Ford’s Theater has seen some action in its day. A formerly abandoned Baptist Church, the theater opened in 1861 and became a popular venue for musicals and dramatic performances. President Lincoln’s assassination in 1865, however, proved a bit of a show stopper, causing Ford’s Theater to close its doors and keep them closed for over […]
Archives for November 2014
Brave Spirits in rep: Two Noble Kinsmen and Midsummer Night’s Dream
Down at the Anacostia Arts Center, Brave Spirits Theatre is undertaking a little experiment, or “Shakespeariment”, if you’re as into silly made-up words as I am (which, if you’re a Shakespeare fan, you very well may be.) They’ve taken A Midsummer Night’s Dream, one of the Bard’s single most popular, outright comedic plays, and placed […]
John Vreeke on directing Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide…
When I first saw Theatre J’s season announcement, I knew I wanted to talk with John Vreeke, director of Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism With a Key to the Scriptures, which is having its area premiere at Theatre J. Luckily for us, he was able to pull away from rehearsals for this 3.5 […]
Tony Kushner’s The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a key to the Scriptures
Coworkers: How was your weekend? Me: Great! I saw this nearly four-hour play in D.C. about labor unions and the American Communist Party! Coworkers: [Sounds of crickets chirping] To put it mildly, Tony Kushner’s gargantuan, garrulous play The Intelligent Homosexual’s Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures is not everybody’s cup […]
It’s Only a Play but it’s the hottest ticket in town
I have to credit Jack O’Brien, the director, and lead producer Tom Kirdahy for delivering what is unquestionably the hottest ticket in town as we hit the mid-season mark. I say that because every element in this production spells “Hit!”. Scott Pask’s set of the upstairs drawing room in a swank New York brownstone, and […]
One Man, Two Guvnors. 1st Stage brings London and Broadway hit to Tysons
Has this ever happened to you? It is 1963. You’re Charlie “the Duck” Clench, career criminal, and you’re played by Steve Beall. You’ve pledged the hand of your daughter, Pauline (Megan Graves) – who has the IQ of a toaster – in a marriage of convenience to the gay gangster Roscoe Crabbe, in order to […]
Puppies give Cruella a merry chase in Imagination’s 101 Dalmatians
Man’s best friend? A million spots? A crazy lady bent on making fur coats out of the dogs’ hides? Check, check, and check! Cruella de-Vil, the purple-headed puppy eater who has delighted on screen for over 50 years, finally brings her mania to the stage. In Imagination Stage’s holiday offering, Pongo, the Missis, and their […]
Tiny Compass Rose does big time Cats
If you would know a cat, you must first watch him dance, and then hear him sing, and after that you will understand his story. So it is with the cats in Cats, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s adaptation of T.S. Elliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. Though Elliot’s poetry – which was written for his […]
Hugh Jackman in The River
A full house at the 776 seat Circle in the Square in Manhattan’s theatre district managed to settle in just before 8PM, for there were signs all over the place announcing “No one seated after the opening curtain.” At the last moment, a few empty seats were filled by the ushers with very grateful standee […]
New Five Guys Named Moe, still musical heaven
My heart was pretty pumped when I received the assignment to cover one of my favorite musical revues. And then, it sank. Years ago, I had the pleasure of seeing a first class tour of the Louis Jordan jukebox musical revue Five Guys Named Moe and was blown away by the energy and musicality of […]
Little Dancer at The Kennedy Center
The long-anticipated musical, The Little Dancer, made its official world premiere at the Kennedy Center last week, and its star dazzled the opening night audience whose applause, at several points, nearly stopped the show.
The Gift of Nothing, a great child’s gift at the Kennedy Center
We’re truly blessed to have such sharp talents right here in D.C., who can take a comic strip and whip it up into a classy, pleasant children’s musical seemingly effortlessly. While The Gift of Nothing, commissioned by and having its world premiere at The Kennedy Center, will probably not enter the canon of classic children’s […]