Rachael F. Goldberg - Page 3

Monumental Theatre Company’s production of 'Songs for a New World' comes at a unique time in our society, and expertly capitalizes on this. With its strong cast and creative team, this adaptation rises to our moment and taps into our emotionality. It brings us the emotional connection and comfort that many of us have missed in the last year, and helps us take our next steps with the knowledge that we’ll be fine.

Constellation Theatre Company’s production of 'The Last Five Years' is a fun and engaging performance, but the lopsided cast undermines its core charm. That said, fans of the show will still enjoy the production, and newcomers will still find the it engaging, if a bit unbalanced.

'Luther's Trumpet' is a fair production with an interesting premise - some parts are more intriguing than others, so the overall impression leaves a little more to be desired. But those electric moments when Luther confronts his adversaries and his stirring speech at the show's close definitely elevate it beyond that 'fair' evaluation into something fascinating.

'10 Seconds' is the product of workshops and discussions between law enforcement, activists, and DC metro youth under the Imagination Stage Youth and Police program.

Kennedy Center’s latest digital stage contribution is a fantastic display of how art and education can go hand-in-hand.

'A More Perfect Union' is very short, but its brilliance is that it takes viewers on a full, deep emotional roller coaster in that brief period of time. Rona Siddiqui was given free creative reign over this project, and enlisted artists she entrusted with the same autonomy. The result is nothing short of pure, heartfelt art.

The Landless Theatre Company's sock puppet rendition of 'Urinetown' feels like a joke gone too far, with no clear audience in mind.

Shakespeare Theatre Company manages to hit all these marks in a way that’s thoughtful, engaging, and a fun experience for both the participants and the viewers.

'Torn' is a well-researched, cleverly produced production with an interesting story at its heart. The show may not live up to the theatre company’s name, but it’s an enjoyable enough production with a worthwhile tale to tell.

The production commits the cardinal sin in storytelling, telling instead of showing. This stripped, dispassionate presentation is particularly frustrating because there are moments in which the story peeks through the delivery, and we get a glimmer of something fascinating, but the story is too many times removed to make an emotional connection.

This Is Who I Am is a compelling emotional tale, defying our expected limits of technology to bring us a deep, profound human connection over a video call. With clever, layered uses of language and deeply poignant discussions, Amir Nizar Zuabi’s play shows us that human connection isn’t just possible under these circumstances, but able to thrive.

The Resurrection of Alice is a well-researched, superbly acted play. There are some flaws, but the production is well worth seeing for its heart, empathy, and even humor. It will hopefully both entertain audiences and encourage them to become advocates for children like Alice.

'TRANS AM' is a powerful, honest portrayal of a fascinating and gifted woman, and brings a beautiful blend of storytelling and performance to the stage (and our screens). With its compelling story, sensational music, and deep emotionality, 'TRANS AM' is a show that stays with audiences in the best way, and makes you excited to see what Lisa’s next steps will be.

'From Gumbo to Mumbo' is like a favorite books of poetry – a little rough when you’re still learning the rhythms, but ultimately captivating. Anderson and Lawson-Brown’s command of language is stunning, and the linguistic juxtapositions in this script are so artful, the audience could discover a new, intriguing turn of phrase with each viewing.

Round House Theatre leans into our current circumstances and puts on a good show. It's just a shame that our reality is so much worse than we could have envisioned only a few years ago that even cautionary and bitingly political statements now fall short of where we really are.

I've been as hungry for new shows as I'm sure many theater fans have been. And this particular show has the creativity, resourcefulness, and talent to bring us what we've been missing. But the underdeveloped back story, the shaky premise, and the technical issues make the experience fall short of the expectations the production's potential sets for it.

The #OpenYourLobby movement is the latest in the Theater Community's history of protest.

'Museum 2040' is a stunning, meticulous look at the future we face if we don't break out of the cycles that have become a part of American life. Renee Calarco's world-building is impressively, hauntingly, realistic, and it's beautifully brought to life by 4615's incredible cast and crew.

'Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes' is a smart, insightful show with an incredibly talented cast and production team. It's a heartfelt, surprisingly funny, and achingly realistic portrayal of a family struggling with their demons, brought to life by an outstanding team.

Overall, 'La Clemenza di Tito' is an interesting take on the beloved Mozart piece, though it feels very rough as a production, and the Kennedy Center's Eisenhower Theater may not be the ideal venue for this staging. But with a fabulous cast, team of dancers, and orchestra, it still makes for an enjoyable evening.