In the spirit of whimsy, my small gift to you, I have wrapped up my thoughts in a Seuss-like review. I arrived at the National in a whirlwind of traffic And was greeted forthwith by a colorful graphic: The playhouse was there, with marquee a-glow Heralding a furred one, the star of the show. The […]
Love Jones: The Musical – soulful sounds at The National (review)
If you loved the terrific 1997 film Love Jones, you may want to cue up that DVD again. Before the opening night show at The National Theatre, an announcement was made that this production of Love Jones: The Musical, was “inspired by” the film but without any of the original dialogue, poetry, or songs. If you can overcome […]
Fun Home part of The National’s next season and Hamilton deal announced
When announcing their upcoming season, Washington’s National Theatre also announced a Hamilton tie-in. As with The Kennedy Center’s offer, subscribers to the National Theatre’s 2016-2017 season get first choice of seats to the National’s 2017-2018 season. Those subscribers will have priority access to tickets for Hamilton’s 14 week run at The Kennedy Center mid-June to mid-September, 2018 before single […]
The Wizard of Oz shows off its new songs at The National (review)
We all know that The Wizard of Oz is the story of a girl and her dog. And home. Right? So, does the 2011 musical, featuring new compositions and lyrics by Andrew Lloyd Weber and Tim Rice, succeed in spreading joy—overwhelming, warm, and kinetic—deep in your heart? Unequivocally, yes. It’s a polished show heavy on […]
Jersey Boys returns to The National Theatre (review)
There’s an odd moment in the middle of Jersey Boys, a throwaway line that you could miss amid the pulsing rhythm that drives the now decade old musical. It comes near the end of the first act, when the tall tale of the Four Seasons’ rise to fame is reaching its commercial climax. As the […]
Annie, a big hit on its brief stop at The National Theatre (review)
The last time I saw a full production of Annie on stage, I was only 8 and Andrea McArdle was playing the titular redhead on the Great White Way. And it was my first-ever Broadway show and the musical that made me fall in love with theater to begin with.
Christopher Henley’s Arbitrary Topless List of Wonderfully Indelible Memories, 2015
Shortly after my twins (now three and a half) were born, I approached DCTS about writing for the site. Since I had been so closely associated with WSC Avant Bard and a few other local companies, I never wanted any reader to perceive a conflict of interest, so I requested that I focus on features. […]
Steven McKnight’s Top 10 shows of 2015
10. Murder Ballad, Studio Theatre Recent explorations of “immersive theatre” received a boost with this rock musical about a scorching love triangle headed for trouble. The four performers careened through the realistic bar setting (featuring full service drinks for patrons before and after the show), making special use of the pool table for the […]
Motown the Musical National Tour at the National Theatre (review)
Motown the Musical has thundered into the National Theatre here in DC for a holiday run. The Detroit label that gave starts to artists like Michael Jackson and Marvin Gaye, graces the stage with its music in a full-scale jukebox-style musical. But does the legacy of Motown and its vast catalog of work stand on […]
How Sweet It Is: Jarran Muse channels Marvin Gaye in Motown the Musical
Legendary singer Marvin Gaye is one of DC’s most popular native sons, and his soulful sound helped to define Motown as it was coming to age in the early ’60s. Gaye was responsible for such great tunes as “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved By You)” and “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and was dubbed […]
A lavish Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella at The National. (review)
In the theater, when something you love is done well, there’s a sense of euphoria as you leave: “thank goodness they didn’t mess it up.” That is indeed the case, I am happy to report, with Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella, now at the National for an all-too-short run through November 29.
Stage Briefs by Keith Loria
A roundup of some of this week’s theatrical news and notes from Capital Fringe Festival, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, Kennedy Center, The Welders, Molotov Theatre, DC Hip-Hop Festival, Wolf Trap, and National Theatre.