Week of March 19, 2023
1. “Consecrated Ground” at Laurel Mill Playhouse
“…should not be missed and one of the most memorable plays I have seen in a very long time. It is another brilliant jewel in the crown for Laurel Mill Playhouse” – Susan Brall
READ review.
Synopsis: In Consecrated Ground, Nova Scotian playwright George Boyd retells the struggle of Africville’s residents to save their homes and their dignity. With tremendous wit andll gravity, George Boyd takes us back to Africville on the verge of extinction, making us a gift of characters believable in their vulnerabilities, their courage and their outrage.
Jacqueline Youm as Clarice Lyle and Brock Brown as Willem Lyle) in “Consecrated Ground.” Photo courtesy of Lorraine Brooks.
2. “Singin’ in the Rain” at The Arlington Players
“…talent, innovation, and technology…gives us a fine feel for the classic numbers.” –
READ review.
Synopsis: An adaptation of the 1952 cult classic movie by the same name, the show follows leading man Don Lockwood through the waning days of the silent film era in Hollywood. You may have seen quite a few shows at Thomas Jefferson with us, but can you remember the last time you saw precipitation in the theater? Come see TAP take on this classic musical as we, quite literally, make it rain!
Tim Lewis, Rachael Fine, and Daniel Kingsley (u/s). Photo by Brian L. Knapp.
3. “Push the Button” at The Keegan Theatre
“…has heart and promise…fun, colorful, and full of sound and motion.“ – Peter Orvetti
READ review.
Synopsis: In a town beset by the sordid shenanigans of a prank-prone Villain, justice finally seems to be served when the celebrated Hero accuses Villain of the worst crime of all: Pushing the Button. But when the dutiful Journalist starts asking the right questions, will convicting the Villain prove to be the wrong answer? This playful and poignant parody of modern morality will ask its audiences to question their very notions of right and wrong, crime and punishment, truth and narrative. But most of all, it will beg the question: “Who Pushed the Button??”
Tre’mon Mills and Quincy Vicks in “Push the Button” at The Keegan Theatre. Photo by Cameron Whitman.
4. “The Beaux’ Stratagem” by The Rude Mechanicals
“…this quirky offering from the Rude Mechanicals…is charming and clever.” – Sue Tilberry
READ review.
Synopsis: “The Beaux’ Stratagem” follows the adventures of two charming Manhattan rakes, Archer and Aimwell, as they work their way through Lichfield, Kentucky society in search of a wealthy wife. Whichever one of them marries ‘their wife,’ they’ve agreed to share equally in her fortune. The plan starts going hilariously off the rails, of course, when Aimwell actually falls in love with their intended target.
Caroline Adams and Daniel Hubbell in “The Beaux’ Stratagem.” Photo by Rachel Duda.
5. “The Wedding Singer” at Silhouette Stages
“…high energy and incredibly fun show…has more music, more laughs, and more nostalgia.” –Pamela Steinik
READ review.
Synopsis: The Wedding Singer takes us back to 1985 when hair was big, greed was good, collars were up, and a wedding singer might just be the coolest guy in the room! Rock star wannabe Robbie Hart is New Jersey’s favorite wedding singer, until his own devastating heartbreak threatens to ruin his career. But his hope is renewed when he meets Julia, a waitress dreaming of her own perfect wedding to a Wall Street shark. As this new friendship blossoms into something more, Robbie must decide whether to pull off the performance of his life or lose the girl of his dreams forever. Based on the hit 1998 Adam Sandler movie, The Wedding Singer features a Tony-nominated score, dazzling dance numbers, and non-stop laughs!
The cast of “The Wedding Singer.” Stasia Steuart Photography.
Honorable Mention: “Longtime Since Yesterday” by the Black Theatre Ensemble of Georgetown University
“The Black Theatre Ensemble of Georgetown University does a beautiful job of showing the complexities of emotions involving suicide on top of the struggles of determining identity.” – Camron Wright
READ review.
Synopsis: Set in suburban New Jersey in the 1980s, this potent drama is about a reunion of former college classmates, now in their thirties, at the funeral of a friend who killed herself.
Joie Wright as Janeen Earl in “Long Time Since Yesterday”. The photo by Sadia Alao.
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