“Legend has it the word ‘fiasco’ was first used to describe commedia dell’arte performances that went horribly (and hilariously) wrong.” So says the website for Fiasco Theater as it explains the genesis of the company’s name. It’s interesting, though, not only to learn of the term’s history, but also to consider the irony of its […]
Archives for May 2014
Blue Man Group – a cure for the blues
The Blue Man Group has been entertaining audiences since 1987 and has regular homes in New York, Chicago, Boston, Las Vegas and other cities around the world. Thanks to a new tour, DC audiences have the chance to see this uniquely gifted theatrical trio of blue-faced mimes over the course of the this week at […]
Shout! The Mod Musical
A celebration of all things swingin’ ’60s. A cultural mish-mash from go-go boots to the pill. One, long “Dear Abby” column. And, a rainbow of fun. Literally. SHOUT! The Mod Musical makes up in color what it lacks in content.
Lumina sheds light on Henry V with musical Brother Hal
There was a lot of melding going on at Round House Theatre/Silver Spring last Saturday night — eras, genres, generations, linguistic styles, political paradigms — and some of the combinations might have seemed beyond the reach of harmony to me: Woody Guthrie and William Shakespeare? Where do they overlap? And is medieval English imperialism like […]
Into the Woods from NextStop a real Sondheim delight
It may seem odd that a musical about a journey through the woods is set in a library, but thanks to an imaginative set by scenic designer Steven Royal and creative directing by Evan Hoffmann, NextStop’s staging of Into the Woods is a true delight, losing nothing in its interpretation of Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winning musical.
Megan Hilty a smash at the Kennedy Center
I’m not one who is prone to turning into a “fanboy.” Part of my joy in seeing cabarets in the Barbara Cook series at the Kennedy Center has been the “Stars, they’re just like us!” vibe that comes from everyone’s presence in the small Terrace Theatre (or, for Mandy and Patti, the Eisenhower, a.k.a. the […]
The Vaclav Havel Project unveils a new musical, tribute to the Czech playwright
Some may know Václav Havel for having been a political dissident, some recognize the name for his years serving the Czech government; but theater lovers associate the man as being one of Europe’s most well regarded playwrights of his time.
The Fantasticks at Rep Stage
Let’s get to the bottom line first. I am not in love with Rep Stage’s production of this classic musical, and it is almost entirely the fault of Paul Edward Hope in the crucial role of El Gallo. Now let’s step back for a minute.
The City of Conversation, Georgetown play is “crackling good theatre”
Every once in a while a play is announced for Broadway production with names attached to it that are not familiar to me. Such a case is The City of Conversation by Anthony Giardina, with a cast headed by the one name I recognized, and that is Jan Maxwell who has been brightening the companies […]
Inventing Mary Martin
This “revue of a lifetime” is a good idea, well intentioned, occasionally very well executed, but unfortunately off its mark as often as it is on. Conceived and written by Stephen Cole, with its music supervised and arranged by David Krane, it purports to cover Mary Martin’s journey from small Texas town Weatherford to the […]
2014 Capital Fringe Ad Rates
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The Velocity of Autumn
It’s alarming to have to report that Eric Coble’s two hander which starred Estelle Parsons and Stephen Spinella closed Sunday night after 16 performances on Broadway. A battery of 25 producers could not continue to support this small but intriguing small play which offered the excellent Ms. Parsons a chance to let ‘er rip as […]