The Score Twitter/X Theatre Review

Brian Cox stars in The Score (Photo: Teresa Castracane)

He's Bach!

Celebrity and a polished resume make it a bit easier to win over an audience; but some actors not only deserve the accolades... they command them. Case in point, Brian Cox, CBE, star of @ShakespeareinDC's magnificent season (and U.S.) premiere, The Score. What begins as a (literal and relative) sleepy opening builds to a roaring boil, tackling faith, frailty, pride and tyranny in blistering fashion. There's so much to love in this production: Cox's Johann Sebastian Bach is equal parts card & curmudgeon, bouncing back and forth as he deems fit at that moment. Bach is a star and knows it, but he's also near the end of his career/life. That back & forth isn't easy, and didn't go unappreciated by this critic. Also tremendous (although in smaller doses) @stephen_hagan as the foil (Frederick the Great) and scene-stealer Juliet Garricks as Emelia. They're terrific on their own, but even better opposite Cox. It's nearly three hours long, so it's not perfect (I slow down after two) but it's pretty darn close.

Grade: A-

How Shakespeare Saved My Life Twitter/X Theatre Review

Jacob Ming-Trent in the world premiere of How Shakespeare Saved My Life at Folger Theatre. Photo: Erika Nizborski

Shakespeare or Die

I admit: I’m often skeptical of a “one-person show.” The pressure (on the performer) is intense, and the risk for overcompensation… even greater. And then I saw 👀 @jacobmingtrent1 perform How Shakespeare Saved My Life at @FolgerLibrary. His solo testimony to the congregation (our lucky 🍀 audience) is both heartfelt & mesmerizing without the slightest hint of unease or vanity. For an hour & a half, Jacob dazzles with music, stories and (most importantly) words. Said words are bursting with honesty & instruction, a rare combination on any stage. You’ll likely cry, laugh & smile (in some awesome combination) but the bottom line is, this is the best performance of the year. Can’t wait to see him again.

Grade: A+

Othello Twitter/X Theater Review

Ben Turner & Wendell Pierce (r) in Othello at Shakespeare Theatre Company. (Photo: Teresa Castracane)

O Curse of Marriage

Othello. A play I've seen at least a dozen times, yet it never ceases to amaze (and delight) me. It plays out as a tale of two characters, Iago & Othello, apparent best friends & (unknown to the latter) simultaneously mortal enemies. @ShakespeareinDC's latest rendition (directed by Simon Godwin) showcases its finest paring yet, Ben Turner & @WendellPierce, as Shakespeare's oddest (but most significant) stage couple. Pierce's range (equal parts amorous, playful and possessive) dazzles, as does Turner's relentless one-note of betrayal. It's an awesome combination that mesmerizes so much as it entertains. The end result is 2+ hours of deception, stealth and top-notch entertainment. STC does it again!

Grade: A-

The Wild Duck Twitter/X Theatre Review

Maaike Laanstra-Corn stars in STC's The Wild Duck (Photo: Gerry Goodstein)

Chronic Righteousness

Arthur Dobrin once said, "There is always a way to be honest without being brutal." Evidently Gregers Werle didn't get the memo. The brazen character sheds light on unwanted truths in @ShakespeareinDC's The Wild Duck, based on Henrik Ibsen's under-appreciated 1884 play. It's brought to life by a superb cast, most of whom are making their STC debuts: One can only pray they all return (and soon.) Tops amongst them is DC's own Maaike Laanstra-Corn, who is nothing short of stunning as the passionate teenager Hedvig. And she's not alone. Alexander Hurt, Melanie Field and Nick Westrate join her as my favorite theatrical foursome in recent memory.

Merry Wives Twitter/X Theatre Review

Felicia Curry & Oneika Phillips (r) star in Merry Wives (Photo: Teresa Castracane Photography)

Hell Yeah!

This year’s @ShakespeareinDC 40th anniversary season has been extra special so far, continuing with Jocelyn Bioh’s unrivaled good time, Merry Wives. It’s a vibrant reinterpretation of The Immortal Bard’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, set in present day Harlem with a dazzling myriad of players Hell-bent on having a good time (while taking us along for the ride of a lifetime.) It’s guaranteed to make you clap, snap and laugh your YKW off, with nary a negative thought 💭 which is exactly what we need in DC right now. Taylor Reynolds directs a stunning game plan, carried out by a cast with no weak spots. Everyone involved deserves a standing ovation.

