George Mason News

Don't be fooled by all of the bright colors. The Mark Morris Dance Group's (MMDG) newly commissioned Layla and Majnun, which opened last night at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, lacks the necessary energy to elevate this tragic yet formulaic love story. It's evident from the start that all of the performers on stage are immensely talented, which is why the lack of cohesion throughout the evening becomes frustrating.

10 Hairy Legs, the all male repertory dance company, dèbuts at Baryshnikov Arts Center for its sixth consecutive New York Season for four performances June 7 -10. The program features World Premieres by Bessie Award Nominee and company member Nicholas Sciscione, and Yin Yue. Works by Al Blackstone, Raja Feather Kelly and Christopher Williams complete the program.

Few productions can claim to be as much of an institution as Shear Madness is to Washington, D.C. Celebrating 30 years at the Kennedy Center, this show has become once of theater's most notorious tourist traps. This comedic caper whose plot can vary wildly each night incentivizes repeat viewings to those who are true converts, proving why more than 3.4 million people have attended this production. And although the stereotype-laden script struggles when viewed in 2018, the immersive whodunnit remains an experience unique enough to justify Shear Madness's continued existence.

The Women's Voices Theater Festival may be winding down in D.C. proper, but Alexandria's MetroStage is looking to keep the focus on female-centered stories with their Spring Solo Series. The second of these one-woman shows, George-Don't Do That: The Music and Magic of Joyce Grenfell, is a love-filled tribute to British comedienne Joyce Grenfell who became a global sensation in the mid-20th century thanks to her intellectual satire and good natured spirit. Despite clear adoration for the play's subject, the work doesn't properly explain who Ms. Grenfell is or why she became so famous, information which would be helpful for a modern American audience.

Actress Elise Arsenault explores gender and conventional love in the roles of 'Sasha', Musical Director and cellist in the new critically acclaimed production of Sarah Ruhl's adaptation of VIRGINA WOOLF'S ORLANDO, from the Lyric Stage Company of Boston and directed by A. Nora Long.

Cleveland Public Theatre (CPT) is proud to present the National New Play Network Rolling World Premiere of Br'er Cotton, a poetic and timely new play by Tearrance Arvelle Chisholm, directed by Jennifer L. Nelson. Br'er Cotton is onstage March 29 - April 21, in CPT's historic Gordon Square Theatre.

Today's subject, Andrew Walker White, is currently living his theatre life onstage at Quotidian Theatre Company in Bethesda, MD. in the title role of Hobson in Hobson's Choice. The production runs through March 11th.

NBC Sports presents the 2018 Atlantic 10 Men's Basketball Championship this Thursday and Friday from Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., totaling 20 hours of live coverage of the Second Round and Quarterfinals on NBCSN.

That's why on Wednesday, March 14th, the company will host its 5th annual international 'pop-up' pizza party in honor of Pi Day with any build your own pie for only $3.14 at the company's more than 245 locations. Commemorating Pi Day is important to Blaze because it highlights the ratio of the circumference of the world's best shape, the circle, to its diameter. Build your custom pizza, grab an ice-cold drink and celebrate this very special day with your closest friends.

Avant Bard's acclaimed up-close and unplugged production of The Gospel at Colonus reopens with some exceptional new talents on board-including a gospel recording artist and a drummer who worked on Black Panther.

Avant Bard's acclaimed up-close and unplugged production of THE GOSPEL AT COLONUS reopens with some exceptional new talents on board-including a gospel recording artist and a drummer who worked on Black Panther.

In partnership with House Music Group DC, R&B/Soul artist Sydney Franklin has officially released her freshman project, Make It Hurt. The four track EP focuses on Franklin'a self-revelation of being honest with herself, and coming to terms with who she is as an artist and person. Laced with powerhouse vocals reminiscent of Amy Winehouse, Joss Stone and Jorja Smith, Make It Hurt effortlessly blends heartfelt lyrics, R&B beats, and synth-pop rhythms. Encompassing Franklin's 4-octave range and retro-sound, Make It Hurt is available now on all digital retailers. Listen to the full EP here.  

Manoa Valley Theatre is proud to present the Hawaii premiere of multi-Tony Award winning musical 'Fun Home' from the 2015 Broadway season March 1 - 18. This musical comic drama tells the story of graphic artist Alison Bechdel. When her father dies unexpectedly, she dives deep into her past to tell the story of the volatile, brilliant, one-of-a-kind man whose temperament and secrets defined her family and her life. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing at the family's Bechdel Funeral Home, her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father's hidden desires. Fun Home is a refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes.

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce that Broadway legend Maurice Hines will serve as the Master of Ceremonies and international touring artist and global humanitarian Mary McBride will headline the 2018 Arena Stage Gala honoring Mayor Muriel Bowser on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW). As previously announced, the Gala features the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, and will recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick.

Well-known gospel recording artist Kenton Rogers has joined the cast of Avant Bard's revival of The Gospel at Colonus, a critical and audience hit last season. Rogers--an actor, singer, and ordained preacher--will headline The Gospel at Colonus in the role of Singer Oedipus along with local civic legend William T. Newman Jr., who returns as Preacher Oedipus.

Well-known gospel recording artist Kenton Rogers has joined the cast of Avant Bard's revival of The Gospel at Colonus, a critical and audience hit last season. Rogers-an actor, singer, and ordained preacher-will headline The Gospel at Colonus in the role of Singer Oedipus along with local civic legend William T. Newman Jr., who returns as Preacher Oedipus.

The Board of Directors of NextStop Theatre Company today announced the appointment of Abigail Fine as Managing Director. Fine will help lead the award-winning company that burst onto the professional theatre scene in 2013 and has quickly grown to be a prominent player in the Washington Area theatre community

I sat down with Director/Producer Cheryl Allison and DFW actress and community advocate Denise Lee, as they discussed the documentary SHATTER THE SILENCE. The Dallas-based documentary explores the turning point for women and changes they hope to see in in the handling of sexual assault and harassment cases in the Dallas theatre community and beyond.

In this joyful romance of gender roles and expectations, Orlando the man wakes up, after a particularly wild night in 17th-century Constantinople, to find himself a woman! She abandons herself to three centuries of navigating love, desire, and the world from an entirely different perspective.  Oft described as the most charming love letter in literature - written by Woolf to Vita Sackville-West - Sarah Ruhl brings the novel to life on stage in a grand, epic adventure that transcends time, place, and gender.   

Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith and Executive Director Edgar Dobie are pleased to announce the presentation of the third annual Beth Newburger Schwartz Award to D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, as well as recognize Jessica Stafford Davis as an Emerging Leader at the 2018 Arena Stage Annual Gala. The Gala is helmed by event chairs and Arena Stage Trustees Lavern Chatman and Maggie FitzPatrick, and will be held on Thursday, May 10, 2018 at the Mead Center for American Theater (1101 Sixth St., SW).