Today’s subject Lauren M. Gunderson is a prime example of an artist living her theatre life to the absolute fullest. She has had the honor of being the most produced playwright in this country three times and shows so signs of letting up with her always superb creative output. One of her latest projects is the world premiere of  I And You The Musical which is in performance at Olney Theatre Center through May 24th. The show is based on her play of the same name, which was part of a Rolling world premiere that played at Olney Theatre Center in 2015.

Today’s subject Kokayi is currently living his theatre life as the composer of John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest at Mosaic Theater Company. The show runs through May 3rd at Atlas Performing Arts Center in their Sprenger Theatre space.

Today’s subject Phoenix Assata LaFreniere is currently living her theatre life on tour playing Dorothy in The Wiz. The show is currently in town at the National Theatre through April 12th.

Today’s subject Bill Sherman is currently living his theatre life as the Musical Supervisor, Orchestrator, and Arranger for Signature Theatre’s new musical Safety Not Guaranteed. The production plays through April 12th in Signature’s MAX space.

Today’s subject Kemi-Bo Jacobs is currently living her theatre life onstage playing Agnes in the esteemed Royal Shakespeare Company’s (RSC’S) production of Hamnet. Yes, this is the role Jessie Buckley recently won the Best Actress Oscar for, just to end the comparison thing now. The show is presented by our very own Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) and runs through April 12th at Harman Hall.

Today’s subject Jefferson A. Russell is currently living the theatre life onstage at Folger Theatre playing the roles of Duke Senior and Duke Frederick in their current production of As You Like It. The production runs through April 19th.

Today’s subject Rebecca Madeira is currently living her theatre life onstage at Arena Stage as part in the role of Rachael Brown in Inherit The Wind. The production runs through April 5th in Arena Stage’s Fichandler Stage space.

Today’s subject Nick Blaemire is currently living his theatre life at Signature Theatre as the book writer for the new musical Safety Not Guaranteed. The show runs through April 12th in Signature Theatre’s MAX space.

Today’s subject David Andrews Rogers Is currently living his theatre life and a lifelong dream on the conductor’s podium as the Musical Director and Conductor of the new touring production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast. The show begins performances here in DC on March 18th and will play through April 5th at the National Theatre.

Today’s subject Suzy Eddie Izzard is an award-winning performer, marathon runner, and author. Her tour de force solo show The Tragedy of Hamlet will be seen right here in DC at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) from March 27th to April 11th. The show will be performed in STC’s Klein Theatre.

Today’s subject Myles Frost in currently living his theatre life as the lead character in Chez Joey at Arena Stage. The show is a modern reimagining of the 1940 Rodgers and Hart musical Pal Joey. The production runs through March 22nd in Arena’s Kreeger Theatre.

Today’s subject Kara-Tameika Watkins is currently living her theatre onstage at Olney Theatre Center in the World Premiere Musical Little Miss Perfect. The show has just been extended to March 15th which means you have even more time to attend a performance.

Today’s subject Bill Irwin is possibly one of the most versatile and flexible performers still working in the performing arts today. He can currently be seen at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in his solo show On Beckett. The show runs through March 15th at STC’s Klein Theatre space.

Today’s subject Susan Jaffe is currently living her theatre and dance lives as the Artistic Director of One the country’ finest dance companies American Ballet Theatre (ABT). She assumed the post in December of 2022. ABT is coming to town this week for a weeklong engagement of the Christopher Wheeldon choreographed The Winter’s Tale. The show performs in the Opera House at Kennedy Center from February 11th through 15th.

Today’s subject Cornelius McMoyler is currently living his theatre life on tour playing the role of Simon in the Tony Award winning play Stereophonic. The show begins a three-week engagement at the National Theatre on February 10th and will continue through March 1st.

Today’s subject Shannon Cochran is currently living her theatre life onstage at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in the stage version of the horror movie franchise Paranormal Activity. The show runs from Jan 28th through February 7th at STC’s Harman Hall.

Today’s subject Alex Finke is currently living her theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre in the American Premiere of In Clay where she is giving a tour de force solo performance through February 3rd. The show is performed in Signature Theatre’s ARK space.

Happy 2026 everyone!!! Today’s subject Douglas Sills is currently living his theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing the iconic role of Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. The brilliantly Joe Calarco directed and reimagined production runs through January 25th in Signature’s MAX space.

Today’s subject Major Attaway is currently living his theatre life on tour playing King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot. The fish slapping musical spectacular comes to Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theater beginning December 16th and continuing through January 4th.

Today’s subject Maisie Posner is currently living her theatre life onstage at Round House Theatre sharing the role of Emma with Avery Harris in Rules for Living.  The production runs through January 4th and marks her Round House Theatre debut. 

Today’s subject Julie Benko is currently living her theatre life onstage at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) playing the iconic musical theatre role of Sarah Brown in Guys and Dolls. The show runs through January 8th, but Ms. Benko will be departing the show on December 28th. Read on to see what her next project is.

Today’s subject Academy and Emmy Award winning composer Rachel Portman has a career that includes scoring for over100 films, television and a stage musical of Little House on the Prairie. This week her foray into opera can be seen and heard in the Terrace Theater At Kennedy Center as Washington National Opera (WNO) presents The Little Prince as their annual family opera offering. The show runs for only five performances between December 12th and 14th. WNO first performed it 2014. It premiered at Houston Grand Opera in 2003.

Today’s subject Avery Harris is currently living her theatre life onstage at Round House Theatre in Rules for Living in the role of Emma for certain performances. Avery shares the role with Maisie Posner who will be featured in a separate column soon. The show runs through January 4th.

Since this column began, I have always made it a point to acknowledge the people that are instrumental when it comes to putting these interviews together. It’s not just me asking an interviewee cold. There is generally a marketing or publicity person that helps to coordinate things.

Today’s subject Mark Binns is currently living his theatre life on the road as the Musical Director for the National Tour of Some Like it Hot. The show will be here in DC at the National Theatre beginning November 25th and continuing through December 7th.