Ryan Manning

The “Tourist” single was written by Carissa Johnson, produced, recorded and mixed by Benny Grotto at Mad Oak Studios, mastered by Jeff Lipton and Maria Rice at Peerless Mastering, and features Tanya Venom on guitar, Carissa Johnson on bass, Carissa Johnson and Benny Grotto on keyboard, Ryan Manning on drums, and Benny Grotto on glockenspiel.

'Desires of a Criminal,' a Mercer County Community College (MCCC) student performance that will soon move to a national stage, will be presented for three nights only, Dec. 5-7, on MCCC's West Windsor Campus. 'Desires of a Criminal, a Devised Theatrical Collage,' a thought-provoking original play, will be performed at the college's Studio Theatre, adjacent to Kelsey Theatre on MCCC's West Windsor Campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road. All shows are at 7:30 p.m.

Creative Cauldron closes out its 10th season of award-winning theater with Disney's Beauty and the Beast. In the same spirit of its highly acclaimed Wizard of Oz, Creative Cauldron will tackle the iconic Disney musical Beauty and the Beast, with creativity and simplicity, knowing what is most essential is the story at its heart.

 It's 1965 in New York City and the lights are about to go out. But not before a melancholy sandwich maker becomes enchanted with two sisters in this bittersweet romantic tale about finding hope in a world best by darkness. This truly original rock-fable, nominated for 4 Drama Desk Awards, will sweep audiences off their feet and enchant them in an evening under the stars filled with romance, mystery and enchantment… but not a lot of light.

Written and composed by Will Connolly, Michael Mitnick, and Kim Rosenstock, Fly By Night is an appealing mish-mash of rock n' roll, opera, and classic music theater. It is an ode to a doomed love affair and a modern-day fairytale.

It's 1965 in New York City and the lights are about to go out. But not before a melancholy sandwich maker becomes enchanted with two sisters in this bittersweet romantic tale about finding hope in a world best by darkness. This truly original rock-fable, nominated for 4 Drama Desk Awards, will sweep audiences off their feet and enchant them in an evening under the stars filled with romance, mystery, and enchantment… but not a lot of light.

NextStop Theatre's production of Urinetown is a musical that is certainly worth the wait in line…even if you have to hold your bladder.

Director Evan Hoffman has worked deftly with a strong cast who pop in and out of the action at a brisk, engaging pace. With a special turn by 'Today Show' anchor Kathie Lee Gifford (whose voice work is remarkably good), it's a special evening indeed.

NextStop Theatre Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, running tonight, May 1-June 1, 2014, makes a major announcement for the season-closing production. Directed by NextStop's Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann, the production team is announcing the addition of TODAY Show Co-Host, Kathie Lee Gifford, as the voice of the Giant's Wife. The addition of Ms. Gifford is a significant achievement for the emerging company as they close out their inaugural main stage season.

NextStop Theatre Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, running May 1-June 1, 2014, makes a major announcement for the season-closing production. Directed by NextStop's Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann, the production team is announcing the addition of TODAY Show Co-Host, Kathie Lee Gifford, as the voice of the Giant's Wife. The addition of Ms. Gifford is a significant achievement for the emerging company as they close out their inaugural main stage season.

NextStop Theatre Company completes its inaugural main stage season with an ambitious new production of Stephen Sondheim's Into the Woods, running May 1-June 1, 2014. Directed by NextStop's Artistic Director Evan Hoffmann, the production will feature a cast of seventeen and a ten-piece orchestra in the company's intimate 114-seat black box theater in Herndon, VA.

Silver Spring Stage presents Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg, directed by Deborah Niezgoda and produced by Seth Ghitelman, the elegant and lyrical drama of the mysterious origins of family told in present and past times.

Silver Spring Stage presents Three Days of Rain by Richard Greenberg, directed by Deborah Niezgoda and produced by Seth Ghitelman, the elegant and lyrical drama of the mysterious origins of family told in present and past times.

Silver Spring Stage presents Neil LaBute's searing satire on love and beauty Fat Pig, directed by Seth Ghitelman and produced by Brenda Ryan-Ghitelman, when a young man falls for a heavy woman and weighs the opinions of people around him with his own feelings. Fat Pig will perform weekends July 16 to August 8.

Silver Spring Stage presents Neil LaBute's searing satire on love and beauty Fat Pig, directed by Seth Ghitelman and produced by Brenda Ryan-Ghitelman, when a young man falls for a heavy woman and weighs the opinions of people around him with his own feelings. Fat Pig will perform weekends July 16 to August 8.

Silver Spring Stage presents Neil LaBute's searing satire on love and beauty Fat Pig, directed by Seth Ghitelman and produced by Brenda Ryan-Ghitelman, when a young man falls for a heavy woman and weighs the opinions of people around him with his own feelings. Fat Pig will perform weekends July 16 to August 8.

With over 30 shows opening this month on DC area stages, there is a buffet of choices for local theatre goers and visitors to our nation's capital, from a Tom Kitt musical, to a bloody barber pie-filled Sondheim feast, to children's classics adapted for the stage, to American Idol contestants with slicked back hair, to a psycho woman and her schizo sister, to Commedia dell'Arte. There's something for everyone, so come visit the DC area, and have a monumental time in our theatres!

The Fall theatre season in the DC area is in full bloom. As the leaves are turning, there is a colorful group of shows opening this month. There are so many, so where do I begin? Here are shows that I am looking forward to seeing, and remember I am a musical theatre lover who likes to sprinkle in a play or two - here and there - so don't get mad if I don't choose one of the plays you are looking forward to seeing. You have your chance at the end of this article to share your 'must sees' also with our readers. Hopefully, you'll make the trip down to the DC area to see some of these wonderful productions.

Silver Spring Stage presents the area community theater premiere of columbinus by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, directed by Bridget Muehlberger, an exposé of the anxiety, yearning, humor and pain of teenagers.

Silver Spring Stage presents the area community theater premiere of columbinus by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, directed by Bridget Muehlberger, an exposé of the anxiety, yearning, humor and pain of teenagers.