Matthew Schleigh

You can tell things are getting better in the world just by watching the Round House Theatre's latest production. It's the last of their filmed productions, for one thing. At its start, more people are seen coming into the theater to react to the performance - some 25 instead of the five or 10 in past productions. It's not strictly a solo performance on stage, as others have been - there's a backing band that even sometimes interacts.

Olney Theatre Center continues its record-breaking 81st season with Ken Ludwig's A Comedy of Tenors on the Mainstage, running April 10 to May 12, 2019. Jason King Jones, Olney Theatre's Senior Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of National Players helms the production. Jones most recently directed Annie. Press is invited to attend the performance on Saturday, April 13 at 8:00 pm.

The 1985 Broadway season might have been one of the weakest on record for musicals; in fact, only three shows were nominated for Best Musical at the Tony Awards that year. We had an Ellie Greenwich jukebox musical (Leader of the Pack), one of Harold Prince's big budget disasters (Grind), and a musical based on Mark Twain's The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (Big River). Needless to say, at least in my opinion, Big River won the Tony Award for Best Musical and several other awards in part due to a lack of competition. Despite some catchy songs by Roger “King of the Road” Miller the show suffered, in my opinion anyhow, from there simply being too much of it. William Hauptman's book tried to focus on multiple stories as opposed to having Huck and his relationship with runaway slave Jim be the true heart.

One of the best things about being a columnist is you can introduce some fresh new talent to the public. Take, for example, today's subject Candice Shedd-Thompson who is currently living her theatre life onstage at MetroStage in its tenth anniversary production of the pop-rock musical Rooms a Rock Romance. The production runs through November 11th.

Returning to MetroStage for its tenth anniversary, ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE boasts an enthusiastic two-person cast and energetic backing band. It's exactly as described, a simple girl-meets-boy tale steeped in 1970s musical flair. But instead of boiling the romance down to timeless emotion, the book's simplicity and pat ending make this a bit of a tough sell.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce that the musical ROOMS a rock romance with book by Paul Scott Goodman and Miriam Gordon, music and lyrics by Paul Scott Goodman, and directed by MetroStage Artistic Associate Thomas W. Jones II will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a new production at MetroStage, running Oct 11-Nov 11.

Constellation Theatre Company's new production of Bertolt Brecht's The Caucasian Chalk Circle isn't perfect. It is undoubtedly a celebration of what smart allegory can be. As this small theater company stretches itself to the limits to ensure they do Brecht's seminal work justice, they make great cases for both why more people should be visiting Constellation and why Brecht's work should be examined more often.

E. B. White's Charlotte's Web has been adapted in many ways. There was an animated movie musical back in the 70s, a live action film a few years back, and a stage adaptation that Theatreworks USA toured around the country for years. Imagination Stage in Bethesda is currently presenting the latter as its holiday attraction. The creative team takes a very heavy-handed approach to material that isn't that light to begin with, unfortunately.

Imagination Stage's production, directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer) takes elements of Carroll's Alice in Wonderland and adds a bit of his poem, 'The Jabberwocky' to create a musical filled with catchy rock and roll tunes.

Virginia's Signature Theatre opens its air-conditioned doors once again for the annual Sizzlin' Summer Nights Series. Two and a half weeks of live music and performances by Signature favorites and DC area stars. The cabaret series runs July 5 through July 22, with a different performance every night.

This production is a good introduction to BEAUTY AND THE BEAST. Adults will appreciate the strong voices and engaging story. The littlest patron will be enchanted.

Stephen Sondheim would be thrilled at this wonderful production.

With Road Show, Signature Theatre once again proves why they are DC's leading interpreter of Stephen Sondheim's work.

Signature Theatre presents Road Show directed by Gary Griffin (Broadway's Honeymoon in Vegas, Signature's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum). Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman's musical, about the real-life Mizner brothers and their quest for the ever elusive American dream, was praised as "fierce, funny, lean and heartbreaking" by the Chicago Sun-Times when Griffin's production premiered at Chicago Shakespeare Theater in 2014. Road Show will run from February 16 - March 13 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre. Check out a first look below!

The Ford's Theatre Society 2014-2015 season continues with the musical Freedom's Song: Abraham Lincoln and the Civil War, directed by Jeff Calhoun, March 13 through May 20, 2015, at the historic Ford's Theatre (511 Tenth Street NW, Washington, D.C.). A new adaptation of the Broadway musical The Civil War, Freedom's Song features the words of Abraham Lincoln and music inspired by the letters of those who lived through the Civil War. The production is part of Ford's 150: Remembering the Lincoln Assassination, a series of events marking the 150 years since Abraham Lincoln's assassination at Ford's Theatre.

Imagination Stage, in Bethesda, has scored yet another home run with its production of THE BFG, adapted by David Wood, OBE, from Roald Dahl's children's novel, and directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and Eric J. Van Wyck. Parents will find themselves laughing along with their kids at Dahl's and Wood's irreverent humor, including an extended riff on the biologically impolite results of reversing the direction of the bubbles in soda pop. The more mature members of the audience will chuckle at the modern cultural references. This production is a must-see.

Imagination Stage is the new home of Giant Country in The BFG (Big Friendly Giant), a play based on the book by Roald Dahl and adapted by David Wood. Co-directed by Imagination Stage's Associate Artistic Director Kathryn Chase Bryer and Eric J. Van Wyk of Viterbo University, The BFG integrates puppetry, rich visuals, and imaginative storytelling as Sophie and the Big Friendly Giant go on a magical journey to save the children of England. Scroll down for a first look at the cast onstage!

Constellation's spell-binding production of Timberlake Wertenbaker's The Love of the Nightingale may have an old-fashioned name or two, but it is as timely a production as you will ever see. Director Allison Arkell Stockman understands that Greek mythology, like tragedy itself, is a canvas upon which we paint our darkest fears and ponder their meaning. The play paints a complex picture in which victims, bystanders and perpetrators compete for the audience's sympathy; and with Constellation's consistently strong performances, the journey is one of the most thought- provoking I have seen this season.

LYLE THE CROCODILE, based on the children's book series by Bernard Waber, is appearing at the Imagination Stage, in Bethesda, Maryland. Geared for children ages four through twelve, former kids will also appreciate the warm-hearted story and the exuberant dancing.

An extraordinary crocodile that can tap dance, perform household chores, and rescue cats from burning buildings will star in the musical Lyle the Crocodile at Imagination Stage. Directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer and adapted by humorist Kevin Kling, this production featuring music by Richard Gray is wonderfully warm and witty and will win the hearts of young people this holiday season. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!