All stories by Nelson Pressley on BroadwayStars

Thursday, February 28, 2019

How playwright Kate Hamill brought a modern sensibility to a 19th-century novel by Nelson Pressley

“Nothing’s too sacred to re-examine,” says the adapter of “Vanity Fair.”

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:24PM

Rich acting pays off in ‘The Heiress,’ a surprisingly timely classic at Arena Stage by Nelson Pressley

Director Seema Sueko has cast her production splendidly, with Laura C. Harris holding the spotlight as a whip-smart but paralyzingly anxious Catherine.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:24PM

Are jukebox musicals like ‘The Cher Show’ dumbing down Broadway, or just giving us what we want? by Nelson Pressley

The bio shows elbow aside plot, character and narrative for a different set of showbiz goals.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:24PM

‘Finding Neverland’ musical at National Theatre needs a better hook by Nelson Pressley

A non-Equity tour alights in D.C., but production isn’t the best look.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:24PM
Wednesday, February 13, 2019

There will be blood in the STC’s gross-out ‘Richard the Third’ by Nelson Pressley

The violent concept has power, but some human drama gets cut away.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:33PM
Tuesday, February 12, 2019

The musical ‘Once’ sounds fit as a fiddle at Olney Theatre by Nelson Pressley

The sleeper indie film enjoys a different life onstage.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:24PM

This documentary play about Israeli artists is a raw, uneasy 80 minutes by Nelson Pressley

Mosaic’s “Shame 2.0” chronicles battles with the government, and the public.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:24PM
Monday, February 11, 2019

Women are dominating hilariously raunchy comedy. Need more proof? See “BLKS.” by Nelson Pressley

The action-packed comedy at Woolly Mammoth follows young women through one wild and crazy night.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:06PM
Monday, February 4, 2019

‘The Wiz’ leads Helen Hayes nominations with 13 nods, including outstanding musical by Nelson Pressley

Woolly Mammoth dominates the play category, with three shows in a top slot.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 09:04PM

‘Moonlight’ writer McCraney’s writing still glows in ‘The Brothers Size’ by Nelson Pressley

1st Stage revisits one of the MacArthur “genius” grant winner’s early triumphs.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:48PM
Sunday, February 3, 2019

With Amazon arrival, D.C.’s booming real estate market will get only tighter. Will small theaters be pushed out? by Nelson Pressley

Facing the loss of its Crystal City venue to the retail giant, Synetic Theater searches for an affordable space.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:54PM
Thursday, January 31, 2019

Signature’s ‘Ain’t Misbehavin’ ’ takes its time heating up by Nelson Pressley

This revival of the Fats Waller show is disjointed.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:06PM

‘A little chaotic and scary’: Behind the scenes as the Kennedy Center’s ‘Music Man’ comes together in two weeks by Nelson Pressley

This semi-staged version features cast members that might be holding scripts but loses none of the Broadway talent.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:48AM
Tuesday, January 29, 2019
Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Paula Vogel’s AIDS-era ‘Baltimore Waltz’ sings a slightly different tune by Nelson Pressley

The memorializing play is still personal and political in Keegan Theatre revival.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:24PM
Monday, January 21, 2019

The comic ‘Admissions’ tests white privilege and getting into college by Nelson Pressley

More dyspeptic social laughs from the writer of “Bad Jews.”

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:54PM
Friday, January 18, 2019

The kids steal the show in ‘School of Rock’ at the National Theatre by Nelson Pressley

Genuinely catchy numbers keep Andrew Lloyd Webber musical rocking.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:32PM

Washington theaters shine a spotlight on Vladimir Putin by Nelson Pressley

The Russian president as a trending topic in the American imagination.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:42AM
Thursday, January 17, 2019

How Trayvon Martin inspired a racially divided ‘Twelve Angry Men’ at Ford’s by Nelson Pressley

“I wanted that six-to-six moment,” says director Sheldon Epps.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:48PM
Monday, January 14, 2019

With ‘American Moor,’ you may not see Shakespeare — and a lot of roles played by black actors — quite the same way by Nelson Pressley

The play by Keith Hamilton Cobb, who plays the lead part, is a diagnosis on race and theater.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:24PM
Thursday, January 10, 2019

How does the ‘School of Rock’ musical cast the kids? ‘There are some 10-year-olds who can really shred’ by Nelson Pressley

Coming from Broadway to D.C.’s National Theatre, the production recruited from actual School of Rock branches, other music schools and music camps.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:24PM
Wednesday, January 9, 2019

Theater J names Jojo Ruf as new managing director before move into renovated space in fall by Nelson Pressley

“She has a vast knowledge of the business models of theater,” says artistic director.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:18AM
Thursday, December 20, 2018

The play ‘Kings’ is a comedy, but its lobbyists and politicians wield words like killers by Nelson Pressley

Written by Alexandria native Sarah Burgess, the show and its inside-the-Beltway jargon may hit Washingtonians close to home.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:54PM

‘Play That Goes Wrong’ breaks a leg (plus a few noses, noggins and funny bones) by Nelson Pressley

The comedy is athletic as a murder mystery practically kills its actors.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:42PM
Tuesday, December 18, 2018

Politics and religion are juicy topics in two 90-minute comedies on D.C. stages by Nelson Pressley

D.C. lobbyists get skewered in “Kings,” and God gets therapy in “Oh, God.”

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:04PM
Monday, December 17, 2018

‘Miss Saigon’ at the Kennedy Center brings back the megamusical’s highs and lows by Nelson Pressley

The new national tour is as big, beautiful and difficult as ever.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:54PM
Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Theater J, still roaming across D.C., revives ‘Talley’s Folly’ by Nelson Pressley

Lanford Wilson’s Pulitzer-winning romance is produced at GALA Hispanic Theatre’s Tivoli stage.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:04PM
Friday, December 7, 2018

Irish immigration is played for laughs in ‘How to Keep an Alien’ by Nelson Pressley

Sonya Kelly’s autobiographical show gets its D.C. premiere at Solas Nua.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:48PM
Wednesday, December 5, 2018

August Wilson’s titanic ‘Gem of the Ocean’ sets sail at Round House by Nelson Pressley

The operatically scaled drama examines post-slavery America as the 20th century begins.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:18PM

Best of theater 2018: Distinguished visitors and hometown heroes by Nelson Pressley

Touring productions and local standouts that illuminated Washington stages.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:06PM

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