Washington, DC Theatre + Broadway News

Malcolm-Jamal Warner to Star in Arena's GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER, 11/29

(6/19/2013) - Malcolm-Jamal Warner will make his D.C.-area theater debut as Dr. John Prentice in Todd Kreidler's stage adaptation of GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER directed by Kenny Leon (Arena's every tongue confess and Stick Fly). Warner first rose to national prominence appearing as Theo in the television series THE COSBY SHOW. His work on the show garnered him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series. He is not only a seasoned actor, but an accomplished musician, director and producer. GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER runs November 29, 2013 - January 5, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Quotidian Theatre Company to Present D.C. Premiere of THE BIRDS, 7/12-8/11

(6/19/2013) - Following the best-selling musical James Joyce's The Dead and the critically-acclaimed drama A Walk in the Woods, Quotidian Theatre Companycloses their 15th anniversary season with the D.C. area premiere of The Birds - celebrated playwright Conor McPherson's unique, morally-challenging adaptation of the Daphne du Maurier short story that inspired Alfred Hitchcock's film. Quotidian's co-founder and artistic director Jack Sbarbori directs actors Jenny Donovan, Stephanie Mumford, Ted Schneider, and Matthew Vaky in the production, which runs July 12 - August 11, 2013 at The Writer's Center (4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD).

BWW Reviews: THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST is an Instant Classic

(6/19/2013) - Flying V Theatre, which we last saw with their loose and loopy 'Pirate Laureate of Port Town,' has created an unforgettable evening of theatre that touches you in more ways than you imagined possible. The standing ovation I witnessed last weekend was well deserved, and I hope is just one of many for the run of this show.

Photo Flash: First Look at Mary Bridget Davies, Sabrina Elayne Carten and More in Arena Stage's ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN

(6/18/2013) - Following a critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater this past fall, One Night with Janis Joplin returns for a summer run. Leading the production is Mary Bridget Davies. Davies is joined by Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with The Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs June 21-August 11, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

The National Symphony Orchestra Announces its 2013 Wolf Trap Summer Schedule

(6/17/2013) - The National Symphony Orchestra today announced its 2013 line-up of performances at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Eleven performances will take place between June 26 and August 3, 2013. Emil de Cou, in his ninth season as NSO@Wolf Trap Festival Conductor, hosts 10 of the performances and conducts four, including the opening and closing performances in the series.

Photo Flash: More Production Shots of Edward C. Nagel, Megan Westman and More in THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST

(6/17/2013) - The very best of the Internet's most iconic advertisement and missed connection website is reimagined on stage in this newly devised play, conceived by Edward Daniels, and created by the artists of Flying V. The Best of Craigslist, directed by Flying V Producing Artistic Director Jason Schlafstein, runs tonight, June 14 through June 30 at The Writer's Center. BroadwayWorld has more production shots below!

Photo Flash: First Look at Edward C. Nagel, Megan Westman and More in THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST

(6/17/2013) - The very best of the Internet's most iconic advertisement and missed connection website is reimagined on stage in this newly devised play, conceived by Edward Daniels, and created by the artists of Flying V. The Best of Craigslist, directed by Flying V Producing Artistic Director Jason Schlafstein, runs tonight, June 14 through June 30 at The Writer's Center. BroadwayWorld has a first look below!

BWW Reviews: History Comes Alive With Theater J's THE HAMPTON YEARS

(6/17/2013) - Under the taut and subtle direction of Shirley Serotsky and graced with a tremendously talented class, Theater J's The Hampton Years is nothing short of a triumph. Local playwright Jacqueline E. Lawton has given us a vital part of our history back-the humble but compelling beginnings of two towering figures in African-American art, John Biggers and Samella Lewis, who studied under Austrian refugee Viktor Lowenfeld at Virginia's Hampton Institute.

