Sam Forman is back in town, and, for a 34-year-old playwright who has spent much of his life writing stories of nervous, young men whose ambitions crash up against their daily insecurities, he’s surprisingly calm. As Forman looks ahead to the opening of The Moscows of Nantucket, premiering at Theater J on Wednesday, he shows no signs of doubt. DC Theatre Scene spoke to him about comedy and family in his new play, and about how the charm of Moscows comes from a feeling of real love lying beneath all the neuroses. [Read more...]
11 shows and 1 movie I’m glad I saw
May 6, 2011 By 2 Comments
I had to slow down a bit after having heart surgery the end of February, so I carefully selected shows I thought I’d have a great time seeing and for the most part I chose wisely. The critics have spoken (and you can read their reviews here) but here’s my take. [Read more...]
The Book of Mormon
May 6, 2011 By 1 Comment
I’m sure you’ve read by now that this original musical by the creators of “South Park” and Avenue Q is the first offering of the New York season to enjoy unanimous raves from the press. I happily join my sibling critics in telling you that it was a most jolly experience for me as well. [Read more...]
The Apple Cart
May 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
Do we really need the British monarchy? As if on cue, The Washington Stage Guild’s The Apple Cart: A Political Extravaganza, one of George Bernard Shaw’s most challenging political satires, opened on the weekend of the wedding of William and Catherine, a prince and a commoner. The twinkly-eyed playwright would have loved the fortuitous timing.
Young Artists of America honors area talent this Saturday
May 5, 2011 By 2 Comments
Young Artists of America, a new organization based in Montgomery County, has big ambitions: “to provide talented young artists the rare opportunity to learn and perform major works for opera, musical theatre, and dance in concert with full orchestra, performing alongside professional artists.” Their inaugural concert is this Saturday, May 7th at 2pm in the Strathmore Music Center Lobby. [Read more...]
Farragut North
May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
- just-released “Ides of March” reviewed here -
Beau Willimon’s Farragut North is the kind of “built in Washington” drama that DC theater aficionados clearly will enjoy. In addition, for die-hard political junkies, Farragut North, crisply directed by Clay Hopper for Olney Theatre Center, offers a preview of coming attractions in 2012. That’s due in large part to its hyper-focus on of the kind of political ground game that’s already underway in the hinterlands of far-flung Iowa, a state whose overly-hyped, overly-covered early caucuses can often make or break a front-runner’s status in either party. [Read more...]
Cyrano
May 4, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Cyrano is one of the great male leading roles. Yet the dominant character in the Folger Theatre production of Edmond Rostand’s classic tragic swashbuckler is not Cyrano De Bergerac, but the world premiere adaptation itself, translated by Michael Hollinger (Opus, Red Herring) and co-adapted by Hollinger and director Aaron Posner. This version of Cyrano de Bergerac is interesting and entertaining, but ultimately is diminished in impact. [Read more...]
The Clockmaker
May 4, 2011 By 1 Comment
It takes a real master to successfully blend comedy, romance, crime drama, and metaphysical mystery into a single play. Fortunately, talented Canadian playwright Stephen Massicotte is just such a master and his gem of a play, The Clockmaker, receives an equally skillful DC area premiere at The Hub Theatre. [Read more...]
Ruined
May 3, 2011 By 1 Comment
Lynn Nottage’s Ruined at Arena Stage hits all the high marks of truly compelling theater. Based on horrific conditions endured by women caught in the crosshairs of the deadliest war in the Congo that claimed millions of lives between 1998 and 2003, the compelling story line grabs attention from the beginning and doesn’t let go. [Read more...]
Wonderland – Original Broadway Cast Recording
May 3, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Personally, I had a fine time at this rousing if seemingly mindless show, the latest from composer Frank Wildhorn. There are now two recordings of the score, the concept recording which is slightly more rousing, and the original Broadway cast album which is being released today on Sony’s Masterworks Broadway label. [Read more...]
