Sometimes it doesn’t take an assassination, an earthquake, or a war to make headlines. Sometimes a production stocked with dazzling dance moves, a gifted cast, and catchy melodies is enough to get the public’s attention. Which is exactly the case at the National Theatre, where Newsies is running through the end of the month.
Archives for June 2015
Paula Vogel’s The Oldest Profession (review)
Years ago, when Storyville, the famous red light district of New Orleans was closing down, Mayor Martin Behrman said this about prostitution: “You can make it illegal, but you can’t make it unpopular.” Whores with hearts of gold, noble courtesans, and clever “dance-hall hostesses” have been strutting their stuff on stage to the delight of […]
Stage Briefs by Keith Loria
A roundup of some of this week’s theatrical news and notes from Disney’s Newsies, DC Black Theatre Festival, Will on the Hill from Shakespeare Theatre Company, Wolftrap, Synetic Theater and Happenstance Theater.
Source Festival Shorts: Science and Soulmates (review)
One of the joys of the Source Theatre Festival’s 10 Minute Plays is the variety of themes and genres. Whether achieved through selection, serendipity, or a combination, these collections make an enjoyable evening of theatre. In this particular set of plays, however, the comic works are generally more satisfying than the serious ones.
At Studio Theatre, Mary-Kate Olsen is in Love (review)
A disaffected 20-something falls in love with the embodied mental projection of Mary-Kate Olsen, running away with her imaginary lover to an island paradise. Gosh, that’s an irresistible premise.
Source Festival Shorts: Love and Botany (review)
Love and Botany sprouts six unique tales of plants, romance, and unlikely connections. CulturalDC has married some unlikely theatrical bedfellows for its ongoing Source Festival, and none more unexpected than Love and Botany. This quirky collection of ten minute shorts spans six tales of “plants and romance” that are entertaining, if not periodically mystifying.
Las Polacas: The Jewish Girls of Buenos Aires (review)
Emotionally revitalizing, experimental and spectacular. This gut-wrenching ground-breaker exposes hidden Argentinian history, so expect the unexpected in this well-constructed musical by Patricia Suárez-Cohen. Composer/lyricist Mariano Vales has created spell-binding, beguiling lyrics set to minor-keyed music, echoing Slavic-Jewish toe-tapping folk tunes. The mix will keep you edgy with suspense, knocked dizzy and breathless, even inspired.
Synetic Theater season added to next season’s listings
Synetic Theater’s five show season was just added to our developing look at the upcoming season 2015-2016, Season at a Glance. Synetic begins its season with their entry in the Women’s Voices Theatre Festival, a new conception of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, adapted by none other than Lloyd Rose, screenwriter, playwright and former theatre […]
Ring of Fire: the music of Johnny Cash is on fire at Infinity (Review)
Johnny Cash— the name conjures up the iconic look, sound and feel of the man and his music which has become part of the American musical lexicon. Many of us have heard the voice, and recognize the “man in black,” even in silhouette. Ring of Fire brings all of that and more into focus through […]
Merde! Spooky Action’s Jarry Inside Out gets lost midst the murk
Spooky Action Theater’s spirited dive into the addled mind of avant garde playwright and nonsense man Alfred Jarry provides an experience of the provocateur’s life and art in a manner that complements the artist but eventually loses the audience.
Source Festival Shorts: Mistakes and Media (Review)
The 6 short plays grouped into “Mistakes & Media” take on 24-7 Internet & media culture with wit, weirdness. Our modern culture of ubiquitous screens, 24-7 information, and infinite choice is rapidly upending and reinventing our jobs, our relationships, and even our collective sense of self. The Source Festival’s “Mistakes and Media“ looks at our […]
Act of God review: Jim Parsons as the Almighty rewrites the Ten Commandments
Basic questions such as the origin of the universe – Big Bang Theory vs. Divine Creation – may fiercely divide the world, but on stage at Studio 54, they are a source of jokes by Jim Parsons as the Almighty in An Act of God, a play whose own origin is less than cosmic: It began life […]