Aaron Bliden News

How would you feel if the person closest to you, someone with whom you interact daily, whom you care for and who cares for you, didn't understand a word you were saying and vice versa? This communication challenge is the point on which balances the story of 200-pound chimpanzee, Trevor and his owner, Sandra. As a one-time commercial and television star alongside the likes of Morgan Fairchild, Trevor is desperate to prove his relevance in a world that has moved on now that he is no longer the adorable baby monkey of his youth. His owner Sandra swears he is still harmless and childlike, protecting herself from the realities of Trevor's dangers and the deep wounds of her own losses. Based on a true story, Trevor is a tale about how relationships, flaws, and excuses can tip-toe a delicate line between side-splitting humor and dangerous misunderstandings. Trevor and Sandra's relationship spins comically and dangerously out of control in this theatrical story by "Orange is the New Black" writer, Nick Jones. The Chicago Sun-Times hailed Trevor as a "hugely entertaining tragicomedy."

How would you feel if the person closest to you, someone with whom you interact daily, whom you care for and who cares for you, didn't understand a word you were saying and vice versa? This communication challenge is the point on which balances the story of 200-pound chimpanzee, Trevor and his owner, Sandra. As a one-time commercial and television star alongside the likes of Morgan Fairchild, Trevor is desperate to prove his relevance in a world that has moved on now that he is no longer the adorable baby monkey of his youth. His owner Sandra swears he is still harmless and childlike, protecting herself from the realities of Trevor's dangers and the deep wounds of her own losses. Based on a true story, Trevor is a tale about how relationships, flaws, and excuses can tip-toe a delicate line between side-splitting humor and dangerous misunderstandings. Trevor and Sandra's relationship spins comically and dangerously out of control in this theatrical story by "Orange is the New Black" writer, Nick Jones. The Chicago Sun-Times hailed Trevor as a "hugely entertaining tragicomedy."

Due to popular demand, The Kennedy Center has announced the addition of four extra performances to the Kennedy Center's debut run of The Second City's irreverent and interactive seasonal satire, Twist Your Dickens. Tickets are now on sale for newly added 3p.m. matinees on December 21, 22, 28, and 29. Twist Your Dickens performances take place in the Theater Lab from December 9-31, 2016.

1st Stage, Tysons Corner's award-winning professional theater, announces the extension of their critically-acclaimed production of Lobby Hero by Kenneth Lonergan, directed by 1st Stage Artistic Director, Alex Levy.  

1st Stage Theatre's production of Lobby Hero features a solid, talented small cast who does their best with the out-dated script written by Kenneth Lonerga

It was 100 years ago this year when Hugo Ball chose a nonsense word to label the anti-art movement of World War I - dada.

Pointless Theatre, DC's premiere puppet spectacle company, is proud to finish off their 2015-2016 season with their newly reimagined production of Hugo Ball: a Dada puppet AdveNTurE!!/?1!!??.

It might be inviting this jammed political year to escape all the televised debates, town halls and election coverage and simply take in a play. But it's more rewarding when that play presents, better than anything from a political podium, the very issue that keeps coming up this year and an audience is left enlightened, informed and moved by its implications.

Christmas productions come sweet or sour this time or year. It hardly matters which one - everybody seemingly has to do something connected with the holiday. as if it were the only thing that would lure people away from stores, parties and seasonal responsibilities.

Mosaic Theater Company of DC announces 36 actors so-far cast in the 2015-16 inaugural season: "The Case for Hope in a Polarized World." This far-reaching pool of locally and internationally acclaimed actors represents a commitment to telling the stories most pressing to our communities. These artists, over half of whom are actors of color, join Mosaic Theater Company in one of the most diversely cast seasons in Washington.

1st Stage, Tysons Corner's award winning professional theater, announces the extension of Old Wicked Songs by playwright Jon Marans. Michael Chamberlin directs the production at 1st Stage.

Sadness and joy is a recurring motif in music. In Jan Marans' provocative play, Old Wicked Songs, it is a motif that is played out both figuratively and musically. In Marans' play Viennese music professor Josef Mashkan points out that only those who have suffered can truly emote beautiful music. Countries that have seen centuries of war and oppression can express music more passionately than those that haven't (which, he claims is why there are no true great British, American, or Japanese composers).

1st Stage, Tysons Corner's award winning professional theater, announces tonight's April 10 opening of Old Wicked Songs by playwright Jon Marans. Michael Chamberlin directs the production at 1st Stage.

1st Stage, Tysons Corner's award winning professional theater, announces the April 10 opening of Old Wicked Songs by playwright Jon Marans. Michael Chamberlin directs the production at 1st Stage.

The Kennedy Center and VSA present the world premiere production of Mockingbird from January 17 to February 1, 2015 in the Family Theater. Commissioned by the Kennedy Center and VSA, the production is based on the National Book Award-winning novel by Kathryn Erskine, adapted by Julie Jensen and features direction by Tracy Callahan. The press opening performance is Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 4 p.m. This production for young audiences and their families is recommended for ages 10 and up.

The elves of the North Pole spend 364 days a year preparing for Christmas-but what do they do on their night off? The inventive team at Pointless Theatre Company answers this question in the form of a quirky, irreverent cabaret show that melds humor and holiday spirit into a refreshingly original production. Performed by master of ceremonies Mrs. Claus, a small ensemble of elves, and their house band, this holiday spectacular utilizes music, improve, puppetry, and other forms of comedy to create the joyful, if unbalanced, world of the North Pole.

Washington DC's highly engaging Theater J has brought Yentl back but this time in a musical form. The beauty and impact of YENTL is that the gender-bender central role is not just a plot device to have reverse drag be the knee-slapping gimmick of the moment. Yentl has no other choice but to live her life as a man, in the time and place in which the story unfolds. Theater J knows how to pick pieces with bold themes and this is no exception.

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre presents The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife. Scroll down to see a video of Natascia Diaz singing 'Mack The Knife' from the prodction!

Next Monday, The Rainbow Theatre Project presents the final installment of their inaugural season - a concert reading of the much-touted Off Broadway musical YANK! by brothers David and Joseph Zellnik. Co-directed by Factory 449 Producing Artistic Director Rick Hammerly and the Director of Artistic Programming at Ford's Theatre, Patrick Pearson, with Musical direction and accompaniment by Adam Wiggins, YANK! plays at Source in D.C. on Monday, May 5, 2014 at 7:30 p.m.