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Dec 1, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
What if Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge from Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol turned stingy and mean again? What if he charged the Ghost of Christmas Past, the Ghost of Christmas Present, and the Ghost of Christmas Future with kidnapping, breaking and entering, attempted murder, and theft in a court of law? What if Scrooge was his own attorney in the trial? The Port Tobacco Players’ The Trial of Ebenezer Scrooge hilariously explores these questions.
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Oct 28, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
“Ride of the Valkyries” by Richard Wagner gives me a rush of adrenaline like no other. For years I’ve enjoyed various incarnations of the song, including a rock and a Western version. The song set the stage for actor Robert Duvall’s line “I love the smell of napalm in the morning” in the film Apocalypse Now. Many years ago, that song inspired me to listen to more of the hypnotic music of the incomparable Richard Wagner (pronounced REE-card VAHG-ner). I sought out and watched some of his operas.
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Oct 21, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
Eva Perón was an amazing woman. In her 33 years, she rose from a poor girl to a radio and film star and eventually became the First Lady of Argentina. She’s remembered for her campaigns for women’s suffrage and advocating for the poor. To this day there is an ideology called Peronism. With music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice, Silhouette Stages’ Evita is a smash.
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Sep 30, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
Times and opinions change. There is a concept in political science known as the Overton window. It refers to the range of acceptable ideas the public is willing to adopt. The window changes over time so that once-fringe ideas become mainstream. It’s a concept that shows that political opinion is often contextual. This concept provides a lens through which to look at Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground at Olney Theatre Center.
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Sep 22, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |Ira Levin |" “Barefoot
Veronica’s Room mucks with your head and turns it inside out. It makes you think about the nature of reality. It disturbs, rattles, and puzzles. It makes you think about false memories and simulations. It’s a deep psychological horror. In a Boston café in 1973, a young woman called “The Girl” aka Susan (Becca Korn) and her date, “Young Man” (Christopher S. Reed), encounter an elderly Irish couple, “The Man” (Vince Terlep) and “The Woman” (Hillary Mazur).
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Sep 15, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |Lynn Nottage |" “Barefoot
Esther Mills, an African American seamstress in New York City in 1905, crafts intimate apparel for both wealthy and impoverished clients. Though she doesn’t bedazzle in the looks department, Esther yearns to be married. She repeatedly goes to parties but comes up unlucky in the game of love. Eventually, Cupid’s arrow finds George Armstong, a worker on the Panama Canal project, who starts writing to Esther. Unfortunately, Esther cannot write or read. Compass Rose Theater’s Lottie E.
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Aug 17, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
Michael Jackson was an enigma. He was also a pop-music juggernaut who dominated the airwaves. Jackson was the definition of commercial success in the music business, earning the undisputed title of the King of Pop. He eclipsed other artists of his era such as Madonna, Cindi Lauper, and David Bowie on the early ’80s charts. Now at the National Theatre, MJ is a jukebox musical that plays like a concert. It will have you rocking in your seat.
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May 8, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
Director Jonathan McCrory is a talkative, learned, and energetic man. He is the perfect choice to direct Kennedy Center’s The Gathering: A Collective Sonic Ring Shout, a concert and collaboration with the Kennedy Center and National Black Theatre (NBT). The concert plays June 1, but there are exhibits leading up to and after the show running May 26 through May 31, and June 2, 2024. “It’s not a play.
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Apr 15, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |Katori Hall |" “Barefoot
This dramedy has a hot-wing eating contest, bickering gay couples, and a performance of Luther Vandross’ “A Thousand Kisses.” What’s not to love? Directed by Christopher D. Bett and written by Katori Hall (who created the STARZ TV show P-Valley), The Hot Wing King is a well-acted show that explores the Black LGBTQIA+ experience. The yearly Hot Wang Festival takes place in Memphis, Tennessee. Cook extraordinaire Cordell Crutchfield’s goal is to win the coveted title of Wing King.
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Apr 8, 2024 | 
dctheaterarts.org | William Powell |" “Barefoot
Being a human is challenging. Being a man is hard. Being a Black man is tough. The stage play NOIR at DC Arts Center explores the tormented mentalities of five Black men. With around the corner, this excellent play raises awareness and provokes thought. Can men show vulnerability and still be “manly”? Does getting to the root of trauma through therapy heal people? Are “Niggas … just numbers”? Those are among the many questions and themes in this show.
