In a word, Treadwell: Bright and Dark, now in its world-premiere run at Arlington’s Theatre on the Run, is dull, dull, dull. Actually, that’s three words. But you get the picture.

Directed by Stephen Jarrett and starring Melissa Flaim in the title role, this brand new, not-ready-for-prime-time one-woman show was penned by Allison Currin and brought to the stage by the American Century Theater. [Read more...]

If you’re looking for a traditional romantic comedy, stop right here…TACT has your ticket to a light-hearted evening of laughter, delightful costumes, and a wealth of talent with its production of Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? [Read more...]

There was a time when  A Piece of My Heart was one of only a few collections of women’s experiences in the Vietnam War. Playwright Shirley Lauro’s portrayal of women and their stories goes behind the scenes and shares the thoughts, feelings and emotions from the vantage point of women in service. [Read more...]

The thought that an Edward Albeean couple – George and Martha, if they had been mellow and sober – would, on a summer’s afternoon spent on the beach, meet up with two enormous lizard-like sea creatures who would also be a bickering husband-and-wife team [Read more...]

It’s a sad commentary that some of the same basic societal ills depicted in this 1941 stage adaptation of Richard Wright’s “Native  Son” are as relevant today as they were then, which makes this eagerly awaited production more important than ever.  [Read more...]

An American Century Christmas
Conceived and compiled by Jack Marshall, Thomas D. Fuller and Kathryn Fuller
Directed by Jack Marshall
Produced by American Century Theater
Reviewed by Ted Ying

There was a time when the televised Christmas specials were amongst the most anticipated parts of the season. Anyone over the age of 10 probably remembers the Perry Como, Bing Crosby or Bob Hope Christmas shows.  Today, most people don’t watch the classic Christmas musical variety shows, but American Century has re-created one, and it’s worth a trip to see it and bring the family. [Read more...]

Life with Father
Written by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Directed by Rip Claassen
Produced by American Century Theater
Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Think nostalgic, archetypical family structure with father firmly ensconced as lord of the manor, early American style, exquisite furnishings, resplendent couture, a phalanx of maids each duty-bound and hell-bent on pleasing the master, and a fawning wife catering to his every whim.  Then add the truly uniquely American twist of almost imperceptible power shift, where the fawning wife is the actual power broker with Dad oblivious to the actual running of things, so that everybody gets the joke but him, and you’ve got the set-up for family comedies from the early drawing rooms and parlors to the stage, to 21^st century jet-setting sitcoms. [Read more...]

A Passion for Justice:  The Clarence Darrow Story
by Jack Marshall and Paul Morella
directed by Jack Marshall 
produced by The American Century Theater & Clarence Darrow Productions
reviewed by Steven McKnight

There’s an old saying that the secret to success for a trial lawyer is sincerity – if you can fake that, the rest is easy.  A close second is passion and the aptly named A Passion for Justice: The Clarence Darrow Story has an abundance of both [Read more...]

Dr. Cook’s Garden 
written by Ira Levin
directed by Ellen Dempsey
produced by The American Century Theater
reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson

Dr. Cook’s Garden is a wickedly good time.  In a quaint little homespun Vermont town, a treasured family doctor reveals just how much he loves his perfect little town and how far he will go to keep it perfect.  [Read more...]

• The Titans
• by Robert McElwaine                       
• Directed by Jack Marshall
• Produced by The American Century Theater
• Reviewed by Rosalind Lacy

Realizing we are eavesdropping on authentic conversations from the Oval Office and the Kremlin in The Titans keeps you on the brink of your seat. [Read more...]