All stories by Derek Mong on BroadwayStars

Saturday, June 25, 2016

Review: ‘See Jane Sing’ at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

It’s hard to imagine what to expect at a cabaret debut from a television actor turned Broadway performer turned television game host. Jane Lynch—who some know as Sue Sylvester from the h…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:23PM
Friday, July 31, 2015

‘Dear Evan Hansen’ at Arena Stage by Derek Mong

There are a lot of great shows in town this month. There’s the fan-favorite The Book of Mormon, the charming and captivating Once, the grassroots Capital Fringe Festival (which just ended)…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:14AM
Wednesday, June 10, 2015

‘NEWSIES’ at The National Theatre by Derek Mong

Disney’s high-octane Newsies of New York have pirouetted their way to Pennsylvania Avenue in the Washington, DC, premiere engagement of the Tony Award-winning smash hit musical Disney’s …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:24AM
Monday, May 4, 2015

2015 Kennedy Center Spring Gala: ‘It Don’t Mean a Thing… A Celebration of Swing’ at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts by Derek Mong

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts rolled out the red carpet on Sunday evening with a star-studded salute to the swing era of the 1930s and ‘40s. Under the direction of Gra…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:21AM
Saturday, May 2, 2015

‘Memphis’ at The Warner Theatre by Derek Mong

Hockadoo! After a few toe-tapping hours at The Warner Theatre with the cast of Memphis and their inspired singing and dancing, I still have no idea what “Hockadoo” means, but I know—wi…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 07:48AM
Thursday, April 9, 2015

Jay Leno at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

A magnificent stage usually filled with a full orchestra and a hundred-person chorus might feel empty with just a stool, a microphone, and a lone person, but not when Jay Leno is in control.…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:51AM
Sunday, April 5, 2015

‘Simply Sondheim’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

Including everything from Sunday in the Park with George to Company to Into the Woods and everything in between, the work of  has graced the stages of Signature Theatre an astounding twenty…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:58AM
Sunday, March 1, 2015

‘Kid Victory’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

Haunting, chilling, and totally mesmerizing are just a few words that you could use to describe the second collaboration between legendary composer John Kander (Chicago and Cabaret) and accl…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:59AM
Friday, February 13, 2015

‘Spring Awakening’ at American University by Derek Mong

There’s no show quite like Spring Awakening, and the students at American University, directed by Amber Jackson, delivered a rousing performance of the beloved musical Thursday night at th…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 08:31PM
Saturday, January 31, 2015

‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’ at The Warner Theatre by Derek Mong

Set during the Roaring Twenties in the heyday of prohibition, the Tony-winning musical Nice Work If You Can Get It is a celebration of the best of the iconic music of George and Ira Gershwin…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:11PM
Sunday, December 14, 2014

‘Holiday Follies’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

Many of the greatest things in life just better with time, and Signature Theatre’s annual celebration of the holidays—Holiday Follies—is certainly no exception.  Under the direction o…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:11AM
Saturday, October 18, 2014

“An Evening with David Sedaris” at the Music Center at Strathmore by Derek Mong

David Sedaris and his writing have a way of making a two-thousand seat theatre seem as intimate as your own living room, inviting the audience into the world of his hysterical ponderings and…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:48PM
Tuesday, August 19, 2014

A Report on ‘Summer Hummer: Ménage à Trois’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

Summer Hummer: Ménage à Trois at Signature Theatre Benefits theatreWashington’s Taking Care of Our Own   Summer Hummer: Ménage à Trois at Signature Theatre on Monday evening made Ca…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:50PM
Monday, August 11, 2014

Matt Nathanson and Gavin DeGraw at Wolf Trap by Derek Mong

Matt Nathanson made it very clear Sunday night at The Filene Center at the Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts that he was not the opening act for Gavin DeGraw. Telling a story abou…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:12AM
Friday, July 18, 2014

Straight No Chaser at Wolf Trap by Derek Mong

There’s something magical that happens when you take ten talented male vocalists, put them in matching slim-fitting blazers, and get them to sing out loud in perfect harmony and a synchron…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:00AM
Thursday, July 17, 2014

