Posted on 15 March 2010
Arena Stage explores a love that triumphs over cultural boundaries and family secrets.
By Julie LaPorte
Hollis Resnik, Margaret Anne Florence and Nicholas Rodriguez. Photo by Scott Suchman.
“When I heard The Light in the Piazza was being reworked as a chamber version I knew I wanted to bring it to Arena Stage,” says Artistic Director Molly Smith. “Each voice and each instrument is individualized, which makes the beautiful story even more raw and human.” This Tony Award-winning musical was written by Craig Lucas, with music and lyrics by Adam Guettel. The Light in the Piazza is playing at Arena Stage through April 11, 2010.
Read the full story
Posted on 03 March 2010
Salvation, baptism, church attendance, evangelizing – what’s the real story behind the Evangelical Christian movement? Gina Welch goes undercover to find out.
By Julie LaPorte
Gina Welch. Photo by Heather Tanton.
On a recent cold and blustery day, Gina Welch met me at Dean & Deluca in Georgetown to talk about her first book. In the Land of Believers is about the two years she spent undercover at Jerry Falwell’s church Thomas Road Baptist Church, trying to understand Evangelical Christians. Her book, released this month, is an amazing narrative journey into the heart of the Evangelical movement and of the lessons she learned while she was there.
Read the full story
Posted on 26 February 2010
Green was the color of the night at the Embassy of Finland’s celebration of their LEED Gold certification status as the first green embassy in the U.S.
By Julie LaPorte
Embassy of Finland. Photo by Vincent Gallegos.
Built in 1994, the Finnish Embassy was notable from the first for its modernist approach. “It’s an architectural landmark,” said Ambassador Pekka Lintu who was accompanied by his wife Laurel Colless. “And now it’s a green architectural landmark.” He cited Finland’s history of supporting environmental initiatives and spoke proudly of their position as world leaders in the sustainability movement. “We practice what we preach.”
Read the full story
Posted on 19 February 2010
The Art Registry Gallery at Todd Christofaro proves that art collecting isn’t just a pastime for the wealthy elite, but an exciting and educational endeavor available to all.
By Julie LaPorte
Erin Mackay and Jill Lubar. Photo by Julie LaPorte.
Erin Mackay and Jill Lubar’s Art Registry Gallery is located on the second floor of the Todd Christofaro Salon in Georgetown. This intimate space is home to bi-monthly solo exhibitions, but the Art Registry is much more than a simple gallery. Erin and Jill specialize in private consultations for local collectors as well as hosting multi-artist shows in venues around the city.
Read the full story
Posted on 18 February 2010
This fall, Arena Stage celebrates their 60th anniversary in the now complete Mead Center for American Theater.
By Julie LaPorte
After 11 years of planning and building, the Mead Center for American Theater is open and Arena Stage is returning home to kick off their 60th anniversary. You won’t want to miss these upcoming performances in 2010/2011: Oklahoma, Every Tongue Confess, The Arabian Nights, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, At Home at the Zoo, Ruined. Details can be found on their website.
Posted on 16 February 2010
Combining social conscience with dynamic physical talent, CityDance is playing its part in the local community as well as on the international scene.
By Julie LaPorte
U.S. Helsinki Commission photo/Daniel Redfield
Paul Gordon Emerson serves as the Artistic Director for CityDance, a professional dance company with a social conscience. This leads them not only into the local community with neighborhood outreach programs, but also into the world to affect change on some of humanity’s most pressing issues.
Read the full story
Posted on 01 February 2010
Members of the Corcoran Gallery gathered for a preview celebration of Turner to Cezanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales.
By Julie LaPorte
Joseph Mallord William Turner, The Storm, ca. 1840–45. Oil on canvas. National Museum of Wales; Miss Margaret S. Davies Bequest, 1963 (nmwa 509). Courtesy American Federation of Arts.
Partnering with the National Museum Wales and the American Federation of Arts, the Corcoran Gallery of Art is presenting over 50 works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist art – most of which have never been in America before.
Read the full story
Posted on 24 January 2010
Signature Theatre documents an East Berlin transvestite’s survival of WWII and the Communist regime.
By Julie LaPorte
Andrew Long. Photo by Scott Suchman.
I Am My Own Wife tells the true life story of a playwright who set out to chronicle the life of an East Berlin transvestite who survived Nazi rule and Communist oppression. Written by Doug Wright and directed by Alan Paul, I Am My Own Wife is playing at Signature Theatre through March 7.
Read the full story
Posted on 11 January 2010
Two brothers bring their romantic interests home, sparks fly, and carefully kept secrets threaten to tear their family apart in Lydia Diamond’s Stick Fly playing at Arena Stage.
By Julie LaPorte
Wendell W. Wright, Nikkole Salter, and Jason Dirden. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Playwright Lydia Diamond presents Stick Fly, an examination of racism, classism, and family tensions among the black elite. Directed by Kenny Leon, Stick Fly is playing at Arena Stage in Crystal City through February 7.
Read the full story
Posted on 21 December 2009
Grab your pitchforks and torches – there’s a monster loose at the Kennedy Center.
By Julie LaPorte
Anne Horak, Joanna Glushak, Cory English, Roger Bart, Shuler Hensley. Photo by Paul Kolnik.
