Week of May 21, 2023
1. “Hurricane Diane” by Avant Bard Theatre
“With its production…Avant Barde Theatre proves that having the right chemistry, some might say the perfect chemistry, can culminate in a show that leaves the audience deeply engaged, if not downright spellbound.” – Anne Valentino
READ review.
Synopsis: Prepare yourself for Hurricane Diane! Enter the garden of a suburban New Jersey cul-de-sac home where the Greek god Dionysus has arrived in the form of Diane, a lesbian permaculture gardener from Vermont. She’s got supernatural abilities owing to her true identity, and her secret mission is to seduce mortal followers and restore the earth to its natural state. Who better to begin with than four suburban New Jersey housewives? Playwright Madeleine George brings us a riotous evisceration of the blind eye we turn to climate change and the bacchanalian catharsis that awaits us…in our backyards.
Diane Cooper-Gould as Beth, Caro Dubberly as Diane, and Avant Bard Lolita Marie as Renee in “Hurricane Diane.” Photo by DJ Corey Photography.
2. “Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at Signature Theatre
“A deserving finale to Signature’s Season of Sondheim, outstanding lead performances and fantastic technical design make “Sweeney Todd” a delight for old, new, and soon-to-be fans. – Charlotte Selton
READ review.
Synopsis: Sondheim’s masterpiece is a savory Victorian melodrama. Returned to London following a wrongful banishment, barber Sweeney Todd’s thirst for vengeance against the corrupt judge who sent him away leads him on a murderous spree. Aided by his downstairs neighbor, baker Mrs. Lovett, the two concoct an unappetizing scheme as they terrorize the city. Featuring the songs “The Worst Pies in London,” “A Little Priest,” “Johanna” and “Not While I’m Around,” this deliciously dark musical serves horror with a slice of humor.
Bryonha Marie (Mrs. Lovett) and Nathaniel Stampley (Sweeney Todd) in “Sweeney Todd” at Signature Theatre. Photo by Christopher Mueller.
3. “Something Rotten!” by 2nd Star productions at the Bowie Playhouse
“…a spectacularly entertaining production…This cast has chemistry and charisma…a must-see.“ – Susan Nolan
READ review.
Synopsis: Welcome to the Renaissance and the outrageous, crowd-pleasing musical farce, Something Rotten, the Musical! 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. But amidst the scandalous excitement of opening night, the Bottom Brothers realize that reaching the top means being true to thine own self, and all that jazz.
Natolya Barber as William Shakespeare carried by the Bard Girls. Photo by Nate Jackson Photography.
4. “Nina” at Arena Players
“Lione’s voice and presence carry a tractor trailer load of charisma… Run (or dance), don’t walk, to grab tickets to ‘Nina’ before it’s gone.” – Max Garner
READ review.
Synopsis: She was one of the most extraordinary artists of the twentieth century, an icon of American music. She was the consummate musical storyteller, a griot as she would come to learn, who used her remarkable talent to create a legacy of liberation, empowerment, passion, and love through a magnificent body of works. She earned the moniker ‘High Priestess of Soul’ for she could weave a spell so seductive and hypnotic that the listener lost track of time and space as they became absorbed in the moment. She was who the world would come to know as Nina Simone.
Cierra Lione stars as Nina Simone. Photo courtesy Arena Players.
5. “Head Over Heels” at Annapolis Summer Garden Theatre
“Charming, socially relevant, and hilariously heart-warming, “Head Over Heels” is delighting audiences. Don’t miss out on this wonderfully funny show!” – Susan Nolan
READ review.
Synopsis: “Head Over Heels” is the bold new musical comedy from the visionaries that rocked Broadway with Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Avenue Q and Spring Awakening. This laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the iconic 1980’s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth” and “Mad About You.” A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, “Head Over Heels” follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts.
