As we wrote the first time it played in Washington, playwright John Strand’s “The Originalist,” is theater unequivocally of Washington, by Washington, for Washington… to borrow President Lincoln’s famous expression. But to be sure, it will be fascinating to watch this one under a dramatically… Read More
The scene at Arena Stage’s Mead Center for American Theater was intimate and unforgettable Monday night as Tony and Emmy award winning Bebe Neuwirth took to the stage for a sold out one-night-only special performance as part of a benefit and presentation of the second annual Beth Newburger… Read More
I loved this play. Conversations about race and gender stereotypes are usually as appealing as sticking your tongue into a vegemite-baited mousetrap. But playwright Lydia Diamond has a deft, modern hand, and Smart People tackles the ticklish topic with wit, perspicacity, and heartfelt characters. It’s… Read More
The first time college-student-me saw Lorraine Hansberry’s Raisin In The Sun, I didn’t like it. It made me sad and uncomfortable in ways that I preferred not to think about. When the invitation came to see Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater’s… Read More
Once again Molly Smith’s prescience is almost unsettling. At a time when spying, wiretapping, election tampering, and international espionage are at the forefront of the minds and broadcasts of America, Smith reminds us that history repeats itself. Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American… Read More
In our Nation’s Capital, where politics is a local obsession, even art can become political. At an intimate event at Arena Stage’s Mead Centre this week, the theatre recently announced news of a years-long project — dubbed Power Plays – which will introduce new working relationships with playwrights, some so… Read More
On the one hand, Arena Stage’s “Watch on the Rhine” is simply a good show– a story of family, romance, and political intrigue conveyed through fine acting and elegant stage design, injected with just the right amount of humor. But in 2017, there’s no mistaking its… Read More
It seems fitting to write a review of the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater’s delightful production of Roe in the wake of the nation-wide Women’s March this past weekend. Whether Molly Smith was clairvoyant or it was a coincidence, Roe could… Read More
I usually spend a fair amount of time laboring over reviews, ensuring I cover all the bases, being thorough. In this case, I want to keep it simple to get the main point across: Moby Dick at the Arena Stage at the Mead Center for… Read More
It’s not ill-timed that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic musical Carousel (1945), tells an ageless story of perseverance and the indomitable human spirit. No matter how you feel about the outcome of the recent election, the road to November 7 was draining. A post-election filter highlights… Read More
