A Thing for Redheads

John Morogiello has a thing for redheads, and his play, while not filled with gut-busting laughs,  is witty, quirky, entertaining, and somehow, someway, manages to add in a splash of drama. [Read more...]

Another Picnic at the Asylum

Angela Neff grew up in a large family with a larger than life father.  Unfortunately, his exploits which stemmed from a bi-polar disorder became increasingly destructive and eventually led to hospitalizations, divorce, and suicide.  [Note:  that’s not a spoiler, it’s in the program.]  Writer-performer Neff gives a descriptive solo presentation of scenes from her life, but leaves out too much of her own feelings and insights for the story to be as affecting as it could be. [Read more...]

Get on the bus with Busboys and Poets

Busboys and Poets is sponsoring a day trip to the Contemporary American Theater Festival this Saturday, July 24th. A  few tickets still remain for the package which includes a ticket to each of the two most provocative plays in the festival -  LIDLESS by Frances Ya-Chu Cowhig and WHITE PEOPLE by J. T. Rogers (this performance has been sold out for weeks) – plus round trip transportation from Busboys and Poets (14th & V Streets NW) to the festival in Shepherdstown, WV.

The bus leaves at noon for the 90 minute trip, arriving in plenty of time for the 2:30 performance of LIDLESS. Tickets are $87, all inclusive. To purchase, call 202-332-6432 or click here. [Read more...]

The Rave Scenes

Imagine a group of friends (and some hangers-on) sitting around one night talking about the club scene they used to frequent. No matter the particular scene, if you were a crazy clubkid, you’ve had the post-scene breakdown, the nostalgia and the arguments about what it really meant. AWoL Productions’ The Rave Scenes is exactly like one of those nights, except the friends have an audience they are trying to educate about the scene long gone. [Read more...]

Passing Strange

The term “rock musical” can often give this punk rock girl the heebie-jeebies.  Most of what Broadway offers to the wah-wah pedal-inclined is either jukebox (Rock of Ages, Movin’ Out, Good Vibrations, Jersey Boys) or more traditional musical theater fare given a rock twist (Spring Awakening, The Who’s Tommy, Hair, Next to Normal). [Read more...]

If You Give a Pig a Pancake

There are some concepts that simply defy imagination and must be seen to be believed.  The prospect of Jerry Whiddon directing Helen Hayes winner Holly Tywford in a musical adaptation of If You Give a Pig a Pancake is one of them.  The wait is over, the show is up, and it’s a riot. [Read more...]

So What Are We Fighting For?

So What Are We Fighting For? by Melvina Martin takes place at the headquarters of a fictional civil rights organization, “ Fighting For Freedom”, in a small Mississippi town.  As the new volunteers arrive for the summer, the internal racism, sexism and bigotry hidden within the organization is made apparent, and the organization’s women are forced to choose between fighting for their personal rights, and protecting “ Fighting For Freedom”. [Read more...]

I Lost My Laugh in the Revolution

How did I lose my laugh? This is the question that solo artist Shameka Cunningham asks herself repeatedly throughout I Lost My Laugh in the Revolution. But whether or not she answers the question is up for debate. If she could commit to the role in a deeper way, the audience may be able to get to the root of her problem, but unfortunately this is not the case. [Read more...]