All stories by Bev Fleisher on BroadwayStars

Friday, November 21, 2014

The Count Basie Orchestra at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

  The Count Basie Orchestra is a perfect paring with The Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club as it rises to its stated goal of being “The Copacabana of the mid-Atlantic.” The packed …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:20AM
Wednesday, November 19, 2014

‘The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee’ at Magruder High School by Bev Fleisher

Bright shiny objects in unexpected places often draw our attention. This weekend’s bauble, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, drew the spotlight to Magruder High School.  The eve…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:20AM
Saturday, November 8, 2014

‘A Little Business at the Big Top’ at TheaterSpace at George Mason University by Bev Fleisher

Masterful! David Gaines solo performance was clever, skilled and totally engrossing. Using only his body, facial expressions and some gibberish, he transported the audience to the circus, b…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:04PM
Friday, November 7, 2014

‘Africa Umoja’ at the National Theatre by Bev Fleisher

The energy of Africa Umoja virtually leapt off the stage. At times, the performer’s enthusiasm was nearly matched by the shout-outs, ululations, whistling, foot stomping, singing, arm-wavi…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:08PM
Friday, October 10, 2014

‘SPUNK’ at Howard University by Bev Fleisher

As Alicia Mitchell-Mangual sings and the lights come up, I anticipate another fantastic production by the Howard University Department of Theatre Arts. The six actors and keyboardist Kayla V…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:46PM
Monday, September 8, 2014

Nation Beat and Alma Tropicalia at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

The music to celebrate Brazilian Independence Day at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club Saturday night drove most of the attendees onto the dance floor. Both Alma Tropicalia and Nation Beat…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 08:35PM
Saturday, September 6, 2014

‘The Nighthawks’ and the ‘Kelly Bell Band’ at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

Of course The Nighthawks lived up to their reputation as “the quintessential bar band.”Forty plus years in, DC native Mark Wenner only gets better and a bit funkier. The surprise of the …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:22PM
Sunday, August 31, 2014

‘The Rat Pack Together Again’ at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

In the setting of the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club, I was expecting The Rat Pack to bring me on a nostalgic trip to the early 60s when Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Dean Martin…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:40PM
Sunday, August 10, 2014

‘Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra’ at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

In 1998, Forbes magazine declared Doc Scantlin and His Imperial Palms Orchestra the “best band in America.” And that was before they attained a huge following for their entertainment va…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 04:56PM
Saturday, August 2, 2014

Curley Taylor and Zydeco Trouble at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club by Bev Fleisher

FRESH was the defining feeling at Zydeco Trouble’s dance party at Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. Lead by Curley Taylor, the five-piece band consistently delivered a straight up zydec…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:20AM
Sunday, July 20, 2014

‘Dani Girl’ at Unexpected Stage Company by Bev Fleisher

Dani Girl is a gem worthy of placement at the highest point in a royal’s crown. Go see it before it closes its brief run on August 10th! Every member of this musical’s cast and creative …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:59PM
Monday, July 14, 2014

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Oh, What Can’t A Woman Do?’ by Bev Fleisher

(Best of the Capital Fringe) This production is not to be missed! It is clearly one of the ‘Best of the Capital Fringe.’ Hilary Morrow’s solo performance is riveting.Morrow is both pla…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:11AM

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Call Steve Guttenberg’ by Bev Fleisher

If you are familiar with H.P. Lovecraft’s early writing about the fictional deity called Cthulhu, this play is hilarious. If you are not familiar with Lovecraft’s writing, take just a mo…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:23AM
Sunday, July 13, 2014

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Balloon Plays’ by Bev Fleisher

Balloon Plays is a great way to introduce kids to the wonders of Fringe. It is, to my knowledge, the only offering directed towards a younger audience. The approximately 10 kids and 40 adul…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:12PM

Capital Fringe 2014 Review: ‘Boy Meets Girl and Other Dilemmas’ by Bev Fleisher

Four good comics, eight short skits and one ‘ha, ha, not so funny’synopsis made for a sporadically funny performance of this collection written by Robert Kittredge and directed by Lisa H…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:37AM
Monday, June 16, 2014

‘Louisiana Swamp Romp’ at Wolf Trap by Bev Fleisher

This much-anticipated yearly event at WolfTrap was a winner once again. The Stooges Brass Band, BeauSoleil avec Michael Doucet and Big Sam’s Funky Nation showcased the breadth of music…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:05PM
Monday, June 9, 2014

Sergio Mendes and Eliane Elias at The Music Center at Strathmore by Bev Fleisher

Sergio Mendes and Eliane Elias ruled the stage Friday night as part of Strathmore’s Jazz Samba Project festival, celebrating Brazilian bossa nova music. Both Elias and Mendez performed som…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:22PM
Saturday, May 17, 2014

‘She Stoops to Conquer’ at Pallas Theatre Collective by Bev Fleisher

David Mavricos, as the confused suitor, Charles Marlow, exemplifies the quality of Pallas Theatre Collective’s production of Oliver Goldsmith’s popular farcical romp She Stoops…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:21PM
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Tom Paxton at The Barns at Wolf Trap by Bev Fleisher

Tom Paxton‘s soul-stirring performance at The Barns at Wolf Trap brings us near the end of his more than 50 year career as one of America’s most influential folk singers. He retires…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:45PM
Tuesday, April 8, 2014

Bhangra Blowout XXI at The George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium by Bev Fleisher

Lisner Auditorium was filled with movement, color, dazzle and (ear-splitting) sound during Saturday night’s 21st annual Bhangra Blowout.  Eight colleges vied for championship of Bhangra B…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:55PM
Sunday, April 6, 2014

‘One Mic: Marc Bamuthi Joseph: red, black, and GREEN: a blues (rbGb)’ at The Kennedy Center by Bev Fleisher

Marc Bamuthi Joseph, best known as a spoken word artist, and his collaborators, raised questions and gave many ideas for discussion through a multi-layered, multi-sensory performance at The…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:17AM
Thursday, February 27, 2014

‘Pilobolus’ at The Music Center at Strathmore by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Founded in 1971 as a dance collective by Dartmouth College students, this company still wears its revolutionary stripes on its sleeves. Pilobolus was named after a barnyard fungus that prope…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 04:21PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2014

The Kennedy Center and Pro Musica Hebraica Present: An Evening of Jewish Music and Poetry: Evgeny Kissin at The Kennedy Center by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Pro Musica Hebraica ended its seventh season in the packed Kennedy Center Concert Hall with a moving evening of music and poetry, both rendered exquisite by pianist and lover of Yiddish poet…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:24AM
Sunday, February 23, 2014

‘Rent’ at American University by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Jonathan Larson, who wrote the original book, music and lyrics for Rent, summarized the musical in one sentence: ‘Rent is about a community and about celebrating life in the face of death …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:00AM
Monday, February 17, 2014

Angelique Kidjo at Lisner Auditorium by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Béninoise singer-songwriter and activist, Angelique Kidjo worked most of the audience into an exuberant dancing frenzy at her performance last night at Lisner Auditorium. Her 17-song set co…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:13PM
Saturday, February 1, 2014

‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast JR.’ at Bravo@KAT by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

All of us were raised with the enchantment of fairy tales, from Thumbelina (Hans Christian Andersen) and Cinderella (Charles Perrault), to Rapunzel (Brothers Grimm), many of them later po…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:26PM
Tuesday, January 28, 2014

‘Ragtime’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

I am a big fan of The Little Theatre of Alexandria because of their consistency in presenting top-notch productions – which always run like clockwork – so I was disappointed that…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 04:37PM

‘Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song’ at MetroStage by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

The press opening performance of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines, was a tour de force. I strongly recommend that anyone with an …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:48PM
Sunday, January 26, 2014

‘An Inspector Calls’ at Rockville Little Theatre by Bev Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Who-done-its often involve multiple twists and turns, dead ends, and tangential material — all leading to the capture of the criminal and justice served at the last moment. Director Laurie…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:37PM
Sunday, January 19, 2014

‘Les Misérables’ at Reston Community Players by Beverly Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Reston Community Players’ production of Les Misérables is la plupart magnifique! From the moment the curtain rose on a group of prisoners, including Jean Valjean, toiling in misery …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:06PM
Friday, January 17, 2014

Christie Dashiell at The Mansion at Strathmore by Beverly Fleisher by Bev Fleisher

Christie Dashiell and her band graced the stage at the Mansion at Strathmore on Wednesday night with a seven-song set. Her skills as a jazz vocalist and composer brought joy throughout the p…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:02AM

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