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 – It is with great sadness that we announce that John MacDonald, longtime artistic director of Washington Stage Guild, died Sunday, July 6^th from an accidental fall in his home in Mt. Ranier. It’s hard to fathom the depth of the loss for the actors and company members who knew him, and for us as audience who came to embrace the feast of Shaw and others he regularly laid before us. (more…)

This summer, DC Theatre Scene will be adding coverage of four major festivals to our regular review and podcast schedules. Here’s the run-down. (more…)

This week, if any of those tour buses block your crosswalk, be kind. The passengers may not be monument-loving tourists, but some 90+ theatre people here to check out the DC area theatre scene. And not just theatre people. Theatre critics. (more…)

• The results are in. 
• By Joel Markowitz

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We don’t know who Tony or Oscar were, but we do know who created the award for New York’s best supporting players: Broadway vet and DCTS columnist Richard Seff. (more…)

 

 Richard Seff on the Richard Seff Award: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (325)

Lea Michele wraps up Artspeak! this Friday, June 6th at the Pod Middle School in Annandale, VA at 7:30 pm. At the age of 14, she won the role of Wendla in the first workshop of Spring Awakening, stayed with the show through workshops and Off-Broadway, and went on to star in the Broadway version.

Artspeak! brings in local and Broadway performers and creators to speak about their careers. The free program is the brainchild of Mark Shugoll of Shugoll Research.  Never attended an Artspeak?  Hear Mark describe what happens here.

For everyone planning to see David in Shadow and Light, the production will close after the 7:30 pm performance on June 15th,  a week earlier than originally announced, Theater J informed patrons today.  Discounts are available: $10 off this Sunday, June 1. (use code ‘David10′ when ordering); Wed, June 11 at noon, the ticket is $15. If you have tickets for June 18-22, call 202/777-3210 to re-schedule. All new ticket orders can be placed by calling 800 494-TIXS.

By Joel Markowitz

May 8th — Glory Days opened on Tuesday, May 6^th. The New York critics unanimously hated it and closing notices were posted on May 7^th, making it the first Broadway musical in 23 years to close after opening night. (more…)

• Politics, Sexual Intrigue and Lost Souls
• November, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, and Port Authority

By Richard Seff

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New discussion. New insights. 

We thought Janet had a good idea in her recent comment on our latest discussion ‘Attendance Is Declining: Tell Us Why’.

Given the fact that it costs time and money to see a play, add that it might mean the hassle of Metro inaccessibility or sitting in traffic jams, Janet wonders why we brave all of that to see a play when we could instead be seeing a local movie, chatting with friends, or just relaxing at home.

Good question.  So here’s a brand new discussion.  Tell us what motivates you to go, and maybe add two things:  how often you attend in a 3 month period and which productions you are looking forward to seeing this month (see our list in Onstage Now).