Tracy Danoff

If you are in the mood for some high energy fluff, Toby's Dinner Theatre has just the thing - Legally Blonde, The Musical. Based on the 2001 movie, Legally Blonde follows the story of Elle Woods, a seemingly vacuous sorority girl. After being dumped by her Harvard Law bound boyfriend, Elle is determined to win him back. So, she packs up her Pradas and her pooch and heads to the Ivy League school.

With the popularity of pop culture sensations such as Diablo III and Words With Friends, it is obvious that the public likes a good game. Playing with another person's emotions is a completely different type of amusement. It is this type of game playing that is the order of the day in Anthony Shaffer's mystery, Sleuth.

A mysterious accented woman, some kooky innkeepers and an innocent man on the run are just three of the multitude of characters performed in Olney Theatre's The 39 Steps. Based on the 1935 Alfred Hitchcock thriller, The 39 Steps highlights a theme that was common in many Hitchcock films - an average man who suddenly finds himself mixed up in murder and intrigue.

It was a starry Monday night at DC's Warner Theatre. Members of the local theater community came out from DC, Maryland and Virginia to celebrate the best and the brightest from last season. The evening was sprinkled with area favorites, a politician or two and even a respected film star.

Toby's Dinner Theatre has a long history of presenting high quality productions. However, could they pull off the technicolor vision of The Wizard Of Oz that most people see in their mind's eye? Happily for the audience, answer is yes.

Many people may be familiar with the work of Basil Twist and not even know it. You may have seen his handiwork on Broadway in The Pee Wee Herman Show or The Addams Family. He was also a consultant on the film Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. Mr. Twist is not only a master puppeteer but a master of special effects. He brings all of his talent and ingenuity to his production of Petrushka, as presented by Shakespeare Theatre.

How lucky we are in the DC area. Rich with culture, the region has an especially vibrant theater scene. Arena Stage is a prominent part of that scene and this year they are treating us to something special - The Eugene O'Neill Festival. Arena is working with other area venues to present the festival for two months. They have kicked off the festival with O'Neill's comedy, Ah, Wilderness!

Singing knights, flying cows and a killer rabbit are just a few things you can expect from Spamalot, the Tony Award winning musical that has landed in DC at the Warner Theatre. Silliness abounds in this show, which is based on the 1975 movie, "Monty Python and the Holy Grail."

Turning on the TV or reading the news can be depressing these days. Sometimes a person wants to leave behind the serious issues of the day and see something that is just nice - and nice is the perfect description of Olney Theater Center's season opener, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown.

The theater is filled with shows that take place in the entertainment business. Whether it is a about a young girl making good on Broadway or two crooked producers trying not to make good, the world of entertainment is a fascinating place. However, does the theater really need another show about the business of show? It does when it is as delightful as Josephine Tonight.