 BWW Review: THE MOUNTAINTOP at NextStop Theatreby Hannah Wing - January 14, 2020 In NextStop Theatre's production of The Mountaintop, directed by Kevin McAllister, McNeil and Simmons are talented actors, but the play itself still needs to be polished.  BWW Review: ESCAPED ALONE at Signature Theatreby Hannah Wing - October 5, 2019 Signature Theatre's Escaped Alone, directed by Holly Twyford, is a surreal Golden Girls episode with British humor.  BWW Review: THE TEMPEST Returns to Synetic Theaterby Hannah Wing - September 30, 2019 Synetic's The Tempest keeps the drama and comedy of Shakespeare's original work through the use of movement and emotional expression.  BWW Review: The Hub Theatre's AMERICAN SPIES AND OTHER HOMEGROWN FABLES premieres at NextStop Theatreby Hannah Wing - July 15, 2019 HUB Theatre's production of American Spies and Other Homegrown Fables, directed by Kathryn Chase Bryer, features powerful moments, but certain artistic choices prevent the production from making its full impact.  BWW Review: ROCK OF AGES is Still Rockin' and Rollin' at Wolf Trapby Hannah Wing - June 19, 2019 Rock of Ages, directed by Martha Banta and choreographed by Janet Rothermel, is still as Poison coons 'nothin' but a good time.' The cast of Rock of Ages brings concert level energy to the musical. It's contagious and infectious from glam metal songs to the soft rock ballads.  BWW Review: An Unapologetically Raw THE WOLVES at NextStop Theatreby Hannah Wing - February 11, 2019 NextStop Theatre's The Wolves is raw as it unapologetically forgoes the stereotypes of teenage girls and allows the girls to define who they are. ![BWW Review: A Quirky and Accessible [TITLE OF SHOW] at NextStop Theatre Photo](https://cloudimages.broadwayworld.com/columnpic10/2002009495E22F-E94C-4D28-91DAC97D6D8F26CB.jpg) BWW Review: A Quirky and Accessible [TITLE OF SHOW] at NextStop Theatreby Hannah Wing - January 7, 2019 NextStop Theatre's production takes up the meta to another level by casting real-life friends as the actors in the show and allowing them to be co-directors. Most theatre about theatre can easily lose audiences but, NextStop's [title of show] is overall accessible and relatable to a wider audience through its characters and humor.  BWW Review: A CIVIL WAR CHRISTMAS: AN AMERICAN MUSICAL at 1st Stageby Hannah Wing - December 4, 2018 1st Stage's A Civil War Christmas, directed by Deidra Lawan Starnes with musical direction by Markus Williams, is a riveting musical helmed by a strong diverse cast of twelve actors and beautifully done production design.  BWW Review: ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE Returns to MetroStage with Energy and Enthusiasmby Barbara Johnson - October 17, 2018 Returning to MetroStage for its tenth anniversary, ROOMS: A ROCK ROMANCE boasts an enthusiastic two-person cast and energetic backing band. It's exactly as described, a simple girl-meets-boy tale steeped in 1970s musical flair. But instead of boiling the romance down to timeless emotion, the book's simplicity and pat ending make this a bit of a tough sell.  BWW Review: Chilling Edgar Allan Poe Musical NEVERMORE Returns to Creative Cauldron for Octoberby Barbara Johnson - October 8, 2018 If your interest is piqued by the words "Edgar Allan Poe" and "musical" and "October", you're likely to enjoy the Matt Conner-directed NEVERMORE at Creative Cauldron. It returns seven years after its first production with a set of top-notch actors delivering verses of Poe's poetry set to Conner's haunting melodies.  BWW Review: 1st Stage Presents Poignant Regional Premiere of HERO'S WELCOMEby Barbara Johnson - September 9, 2018 There's nothing quite like a British dark comedy to usher in the unofficial start of autumn. The poignant regional premiere of HERO'S WELCOME at 1st Stage in Tysons fits the bill, with its undercurrent of personal drama that quickly rises to the surface, engulfing a town in figurative flames that could turn literal at any moment.  BWW Review: Fall in Love with NextStop Theatre's AMOURby Hannah Wing - August 6, 2018 NextStop's production of Amour is a great escape into a world filled with absurdity and whimsy. All and all, it is a perfect pick for a 30th anniversary celebration.  BWW Review: MOTOWN THE MUSICAL is a Loving Dedication to a Great Legacy at Wolf Trapby Hannah Wing - June 27, 2018 Motown the Musical is a high energy musical featuring a talented cast and high production quality.  BWW Review: Riverside Center Hits The Right Notes with HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME Regional Premiereby Jeffrey Walker - April 1, 2018 Boasting an impressive production and stellar cast, Riverside Center for the Performing Arts is presenting the professional DC-Northern Virginia regional premiere of the dark and romantic musical THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. It is well worth the trip along Interstate 95 to hear the rich score and lyrics by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, respectively, and be taken in by the sumptuous production, one of the biggest I have had the pleasure of seeing at this venue.  