Deidra LaWan Starnes News

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.  

'Our 9th Season is guided by 1st Stage's promise to provide breadth and depth of storytelling for our community,' stated 1st Stage Artistic Director Alex Levy. 'This unique line-up of plays, some of the greatest in the American theater, utilizes humor, humanity, warmth, and drama to tell perceptive and, at times, heart-wrenching stories about American life. Our mission is to create a deep connection between our art and our audience, and this incredibly diverse season of stories will do just that.'

With their searing new drama, Marcus Gardley's The Gospel of Lovingkindness, Mosaic Theater confirms that their vision is solid, their commitment to the community steadfast.  And the talent assembled under the sensitive, energetic direction of Jennifer L. Nelson is everything one could ask for.  It almost goes without saying that the timeliness of this play-about the loss of young men to the streets, and often for the most shocking of reasons-cannot be overstated.

Fresh off the successful run of its inaugural production, Unexplored Interior (This is Rwanda: The Beginning and End of the Earth), Mosaic Theater Company of DC doubles-down its focus on posing the big questions of our community with Charles MacArthur Award-nominee Marcus Gardley's lyrical THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS, a poetic chamber play that takes audience members to the streets of Chicago in a story both tragic and familiar.

Fresh off the successful run of its inaugural production, Unexplored Interior (This is Rwanda: The Beginning and End of the Earth), Mosaic Theater Company of DC doubles-down its focus on posing the big questions of our community with Charles MacArthur Award-nominee Marcus Gardley's lyrical THE GOSPEL OF LOVINGKINDNESS, a poetic chamber play that takes audience members to the streets of Chicago in a story both tragic and familiar.

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.

The Kennedy Center, in association with the Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival, the National New Play Network (NNPN)-the country's alliance of non-profit theaters that champions the development, production, and continued life of new plays-and with Stanford University's National Center for New Plays, will host more than 50 playwrights, directors, and dramaturgs from July 25 to August 2, 2015 as part of the 10th annual weeklong MFA Playwrights' Workshop featuring new works by MFA students from Columbia University, Northwestern University, Fordham University, Yale School of Drama, the Juilliard School, New York University-Tisch School of the Arts, University of California-San Diego, and the Juilliard School.

There is some stellar acting happening over at McLean's1st Stage Theatre right now. The Good Counselor is a taut, stirring story of family, that peels off the veneer, and shows us the layers of love, heartbreak, success and failure of which life with one's family is made. And it's a firm reminder that our own backyard is home to great theater.

Digging for truth frequently returns results that are unpleasant, at best. However, fate, curiosity, and circumstance often compel the deepest parts of human nature to keep searching for truth regardless of the consequences, personal or otherwise. This exploration for truth, both in the courtroom and in life, drives the award winning The Good Counselor opening at 1st Stage on June 5.

Returning for its fifth year, The Theatre Lab's Dramathon, May 15 at 10:30 p.m. at Theater J, once again joins together the talents of some of the DC area's most well-known actors and accomplished playwrights - along with Theatre Lab students and alumni - in world premiere staged readings of short plays written for that night. All proceeds generated by the event go toward The Theatre Lab's scholarship fund.

Steeped in a mystic atmosphere, director Robert Richmond and his excellent company of actors breathe new life to Shakespeare's political and personal tale of assassination and retribution. JULIUS CAESAR is visually stunning, a feast for the ears, and boasts a commanding ensemble. If you thought JULIUS CAESAR was about guys in togas and Marc Antony's funeral speech, think again. This is a production not to miss.

Folger Theatre launches its 2014/15 season in Rome with William Shakespeare's enduring political tragedy, Julius Caesar from tonight, October 28 - December 7, 2014.

Folger Theatre launches its 2014/15 season in Rome with William Shakespeare's enduring political tragedy, Julius Caesar from October 28 - December 7, 2014. Robert Richmond (Richard III and Henry V at Folger) directs the epic portrait of the battle between ambition and honor, conspiracy and loyalty, leading an outstanding ensemble including Anthony Cochrane (Broadway's War Horse and Folger's Henry VIII) as the honorable Marcus Brutus, and Maurice Jones, making his Folger Theatre debut as Caesar's closest ally, Mark Antony.

This twist on a classic holiday song, provides a fun-filled time for children.

Adventure Theatre MTC (ATMTC) announces its 2013 holiday show for the Professional 2013-2014 62nd Season. Based on the traditional holiday song, this world premiere by Helen Hayes Award Recipient Renee Calarco (2011's If You Give a Cat a Cupcake) and directed by first-time Adventure Theatre MTC director Michael Dove, will run November 15- December 30, 2013. The Twelve Days of Christmas stars Helen Hayes Award Recipient Deidra LaWan Starnes (star of Charlotte's Web, 2011's Helen Hayes Award Winning Outstanding Production-TYA) as Shirley the Partridge, the detective in the case of the missing five golden rings. Tickets are $19 each and can be purchased online at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org or by calling 301.634.2270.

Adventure Theatre MTC, ATMTC, the twice recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences 2011-2012, has announced its 62nd Season. This year ATMTC brings to life 5 main stage productions featuring 1 world premiere. The 62nd Season represents an exciting line-up of familiar stories and faces on the ATMTC Professional Stage.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 22 years. This year the beloved tradition launches the Company's 2013-2014 Season by reviving Much Ado About Nothing, initially presented during the 2011-2012 Season with original direction by Ethan McSweeny. Much Ado About Nothing will run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from today, August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

The Shakespeare Theatre Company's annual Free For All is a much-loved Washington tradition, offering free Shakespeare performances to the general public for the past 22 years. This year the beloved tradition launches the Company's 2013-2014 Season by reviving Much Ado About Nothing, initially presented during the 2011-2012 Season with original direction by Ethan McSweeny. Much Ado About Nothing will run at STC's Sidney Harman Hall (610 F Street NW) from August 20-September 1, 2013. Resident Assistant Director Jenny Lord will direct this delightful summer comedy for residents and visitors to D.C.

Adventure Theatre MTC, ATMTC, the twice recipient of the Helen Hayes Award for Outstanding Production, Theatre for Young Audiences 2011-2012, has announced its 62nd Season. This year ATMTC brings to life 5 main stage productions featuring 1 world premiere. The 62nd Season represents an exciting line-up of familiar stories and faces on the ATMTC Professional Stage.

Ralph Ellison's 1952 novel has been called a masterpiece that changed the shape of American literature. Adapted into a play by Oren Jacoby, INVISIBLE MAN is having its New England premiere at Huntington Theatre Company with an epic performance by Teagle F. Bougere, under the direction of Christopher McElroen.