost so much.  As Amy awaits her destiny before the Supreme Being, she shares with us her anxieties about her future. Will she go north to visit with her grandmother or will she end up where all dead rock stars go, a bit further south?  Lucky for us the tally is displayed on a large video screen behind Ms. Ziff with enough techy PowerPoint special effects to make it very funny. Such is the plot of Ziff’s one woman show, Accident, the first in Theater J’s Incubator Series, which has a polished, very finished feel. Rebecca  Asher directs the piece. (more…)

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