Week of June 26, 2022
1. “The Music Man” at Olney Theatre Center
“…a thunderous success. Don’t miss this most amazing production. It’s a summertime must and perfect for all ages.“ – Susan Brall
READ review.
Synopsis: Our exuberant retelling of this Golden Age classic is sure to be the talk of the DMV – and beyond. With a cast and creative team of Deaf, hearing, and hard-of-hearing artists, you’ll experience beloved songs like “76 Trombones”. “Til There Was You”, and “Rock Island” like never before. The citizens of River City have got trouble. Only, Harold Hill has them convinced it lies in their pool halls. His solution: a marching band, and he just happens to sell instruments and uniforms. It’s all part of his latest con job. Everyone in town seems to be falling for it, except Marian. The catch is, Harold may be falling for her.
Adelina Mitchell (Marian Paroo) and James Caverly (Harold Hill) ‘The Music Man’ at Olney Theatre Center. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
2. “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Synetic Theater
“…darkly enchanting and endearingly funny.” – Norah Dick
READ review.
Synopsis: Love-drunk teens stumble upon a troupe of wannabe actors and find themselves caught in a war between the Fairy King and Queen…and that’s before one wily sprite intent on mischief-making sprinkles a little fairy dust. What could possibly go wrong?!
Romance, magic, and hijinks take center stage when one of Synetic’s original “Silent Shakespeare” productions returns for the first time in nearly a decade. This fantastical production was honored with nine Helen Hayes Award Nominations when it was first produced in 2010, taking home the award for Outstanding Ensemble and Outstanding Resident Play. Since then, the production has performed to great acclaim in 2013 and 2015, and toured Mexico for the 2014 Festival Internacional.
Ariel Kraje as Puck in Synetic Theater’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” 2022. Photo by Chris Ferenzi for Synetic Theater.
3. “The Hot Wing King” at Studio Theatre
“…heartfelt and timely…a sweet, spicy, and satisfying romp…” – Charlotte Selton
READ review.
Synopsis: It’s August in Memphis, time to crown the new Hot Wang King. Backed by his best friends and boyfriend Dwayne, who serve as his fry crew The New Wing Order, Cordell has a feeling that this is his year. But then a family emergency throws Dwayne’s nephew into the house on prep night, one of his crew starts messing with the seasoning, and suddenly Cordell’s future is in danger of going up in flames. Winner of the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Katori Hall (The Mountaintop) has written a fresh and fierce comedy about the risk and rewards of celebrating who you are.
Derrick Sanders III, Michael Kevin Darnall, Bjorn DuPaty, Brian Marable, and Blake Morris in “The Hot Wing King” at Studio Theatre. Photo by Jati Lindsay.
4. “Native Gardens” at Silver Spring Stage
“…humorous and optimistic… a ‘blooming’ success.” – Susan Brall
READ review.
Synopsis: In a story that playwright Zacarías has called “a love letter to our city in a sense,” Native Gardens both makes an audience from the DMV feel right at home while also challenging us with an intimate look at how border disputes are happening in our own backyards. Issues of race, class, privilege, gender, and age intersect as we spend time with Pablo & Tania, the young couple who have just moved into the neighborhood, and Virginia (Ginny) and Frank, the nearly retired couple who have lived there for decades. Good intentions come head-to-head with deeply entrenched beliefs in this brilliant comedy in which everything isn’t coming up roses.
Left to Right: Chris Galindo (Pablo), Alexandra Bailey (Tania), Sarah Holt (Virginia), Scott Holden (Frank) in “Native Gardens” at Silver Spring Stage. Photo by Ira Levine.
5. “Something Rotten!” at The Newtowne Players
“Davidson has a David Bowie-meets-Keith Richards energy to his Shakespeare that leans into the rock god reimagining of The Bard… a character that is both larger than life and cattier than a high school mean girl.” – Lindsey Pommerenck
READ review.
Synopsis: Two brothers set out to write the world’s first musical in this hilarious mash-up of sixteenth-century Shakespeare and twenty-first-century Broadway. Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten. Set in the 1590s, brothers Nick and Nigel Bottom are desperate to write a hit play but are stuck in the shadow of that Renaissance rock star known as “The Bard.” When a local soothsayer foretells that the future of theatre involves singing, dancing and acting at the same time, Nick and Nigel set out to write the world’s very first musical.
Shawn A. Davidson as Shakespeare (center) and the ensemble. Photo by Heather LePore.
