E. Faye Butler begins rehearsals for Arena’s Trouble in Mind On August 9th, there will be one change in the cast of Arena Stage’s hit show Oklahoma! as one actress moves from the Fichandler Stage to an Arena Stage rehearsal hall, and another steps into her role.
Archives for July 2011
Steel Magnolias
Even if you know the story, saw the movie or an earlier production of Steel Magnolias, this iteration warrants a return visit, because it’s likely you haven’t seen an actual mother and daughter in the roles. The casting adds a special charm and poignancy to the script, and it doesn’t hurt that both actresses are […]
Rock Bottom: A Rock Opus
Working in the theatre, you quickly learn that you can’t please everyone all the time. Sometimes audiences steer clear of a show because it looks too dark or upsetting. Maybe the content is offensive, or the story line doesn’t appeal. Sometimes it’s just that strange, sinking feeling that everyone involved, simply put, is trying too […]
The Insurgents
Intrigued by the cultural and racial issues in several productions in this year’s Contemporary American Theater Festival, I found my way back to Shepherdstown, WV for a thought provoking weekend of theatre. Although the notoriously good though uncomfortable and unsettling Race by David Mamet is sold out, Insurgents could be worth a final weekend trip […]
Jerry Orbach: Prince of the City
I’m not sure if the book has one long title and a longer subtitle, or if it is a short title with two subtitles, but the cover reads “Jerry Orbach — Prince of the City — His Way from The Fantastics to Law & Order.”
2011 Capital Fringe – it’s a wrap
July 24, 2011 – Sunday night, as the last shows in this year’s Capital Fringe were winding down, the Capital Fringe closing night party in the Baldacchino Gypsy Tent was underway. Everyone was waiting to see which shows won the Theatermania Pick of the Fringe Awards. But first, Cory Ryan Frank, officially Audience Services Manager, […]
Clybourne Park
Bruce Norris won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for this astonishing play not simply because of what he wrote, but for what he permits his actors to do. Most plays show characters uttering hard truths. Clybourne Park, full of outrageous wit and heartbreaking tragedy, shows characters lying, obfuscating, tap-dancing and changing the subject on […]
Out of the Shadow
Young Playwright’s Theater was founded in 1995 by playwright Karen Zacarías in order, through interactive in-school and after-school programs, to teach DC metro area students to “promote community dialogue and respect for young artists.” Saturday’s performance of the original student play, Out of the Shadow, was the culmination of YPT’s year-long Young Playwright’s Workshop. The […]
Birds of a Feather
Here is the story of six members of three exotic species of wildlife who have entertained New Yorkers for over two decades: (1) Silo (Dan Crane) and Roy (Matt Dewberry), two male chinstrap penguins who pair-bonded, built a nest, and hatched and raised a chick in the Central Park Zoo. (2) Pale Male (Dewberry) and […]
Enoch Arden
Imagine a man who leaves behind his wife and children in search of financial stability and a better future overseas. Imagine the man finds himself stranded abroad and returns, an unrecognizable shell of his former self. Imagine the man, now lost in a world he once ruled, without hope, or the life for which he […]
Capital Fringe – all seats now $12
With 3 more days to go, there is still plenty of Fringe left – 44 performances today alone. However, it’s news to no one that we’ve got what could be record breaking temperatures of 100+ today and possibly continuing through the weekend.
hookups
hookups is about as naked as it can get at Fringe. A quintet of engaging actors make use of an air mattress and the barest essentials to create a series of vignettes covering every imaginable hookup through history and literature, all with a wry wink and a twist. It’s both cute and crass, like that […]
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