David Jennings News

After a blockbuster year of big crowds and big voices, Show Tunes & Cocktails at The Jefferson begins its second year as DC's only monthly sing-a-long of theatre tunes.

After a blockbuster year of big crowds and big voices, Show Tunes & Cocktails at The Jefferson begins its second year as DC's only monthly sing-a-long of theatre tunes on Monday, January 23.

After a blockbuster year of big crowds and big voices, Show Tunes & Cocktails at The Jefferson begins its second year as DC's only monthly sing-a-long of theatre tunes on Monday, January 23.

With over 30 new productions opening on DC area stages, 4 large festivals, and 2 world premiere musicals, it may still be chilly outside, but DC area stages are sizzling and bursting with great theatre. So come visit the Nation's Capital and visit our vibrant theatre scene.

Happy Holidays everyone! Come visit our Nation's Capital during the holiday season. It's such a beautiful time of the year here, with so many lights shimmering on the monuments, The Mall, and on The White House. As we await the first snow flakes, DC area theatres are chocked full of productions for the whole family filled with elves, reindeers, Santas, and Scrooges.

For those of you who read my column regularly, you know that I love when theatre companies produce original work and take chances. You could only imagine my pleasant surprise when I wandered upon Extended Play Productions' "Vaudeville Vivat!" running now through May 22nd at the Playground Theater. Part improvised, part scripted with a bit of clowning and burlesque, "Vaudeville Vivat!" takes us back to the revue-style comedy of our great-grandparents. You might be asking, why would a 1916 throwback show be of any interest to me? I've seen "Titanic." Well, you know The Second City? Consider Vaudeville its great-aunt.

The DC area stages' theatre choices in March are dizzying! There's a new play by Terrence McNally at the Kennedy Center, and an off-Broadway gem at Signature Theatre. Adam Guettel's gorgeous Tony Award-winning harmonies will fill Arena Stage in Crystal City. Fagin and his orphans and zaftig Edna Turnblad and her daughter Tracy - will be singing and dancing at Toby's Dinner Theatre in Baltimore and Columbia, MD, and a blood-thirsty musical will be establishing roots at Ford's Theatre. With over 30 shows opening this month, come visit the DC area's 205 theatre venues, and have a monumental time!

Not to be confused with the opera by Giuseppe Verdi, AIDA the musical by Elton John and Tim Rice is yet another spin on the popular 'Romeo and Juliet' theme of star-crossed lovers.

Mel Brooks' hit musical, The Producers, plays at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia through November 23.

The Call Board returns!

The area premiere of All Shook Up plays at Toby's Dinner Theatre of Columbia through August 24th!

The summer-stock theater in Matunuck, RI opened it 75th season with a rollicking production of the Fats Waller musical

REVIEW: The Dreamcoat is hidden in this good, but less than Amazing revival.

More casting has been announced for Atlanta's Theater of the Stars's 25th Anniversary production of Dreamgirls, with Jennifer Holliday reprising her iconic Tony-winning performance as Effie.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents the world premiere of Sister Act the Musical, by a Tony, Emmy and Academy Award-winning team...