A Wrinkle in Time
December 10, 2010 By 3 Comments
Readers familiar with the science fantasy A Wrinkle in Time will likely be mesmerized by this energetic production at Round House. The rest of us can still be captivated by the wonder of traveling Wrinkle’s strange universe even if we might occasionally scratch our collective heads wondering what the bleep is going on. [Read more...]
Lauren Molina and Geoff Packard
December 9, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Catching up with two of the stars from Candide
Over the years, you see a lot of them, and sometimes you wonder.
You know, the backup singer, the understudy, the impossibly young and good looking men and women, singing, dancing, mike in hand, hoofing like mad, handsome lads, pretty girls who always look like they just belong up there, doing what they do, they’re in your ticket stubs, in the curtain’s texture, in the echoes of songs just sung, they’ve got so much energy they leave you a little breathless and please you. [Read more...]
Mojo
December 8, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Sometimes rock and roll isn’t all sex, drugs, and parties; with enough money on the line, it can turn deadly. At least that’s what the hustlers, pill poppers, and wise guys populating a 1950′s London juke joint discover as they explore the dark side of the music business in Jez Butterworth’s electric play Mojo, now playing at the Studio Theatre. [Read more...]
Swingtime
December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Swingtime features the captivating music and style of the 1940’s wrapped in a story that reflects the period’s prevailing cultural themes of discrimination and oppression. The narrative weaves the songs into an engaging story line, sometimes bumpily, but for the most part effectively, so that the they actually reflect aspects of the characters and propel the action. [Read more...]
The Hammersteins: A Musical Theatre Family
December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
The grandson of Oscar Hammerstein II (and, thus, the great-great grandson of the first Oscar Hammerstein, the impresario who all but established Times Square) pulls his theatrical family’s story together in one perceptive, fascinating volume. [Read more...]
Stars of Oklahoma at ArtSpeak! Dec 13
December 7, 2010 By Leave a Comment
On Monday, December 13th, three of the leads in Arena Stage’s production of Oklahoma! will make a special appearance at Artspeak!. DC actress Eleasha Gamble and Nicholas Rodriguez, who play Laurey and Curly and Cody Williams who plays the love smitten Will, will perform and interact with the ArtSpeak! audience, many of them students. [Read more...]
La Bete and Spirit Control
December 6, 2010 By 1 Comment
I have two winners for you this time, as opposed to my last column which featured two on the down side. First, La Bête, a farce by David Hirson, presented on Broadway at the Music Box Theatre by Scott Landis and Sonia Friedman among a dozen others. [Read more...]
Wife Swappers
December 5, 2010 By 1 Comment
It is the season of good cheer, and perforce time for a party. Jake (Tony Greenberg) inspects the signage on the wall of his living room. “Deck the halls with your balls,” it says in cheery gold lettering. Jake and his wife, Loretta (Catherine Aselford) chat about the string of Christmas lights . Everything must be perfect, they agree. [Read more...]
Synetic Family Theater’s Nutcracker to open in Crystal City
December 4, 2010 By 5 Comments
The Synetic Family Theater will be moving its production of The Nutcracker from its intimate Shirlington digs to the company’s main theater space in Crystal City, VA.
The move is designed so that its elaborate production can take advantage of the large Crystal City stage space, according to Synetic Managing Director Salma Qarnain. “Because the stage is much bigger in Crystal City,” Qarnain explained, “we have the opportunity to increase the number of performers and allow our designers more freedom with the set and costumes.” [Read more...]
A Christmas Carol
December 4, 2010 By Leave a Comment
Tonight, you will be visited by three spirits. Watch for when the clock strikes one… then two… then three. You won’t believe what emerges from the dark shadows.
Well, Scrooge won’t believe it. Not for a few scenes. As for us, we’ll eat it up, no questions asked. I can think of few stories more drained of suspense than A Christmas Carol. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. [Read more...]
