Emoting that comes direct from the heart can grab you in the heart, even twist your gut. It’s real. You want to reach out and hug the participants in thanks. That’s what I felt, last Friday night, watching the ensemble of 27 young people, 13 to 18 years old, who participated in Paso Nuevo’s six-week […]
Politicos get in on the act at STC’s Will on the Hill 2015
We are all actors, but none more so than our public representatives. It is one thing to invite the wind to blow and crack its cheeks, but quite another to introduce legislation which would actually make the wind do that, in the name of climate change. Or: it takes a fine actor to play Proteus […]
This year’s Tony Awards – here’s who SHOULD win, and who DID win!
Update: Tony voters sided with Jonathan Mandell in 17 of the 24 categories. Compare the winners (in red) with Jonathan’s judgements. – Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming host the 2015 Tony Awards Sunday, June 7 from Radio City Music Hall. If, we asked our New York critic Jonathan Mandell, choosing the winners was completely up to […]
Congressional Chorus has Sondheim on its mind
OK, let’s say you work for a member of Congress. (Maybe you do work for a member of Congress. It’s hard for me to tell from here. But if you don’t, just pretend.) You work ten hours a day keeping American Democracy safe – sometimes from your member. You read tax legislation and budget reports […]
One less critic: How Hedy Weiss and New Orleans changed my life.
When I was in law school I did some acting. I wasn’t very good but I was a big guy with a big voice and there’s always room for that in theater. Sometimes I got paid and sometimes I didn’t, but between what I did get paid and student loans and my parents’ generosity I […]
15 young playwrights featured in YPT New Play Festival, April 20 – 22
For two decades, DC’s own Young Playwrights’ Theater has fostered the minds of budding young writers by helping them discover their own theatrical visions.
2015 Helen Hayes Awards: the after party caught on camera
Everyone’s looking good and having a great time at the 2015 Helen Hayes Awards after party at the Howard Theatre. Photo essay by Ryan Maxwell Photography Recognize anyone? Help us with photo captions. Just right click the image, copy it and paste into an email with the caption. Then email us here. Recognize anyone? Help […]
At six, Intersections Festival packs in more discoveries than ever
Theater lovers will once again have lots to look forward to, as the 6th Annual Intersections Festival returns to the Atlas Performing Arts Center over the next three weekends. Of course, the festival offers more than just great theater; it also has performances in music, film, opera and dance—more than 100 in total gracing Atlas’ […]
Chris Henley’s take on nominations night and asks for your 2014 Most Outstanding list
Ah, the annual Helen Hayes Awards announcement ceremony. A room full of hope and tension; the hush as the names are read, broken by the occasional gasp or cheer; the surprising results mixed with the predictable ones; the wide smiles on the faces of the anointed and the quick exit of some of the disappointed.
Ari Roth’s firing: What happened and what’s next for Theater J and Mosaic Theater Company
“Things fall apart,” as Yeats said, and sometimes it seems like there is nothing we can do about it. The theater community watched a falling apart recently at Theater J with the abrupt firing of Ari Roth, Artistic Director of 18 years at that organization, and a new theatrical landscape has emerged. The news of […]
Our one wish as 2014 comes to a close
A note from Lorraine Treanor, Editor of DC Theatre Scene Dear readers, Today, I’ve been thinking of the astonishing work we’ve seen across our region’s stages in 2014. And I wanted to take a moment to ask you to think back on the highlights of your 2014 theatre year. What really touched you? What will […]
Irish Carol opens as construction continues on new Keegan theatre
Keegan Theatre’s Church Street home may be still under construction but the show must go on. The show is Keegan’s annual seasonal offering An Irish Carol. Thanks to a generous partnership, Keegan can present the show at Theater J with the proceeds going to their ongoing capital campaign.