Grade: A

Duel Reality Twitter/X Theatre Review

Cast of Duel Reality (Photo: Zemi Photography)

Blue v Red

Romeo and Juliet meets @Cirque du Soleil in @ShakespeareinDC's jaw-dropping Duel Reality, directed by Shana Carroll @The7Fingers. The 90-minute production is light on words, but loaded with acrobatic hula hooping, juggling and a seesaw battle for the ages, not to mention one of the sexiest midair spectacles (Gerardo Gutierrez & Michelle Hernandez) we've ever seen. If this is Shakespeare's new direction, count us in!

Grade: B+

Frankenstein Twitter/X Theatre Review

Rebecca S'manga Frank in Frankenstein at STC, Photo: DJ Corey Photography

The Truth Is...

Mary Shelley's Frankenstein is one of the best novels of the past 200+ years. Emily Burns' version for @ShakespeareinDC is a refreshing reboot that honors the original, while placing less of an emphasis on the creature, and more on personal relationships. That may not sound like fun to horror fans, but thanks to Rebecca S'manga Frank's coruscating performance as Elizabeth, the end result is miles better. One can only hope Ms. Frank stays in the DMV, allowing a "star to be born" in our own backyard. Burns' direction is first rate also, especially a pair of dazzling intercutting scenes with Dr. Frankenstein. A bona fide must-see! 

Grade: A

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Announces 2023-24 Season

From our friends at Woolly Mammoth...

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Announces  2023-24 Season: Enter the Woollyverse

Visit the realm of Season 44: a celebration of LGBTQ+ voices and global perspectives confronting today’s world

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company announces its 2023-24 season. Enter the Woollyverse and explore the universes of a larger-than-life mother from Kyiv, a gay Bengali-American documentarian, a kick-ass HBCU dance troupe, a queer academic and his Muslim mother, a Mohegan Shakespeare scholar, and a fabulous floral genderqueer chanteuse.

Capital Fringe Festival Starts This Week July 14-17 & 21-24 in Georgetown DC

From our friends at Capital Fringe...

Capital Fringe Festival Starts This Week July 14-17 & 21-24 in Georgetown DC

The Fringe Festival is back! Fringe has partnered with the Georgetown BID, Jamestown LP, and Citizen M to host a culturally valued event in the Georgetown neighborhood that is accessible, fun, and delivers attainable space and unjuried earning opportunities for performing artists. Tickets for the Capital Fringe Festival are on sale and are $15 for each performance!

Red Velvet Theatre Review

Amari Cheatom stars in Red Velvet (Teresa Castracane Photography)

"It's Very Othello"

Ira (Amari Cheatom, in a dazzling turn) declares, "That's the beauty of Shakespeare. He unnerves you." Jade King Carroll's Red Velvet captures that sensation (and so much more) in her STC directorial debut, now playing at the Michael R. Klein Theatre at the Lansburgh, through July 17th. Lolita Charkrabarti's play (which debuted only 10 years ago) tells the story of the first African-American actor to play Shakespeare's Othello. The aforementioned Cheatom plays that role (to a tee) with the finest performance I've seen all season. His character asks for vigilance and a "taste of home," but it's his confidence that resonates throughout, a sheer will to educate and perform that earns kudos such as, "Your life is filled with spectacular occasion." Spectacular indeed.

Our Town Theatre Review

Holly Twyford (center) and the cast of Our Town (Teresa Castracane Photography) 

The Way We Were

Grovers Corners, New Hampshire, circa 1901 (and beyond.) A nice town, where folks "like to know the facts," and where the dishes are done by 2:00 in the afternoon. Not exactly present day DC, but in the capable hands of director Alan Paul, a wonderful place to visit. Thornton Wilder's Old Town is three acts of life in the slow lane, minus the mundane. The second-to-last production of STC's 2021-22 season manages to exceed expectations at almost every turn, including our press night preview, which featured six (yes, six) understudies without so much as a hiccup. If you're keeping score, that's STC 1 COVID 0.