BWW Review: The Origin Of Television Takes Center Stage in THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION at 1st Stageby Jeffrey Walker - February 19, 2018 As directed by Alex Levy, THE FARNSWORTH INVENTION is theatrically inventive and mostly compelling recounting of of Farnsworth and Sarnoff's parallel stories. The production is also performed by a skillful company of actors who take the audience on this little known historical journey.  BWW Review: Brave Spirits Theatre Presents a Powerful CORIOLANUSby Barbara Johnson - February 10, 2018 Brave Spirits Theatre again provides a fresh, immediate take on a Shakespearean classic, this time with a hard-hitting production of CORIOLANUS, directed by Charlene V. Smith. Underappreciated compared to many of Shakespeare's other plays, it's particularly timely in 2018 as it explores a power struggle among great men and the masses they're supposed to serve.  BWW Review: 4,380 NIGHTS is a Vital Story, but Lacks Cohesion at Signature Theatreby Hannah Wing - January 28, 2018 4,380 Nights is essentially two different plays, which makes it often hard to follow due to the lack of cohesion, but there are still glimpses of a play in which the message of hope rings quietly over fear and hate.  BWW Review: Kafka's Dark, Dystopian Classic THE TRIAL Dazzles at Synetic Theaterby Jeffrey Walker - January 24, 2018 Synetic's latest work is taken from Kafka's novel THE TRIAL with elements borrowed from his other works, presented in the kinetic and bold theatrical style the 22-year old company has earned their renown. A perfect fusion of movement, stagecraft, text and performance, Synetic's THE TRIAL leaves a lasting impression long after the performance. I confess in my six years of covering theatre in the DC area, THE TRIAL is my first Synetic production. But it certainly will not be the last.  BWW Review: HANSEL AND GRETEL is a Sweet Holiday Treat at Synetic Theaterby Hannah Wing - December 4, 2017 In Synetic Theater's Hansel and Gretel, based loosely on Grimm's fairytale version, Hansel (Justin J. Bell) and Gretel (Sharisse Taylor) go from being in the mall with their distracted babysitter (Raven Wilkes) to being in a mysterious wonderland with no mall or babysitter to be found. While Synetic's production is less dark than Grimm's, it is just as entertaining for children and adults alike.  BWW Review: DOCTOR FAUSTUS is Devilishly Good at the Lab Studio Theatreby Hannah Wing - October 29, 2017 Doctor Faustus transforms into a production about how a woman is manipulated by the world around her. With a solid cast, Brave Spirits Theatre's production turns Marlowe's vision on its head and explores it through a feminist lens. BWW Review: JESUS HOPPED THE 'A' TRAIN is Worth Catching at 1st Stage by Hannah Wing - September 11, 2017 Despite the flaws of the script and tiny production hiccups, 1st Stage's production of Jesus Hopped the 'A' train is a worth catching. BWW Review: URINETOWN is Satire at its Best at NextStop Theatre by Hannah Wing - May 30, 2017 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. BWW Review: Peanuts Gang Still Charms in Rooftop Productions' YOU'RE A GOOD MAN, CHARLIE BROWN by Jeffrey Walker - May 7, 2017 The Rooftop Productions effort does well by the Gesner and Schulz creation. Director Ted Ballard keeps things simple, just as Schulz presented his characters in pen and ink. Coupled with identifiably perfect costumes by Mandy Ken, and cartoon inspired, primary-colored set pieces designed by Dale Walsh, Ballard's cast is able to bring to life the wit and wisdom of the Peanuts gang. BWW Review: Strut and Hustle to Riverside To Catch SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER And You'll Feel Like Dancing by Jeffrey Walker - April 14, 2017 While not landmark piece of musical theatre, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER delivers a few hours of escapist fun and a slew of 1970's disco tunes that will likely take some audience members back to their days in bell bottoms, platform shoes, and hustling the night away. With strong leading performances, a strong emphasis on disco moves, and 20-plus songs from the Bee Gees and other tunes from the era, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER provides some escapist fun for a few hours. Riverside Center's production opened March 15 and continues through May 7, 2017. BWW Review: Brave Spirits Theatre Presents A KING AND NO KING by Barbara Johnson - April 3, 2017 In keeping with Brave Spirits Theatre's commitment to producing overlooked works from Shakespeare's contemporaries, the company's staging of Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher's A KING AND NO KING marks a DC metro area professional premiere. An excellent cast and a modern approach by director Cassie Ash and the creative team make this production worthwhile. |
