Week of January 22, 2023
1. “High School Coven” at Strand Theater Company
“…energized by the acting, the witty character interplay, and the effects…highly engaging direction…” – Anne Valentino
READ review.
Synopsis: TBH high school is v v v hard, especially if you’re a witch! Liana, Naomi, Rachel, and Trina form a coven to cope with the pressures of being a teenage girl, like finding the perfect homecoming dress, locating a suitable familiar, and something more sinister—reporting sexual assault within the education system.
The cast of “High School Coven.” Photo by Shealyn Jae Photography.
2. “Jump” at Everyman Theatre
“…a highly emotional and rewarding evening in the theatre.” – Nancy Blum
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Synopsis: “Jump” is a poignant and heartwarming play about family, spiritual journeys, and life-altering connections. In this world of fantasy, lights flicker, things fall from the sky, and a bridge becomes a place of solace and healing. A young woman named Fay comes home to pack after the loss of her mother and the family home. She seeks solace by visiting the bridge her mother took her to as a child. There she begins to take notice of mysterious circumstances happening in the world around her.
Billie Krishawn as Fay and Morgan Danielle Day as Judy. KIIRSTN PAGAN PHOTOGRAPHY.
3. “46 Plays for America’s First Ladies” at NextStop Theatre Company
“…breeze[s] by with charm and vivacity…a delightful history lesson…“ – Peter Orvetti
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Synopsis: Forty-six mini plays, in just over two hours, that cleverly and concisely introduce each of the women who served alongside the highest office in the land. Devised by the Neo-Futurists (a Chicago-based theater collective), this fast-paced comedy offers a unique perspective on American history. These ladies will make you laugh, cry, and illuminate the pressures inherited with a ceremonial and often under-appreciated role. A companion piece to NextStop’s 2018 smash-hit production of “45 Plays for 45 Presidents”
The cast of “46 Plays for America’s First Ladies.” Photo courtesy of Nextstop Theatre Company.
4. “Mandy Patinkin in Concert: Being Alive” at The Music Center at Strathmore
“…a night of song and story that evoked the nostalgia of childhood, the tumultuous nature of adolescence and parenthood, and the joy and grief of our shared humanity…original, heartfelt, fun, full of talent and honesty, and a true delight.” – Kateri Pelton
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Synopsis: Before he was an Emmy-winning TV star, Mandy Patinkin was already a Tony-winning Broadway legend. Mandy Patinkin in Concert: BEING ALIVE presents the acclaimed actor/ singer/storyteller in his most electrifying role: concert performer. “Mandy Patinkin is in the business of showstopping,” raves The New Yorker, and that’s exactly what he does in this powerful, passionate evening of song. BEING ALIVE is a collection of many of Patinkin’s favorite Broadway and classic American tunes. From Irving Berlin to Stephen Sondheim, from Cole Porter to Harry Chapin, Patinkin takes you on a dazzling musical journey you’ll never forget.
Mandy Patinkin performs live in concert at Strathmore. Credit Joan Marcus.
5. “The Lifespan of a Fact” at The Keegan Theatre
“…there are a number of “aha” moments and the actors are engaging.” – Nancy Blum
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Synopsis: Jim Fingal is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker for a prominent but sinking New York magazine. John D’Agata is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about the suicide of a teenage boy — an essay that could save the magazine from collapse. When Jim is assigned to fact check D’Agata’s essay, the two come head to head in a comedic yet gripping battle over facts versus truth.
Colin Smith as John D’Agata and Iván Carlo as Jim Fingal. Photo credit by Cameron Whitman, LLC.
Honorable Mention: “An Evening of May Miller’ at Fells Point Corner Theatre
“……a highly engaging, salon-style presentation…performed by an ensemble of gifted actors.” – Max Garner
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Synopsis: A night of readings of selected one-acts and poems by DC native May Miller. May Miller was the most widely published female playwright of the Harlem Renaissance and a prolific poet, in addition to being a (somewhat) local treasure.
Michal Roxie Johnson and Kayah Calhoun reading from the work of May Miller. Photo courtesy of FPCT.
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