Week of March 5, 2023
1. “King Lear” at Shakespeare Theatre Company
“Expertly directed…fasten your seat belt for this imaginative journey into Shakespeare’s mind and soul.” – Susan Brall
READ review.
Synopsis: Caught in a carousel of memory, the head of a dysfunctional royal family grapples with power-hungry children and the threat of losing the empire he created. Real and imagined worlds coalesce, creating a political and personal horror that threatens to swallow the mind of the monarch. The incomparable Patrick Page (Hadestown, The Gilded Age) returns to STC as the once-revered king caught in an emotional hurricane ravaging his home, head, and heart.
Lily Santiago as Cordelia and Patrick Page as Lear. Photo by DJ Corey Photography.
2. “Clyde’s” at Studio Theatre
“…top-notch cast and creative team directed by Candis C. Jones…thought-provoking, subtle, and charming.” – Charlotte Selton
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Synopsis: No one would accuse Clyde of having a soft heart. Sure, she hires former convicts for the greasy kitchen of her truck-stop sandwich joint, but she knows what they owe her and holds that power tight. Her line cooks might be stuck, but their hopes haven’t flickered out yet, fed by tentative connections and a fierce competition to create the perfect sandwich. Pulitzer-Prize winner Lynn Nottage’s sweet and savory comedy trades in wonder, Wonder Bread, and the healing powers of food.
Brandon Ocasio (Raphael), Kashayna Johnson (Letitia), and Quinn M. Johnson (Jason). Photo by Margot Schulman.
3. “The Sound Inside” by Everyman Theatre
“…a dramatic roller-coaster of wit, wisdom, poignancy, bravery, and dedication to the craft of writing…Vincent M. Lancisi has directed with sensitivity to both actors and the audience in making the more difficult content palatable.“ – Herb Merrick
READ review.
Synopsis: In this suspenseful drama, we meet Ivy League writing professor Bella Lee Baird and her talented yet enigmatic student, Christopher Dunn. As Christopher seeks mentorship and Bella asks an unthinkable favor, the two form an intense bond and the stories they live and tell become intertwined in provocative ways. Everyone has a story — the question is, how does it end…
Zack Powell as Christopher and Beth Hylton as Bella. Photo courtesy of Madeline Oslejsek/Everyman Theatre.
4. “The Hula Hoopin’ Queen” at Imagination Stage
“Director Angelisa Gillyard’s production is full of positive energy, good vibes, and good lessons. It’s a treat for family members of any age.” – Peter Orvetti
READ review.
Synopsis: Kameeka is confident that today she will finally beat her rival, Jamara, and become the Hula-Hoopin’ Queen of 139th Street in Harlem. But she has to prepare for Miz Adeline’s birthday party, and almost ruins the day. Until Miz Adeline confesses that she’s also got the itch—the hula-hoopin’ itch! Her fingers start snappin’. Her hips start swingin’. Soon everyone’s hips are swinging as the party spills out onto the street.
The company of “The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen” at Imagination Stage. Photo by Margot Schulman.
5. “Blue” by The Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center
“…elegantly makes use of a centuries’ old art form to tell a 21st century story…A musical and dramatic triumph…” – Jeannette Mulherin
READ review.
Synopsis: A family and community struggle when a police officer kills a teenager in the D.C. premiere of Jeanine Tesori and Tazewell Thompson’s acclaimed new opera.
Baritone Joshua Conyers (far left) plays The Reverend; seated at table, left to right: Kenneth Kellogg (The Father), Aaron Crouch (The Son), and Briana Hunter (The Mother). Photo by Scott Suchman
Honorable Mention: “Kinetic Crossings” by Deep Vision Dance Company and Saiko Kino at Baltimore Theatre Project
“‘Shizuka‘ took my breath away…I might have held it for the entire performance.” – Justin Rustle
READ review.
Synopsis: Intersecting creative pathways, Nicole A. Martinell (Artistic Director of Deep Vision Dance Company) and Saiko Kino (Japanese dancer and choreographer) share an illuminating evening of contemporary dance works. Martinell re-creates In Faith, a vivid, spiritual journey of friction, connection, and gratitude through the eyes of a Muslim man and a Christian woman. Kino’s mesmerizing Shizuka revives Shizuka Gozen, a 12th century mixed-gender dancer known for her extraordinary psychic powers and political influence.
Deep Vision Dance Company in “In Faith.”Photo by Bill Gorman.
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