Week of September 14, 2025
1. “The Great Privation (How To Flip Ten Cents into a Dollar)” at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
“Mina Morita’s direction is absolutely seamless…stellar cast…a vibrant and highly relevant piece that resonates long after you leave the theatre.” – Anne Valentino
READ the review.
Synopsis: Philadelphia’s African Baptist Church, 1832: a mother and daughter guard the grave of their husband and father to deter resurrectionists from pillaging it for science. Today, on the same grounds: another mother and daughter work as counselors at what is now a summer camp. Timelines collide, reminding us to find joy in our present even as we exhume our nation’s buried past.
Yetunde Felix-Ukwu, Victoria Omoregie. Photo by Cameron Whitman.
2. “Damn Yankees” at Arena Stage
“…a must-see show that is nothing short of spectacular…very possible that this production of ‘Damn Yankees’ is the most fun you’ll have at the theatre all year!” – Jeannette Mulherin
READ the review.
Synopsis: One of America’s most beloved musicals is coming back, dusted off and spit-shined for a new generation. All the elements that made it famous are there: a diehard love of baseball, one man’s fateful (and hilarious) pact with the Devil, and Broadway’s sexiest femme fatale…but gently re-tooled for its first major revival in the 21st century. Featuring iconic songs like “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Who’s Got the Pain?,” this production immerses audiences in a whirlwind of temptation, ambition, love, and sacrifice in this bold new adaptation by Lortel Award winner Will Power and Pulitzer and Tony Award winner Doug Wright, with additional lyrics by Tony Award winner Lynn Ahrens, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Sergio Trujillo.
Alysha Umphress (Gloria Thorpe) and the company of “Damn Yankees.” Photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman.
3. “Red Pitch” at Olney Theatre Center
“…a terrific opening act for Olney Theatre Center’s season…a brilliant creative team behind this fabulous show.…you will love the heartfelt action…” – Nancy Blum
READ the review.
Synopsis: Bilal, Joey, and Omz have been boys their whole lives, growing up together playing soccer on their small pitch outside their south London apartments. But change is coming. Professional teams are signing up prospects, and they all harbor dreams to be chosen. Moreover, the neighborhood is changing, with lots of new apartments and franchise coffee shops pushing out longtime residents and local favorites. Can their friendship survive the threatened demise of their beloved “red pitch” and all it represents? This engrossing new play was such a hit in its initial run at London’s Bush Theatre (the same theatre that premiered Sleepova) that it earned a West End transfer, playing to critical and popular acclaim.
Terrence Griffin as Joey, Ty’Ree Hope Davis as Bilal, and Angelo Harrington II as Omz. Photo by Teresa Castracane Photography.
4. “Mary Shelley’s Monsters” presented by Bob Bartlett at the Congressional Cemetery
”…an exemplary piece of site-specific theater…a powerful demonstration of the artistry possible when a creative team fully commits to their vision and their venue.” – Peter Orvetti
READ the review.
Synopsis: The author of the infamous novel faces her creations and reckons with the lasting impact of her radical and horrific story in this new retelling of Frankenstein. “A poetically arresting journey into one of the greatest horrors of all time.”
Katrina Clark as Mary Shelley, Jon Beal as the Creature, and JC Payne as Victor Frankenstein in “Mary Shelley’s Monsters.” Photo by Teresa Castracane.
5. “The Shark is Broken” at Maryland Ensemble Theatre (MET)
“…meticulously crafted production elements…With sharp writing, seamless direction, and standout performances, it brims with humor, poignancy, and heart.” – Katie Barnett
READ the review.
Synopsis: It’s 1974 and the hit movie JAWS is being filmed. Well, it would be, if the prop shark wasn’t a mechanical mess. In this laugh-out-loud comedy, testy, feuding costars Robert Shaw, Richard Dreyfuss, and Roy Scheider take center stage as booze flows, egos clash, and tempers flare. The actors pray for an end to the shoot, not knowing it will change their lives forever.
Willem Rogers as Richard Dreyfuss, Steven Todd Smith as Roy Sheider, and Kevin Corbett as Robert Shaw. Photo by David Spence of Spence Photography.
