Jeffrey Walker - Page 7

Jeremy Skidmore and the actors at Keegan Theatre are reason enough to head to Church Street to see Aaron Sorkin's courtroom drama A Few Good Men. Skidmore's direction and the strong performances by the acting company elevate a standard court room drama into a compelling must-see event.

DOUBLE FREAKQUENCY at the 2013 Capital Fringe Festival provides a technological twist: interactive audio theatre. Presented by AVAdventure Productions the novelty of DOUBLE FREAKQUENCY is that the audience can choose the branch of the story they wish to take with the help of a wireless headset.

Studio's production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW is electrifying. Mitchell Jarvis (from Broadway's ROCK OF AGES) stars as Frank N. Furter in this titillating, roof-raising stage show. Studio Theatre's 2ndStage productions aim to be daring and audacious and ROCKY HORROR hits a bulls-eye.

Capital Fringe 2013 welcomes Faction of Fools for an enjoyable hour-long adaptation of Shakespeare's love-struck tragedy. Presented by Washington's award-winning Commedia dell'Arte theatre company, A COMMEDIA ROMEO AND JULIET is a grand showcase of the troupe's specialty.

Jeffrey Walker's top picks for summer theatre in Washington, DC and the metro area.

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.

A wealth of talent has come together to produce The Guardsman at the Kennedy Center. It is a handsome production, worthy of any stage in the nation. Playwright and translator Richard Nelson has created a multi-layered dramatic comedy based closely on Ferenc Molnar's original 1910 play. With direction by Gregory Mosher, The Guardsman stars Finn Wittrock and Sarah Wayne Callies as married actors.

Folger Theatre's TWELFTH NIGHT is simply perfection. A complete triumph, TWELFTH NIGHT, directed by Robert Richmond, is a clear, funny and touching rendering of a Shakespeare play that can appeal to any theatre-goer. After their sell-out production of HENRY V, which received all sorts of accolades, Folger may have topped itself. TWELFTH NIGHT is one you don't want to miss.

SHOW BOAT is back in an appealing production by the Washington National Opera. The Kennedy Center Opera House is a fitting berth for Captain Andy's Cotton Blossom and the happy/troubled show folk who make it their home. Boasting a cast and chorus of 100, WNO's SHOW BOAT allows the story to roll along the 40-year time span and the glorious music to enthrall the audience once again.

Lead by Helen Carey and Larry Bryggman, Jon Robin Baitz's OTHER DESERT CITIES at Arena Stage boasts strong performances and clear direction by Kyle Donnelly.

WALLENSTEIN deserves to be considered a regular visitor to classical theatres throughout the world. Robert Pinsky's free adaptation of an 18th century epic is one more fabulous rediscovery of a near-forgotten classic to the company's production. The play is anchored by Steve Pickering's performance in the title role.

Beefcake, in all shapes and sizes, is front and center in the musical romp The Full Monty. As produced by Riverside Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg, the show is a crowd-pleaser. A bit naughty, yes, so leave the kids at home. Otherwise, featured player Sally Struthers and company give the audience a rollicking good time.

RUMORS, Neil Simon's one and only farce, comes to McLean Community Players in a production directed by Rosemary Hartman. Broadway World's Jeffrey Walker sat in on rehearsal to get a preview of the production. The production runs Fridays-Sundays, April 19-May 4, 2013, at the Alden Theatre in the McLean Community Center.

Shakespeare Theatre Company's new production of Coriolanus offers a no-nonsense approach to the text and memorable performances that go a long way to make a case for audiences to discover this difficult play.

Ford's Theatre and Signature Theatre have come together for a roof-raising revival of what might be the feel good musical of the year: their joint production of HELLO, DOLLY! Washington audiences should not miss this gorgeous looking show fabulously lead by Broadway veteran Nancy Opel as Dolly Levi. This is musical theatre heaven!

The sordid tale of Leopold and Loeb is the subject of NEVER THE SINNER now receiving a strong production at 1st Stage in Tysons. Directed by Jeremy Skidmore, the play is carefully crafted and is a winning blend of theatrical bravura, sexual tension, calculating criminals, and period flair. Stephen Russell Murray and Alex Mandell also give tour-de-force performances.

4,000 Miles is right at home at Studio Theatre: a crackling good contemporary script, first class actors, and a top notch production. If we gave out stars at Broadway World, I would give this show five out of five.

A humorous stage adaptation of an award-winning book, JASON INVISIBLE is a world premiere commission by the Kennedy Center and VSA. The story of a young teenager dealing with a mentally ill father, JASON INVISIBLE shows the power of friendship in an interactive theatrical experience directed by Rosemary Newcott of Atlanta's Alliance Theatre.

HUGHIE, by Eugene O'Neill, shines in a handsome production at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, D.C. Lead by Emmy-winner, Richard Schiff HUGHIE is an O'Neill curiosity that is worth seeing. Just ignore the voice-overs, please.

Broadway World-DC's Jeffrey Walker sat down with Lisa Anne Bailey, director of NEXT TO NORMAL at McLean Community Players. Bailey declares the show is 'brave on every front' and is a powerful story of love and family.