Young Playwrights' Theater Students Premiere Original Play at 2013 Source Festival Tonight

(6/17/2013) - Tonight, June 17, at 7pm, at Source Theater (1835 14th St. NW), Young Playwrights' Theater (YPT) will premiere Young Playwrights' Workshop Presents, an original play written and performed by the nine DC-area middle and high school students of YPT's award-winning after-school Young Playwrights' Workshop.

BWW Reviews: Prog Metal Version of FRANKENSTEIN Debuts at Landless Theatre

(6/16/2013) - Even if there are some missteps, I give Landless Theatre Company applause for the ambition alone and daring to do something a bit different.

BWW Reviews: Celtic Woman's Ethereal Sound Comes to Wolf Trap

(6/16/2013) - Judging by this concert, it's easy to see why Celtic Woman is a worldwide sensation.

Now Playing Onstage in Washington, DC - Week of 6/16/2013

(6/16/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 6/16/2013 for Washington, DC

BWW Reviews: ANYTHING GOES Delivers Laughs at Kennedy Center through July 7

(6/16/2013) - It may not be 1934 anymore, but ANYTHING GOES, running now through July 7 at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., proves that classics just get better with age.

D.C. State Players to Bring AGAMEMNON to Capital Fringe, 7/12-27

(6/14/2013) - The D.C. State Players will present Agamemnon as part of the 8th Annual Capital Fringe Festival, running July 11 - 28, 2013. Featuring Sir Dudley Playmore, the show will play at the GALA Theatre at Tivoli Square, 3333 14th Street NW, Washington, DC (One Block North of the Columbia Heights Metro Station on the Green Line).

BroadwayWorld Special Coverage: SUMMER STAGES - Our Picks for Summer's Best Around the World!

(6/14/2013) - As the summer days near, BroadwayWorld rounded up our worldwide community - from Australia to Spain, California and beyond! - to bring you our top picks for the best of summer theater in each of our main markets! Looking for the best of the summer venue and production offerings in your area? Let's hear from a sampling of the BroadwayWorld experts!

Summer Stages: BWW's Top Summer Theatre Picks - Washington, DC!

(6/14/2013) - Jeffrey Walker's top picks for summer theatre in Washington, DC and the metro area.

Anthony Kearns to Perform at JFK Ceremony Next Week

(6/14/2013) - Tenor Anthony Kearns will be a special guest singer at the official U.S. ceremony commemorating the 50(th) Anniversary of President John Fitzgerald Kennedy's historic visit to Ireland at Arlington National Cemetery on Tues., June 18, 2013.

Flying V Debuts Edward Daniels' THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST Tonight

(6/14/2013) - The very best of the Internet's most iconic advertisement and missed connection website is reimagined on stage in this newly devised play, conceived by Edward Daniels, and created by the artists of Flying V. The Best of Craigslist, directed by Flying V Producing Artistic Director Jason Schlafstein, runs tonight, June 14 through June 30 at The Writer's Center.

National New Play Network Grants Over $100,000 for New Commissions, Residencies

(6/13/2013) - The NATIONAL NEW PLAY NETWORK (NNPN), the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays, will award grants of over $100,000 for Commissions and Residencies in 2013-14. The Awards were announced at the organization's Annual Conference on June 4 in Dallas, TX, hosted by Core Member Theater Kitchen Dog Theater.

Force/Collision to Present TRUST ME by Falk Richter at Arena Stage, 6/13

(6/12/2013) - The 2012/13 season of the Kogod Cradle Series concludes with the work of local company force/collision and the development of their newest piece, TRUST ME by Falk Richter. The company will perform approximately 45 minutes of work, followed by an open rehearsal in which the audience will have an opportunity to see the process in action followed by a brief post-show discussion.

Olney Theatre Center Announces CABARET, THE PIANO LESSON and More for 2014 Season

(6/12/2013) - Olney Theatre Center Artistic Director Jason Loewith announced the company would scrap its traditional subscription format while producing an ambitious slate of three seasons and nine productions for the Theatre's 2014 76th Anniversary Season. Three "mini-seasons" will feature Rolling World Premieres, 20th century American classics, four extraordinary musicals and an outdoor Shakespeare production beneath the stars.

