A Chorus Line at Olney Theatre Center is two hours of pure musical theatre bliss. The show runs on high octane energy from the fast-paced opening music with Michael Bennett’s signature choreography deliciously recreated by Stephen Nachamie who also directed.
Archives for August 2013
Falling in love with Romeo and Juliet again
As a busy man who likes to see a lot of theater, I might ask two questions about the current production of Romeo and Juliet at the American Shakespeare Center: why should I see that play again, and why should I drive all the way to Staunton to see this production?
Slings and Arrows, Season 2:01 “Season’s End”
Geoffrey: “Actors should be frightened for their lives…that’s when they do their best work.” Richard: “Really? That’s just like normal people!”
Annie – 2012 Broadway Cast Recording
From the opening trumpet statement of the melody for “Tomorrow” to the launch into “It’s A Hard Knock Life” and the release of “You’re Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile,” the new recording of the current revival of Annie establishes a chipper enthusiasm that gladdens the hearts of theater music fans … and that’s just […]
The Welders: 5 local playwrights create a new way to perfect and produce work
“Three years, five plays, pass it on.” -Renee Calarco This is a thumbnail portrait of The Welders, one of the newest, and most unique, organizations to pop up on the DC theatrical landscape. Describing itself as “a playwrights’ collective,” The Welders are made up of five of our accomplished and prominent local theatre writers: Calarco, […]
In praise of the book for One Night with Janis Joplin and interesting anecdotes and odd facts about Janis
One Night with Janis Joplin will soon be leaving Arena Stage and making a well-deserved trip to Broadway. The amazing music of Janis Joplin and an uncanny and charismatic conjuring up of Janis by Mary Bridget Davies are the primary reasons for the musical’s acclaim and success.
Euan Morton in concert: As You Like It
Signature Theatre favorite and Tony/Olivier Award nominee Euan Morton kicked off Signature Theatre’s annual Sizzlin’ Summer Cabaret festival with a bit of a twist. In addition to lending his powerful pop-rock vocal talent to a series of songs he selected, he also permitted the audience members to select songs they most wanted to hear via […]
Signature’s Open House this Saturday includes mega-ticket deal
Signature Theatre holds is annual Open House this Saturday, August 3rd starting at noon. One huge thank you to all Signature fans, the one day event features performances every 15 minutes, master classes, food, the Signature Idol competition and, as night falls, ending with the grand Broadway on the Plaza closing concert.
First look at new musical by Dane Edidi, Monday night, Aug 5
Dane Figueroa Edidi, who gave a memorable performance in force/collision’s production of Shape last year, is about to unveil her musical, Roaring: the Musical, written with Andrew Morrissey this Monday, August 5, 8pm at Takoma Station Tavern.
The Flying Dutchman at Glimmerglass Festival 2013
A season programmed under an umbrella theme can feel a strain, but Artistic and General Director Francesca Zambello has pulled off a clean sweep of wins at Glimmerglass Festival this year, all under a banner featuring Romanticism. Glimmerglass Lake itself provides a most suitable setting that reflects nature as inspiration, and the shows bring to […]
A shining moment at Glimmerglass: Camelot
If Wagner’s creation of the Dutchman signifies a true Romantic anti-hero then in this season’s musical we are asked to consider Arthur in Camelot to be a twentieth-century counterpart. Though the genres and styles of music-theatre differ significantly, the alchemic individualistic imagining of the two lead characters made some strong connections.
Stabat Mater concludes our Glimmerglass 2013 series
Elegance, idealism, imagination, suffering. These are the words I take away from Glimmerglass Festival 2013. It would be wrong of me not to mention one last show, which for me may have stood as the emotional heart of the outstanding season, and it drove home all these shared motifs.