All stories by Marlene Hall on BroadwayStars

Saturday, May 23, 2020

National Memorial Day Concert preview by Marlene Hall

Every Memorial Day PBS throws a beautiful show to honor our military who gave the ultimate sacrifice. This year is no different, despite its not being live in front of a patriotic audience i…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:20PM
Monday, December 9, 2019

‘Holiday Singin’ Pops’ kicks off the holiday season at Strathmore by Marlene Hall

To kickstart the Christmas season, the National Philharmonic and the National Philharmonic Chorale performed Holiday Singin’ Pops at the Music Center at Strathmore with guest performers. T…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:41AM
Thursday, January 3, 2019

David Lowery of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven Is Not Afraid to Testify by Marlene Hall

Musician David Lowery is a fascinating mix of contradictions. The co-founder of Cracker and Camper Van Beethoven is a learned college math professor and a cool rocker musician, a proud and l…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 07:31AM
Thursday, December 6, 2018

Review: ‘The Nutcracker’ by Ballet West at The Kennedy Center by Marlene Hall

Ballet West’s Nutcracker, conducted by Jared Oaks, is one of the most unique productions to set stage this week at the Kennedy Center. Steeped in lush colors, with a gorgeous set design a…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:43PM
Sunday, October 14, 2018

Review: ‘Dracula’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Marlene Hall

Local theatre gems exist everywhere and The Little Theatre of Alexandria is definitely one of the DC area’s theatrical treasures. An exceptional cast brought Halloween to Old Town Alex…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:12PM
Wednesday, July 4, 2018

‘A Capitol Fourth’ on PBS Celebrates America’s 242nd Birthday by Marlene Hall

It’s too darn hot in the nation’s capital, and this just may be the hottest A Capitol Fourth of all time. Every year, PBS puts on an amazing show for the Fourth of July on the West L…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:53PM
Sunday, May 27, 2018

National Memorial Day Concert: Live Tonight From the US Capitol Building by Marlene Hall

I have reviewed the National Memorial Day Concerts several years in a row and they are always top notch events with distinguished talent. This year, the 29th-anniversary show, is no exceptio…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:05PM
Monday, December 4, 2017

Review: ‘A Christmas Carol’ at The Little Theatre of Alexandria by Marlene Hall

Holidays can bring out the blues, but  A Christmas Carol will get you in the Christmas spirit of gratitude and love. The Little Theatre of Alexandria transforms you to the Dickensian time …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:10PM
Tuesday, July 4, 2017

Review: PBS Presents ‘A Capitol Fourth’ by Marlene Hall

Every year PBS puts on a spectacular show with A Capitol Fourth and has the most talented people involved performing and behind the scenes. This year features The Blues Brothers with Dan Ay…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:02PM
Monday, June 19, 2017

Review: ‘The Sound of Music’ at The Kennedy Center by Marlene Hall

Art has a way to awaken the senses and make you feel alive. Art shakes the dreariness of everyday life off you as you bathe in the beauty of a live musical performance. The Sound of Music at…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:25PM
Saturday, June 10, 2017

Review: Smithsonian Associates with Actor Alan Alda: ‘The Art and Science of Communicating’ by Marlene Hall

Thursday night on a beautiful Spring evening, Alan Alda fans descended upon the George Washington University’s Lisner Auditorium to hear him speak about his passion…communication! The ev…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:01PM
Wednesday, April 26, 2017

Interview: Jazz Chanteuse Changamiré by Marlene Hall

I met jazz chanteuse Changamire’ at a networking event. She quickly warmed up to me and gave me her latest jazz album “Love” to listen to. I was blown away. In our interview she shared…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:31PM
Friday, April 14, 2017

Review: ‘A Conversation with Alec Baldwin’ at Smithsonian Associates by Marlene Hall

A sold out crowd Wednesday night enthusiastically enjoyed the Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning actor, writer, producer, comedian, and political activist Alec Baldwin…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:14PM
Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Review: Smithsonian Associates in Collaboration with the Creativity Foundation presents the 15th Annual Benjamin Franklin Creativity Laureate Prize to by Marlene Hall

I wasn’t sure what to expect from this event, but it was unlike any Smithsonian Associates’ event I’ve ever attended. It involved a laugh exercise, talks about prison reform through ar…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:45PM
Sunday, April 2, 2017

Review: ‘Diane Rehm in Conversation’ at The Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History by Marlene Hall

NPR host Tom Gjetlten interviewed former NPR radio host Diane Rehm about her new book, On My Own, her time at NPR and what she is doing now. The talk had a political angle to it with her str…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:45AM
Friday, March 17, 2017

Review: Smithsonian Associates ‘Are the Cards Collapsing?: A ‘House of Cards’ Season 5 Preview’ with Professor Stef Woods by Marlene Hall

