All stories by Peter Marks on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 4, 2022

‘Take Me Out’ loads the Broadway bases with wit and incisive drama by Peter Marks

Richard Greenberg’s outstanding baseball play receives a top-notch revival at the Hayes Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:06PM
Thursday, March 31, 2022

‘Grace’ is a rousing new musical that could use fine-tuning by Peter Marks

Nolan Williams Jr. and Nikkole Salter’s story of a contentious family gathering makes its uneven debut at Ford's Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:33PM
Wednesday, March 30, 2022

In ‘Private,’ we ponder where to draw the line on surveillance by Peter Marks

A new play by Mona Pirnot explores the murky territory of corporate surveillance of employees

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:06PM
Tuesday, March 29, 2022

Parker, Broderick bring belly laughs back to Broadway in revival of ‘Plaza Suite’ by Peter Marks

"Plaza Suite," with Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, marks its official Broadway opening at the Hudson Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:42AM
Monday, March 28, 2022

A great actor tackles ‘The Merchant of Venice’ — one of Shakespeare’s most challenging plays by Peter Marks

Shakespeare Theatre Company stages "The Merchant of Venice" with John Douglas Thompson as Shylock.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 05:03PM
Friday, March 25, 2022

‘The Folks at Home’ is playwright R. Eric Thomas’s paean to a beloved American staple by Peter Marks

Sitcom life risibly unfolds — without commercial interruption — on a Baltimore stage.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:12PM
Thursday, March 24, 2022

Theater J’s ‘Nathan the Wise’ highlights religious harmony — in 1192 by Peter Marks

Gotthold Ephraim Lessing’s 18th century play gets a refreshing adaptation by Michael Bloom.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:24PM
Wednesday, March 23, 2022

A Native American play goes on a major national tour with an unusual offer: Native Americans attend free by Peter Marks

Madeline Sayet's solo show, "Where We Belong" goes coast to coast, courtesy of Woolly Mammoth Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:06PM
Friday, March 18, 2022

‘Catch Me If You Can’ fizzled on Broadway. A new Arena Stage production loses altitude in much the same way. by Peter Marks

The 2011 musical, based on the 2002 movie, gets a overly glitzy, all too busy revival in Washington.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:42PM
Thursday, March 17, 2022

They bombed a theater in the Ukraine. Somewhere, Chekhov is weeping. by Peter Marks

The latest artistic casualty of war is the Drama Theater of Mariupol, mostly destroyed by an airstrike.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:54PM
Wednesday, March 16, 2022

Zelensky’s address to Congress was a dramatic appeal in three acts by Peter Marks

Using his performer’s instincts, the Ukrainian president captivated an American audience with plain talk and moving images.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:36PM
Friday, March 11, 2022

If you heart Broadway melodies, you’re bound to fall for ‘She Loves Me’ at Signature Theatre by Peter Marks

The 1963 musical gets the requisite TLC on the Arlington company’s intimate main stage.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:36PM
Thursday, March 3, 2022

Theater is more than ready for a springtime reseeding by Peter Marks

New offerings include ‘A Strange Loop’ on Broadway, National Capital New Play Festival, ‘Drumfolk’ at Arena and ‘Grace’ at Ford’s Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:06AM
Tuesday, March 1, 2022

In ‘English,’ the language of opportunity steers clear of cliches about the people of Iran by Peter Marks

Off-Broadway’s Atlantic Theater Company, fresh from the triumph of the musical ‘Kimberly Akimbo,’ stages another winner.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:54AM
Friday, February 25, 2022

A team of artists had dreams for their new musical. A pandemic crushed them. by Peter Marks

"Unknown Soldier" was one of the ambitious musicals whose trajectories were hobbled by shutdowns.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:42AM
Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Saints be praised: Mary Magdalene and Jesus are meet-cute Nazareth teens in a hilarious ‘A.D. 16’ by Peter Marks

