DC Theatre Scene . Washington’s liveliest theatre web site

Joel Markowitz interviews cast members of The Sound of Music, now playing at Toby’s, the Dinner Theatre of Columbia. (more…)

 

 Standard Podcast: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (398)

• Twice Upon A Time: Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax and
• The Emperor’s New Clothes
• By Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty
• Directed By Nick Olcott.
• Produced by Imagination Stage.
• Reviewed by Max Talisman.

Imagination Stage’s Twice Upon a Time opens with a well staged musical number which tells the story of The Lorax. The Lorax is the story of Onceler (Bobby Smith) who begins cutting down all the trees in the land and The Lorax, who speaks for them, will not have it! (more…)

• By Ken Ludwig
• Adapted from the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson
• Directed by Blake Robison
• Produced By Round House Theatre
• Reviewed by Steven McKnight

Most of our conceptions of pirates date back to Robert Louis Stevenson’s beloved Treasure Island.  Now that pirates are popular again, it’s hardly surprising that we have a new theatrical take on that famous tale with a literate script by Ken Ludwig and a polished professional production at Round House Theatre that represents the East Coast premiere of the work. (more…)

• Book by Joseph Stein
• Music by Jerry Bock, Lyrics by Sheldon Harnick
• Directed by John Vreeke
• Produced by Olney Theatre Center
• Reviewed by Gary McMillan

For those who have not seen a stage or the screen production of Fiddler or read the writings of Sholem Aleichem (which served as source material), Fiddler on the Roof is set in czarist Russia. It is a time of rapid and turbulent change, both political and social. In lofty terms, it’s about the transition from tradition society to modernity, and about forms of oppression (political, patriarchal, religious, and ethnic). In everyday terms, it’s about people struggling with family obligations, personal desires, and interpersonal conflicts while the world is going to hell in a hand-basket.   (more…)

Music and Lyrics by Arnold Black and Sheldon Harnick
Based on the book by Norton Juster
Directed by Timothy A. McDonald
Produced by The Kennedy Center
Reviewed by Jonny Perl

Imagine a show that teaches kids academic subjects such as words and numbers, as well as explores subjects like the power of thinking, overcoming fear, and heroism. Next, imagine this show in a magical, fantasy sort of setting. Finally, add many great songs, smart dances, and genius special effects and you’ll get The Phantom Tollbooth.

(more…)

• Written by Julia Tasheva
• Directed By Julia Tasheva and Lilia Slavova.
• Produced by Classika Theater
• Reviewed by Hunter Kieserman.

I was glad I had bundled up for Classika Theater’s production of The Snow Child, which is set in a winter wonderland.  I had never heard the story of The Snow Child before, which is not surprising since it is based on a Russian fairy tale called Snegoruchka. This puppet show production of the fairy tale tells the story of an old man and a woman who want a child so they build one out of snow. When spring comes, the child must leave for the frozen north (where the ice queen has the scoop) otherwise she will melt. In the end, the Snow Child returns to her “parents”.

(more…)

The Helen Hayes Awards brings back the gift you love to give and love to get. Washington Theatre TixCertificates is the perfect way to share the joy of seeing live theatre with neighbors, friends and family.  (more…)

Sean Combs and the Tony Award winning cast of A Raisin in the Sun appear in the ABC special adaptation of the well-loved Lorraine Hansberry classic, “ABC World Premiere Movie Event: A Raisin in the Sun“. The cast includes Phylicia Rashad, Audra McDonald, Sanaa Lathan and John Stamos.

We will have to wait until February 25^th  to see their work, but in this season of reflection on family, we thought you may want to see this stunning preview now playing on BroadwayWorld.com.

• Avenue Q
• Music and Lyrics by Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx
• Book by Jeff Whitty
• Directed By Jason Moore
• Produced By Robyn Goodman, Jeffrey Seller, Vineyard Theatre and The New Group at the National Theatre
• Reviewed by Ronnie Ruff

Imagine a show that takes the concept of the wildly popular children’s show Sesame Street, and get its puppets to talk to you about how much it sucked to be fresh out of college and on your own - without a date, much less. This is what Avenue Q brings to the National Theatre for its short run (ends Dec 9^th) before heading to Charm City.

(more…)