The Kennedy Center is presenting Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s reinterpretation of Young Frankenstein, Brooks’ 1974 hit film. Directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman, this raucous story of an unwilling doctor who creates a sophisticated and sensitive monster plays through January 10.
Read the full story
Posted on 18 December 2009
Greedy CEOs and shady attempts to win government contracts. Studio Theatre’s “The Solid Gold Cadillac” is very good, and very “Washington.”
By Julie LaPorte
Michael Goodwin and Nancy Robinette. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Greedy corporate CEOs. Shady attempts to win government contracts. A scandalous liaison between a politico and a mystery woman. Seemingly ripped from the pages of today’s headlines, The Solid Gold Cadillac tells the story of Mrs. Laura Partridge, a small stockholder who upends the business status quo and captures headlines as she changes the face of General Products forever. Written by comedic greats Howard Teichmann and George S. Kaufman and directed by Paul Mullins, The Solid Gold Cadillac is playing at the Studio Theatre through January 10.
Read the full story
Posted on 15 December 2009
Share these magical performances with friends and family this week.
By Julie LaPorte
Terry Burrell, Delores King Williams, Stephanie Waters. Photo by Scott Suchman.
Signature Theatre presents Show Boat
November 10 through January 17
Spanning the years 1880 to 1927, this lyrical masterpiece concerns the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of three generations of show folk on the Mississippi. Show Boat is a sweeping tale of enduring love and devastating hatred, illuminating through unforgettable music the cruelty of prejudice – and the beauty of romance.
Read the full story
Posted on 13 December 2009
Woolly Mammoth presents The Neo-Futurists’ Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind.
By Julie LaPorte
Jay Torrence and Mary Fons. Photo by Colin Hovde.
The Neo-Futurists are back! This Chicago-based ensemble is bringing a new version of Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind to Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Created by Greg Allan, and written and directed by the cast members themselves, 30 mini plays are presented in only 60 minutes. Too Much Light… is playing through January 2.
Read the full story
Posted on 09 December 2009
Take part in the holiday spirit with these theatrical performances.
By Julie LaPorte
Olney Theatre Center presents Camelot
November 18 through January 3
This irresistible musical takes you inside the legend of King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. Arthur’s dream of creating a utopian kingdom is complicated by love for his new Queen, Guinevere, and friendship with his favorite knight, Lancelot. This ravishing story of passion, chivalry, and betrayal has a gorgeous score that includes “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “What Do the Simple Folk Do?,” and, of course, “Camelot.”
Read the full story
Posted on 09 December 2009
Theatergoers are driving away holiday blues with Seasonal Disorder performed by the Washington Improv Theater.
By Julie LaPorte
Catherine Deadman
Braving holiday cheer and the region’s first snowfall, Washington Improv Theater presented Seasonal Disorder at the Source Theatre. The show will be playing through December 19.
Read the full story
Posted on 03 December 2009
Start December out right with the following theatrical performances.
By Julie LaPorte
Gene Lewis and Valerie Vigoda. Photo by Joan Marcus.
Arena Stage presents Striking 12
December 2 through 13
Combining pop-rock, musical comedy and old-fashioned uplift with a healthy dose of 21st-century skepticism, Striking 12 is a unique hybrid of musical theater and live concert performed by celebrated pop-rock trio GrooveLily. From the Tony Award-winning writer Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) comes this story of a Grumpy Guy who decides to avoid the hectic, loveless world on New Year’s Eve, until he’s visited by an incandescent salesgirl with the promise to chase away his winter doldrums.
Read the full story
Posted on 01 December 2009
The Arena Stage brings a new twist to The Fantasticks, the world’s longest running musical.
By Julie LaPorte
Michael Stone Forrest, Timothy Ware, Nate Dendy, Sebastian La Cause, Addi McDaniel, and Jerome Lucas Harmann. Photo by Scott Suchman.
The Arena Stage and Director Amanda Dehnert are presenting an innovative re-imagining of The Fantasticks, the Off-Broadway play that earned the title of the world’s longest running musical. This is a story about a boy and a girl who defy their father’s feuding to fall in love during the magical moonlit nights, but who must then face the harsh realities of the sunlit world. The Fantasticks is playing at the Lincoln Theatre through January 10.
Read the full story
Posted on 19 November 2009
Signature Theatre in Shirlington Presents Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern’s Show Boat.
By Julie LaPorte
VaShawn McIlvain, Delores King Williams, Stephanie Waters, Terry Burnell, ensemble member Kevin McAllister. Photo by Chris Mueller.
The mood at Signature Theatre on Tuesday night was celebratory, and for good reason. The 2009/10 season is Signature’s 20th, and they are now presenting their 100th production, Show Boat. Running through January 17, Show Boat is directed by Eric Schaeffer and offers a revised script and new orchestrations by Jonathan Tunick.
Read the full story
Posted on 17 November 2009
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company presents Charles Mee’s Full Circle.
By Julie LaPorte
Photos by Stan Barouh
Michael Russotto, Sarah Marshall, Daniel Escobar, Jessica Frances Dukes. Photo by Stan Barouh.
In its 30th season, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company continues to offer the community progressive and innovative theater intended to spark a dialog about social issues and the impact that art has had throughout history. Charles Mee’s Full Circle, directed by Michael Rohd and creatively staged to utilize Woolly Mammoth’s theater, challenges viewers with a personal theater experience. The play runs through November 29.
Read the full story