Ping Chong, Randy Gener & More Join Theatre of the Voiceless Festival, 6/16-19

(6/12/2013) - Documentary theater possesses a unique ability to respond to issues of pressing political import and social justice, and provides a platform and voice for the dispossessed. "Theater of the Voiceless" - an international symposium and festival produced by Zeitgeist DC (Austrian Cultural Forum Washington, Goethe-Institut Washington and the Embassy of Switzerland) and the Laboratory for Global Performance and Politics at Georgetown University - takes place June 16 - 19, 2013 at various venues around Washington, DC.

GOODNIGHT MOON, THREE LITTLE BIRDS and More Set for ATMTC's 62nd Season

(6/12/2013) - Adventure Theatre MTC, ATMTC, the twice recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences 2011-2012, has announced its 62nd Season. This year ATMTC brings to life 5 main stage productions featuring 1 world premiere. The 62nd Season represents an exciting line-up of familiar stories and faces on the ATMTC Professional Stage.

Brave Spirits Theatre Opens ROMEO AND JULIET Tonight

(6/12/2013) - Brave Spirits Theatre has announced its fourth production, William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet. The production will run beginning tonight, June 12 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, D.C.

THE MUSIC MAN to Open at Virginia Rep, 6/28

(6/11/2013) - Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of The Music Man at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre on Friday, June 28 with a Preview on June 27. The show runs through August 4, 2013.

Kelly Younger's THIS WORLD WE KNOW Wins Firehouse Theatre's 2013 Festival of New American Plays

(6/11/2013) - Firehouse Theatre has announced the winner of the 11th Annual Festival of New American Plays, Kelly Younger's This World We Know. Based in Los Angeles, Younger is an award-winning playwright with work staged off-Broadway, regionally, and internationally. The Festival took place June 6 - 9, generously sponsored by Carole Weinstein.

The 8th Annual Capital Fringe Festival to Present HOW TO HAVE IT ALL: THE MUSICAL, 7/11

(6/11/2013) - HOW TO HAVE IT ALL: THE MUSICAL is an original musical inspired by the 2012 Anne-Marie Slaughter article "Why Women Still Can't Have it All" which sparked a dialogue among a group of performers about modern society and the difficulties faced by both women and men trying to pursue a life that includes a strong relationship, children, and a career and so much more. As the debate escalated a musical play was born written by a team of both men and women.

Nat'l Conservatory of Dramatic Arts to Stage Reading of THE THING ABOUT MY BROTHER, 6/24

(6/10/2013) - The National Conservatory of Dramatic Arts, the only accredited acting school in the Greater Washington Area, announced today the continuation of its staged readings of a "Manilogy" of new comedies about men - written by local playwrights Mario Baldessari and Chris Stezin, and directed by WSC Avant Bard Artistic Director Tom Prewitt. The "Manilogy" continues with a staged reading of "The Thing about My Brother" on Monday, June 24, at 7:30.

Rebecca Luker to Star in THE LITTLE DANCER at the Kennedy Center, Oct 2014?

(6/9/2013) - Rebecca Luker announced on the Tonys red carpet tonight: 'I'll be doing THE LITTLE DANCER musical at The Kennedy Center in about a year and a half.' According to the AP, the show is inspired by a Degas sculpture called 'Little Dancer Aged Fourteen', and features book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, with music by Stephen Flaherty and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman.

Now Playing Onstage in Washington, DC - Week of 6/09/2013

(6/9/2013) - Upcoming Shows - Week of 6/09/2013 for Washington, DC

BWW Reviews: Touring Cast of ROCK OF AGES Ignites Audience at Wolf Trap's Filene Center

(6/8/2013) - Thanks to a triple threat cast with energy to spare, this silly show is one to see!

