Kelli Blackwell News

Regina Taylor's Crowns is the story of a young teen from Brooklyn sent to live with her grandmother after the traumatic death of her brother. The more time she spends in South Carolina, the more she learns about herself, her ancestors, and the beautiful art of hat-wearing. Crowns not only draws from old southern traditions within black churches but of generations long before them, passed down through beautiful hymnals and energetic storytelling.

Creative Cauldron presents its first production of 2020, Crowns, February 13 - March 8, written by Regina Taylor and adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Mayberry. When a Brooklyn teen goes to live in South Carolina after the death of her brother she learns the beauty, ceremony and symbolism of hat-wearing from her resilient, southern sisters. This musical draws from the roots of gospel music and traditions of greater African-American Diaspora to weave an inter-generational story of love, joy, and redemption.

Creative Cauldron will present its first production of 2020, Crowns, February 13 - March 8, written by Regina Taylor and adapted from the book by Michael Cunningham and Craig Mayberry. When a Brooklyn teen goes to live in South Carolina after the death of her brother she learns the beauty, ceremony and symbolism of hat-wearing from her resilient, southern sisters. This musical draws from the roots of gospel music and traditions of greater African-American Diaspora to weave an inter-generational story of love, joy, and redemption. Crowns has played throughout the country to acclaim, including a sold out run at Arena Stage. Directed by Kara Tameika Watkins and Ian Anthony Coleman, with musical direction by Cedric Lyles. Crowns will be presented at Creative Cauldron, 410 S Maple Ave, Falls Church VA 22046 from February 13 to March 8. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30 PM, Fridays at 7:30 PM, Saturdays at 7:30 PM, and Sundays at 2:00 PM & 7:00 PM. Press night is Saturday, February 15th, 2020 at 7:30 PM. Please RSVP by Wednesday, February 12th.

DC Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) visionary Michael J. Bobbitt left us to start a new artistic chapter in his life a few months ago. The season opener at Adventure Theatre shows that even though he isn't here physically his vision for the company will be felt all season. Bobbitt made his picks for the company's 19/20 season before his departure.

The new musical, Montgomery, with book, music, and lyrics by Britt Bonney will play for one performance at the Kennedy Center Page to Stage Festival. Monumental Theatre Company presented a workshop of the first act in 2018 at the 17th Annual Festival. The full length musical will be performed at this year's Festival on Saturday, August 31st at 10:30am.

There is nothing outright wrong with Thunder Knocking on the Door, the blues-filled musical which opened at Creative Cauldron this past Saturday. But there isn't much that is right with it either. Overall, the production is a firmly middle-of-the-road endeavor where the mismatched cast are unable to elevate the subpar source material. At the end of the day, this is a show that thinks it has more to say that it actually does.

The mysterious guitar playing shapeshifter knocks on Creative Cauldron's doors again in Thunder Knocking on the Door, a blues musical fable written by Keith Glover, with lyrics and music by three-time Grammy award winner Keb' Mo' and Anderson Edwards. The acclaimed artists behind Creative Cauldron's Bold New Works productions, Stephen Gregory Smith and Matt Conner, are directing and choreographing the production. Smith received praise for his gorgeously and lovingly directed Thunder Knocking at the Door production, which played a sold out run at Creative Cauldron back in 2013. The show runs from February 14 March 10 at Creative Cauldron in Falls Church, 410 South Maple Avenue. Performances are Thursdays at 7:30PM, Fridays at 7:30PM, Saturdays at 7:30PM, and Sundays at 2:00PM & 7:00PM. Press Night is Saturday, February 16th at 7:30 pm.

Are you looking for a rollicking good cabaret show and a hearty meal? Are you in the mood for a musical history lesson? How about both? Toby's in Columbia presents AIN'T MISBEHAVIN,' The Fats Waller Musical Show through November 4th, and you should sit right down and buy yourself a ticket.

There's a lot to like at the World Stage Theater right now. While this production and any subsequent national tour stops is likely to find its most receptive audience in people with an upbringing and faith similar to my own, it's not only for those that can recite every verse of the title song (and many other hymns) without even thinking for a minute, or can identify with the idea of God showing His presence in their lives. The idea of putting yourself on a better path after losing your way is something most everyone, regardless of faith or lack thereof, can understand. Even if the whole idea sounds schmaltzy, at the very least there's reason enough to check out the many talented members of the young cast.

The Broadway musical AMAZING GRACE will take its inspirational message on the road as it launches a 23-week national tour, kicking off with an eight-week run at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, as it inaugurates the new museum's state-of-the-art, 472 seat theatre. The DC run begins tonight, November 17, for a run through January 8, 2018, opening on November 20.

The Broadway musical AMAZING GRACE will take its inspirational message on the road as it launches a 23-week national tour, kicking off with an eight-week run at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, as it inaugurates the new museum's state-of-the-art, 472 seat theatre. The DC run will begin on November 17 through January 8, 2018, opening on November 20.

Ready for a brand new beat? Columbia has late night entertainment. This Today, August 26th, Toby's Dinner Theatre will host the second of a series, The MAIN Thing: Cabaret, in support of EC Partnership which is organized to help rebuild Ellicott City after the July 30th flood.

Ready for a brand new beat? Columbia has late night entertainment. This Friday, August 26th, Toby's Dinner Theatre will host the second of a series, The MAIN Thing: Cabaret, in support of EC Partnership which is organized to help rebuild Ellicott City after the July 30th flood.

Hairspray is, in fact, a great raspberry blown in the face of realistic expectations, a visit to a fantasyland where cruelty and meanness and class pretensions stand no chance. And we never get tired of watching that raspberry get blown.

Two shows in Repertory: DEATH OF A SALESMAN and A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE...it just doesn't get better than this.

We in the audience are continually torn between cheering the gumption and the desire behind Blanche's lies and being appalled at the human cost the lies inflict, not least on the teller of them.

Featuring a host of home-grown talent from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts and Howard University, Black Nativity drinks deeply of the Christmas season's true spirit, the sorrow as well as the joy, and can fill your heart in ways that few holiday offerings can.  This isn't just a feel-good show, this is also a show for those who feel the pain of loss keenly this time of year, and it offers a balm for what ails us.

This summer, Maryland-based company ArtsCentric will launch an original musical revue entitled 'Sincerely, Me'. The production is a celebration of the music of African-American women and it's place in the evolution of culture, as told by the women who experienced it. 'Sincerely, Me' will run every Friday@ 7:30pm, Saturday@ 7:30pm, and Sunday@5pm from today, July 18th to August 3rd in Owings Mills, MD at the Garrison Forest School (300 Garrison Forest Road, Owings Mills, MD 21117).

Founded by twelve aspiring young artists in 2003, ArtsCentric is an organization designed to bring quality artistic works and creative services to the community at large. Its members consist of talented artists, musicians, educators, composers, and playwrights.

Hailed as 'flat-out funny!' by the Hollywood Reporter, By the Way, Meet Vera Stark makes its Baltimore/DC premiere at Everyman Theatre, running from today, April 16th through May 11th. Resident Company Member Dawn Ursula will play the title role of Vera Stark, alongside fellow Company Members Beth Hylton and Wil Love. Walter Dallas makes his Everyman directorial debut with the regional premiere.