The Fray, Barcelona, and Oh Honey at Wolf Trap by Derek Mong

Wolf Trap bills them as a “piano-driven pop rock quartet with impassioned smash hits.” Blurt magazine praises them for “the way they seek out views of the world—and not just about th…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:51AM
Monday, July 14, 2014

Karen Mason at NextStop Theatre Company by Derek Mong

They say a truly great performer has the power to transform a song that you might have heard a million times before into a new experience—to take a classic and make it his or her own while…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:37AM
Friday, July 11, 2014

Tom Goss at Signature Theatre’s Sizzlin’ Summer Nights Series by Derek Mong

From the first downbeat of his powerhouse opening song, “It Only Takes One” off of his fourth album Wait, Tom Goss delivered a powerhouse performance to the very last note on Thursday ni…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:23AM
Saturday, June 28, 2014

The Midtown Men with NSO Pops at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

“Oh, What a Night!” There’s something special that happens when you bring together four supremely talented men on a single stage, couple them with one of the nation’s finest orchestr…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:34AM
Tuesday, May 20, 2014

‘Children of Eden in Concert’ at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

Nothing quite gets my juices going quite like a Stephen Schwartz musical. Wicked. Godspell. Pippin. But, combine a Stephen Schwartz musical with some of the top talent on Broadway, along wit…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:10AM
Wednesday, May 7, 2014

‘Blue Man Group’ at National Theatre by Derek Mong

What do you get when you mix 10 gallons of blue paint, 360 pounds of Jell-O, 15 pounds of Cap’n Crunch cereal, 30 boxes of Twinkie Lights, 550 feet of PVC piping, and 40 drum heads? A thea…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:30AM
Friday, May 2, 2014

‘Wayne McGregor Random Dance’ at The Kennedy Center by Derek Mong

The curtain rises on a dark stage, lit only by torches held by four dancers at the four corners of the stage, surrounding two dancers prancing and weaving about in coordinated, syncopated st…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:38PM
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

‘The Threepenny Opera’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong

Stepping into the Signature Theatre’s MAX Theatre, you immediately realize that you are standing on a giant, weathered Union Jack—transported, perhaps a bit uneasily for some, into the e…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:01AM
Sunday, March 30, 2014

‘Bring It On: The Musical’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Derek Mong

Elphaba, step aside! The high-flying cast of the Tony-award nominated best musical Bring It On: The Musical is defying gravity and launching itself to new heights—literally—and there’s…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:15AM
Saturday, March 15, 2014

‘Von Trapped’ at Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington by Derek Mong

In the words of Maria, the hills are most definitely alive with the gorgeous sound of the stars of the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s production of Von Trapped– a hilarious parod…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:44AM
Thursday, February 27, 2014

‘The Lost Songs of Broadway: 1980s’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

Clearly, I was born in the wrong decade. The Lost Songs of Broadway: 1980s at Signature Theatre had me tapping my toes and slapping my thighs all night as three of Signature’s powerhouse …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:01AM
Thursday, February 20, 2014

Carolyn Cole: The Farewell Tour at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

“This is a rock concert! There’s not going to be any of that ‘Good Morning Baltimore’ stuff tonight!” True to her word, Helen Hayes Award-winning artist Carolyn Cole took to the st…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:06AM
Thursday, February 13, 2014

‘Our Funny Valentine with Chelsea and Geoff Packard’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

It’s a cold, blustery winter night on the eve of a major storm, but, the air was warm with love and affection at the Signature Theatre Wednesday night as the powerhouse Broadway couple Che…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:12PM
Sunday, December 22, 2013

‘Gypsy’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

Everything’s coming up sunshine and Santa Claus at Signature Theatre. Hands down-—Signature Theatre’s Gypsy is the best musical I have seen this year. Signature Theatre pulls out …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:48AM
Wednesday, December 18, 2013

‘Holiday Follies’ at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

Who needs the star atop the Christmas tree when you can have three stars center-stage? (Company), Austin Colby (Crossing and Spin) and Maria Egler (Crossing) commanded the stage at the ARK …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:14AM
Thursday, December 12, 2013

“A Matt Conner Christmas” at Signature Theatre by Derek Mong by Derek Mong

The weather outside may be frightful, but Matt Conner’s peppy, rich piano playing and his group of eclectic friends makes certain that you knew nothing of it. In an hour-long cabaret-style…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:52PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards