All stories by Peter Marks on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, January 24, 2023

This Broadway piano isn’t just a prop. It’s a piece of Black history. by Peter Marks

The upright piano in the Broadway revival of August Wilson’s “The Piano Lesson” is being donated to the Smithsonian.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:00PM
Friday, January 20, 2023

Seth Rozin’s story of the last two Jewish men in Kabul needs more oomph by Peter Marks

Theater J production of “Two Jews Walk Into a War,” running through Feb. 5, is comically unleavened.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:38PM
Thursday, January 19, 2023

D.C. is awash in actors, directors and writers hatching new plays by Peter Marks

Post-pandemic, Mosaic, Folger and Ford’s are some of the Washington companies staging workshops to nurture original scripts.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:15PM

How a play about a pope’s last days reveals the stark reality of dying by Peter Marks

In Poland, “The Death of John Paul II” divides audiences and highlights the career of an inventive young stage director.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:00AM
Tuesday, January 17, 2023

The protests in Iran make this funny play all the more potent by Peter Marks

With “English,” Studio Theatre offers a sterling production of playwright Sanaz Toossi’s seriocomedy.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:00AM
Friday, January 13, 2023

How does a 63-year-old play a teen? In Victoria Clark’s case, superbly. by Peter Marks

Clark and 19-year-old Justin Cooley have astonishing chemistry in “Kimberly Akimbo” on Broadway.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:00AM
Monday, January 9, 2023

Broadway loses more stellar work as ‘Ohio State Murders’ abruptly exits by Peter Marks

"Ohio State Murders" is closing prematurely, despite a great performance from Audra McDonald. Off-Broadway, a comedy starring Kate Berlant thrives.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:26PM
Saturday, January 7, 2023

What are we clapping for? America’s sad compulsion to applaud. by Peter Marks

A critical takeaway from all that House Speaker voting: The Capitol’s reflex for cheering is out of control.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:00AM
Friday, January 6, 2023

Theater at the edge of war: Laughs, brutal truths and a Zelensky spoof by Peter Marks

For nine days in December, the Divine Comedy International Theatre Festival in Krakow, Poland, examined neighboring Ukraine in a variety of plays.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:00AM
Friday, December 23, 2022

Josh Groban is having a moment, and a Sondheim revival is next by Peter Marks

The beloved singer makes an interesting pivot in the revamped "Sweeney Todd" coming to Broadway.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 08:18AM
Thursday, December 22, 2022

As a fraught year on Broadway ends, a great actor rises by Peter Marks

Stephen McKinley Henderson is sure to be celebrated in Stephen Adly Guirgis’s Pulitzer winner, “Between Riverside and Crazy”

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:42PM
Tuesday, December 20, 2022

On two D.C. stages, plays navel-gaze about — what else? — the stage by Peter Marks

“Which Way to the Stage?” and “Jane Anger” look at dramatic issues in eras five centuries apart.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:12PM
Tuesday, December 13, 2022

The best of theater in 2022 by Peter Marks

We chronicle some of the best in a banner year for plays and musicals, including "Guys and Dolls" at the Kennedy Center, Jodie Comer on the West End and "Into the Woods" on Broadway.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 08:32AM
Monday, December 12, 2022

With Radcliffe, Groff and Mendez, Sondheim’s ‘Merrily’ finds greatness by Peter Marks

The off-Broadway production, directed by Maria Friedman, makes a smashing case for a Broadway transfer.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:18PM
Thursday, December 8, 2022

Blue Man Group is so indestructible, it’s even outlasting ‘Phantom’ by Peter Marks

More than 30 years after the concept was born, the clowns in blue are still everywhere, speaking a universal language.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:24AM
Tuesday, December 6, 2022

Broadway’s smash hit ‘Into the Woods’ is coming to the Kennedy Center by Peter Marks

The February arrival of the Sondheim-Lapine musical launches a tour that will also take the show to Chicago, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:06AM
Monday, December 5, 2022

On Broadway, Neil Diamond seems a drag and ‘KPOP’ needs a rethink by Peter Marks

“A Beautiful Noise” tackles Diamond’s lifelong blues, while “KPOP” explores the making of South Korean pop stars.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:54PM
Tuesday, November 29, 2022

A casino in hectic Times Square? This theater critic says heck no. by Peter Marks

Theater may be full of romantic notions about gambling, but a choked cultural and tourist crossroads is nowhere to welcome bettors.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:42PM
Sunday, November 27, 2022

Broadway’s ‘& Juliet’ pops with a cheeky supply of snap and crackle by Peter Marks

"& Juliet" is a new Broadway musical, with Max Martin's songs and a cheeky rewrite of "Romeo and Juliet."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:12PM
Wednesday, November 23, 2022

‘Downstate’ is a play about pedophiles. It’s also brilliant. by Peter Marks

Bruce Norris’s off-Broadway work is tough stuff, questioning how society treats those convicted of heinous acts.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:24PM
Tuesday, November 22, 2022

A new play shows drug addiction is tough to dramatize in novel ways by Peter Marks

“People, Places & Things” treads familiar turf even as it showcases the talents of a central character played by Kristen Bush.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:03PM
Friday, November 18, 2022

Go ‘Into the Woods’ at Signature Theatre. Come out charmed. by Peter Marks

The 1987 musical from Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine is revived by the perfect company.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:42PM
Thursday, November 17, 2022

This just in! ‘Much Ado’ set in a TV news studio is nothing but fun by Peter Marks

Shakespeare Theatre Company resets the popular comedy as a Washington, D.C., farce.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:24PM

Alex Edelman confronts antisemitism onstage. Trust me, it’s hilarious. by Peter Marks

The acclaimed comedian brings “Just for Us” to D.C.'s Woolly Mammoth Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:24AM
Monday, November 14, 2022

Woolly Mammoth calls for theaters nationwide to trust and protect artists by Peter Marks

The board of the D.C. company circulates a letter in response to layoffs at a venerable Chicago theater company.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:48PM
Friday, November 11, 2022

Shakespeare meets ‘Broadcast News’ in a very D.C. staging of ‘Much Ado’ by Peter Marks

And it’s been double duty for Simon Godwin, artistic director of Shakespeare Theatre Company, who created versions of the Bard’s comedy in two styles on two continents.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:12AM
Thursday, November 10, 2022

‘Kimberly Akimbo’ is on Broadway, and the world is better for it by Peter Marks

David Lindsay-Abaire and Jeanine Tesori’s delightful musical marks its official opening in Times Square.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:32PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2022

2 D.C. plays put wit and warmth on the map, from Ireland to Israel by Peter Marks

“The Playboy of the Western World” gets a dramatic updating, while “Home?” details a Palestinian actress’s quest for a safe artistic haven.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:42PM
Friday, November 4, 2022

25 years on, dad and daughter return to ‘Lion King.’ Cue the tears. by Peter Marks

On the occasion of "The Lion King's" 25th anniversary on Broadway, a father and daughter return to savor its durable rewards.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:48AM
Thursday, November 3, 2022

The new musical ‘Almost Famous’ is not even almost great by Peter Marks

The delightful 2000 rock film comes to Broadway with disappointing results.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:54PM
Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Ralph Fiennes, Samuel L. Jackson electrify the drama on N.Y. stages by Peter Marks

"Straight Line Crazy" and "The Piano Lesson" are among the hot properties on Broadway and off this fall.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:54PM

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