Bekah Brunstetter and 'Schmigadoon!’s' Cinco Paul concoct a delicious biblical musical at Olney Theatre Center.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:33AM
Tuesday, February 15, 2022

As the Kennedy Center celebrates 50 years of musical theater, the challenge is more ambition moving forward by Peter Marks

Weekend concerts featuring a cast studded with Broadway talent leave a critic wondering why there can’t be more theater that begins life on the arts center’s stages.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:36AM
Friday, February 11, 2022

Hugh Jackman sings, dances and still misses the mark in a cartoonish ‘Music Man’ by Peter Marks

The long-awaited revival at Broadway’s Winter Garden Theatre is an exercise in misconception, and doesn't do justice to the Tony-winning classic.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:48AM
Tuesday, February 8, 2022

Theater loves giving minor figures from history major roles. Two take center stage in D.C. in plays about JFK and the Holocaust. by Peter Marks

A notebook about two new D.C. productions that spotlight minor historical figures: "Change Agent" at Arena Stage and "Compulsion or the House Behind" at Theater J.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:24PM
Wednesday, February 2, 2022

There are so many Broadway actors in ‘The Gilded Age,’ it’s like being at the Tony Awards by Peter Marks

HBO's "The Gilded Age" is chockablock with Broadway stars, in what feels like an unprecedented degree for television.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:12AM
Tuesday, February 1, 2022

I wasn’t looking forward to sitting through the new Michael Jackson musical. Then I saw it. by Peter Marks

"MJ" is propelled by remarkable dancing and the galvanizing breakout performance of Myles Frost.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:33PM
Saturday, January 29, 2022

How do theaters entice new audiences with Shakespeare? There’s the rub. by Peter Marks

The Bard of Avon's continued relevance and appeal were cause for debate at a recent gathering of the Shakespeare Theatre Association.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:42AM
Friday, January 28, 2022
Wednesday, January 26, 2022

They’ve shortened O’Neill’s ‘Long Day’s Journey.’ It feels cut off at the legs. by Peter Marks

Audible produces a two-hour version of what is normally a 3 1/2 hour play, with Bill Camp and Elizabeth Marvel.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:06PM
Friday, January 21, 2022

A Broadway show about life after incarceration finds its most avid audience in a New York City prison by Peter Marks

Lynn Nottage’s “Clyde’s” gets a showing at Rikers Island, and prisoners have plenty of feedback.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 09:12AM
Wednesday, January 12, 2022

He was cast in a juicy role in ‘Mrs. Doubtfire.’ The pandemic has made his Broadway run as heartbreaking as it is thrilling. by Peter Marks

The new musical, hobbled by omicron, sees salvation in a pause, in hopes the coronavirus subsides.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:12AM
Monday, January 10, 2022

Brandon Carter is named artistic director of American Shakespeare Center by Peter Marks

Resident actor is first person of color to lead the Staunton, Va., playhouse, which also announced a new roster of productions after some recent strife.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:06AM
Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Tony Award royalty will turn out to celebrate ‘50 Years of Broadway at the Kennedy Center’ by Peter Marks

Tony Award royalty will turn out in February to celebrate "50 Years of Broadway musicals at the Kennedy Center."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:33PM
Saturday, January 1, 2022

Military suicides are increasing. Theater of War is offering more than just a show of sympathy. by Peter Marks

Through performance and discussion, soldiers find new meaning in ancient Greek drama.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:54AM
Friday, December 24, 2021

‘The Lehman Trilogy’ has been a critical standout on Broadway this fall. Its superb cast sheds light on how that happened. by Peter Marks

Simon Russell Beale, Adrian Lester and Adam Godley talk about the rigors and pleasures of more than three hours onstage every night.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:48AM

Omicron could not come at a worse time for Broadway by Peter Marks

But a week of dispiriting theater closings is topped off by a rejuvenating visit to a sensational new musical, "Akimbo."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:24AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic