Pinky Swear takes a musical whack at murder with 'Lizzie' by Celia Wren

Elsewhere, "Cymbeline" gets rewritten as a lesbian love story by Theatre Prometheus.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 7:04pm on January 18, 2017[SHARE]

Theater J's 'Oy Vey' gets political by Celia Wren

Show tackles anti-Semitism, racism, sexuality, and pretty much everything else.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:48pm on December 22, 2016[SHARE]

Only Second City would give you Dickens and Austen playing poker in the afterlife by Celia Wren

The comedy troupe's "Twist Your Dickens" is a delightful spoof of the holiday season.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 2:33pm on December 15, 2016[SHARE]

'King Ubu' plays to Pointless Theatre's homespun, quirky strengths by Celia Wren

Troupe stages a smart and playful adaptation of 1896 French play.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 2:12pm on December 14, 2016[SHARE]

Life finds a way to thrive in character-rich play 'Soft Revolution' at Venus Theatre by Celia Wren

Two-hander by Alana Valentine explores the relationship between two Afghan-born Australians.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 7:06pm on November 30, 2016[SHARE]

'Miss Bennet: Christmas at Pemberley': Comic play is a gift for Jane Austen fans by Celia Wren

Round House is part of the rolling premiere of the holiday sequel to "Pride and Prejudice."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:02pm on November 30, 2016[SHARE]

A comedy without the shadows by Celia Wren

Bubbly 'Merchant of Venice' ignores darker themes.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 6:02pm on November 23, 2016[SHARE]

A fever dream come to life in 'Poor People's TV Room' by Celia Wren

The performance at the American Dance Institute in Rockville featured dance, spoken word and more.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:42pm on November 20, 2016[SHARE]

You wouldn't dare mess with these two women by Celia Wren

Combative female spirit rages in the Welders' "Girl in the Red Corner" and WSC's "TAME."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:31am on November 10, 2016[SHARE]

A graceful staging of Sarah Ruhl's 'Eurydice' at NextStop Theatre by Celia Wren

Actress Emily Kester as the troubled title character anchors production of 2003 play.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:54am on November 2, 2016[SHARE]

'Rameau's Nephew' and 'Witch': Ambitious shows that miss the mark by Celia Wren

The Spooky Action and Convergence productions are both based on historical texts.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:06pm on October 25, 2016[SHARE]

Washington Improv spoofs presidential campaign by Celia Wren

Improvised POTUS show involves dance-off and contests

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:24pm on October 19, 2016[SHARE]

Sperm donors, pregnancy, delivery " Staceyann Chin has keen eye for vivid details by Celia Wren

'MotherStruck' at Studio Theatre is an intimate, funny show about her struggle to have a baby.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:21pm on October 5, 2016[SHARE]

Another young black man dies, but it's not 'the same old story' by Celia Wren

Theater Alliance's staging of Kimber Lee's portrait of a Brooklyn family will move you.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:55pm on September 22, 2016[SHARE]

Olney's 'Anne Frank' is life-affirming, thanks to Carolyn Faye Kramer in title role by Celia Wren

Actress's performance registers vividly in this seamless and moving production.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:19am on September 20, 2016[SHARE]

In the life-without-death play 'A Bid to Save the World,' oranges are the new black by Celia Wren

The Rorschach Theatre premiere is a quirky, darkly comic meditation on loss and mortality.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:57pm on September 19, 2016[SHARE]

'The Lonesome West': Irish brothers seeing red turn the comedy deliciously black by Celia Wren

Bradley Foster Smith and Matthew Keenan unleash goofball hostility at the Keegan Theatre.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:10pm on August 10, 2016[SHARE]

What do you get when you mash up Shakespeare and sci-fi? 'Fear.' by Celia Wren

Longacre Lea stages a brainy, zany new play written and directed by Kathleen Akerley.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:49pm on August 8, 2016[SHARE]

Plays from Molotov and Quotidian show that plunging into history can prove risky by Celia Wren

"Blood, Sweat & Fears: A Grand Guignol Sick Cabaret" and "The Lady With the Little Dog."

SOURCE: Washington Post at 5:58pm on July 27, 2016[SHARE]

Another fanciful, oddball, gravity-defying journey from Cirque du Soleil by Celia Wren

"Kurios " Cabinet of Curiosities" is under the big top at Tysons II through Sept. 18.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:02pm on July 25, 2016[SHARE]

Shared camaraderie in 'We Know How You Die!' by Celia Wren

The show, from Upright Citizens Brigade performers, draws on a volunteer's life story.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:36pm on July 14, 2016[SHARE]

Standout plays at this year's Contemporary American Theater Festival: The list by Celia Wren

"The Wedding Gift" and "The Second Girl" have bright futures on the national scene.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:02pm on July 13, 2016[SHARE]

A 'Mikado' for a modern age " minus Japan, but complete with a bar by Celia Wren

A Chicago theater company brings two revamped Gilbert and Sullivan classics to Olney.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:51pm on July 8, 2016[SHARE]

Happenstance's tongue-in-cheek homage to vaudeville resonates today by Celia Wren

'Moxie,' at Round House, has a sly modern perspective and alludes to the passing of time.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:00pm on June 29, 2016[SHARE]

How to get lost in the Source Festival's new plays by Celia Wren

Mazes and dreams mark this year's premieres.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:16am on June 23, 2016[SHARE]