Hannah R. Wing

Theater J’s Chanukah in the Dark, directed by Tyler Herman, is a play with music (by Adam Wernick), and it is a wonderful, family-friendly celebration of Hanukkah.

1st Stage’s production of Birthday Candles, directed by Alex Levy and written by Noah Haidle, is a celebration of life, love, and family with a stellar cast led by Deidra LaWan Starnes.

Cincinnati Ballet’s The Nutcracker, choreographed by Victoria Morgan and conducted by Alyssa Wang, is whimsical and magical, a perfect show for the holiday season. 

Champions of Magic: Holiday Spectacular isn’t really a holiday show; it’s more of a love letter to magic. 

The Last Five Years, directed by Aria Velz, succeeds thanks to a talented cast and dreamlike atmosphere.

The competitive world of track and field is the center of 1st Stage’s Fair Play, written by Ella Road and directed by Deidra LaWan Starnes, but there is more to this play than just running. Ann (Mahkai Dominique) is a British-Nigerian who crosses paths with Sophie (Camilla Pivetta), a white British star runner who has been competing since she was nine years old.

The Addams Family musical isn’t as campy and charming as the movies, nor does it have the eccentric vibes of Tim Burton’s Wednesday. The musical makes you cringe (and not in the way a member of the Addams family would want you to). 

There’s a lot of stress and anxiety around selling a house. Ultimately, it comes down to one question: Will the buyer like it? Reality TV shows on cable channels like HGTV have added on to the pressure. These shows have seeped into potential home buyers’ subconsciousness, causing a phenomenon of HGTV-inspired trends that can make or break a home sale.

To Wong Foo the Musical, featuring Quadry Brown, Solomon Parker III, Connor James Reilly, and David Singleton, recently made its American debut as a concert as part of Olney Theatre Center’s Outdoor series. 

While the show currently isn’t on Netflix anymore, the beloved Kim family’s story lives on in productions like Olney Theatre’s Kim's Convenience, directed by Aria Velz.

Constellation Theatre Company’s production of Head Over Heels, directed by Allison Arkell Stockman with musical direction by Walter “Bobby” McCoy, is a delightful musical filled with superb acting and energetic musical numbers. 

hang takes its time getting to what the play is actually about. The suspense doesn't really start to develop until the final half hour, and this is where the small ensemble cast of Marie, Greer, and Joy really shine.

It’s a Motherf**cking Pleasure, directed by Josh Roche, goes rapidly back and forth between a play and commentary (as well as a little bit of audience interaction) that addresses ableism, and this makes the fictional play hard to follow.

There isn’t anything quite like the dynamics between neighbors. You either are best friends with your neighbors, know them in passing, or they are strangers. In NextStop Theatre’s production of Native Gardens, written by Karen Zacarías and directed by Elena Velasco, Pablo (Gabriel Alejandro) and Tania (Cristina Sanchez), a young couple who are expecting a baby, moves into a historic Georgetown rowhouse, right next door to Virginia (Nicole Halmos) and Frank (Matthew Pauli), an older white couple.

What makes NextStop Theatre’s The Shawshank Redemption stand out is the dedication that the cast has to bringing these characters to life on stage without miming the performances from the movie.

Edge of the Universe Theater, in association with Avant Bard Theatre, turns up the family drama in an intimate, edgy production of A Number, directed by Stephen Jarrett, starring a real-life father and son. 

This is the premise for 1st Stage’s production of Postcards from Ihatov, adapted and directed by Natsu Onoda Power. Postcards from Ihatov is a captivating exploration of Kenji Miyazawa’s works and life.

Signature Theatre’s production, Where The Mountain Meets the Sea, is a touching narrative that explores the complex dynamics between a father and son, set to the soulful sounds of mountain music. You don’t want to miss out on this original musical, which will stay with you in your heart, even after you leave the theatre.

On Saturday, April 20, 2024, PASO brought their program, Todo Tango, an intimate and fiery evening of tango to the Kennedy Center.