Wednesday night I did something very DC, I attended a talk on politics through the Smithsonian Associates. Not divisive politics, but pop culture politics about the show based on DC/ British…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:46AM
Friday, February 17, 2017

Interview: Meet ‘The Duskwhales’ by Marlene Hall

I first ran across the Duskwhales when they performed at the 9:30 Club with Justin Trawick’s The 9 Songwriter Series in the Fall of 2016. I was mesmerized by their psychedelic dress, sound…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:54AM
Thursday, February 9, 2017

Interview: Musician Rachel Levitin by Marlene Hall

Musician Rachel Levitin embodies passion. She is passionate about her music, life, and friends and is grateful for everything. When she sings, her whole body is enraptured in the music. It i…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:04PM
Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Review: ‘Mannheim Steamroller Christmas’ By Chip Davis at Strathmore by Marlene Hall

A large, stylish Christmas crowd was on hand Sunday night as Mannheim Steamroller “steamrolled” into Bethesda’s Music Center at Strathmore to perform Mannheim Steamroller Chris…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:39PM
Saturday, November 12, 2016

Review: ‘War Virgin’ at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop by Marlene Hall

In honor of Veterans’ Day, I took in a showing of War Virgin. I first met the playwright, West Point grad and Iraqi War veteran Laura Westley, at the Army/Navy game in Philadelphia severa…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:07AM
Friday, November 4, 2016

Concerto for Violin, Rock Band & String Orchestra: Composed by R.E.M.’s Mike Mills for Robert McDuffie Featuring Fifth House Ensemble at Strathm by Marlene Hall

When I saw Mike Mills of R.E.M. was coming to town, I knew I had to see him because I grew up on his music. R.E.M.’s music was a huge part of my life. Mills and Robert McDuffie didn’t d…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:00AM
Saturday, September 10, 2016

Review: Bryan Adams at Wolf Trap by Marlene Hall

If you’re looking for the fountain of youth, look no more, it’s called Rock ‘N Roll. Boyish and Renaissance man Bryan Adams transported through a time machine from the 1980s to grace …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:44PM
Thursday, September 8, 2016

Review: Don Henley at Wolf Trap by Marlene Hall

Seeing American icon in concert Don Henley is a must! He is Americana at its best! A musician to the core, his musical craftsmanship holds up to the test of time. A founding member of one o…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:26PM
Sunday, August 21, 2016

Review: ‘Ira Glass: Seven Things I’ve Learned’ at Wolf Trap by Marlene Hall

Usually when attending Wolf Trap it is to partake in either a concert or an opera, or a musical. Ira Glass’ unique show shook things up a bit, as he shared Americans’ personal stories an…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:13PM
Friday, July 15, 2016

2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘SpookyMsgPlsFwd!’ by Marlene Hall

If you’re looking for an adult comedy featuring a unicorn, funny dialogue and wicked costumes SpookyMsgPlsFwd! is a show for you! This fast-paced comedy imagines a world 60 years after t…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:04AM
Friday, July 8, 2016

2016 Capital Fringe Review: ‘PowerPlays’ by Marlene Hall

This clever play is composed of five vignettes with a talented cast and minimalist stage, written by ‘The Gang of Five’: Marilyn Bennett, J T Caruso, Dimitri Neos, Michelle Rago…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:57PM
Monday, July 4, 2016

A Report on Last Night’s ‘A Capitol Fourth’ Rehearsal by Marlene Hall

What do you get when you combine Smokey Robinson, Gavin DeGraw, Kenny Loggins, Team USA Olympians, the National Symphony Orchestra, and more? The incredible production of A Capitol Fourth pr…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:27PM
Friday, July 1, 2016

An Interview with Pleasure Train’s Will Berger by Marlene Hall

Through an email interview with DC based Pleasure Train’s bassist Will Berger, we talked about the band’s favorite venue to play in, their musical journey highlight so far, and how they …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:25PM
Monday, June 27, 2016

An Interview with Patrick Garrity of ‘Round About Rocks’ by Marlene Hall

I interviewed Patrick Garrity, who plays rhythm guitar and sings, about his band Round About Rocks, their favorite venue to play in the DC area and how they write their music. The band won H…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:13AM
Wednesday, May 18, 2016

An Interview with Eric Lynum of The Dolly Rockers by Marlene Hall

The Dolly Rockers are based in the Washington, DC area. Band members are Eric Lynum (vocalist, guitar), Larry D. (guitarist), Megan Strings (violin), Mike Trippi (bass), Derrick Decker (drum…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:44PM
Friday, April 15, 2016

Review: Buddy Guy and The Damn Right Blues Band at The State Theatre by Marlene Hall

Buddy Guy is a man who does not act his age of 79 years young! He is a cool cat and an American blues legend. He played to an enthusiastic capacity crowd Wednesday night at the State Theatre…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:15PM

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