Capital Fringe Festival Returns July 14-17 & 21-24 in Georgetown DC

From our friends at Capital Fringe...

Capital Fringe Festival Returns July 14-17 & 21-24 in Georgetown DC

Eight Days of Performances, 30 Theatre Productions and 140 Individual performances

The Capital Fringe Festival is returning to one of DC's most historic neighborhoods after two years. You will find Fringe performances at Georgetown Park, a dynamic retail environment in the heart of Georgetown. Georgetown Park underwent an $80 million redevelopment from an inward-facing enclosed mall into an outward-facing collection of premier retailers and home to the largest parking garage in Georgetown with 668 spaces.

Contest: Win a Pair of Passes to Bandstand

We're giving away a pair of tickets to see Bandstand at the National Theatre on Tuesday, March 3rd at 7:30 PM. All you have to do (to win) is fill out the form below before Friday, February 28th at 11:59 PM, and we'll select one lucky winner to attend the show. Said winner will be notified by e-mail, and can collect their tickets at Will Call. Good luck!

The King's Speech Theatre Review

Nick Westrate stars in The King's Speech (Photo: Liz Lauren)

A Last Resort

King George V (John Judd, in a riveting, all-too-short performance) declares, "Sitting on thrones is our business." Unfortunately, passing the torch proves troublesome in David Seidler's The King's Speech. One son (Jeff Parker as David) doesn't want it. The other (the eventual King George VI, played by Nick Westrate) can't finish a sentence without stammering. Fear not Blighty. Where there's a will, there's a way; and with the help of an aspiring actor/speech therapist, Westrate's Bertie goes about the arduous task of perfecting the art of speech. It made for a great movie, but director Michael Wilson's version lacks the Oscar-winning film's charm and energy, resulting in a "fine" play, but far from memorable.

Contest: Win a Pair of Passes to The King's Speech

We're giving away a pair of tickets to see The King's Speech at the National Theatre on Tuesday, February 11th at 7:30 PM. All you have to do (to win) is fill out the form below before Sunday, February 2nd at 11:59 PM, and we'll select one lucky winner to attend the show. Said winner will be notified by e-mail, and can collect their tickets at Will Call. Good luck!

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City & Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment to Co-Present Fan-Favorite Broadway Shows in 2020

From our friends at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City & Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment...

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City and Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment announced today a 2020 partnership to co-present three fan-favorite Broadway shows that will take place at the Sound Waves Theatre inside the resort destination.

Contest: Win a Pair of Passes to Jersey Boys at the National Theatre

We're giving away a pair of tickets to see Jersey Boys at the National Theatre on Tuesday, December 17th at 7:30 PM. All you have to do (to win) is fill out the form below before Sunday, December 15th at 11:59 PM, and we'll select one lucky winner to attend the show. Said winner will be notified by e-mail, and can collect their tickets at Will Call. Good luck!

Contest: Win a Pair of Passes to Fiddler on the Roof at the National Theatre

We're giving away a pair of tickets to see Fiddler on the Roof at the National Theatre on Tuesday, December 10th at 7:30 PM. All you have to do (to win) is fill out the form below before Sunday, December 8th at 11:59 PM, and we'll select one lucky winner to attend the show. Said winner will be notified by e-mail, and can collect their tickets at Will Call. Good luck!

Jersey Boys Returns to DC's National Theatre, December 17

From our friends at the National Theatre...

Jersey Boys Returns to DC's National Theatre by Popular Demand Beginning December 17

Tony®, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, which tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, will return to DC’s National Theatre by popular demand from Tuesday, December 17, 2019 through Sunday, January 5, 2020. The show marks the ninth installment in the venue’s 2019-2020 Broadway at the National series, which is set to include an unprecedented 17 productions.

Contest: Win a Pair of Passes to The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays

We're giving away a pair of tickets to see The Illusionists: Magic of the Holidays at the National Theatre on Tuesday, December 3rd at 7:30 PM. All you have to do (to win) is fill out the form below before Sunday, December 1st at 11:59 PM, and we'll select one lucky winner to attend the show. Said winner will be notified by e-mail, and can collect their tickets at Will Call. Good luck!