Wakefield School’s production of A Man For All Seasons by Robert Bolt started strong, with black hoods masking the faces of all the actors, who were seated silent and unmoving around the perimeter of the school’s arena stage. The show, which focused on the experiences of Sir Thomas More, a nobleman facing a moral dilemma […]
Picture this: you are with your wife, and suddenly your deceased first wife’s spirit comes back from “the other side.” Talk about an awkward situation! Fairfax High School’s production of Noel Coward’s classic comedy Blithe Spirit was a quirky, yet funny take on the play that brings the word “spirited” to a completely new level. […]
In a town governed by religious austerity, the desire to avoid punishment can push a person so far as to ruin the lives of others. Is your friend and neighbor really a witch or is she just lying to save herself from an unfortunate accusation? At what point is saving your life worth abandoning your […]
Madeira’s production of Annie didn’t wait until tomorrow to shine. Last weekend, the girls at Madeira outdid themselves as orphans, maids, and even men of New York City. Annie, originally based on a comic strip by Harold Gray, was adapted for the stage by Thomas Meehan, with music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Martin […]
A tale as old as time graced the stage at St. Albans & National Cathedral Schools this weekend. Beauty and the Beast, the 17th century French folk tale retold so memorably by Disney on screen, has a new life onstage. When the classic animation came out in 1991, it was the first cartoon to be […]
Can humanity change into pure instinct on a mysterious, isolated island? In The Island of Dr. Moreau, performed skillfully by Lake Braddock High School, instinct takes over beast and man. The novel “The Island of Dr. Moreau”, written by H. G. Wells in 1896, was adapted for the stage by Troy Tradup. It tells the […]
The Wiz Duke Ellington School of the Arts The Ellington Theatre, Washington, DC $20/$15 12 and under Through February 15th One fully expects a production by the famous Duke Ellington School of the Arts (DESA) to be incredible, and the collaborative effort put in to The Wiz does not disappoint. From the beautiful costumes and […]
The program reads, “It’s such a fine line between a good man and a bad.” This theme could not be better represented than by the musical Jekyll & Hyde, recently performed at Briar Woods High School. The Robert Louis Stevenson novel was adapted for the stage by Steve Cuden and Frank Wildhorn, with music by […]
William Strauss, the founder of the Capitol Steps and the Cappies, died on December 18th. The Washington Post has more information at Bill Strauss, 60; Political Insider Who Stepped Over Into Comedy. Bill, thank you for encouraging live theater through the Cappies program. It’s been our pleasure and a privilege to be a small part […]
In a far away land, far away meaning Westfield High School, a surreal adventure unfolds, where munchkins, witches, and talking crows roam. This is the Land of Oz, as portrayed in Westfield’s production of The Wiz, a contemporary take on the classic Wizard of Oz tale. The play was written by William F. Brown and […]