Somewhat like the poetry of e.e. cummings—whose lower-case, typographically bizarre verse forms promised to shake up literary convention but actually built upon it—the lower-case “dog & pony dc” ensemble aims to take accepted canonical texts and re-scramble them. Case in point: their current production of Courage: A Political Theatre Revival.
Othello
Synetic Theater’s hyperkinetic new production of Shakespeare’s Othello is like no Othello you’ve ever seen before. While it takes some liberties with one of the Bard’s most compelling tragedies, the company’s entirely wordless Othello remains weirdly in tune with the essence of the original play that inspired it.
Sycamore Trees
Ricky Ian Gordon’s new musical Sycamore Trees is funny, sad, ephemeral, serious, witty, and pensive. It’s the composer’s poetic and moving take on his own boisterous family saga. And happily, it’s flawlessly executed by a first-rate, veteran cast and a top-notch stage band—an incomparable advantage for any new production.
Treadwell: Bright and Dark
In a word, Treadwell: Bright and Dark, now in its world-premiere run at Arlington’s Theatre on the Run, is dull, dull, dull. Actually, that’s three words. But you get the picture. Directed by Stephen Jarrett and starring Melissa Flaim in the title role, this brand new, not-ready-for-prime-time one-woman show was penned by Allison Currin and […]
Hamlet (Washington National Opera)
The Washington National Opera debuted its first-ever production of Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet … this fitfully intriguing version of the opera boasts some things to love, some things to dislike, and perhaps the most over-the-top “mad scene” in the history of opera.
Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies
Starring Maurice Hines and a fabulous cast of dancers and singers, the Arena Stage production of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies at the Lincoln Theatre is, hands down, the hottest show in town.
An inside look at the Joe Louis opera, Shadowboxer
Composer Frank Proto and Librettist John Chenault and director Leon Major reveal what it takes to bring the life of boxing icon Joe Louis to the opera stage.
The Mikado
Delightful, charming, and fun. That pretty much sums up the Washington Savoyards’ lively new production of The Mikado, which opened last weekend in the Atlas Performing Arts Center’s Sprenger Theatre. This classic Gilbert & Sullivan confection has been modernized and infused with fresh political jokes that cast well-deserved zingers down both sides of the aisle.
Oliver!
Toby’s version of Oliver!—directed by Shawn Kettering—is an economy-style production that cleverly manages to retain much of the original’s infectious charm, due largely to the boundless energy and infectious enthusiasm of its energetic cast.
Master Class
This Master Class fully lives up to its Tony Award status. Adding the exquisite performance of Tyne Daly to the mix makes this production of Master Class a must-see for any dedicated theater devotee.
Stalag 17
American Century Theater has revived the long-forgotten 50’s drama Stalag 17 with a powerful, gripping new production under the able direction of William Aitkin.
The Light in the Piazza
The new Arena Stage production of Lucas and Guettel’s The Light on the Piazza downscales this Tony Award-Winning Broadway-style show to fit its currently available space. The result? A bare-bones version of the original that still retains much of its charm and intimacy thanks to its marvelous cast.