BWW Reviews: An Electrifying COMPANY Brilliantly Realized at Signature

(6/8/2013) - COMPANY at Signature Theatre is electrifying and brilliant. Director Eric Schaeffer's return to COMPANY - after 20 years - may well be considered among his finest directorial achievements. Sondheim is often called 'Signature's signature.' COMPANY, now playing through June 30, shows us why. If we gave out stars at Broadway World, I'd give them ten for COMPANY.

BRAVO@KAT Stages FIDDLER ON THE ROOF JR. Today

(6/8/2013) - What possibly could be said or written about a production of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF Jr. that hasn't already been announced countless times? Probably nothing except the one word 'tradition' and that's the lasting essence of this theatrical phenomenon on two levels for this BRAVO@KAT student production. The show retells the ethnic traditions of a specific family but it has universal appeal. The 'tradition' here is a dual one because it includes the re-enactment of the cherished Broadway tradition of teaching new generations of American children the theatrical classics of our culture.

Tony Nominee Ken Ludwig Hosts Talk and Book-Signing at Folger Shakespeare Library Today

(6/8/2013) - World-renowned playwright and Tony Award nominee Ken Ludwig (Crazy for You, Lend Me a Tenor) will be hosting an interactive discussion on Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, followed by a book-signing of his new book How to Teach Your Children Shakespeare at the Folger Shakespeare Library today, June 8 at 12pm.

Flying V to Debut Edward Daniels' THE BEST OF CRAIGSLIST, 6/14-30

(6/7/2013) - The very best of the Internet's most iconic advertisement and missed connection website is reimagined on stage in this newly devised play, conceived by Edward Daniels, and created by the artists of Flying V. The Best of Craigslist, directed by Flying V Producing Artistic Director Jason Schlafstein, runs June 14 through June 30 at The Writer's Center.

Keegan Theatre's RABBIT HOLE Opens June 28

(6/7/2013) - The Keegan Theatre will present David Lindsay-Abaire's Rabbit Hole, winner of the 2007 Pulitzer Prize, opening on June 28 at the Church Street Theater in Washington, DC.

E. Faye Butler and Nova Y. Payton to Star in SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE at Arena Stage; 2013-14 Season Additions Announced!

(6/5/2013) - Two area favorites E. Faye Butler and Nova Y. Payton will unite to star in Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller in Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's 2013/14 season.

BWW Reviews: Sardonic and Witty, BECKY SHAW Makes Area Premiere at Round House Theatre

(6/4/2013) - When newly-minted Round House Theatre Producing Artistic Director Ryan Rilette announced that Gina Gionoffrido's Becky Shaw would replace another show - selected by his predecessor - in the theatre company's current season, I was pretty interested to see how it would turn out. I had the chance to check out the 2009 New York premiere at Second Stage Theatre and was largely impressed with not only the cast, but the play itself. Not your run of the mill kind of schmaltzy and cutesy romantic comedy, this play veers toward the edgy and dark side while offering valuable insights on human relationships and related boundaries/rules of the road with the help of some richly drawn characters.

Photo Flash: First Look at Matthew Scott and More in Signature Theatre's COMPANY

(6/3/2013) - Phone rings. Door chimes. In comes Company, one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim's most beloved musicals, produced at Signature Theatre for the first time in twenty years and directed by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer. The cast of fourteen, led by Matthew Scott (First You Dream: The Music of Kander & Ebb; Side By Side By Sondheim) in the role of Bobby, features many of Signature's most well-known stars in an enchanting, deeply funny exploration of love and marriage. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Shakespeare Theatre Company to Present POTTED POTTER, 9/5

(6/3/2013) - The Shakespeare Theatre Company, recipient of the 2012 Regional Theatre Tony Award, is pleased to announce that Potted Potter, a seventy minute production featuring all seven Harry Potter books, will play in the Company's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) this fall. The production will run from September 5 - 15, 2013 and tickets are now on sale for the public.