Maya Cantu

Having moved gracefully through the moral shadowlands of John Patrick Shanley's Pulitzer Prize-winning play Doubt, acclaimed actress Adriane Lenox now finds herself in a lighter realm - that of Noel Coward's hilarious classic Blithe Spirit, which plays the Williamstown Theatre Festival from July 18th through 29th.

There are two kinds of great solo performers - those who can evoke awed silence in audiences, and those who can stir them to laughter, cheers and impassioned cries of affirmation and awareness. Daniel Beaty - who is part slam poet, part motivational speaker and a completely phenomenal performer - proves that he belongs in the latter category with Emergence-See

American Century Theatre presents a fascinating staged reading of Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman's claws-out 1936 comedy Stage Door

For over half a century, Stuart Vaughan has been - in every sense of the phrase - a true Renaissance man of the theatre. Vaughan's latest project is a new stage version of The Scarlet Letter, Nathaniel Hawthorne's classic 1850 novel about the conflict between Puritanism and passion. With honesty, eloquence and insight, Vaughan recently answered some questions about his incredible life in the theatre - and about a career that shows no signs at all of slowing down!

Although it could benefit from a little more spontaneity at times, Arena Stage offers a lovely production of Terrence McNally's bittersweet romance Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune

The characters and conventions of film noir get flamboyantly comical facelifts in Adrift in Macao, a new musical by Peter Melnick and Christopher Durang that, as presented by Primary Stages, will open at 59E59 Theaters on February 13th. Melnick has previously written musicals and has scored many films and TV shows, and Adrift in Macao is the talented composer's most high-profile project to date.

Darren Holden, the talented singer/songwriter and stage performer, formed his own band at the age of 16 - and continues to rock as the Piano Man in the national tour of Movin' Out

The Light in the Piazza's ability to both dazzle and devastate is amply showcased in its touring production, which has settled at the Kennedy Center for a run through January 7th

Shout!'s 'Green Girl' Erica Schroeder is a talented and insightful performer who thinks of the '60s musical as the latest colorful patch in the quilt of her life and career

Creator/director Ryan J. Davis and composer/lyricist/bookwriter Joe Drymala discuss the new NYMF musical White Noise, about two young singers whose pop music is infused with emotion-charged melodies, optimistic lyrics and blatant racism

Judy Blazer, the talented and articulate actress most recently seen in Off-Broadway's Bernarda Alba, chats about her career and about Artist's Crossing, the program for young performers of which she is the artistic director

Shawn Northrip's punk musical 'Lunch,' currently playing the inaugural Capital Fringe Festival in DC, has attitude and vitality, but also an unfocused book and overindulgence in stereotype

The Actors' Theatre of Washington is serving up a double act evening of Joe Orton's Ruffian on the Stair and Charles Busch's Vampire Lesbians of Sodom; the effect is of a grandly filling entree after an under-spiced appetizer

Although the national tour of Chicago, currently onstage at Wolf Trap in DC, offers darkly sexy fun and a stunning turn by Michelle DeJean, performances are uneven and the revival itself lacks a bit of sting

In 1987, a British actress in a shabby brown trenchcoat, newsboy cap and with a dirt-smudged face, sang of her solitude. Breaking all but the stoniest hearts of the Imperial Theatre's audiences, she scored numerous awards--including the Tony--before returning to the UK. Two decades later, Frances Ruffelle has come back to New York to perform a cabaret show

Brent Barrett, known for his romantic presence and ravishing tenor has played many roles--but never before has he brought down the world's most famous chandelier

Ensemble Studio Theatre bills itself as 'The Major Forum for One-Act Plays in America.' Having not surveyed too many of the minor forums, I can't necessarily second it. But if its 28th Festival of One-Act Plays 'Series C' is any indication, the company can pride itself on presenting intriguing work by artists more than skilled in the craft of one-act playwriting-and even the writing of musicals

Stephanie J. Block, the talented performer who will soon be appearing in concert at Birdland, dishes on her soon-to-be reign as The Pirate Queen, on her turn as Wicked's Elphaba, and on other favorite roles

In the famous Act One finale of Mame, the musical's irresistible title character single-handedly revives the drowsy South, sending its courtly gentlemen and Georgia peaches into an ecstatic serenade of acceptance and very high octaves. It's a rousing number in the Kennedy Center's gorgeously-mounted production, but it's hard to find the same kind of enthusiasm with Christine Baranski filling Mame's jodhpurs

Studio Theatre's production of Tony Kushner and Jeanine Tesori's Caroline, or Change is uneven with its staging, but its performances accent the power and compassion of an almost-great musical