Ruminations about love and passion abound in George Bernard Shaw’s Candida. Written and first performed in a past century (1898), questions of what makes a successful marriage feel right at home today with top notched actors exploring the witty interchanges in the context of Victorian propriety. It’s telling that the title character is one of […]
Capital Fringe review: An Evening with Lola Montez
If this were the 1850’s, chances are you would know the name of Lola Montez. Mary Murphy is captivating in her portrayal of this alluring, crowd pleasing, coquettish, and controversial woman. Richard Byrne’s script tells how an unassuming Eliza Gilbert from Sligo, Ireland, took advantage of each and any opportunity to stay in the spotlight. […]
Review: Antonio’s Song: I Was Dreaming of a Son at Contemporary American Theater Festival
Antonio’s Song is a masterful collaboration between two distinguished artists—some may remember Dael Orlandersmith’s emotionally charged Yellowman that tore through Washington D.C. some years ago, or her Stoop Stories. Her lyrical language and raw emotional style blend perfectly with the basic story of co-writer Antonio Edwards Suarez in Antonio’s Song: I Was Dreaming of a […]
HUSTLE, new musical, workshops at DC Black Theatre Festival
HUSTLE The Musical, one of the more than 100 shows in this year’s 10th anniversary DC Black Theatre & Arts Festival, is a sparkling example of the festivals mission to produce new works. Being workshopped here in DC, this show has stepped out on faith and raised the roof, delivering a fun-filled theatrical experience. Written […]
Review: Forest Treás. Pointless replaces puppets with cameras to tell the story of the Beltway sniper attacks
Forest Treás is a fictionalized cozy Mayberry-type Maryland town described by its residents as the “safest place” to live. This original story loosely inspired by conditions surrounding the 2002 Beltway sniper attacks, explores what happens in the heart and soul of a community when danger threatens to destroy their sense of safety. The townspeople enter, […]
Review: Ghost Light from Parlor Room Theater
When a stage manager places a single incandescent light bulb on a stand, front and center on a stage, it has a practical reason. The “ghost light” provides safety in the dark for living beings, and, the superstition goes, the ghosts of actors as well. It’s the perfect title for this ghostly theater tale conjured […]
Review: FAME The Musical, En Espanol. A school for dreamers becomes a dream show
The wait is over – the anticipated U.S. premiere of FAME The Musical en Espanol is finally here and it is outstanding! In the opening scenes, students hold unopened letters in their hands as they anxiously ponder if they’ve been accepted into “P.A” the prestigious N.Y School of the Performing Arts, like their lives depend […]
Review: On Air at Creative Cauldron. Conner and Smith’s new musical about radio pioneers
As we’ve see from their incredible collaborations over the years, the dynamic writing team Matt Conner and Stephen Gregory Smith can musicalize any story. Here they help us discover radio trailblazers Frank and Flora Conrad, credited with numerous experiments and patents for the technology that led to the first commercial radio station, which they launched […]
Review: Les Deux Noirs: Notes on Notes of a Native Son
Les Deux Noirs: Notes on Notes of a Native Son, Psalmayene 24’s creatively imagined encounter of two great American writers, Richard Wright and James Baldwin in a Parisian café in 1953, thrusts the renowned African American writers back into modern sensibilities. Under Raymond O. Caldwell’s direction, it’s an explosive meeting that will rock your world. […]
Review: Play Date from Best Medicine Rep
We hear the sound of children in the front room through baby monitors, while we watch their parents carry on with all kinds of shenanigans in John Morogiello’s comedy Play Date. Kira Burri and Evan Crump play the hosting couple who have everything going for them – at least on the surface. He’s a successful […]
Review: Topdog/Underdog, entertaining and unsettling.
Topdog/Underdog from WSC Avant Bard is an emotionally charged wonder that leaves no stone unturned or scab safely covered. The trailblazing story by Suzan-Lori Parks rips off the social bandage taped over societal ills and dares you to peer at the murky muck that’s left raw and exposed. Two brothers, abandoned in their teenage years, […]
Review: Picasso. Bilingual fun with the artist from GALITA
The magic and artistry of Pablo Picasso shine through in this fun-filled family show at GALA. Playwright director Cornelia Cody brings his talent to life through stories, music, dance and even circus fun finally bringing the artist’s fixation on harlequin clowns to light. Camilo Linares as Picasso is a whirlwind of energy, bouncing across the […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.