268 stories by "Mary Ann Johnson"
“Gloria” is a really, really good comedy. And it is a really, really good drama. The reason it's so good? It doesn't go for the easy laugh or the obvious guffaw; although some of…
It was only one act–the first act. And that wasn’t nearly enough. This delicious, thought-provoking, fiery new musical by Britt Bonney, a composer and lyricist, music director, a…
This very spirited production at Shakespeare Theatre Company is part of their annual Free-For-All; it is a wonderful late-summer treat for theatre lovers and those new to live theatre. Using…
“Happy Ending” at Anacostia Playhouse is a really good time. This show is fun. It is really, really fun. It is laugh-out-loud, guffaw and snort fun. And that is a wonderful way t…
One thing leaps out right away at this production of “Bridges of Madison County”"this is one of the most gorgeously sung shows of the season. Led by the impeccable Susan Derry as…
The West Arundel Creative Arts building strikes one as a gutsy little place, as it looks sort of abandoned, the signage is not the easiest to see and the inside spaces are tight. But they ar…
Mike Daisey has opinions"lots of opinions"and delivers them in a tour-de-force one-man show that doesn't hold back. He is profane, smart, and funny as all get out. There is a bit of the hist…
This is a quirky little show that packs a lot into its 90 minutes. Given the title, it's no surprise that becoming a widow is the theme, but the larger themes encompass forgiveness, a…
Let me get the first jaw-dropping moment out of the way immediately"Aubrey, played by Aubri O'Connor, also co-founder, co-producer and artistic director for Nu Sass Productions"looks eerily …
There were five people on the stage, and no more than a dozen in the audience in this intimate, 75-seat configuration at the Anacostia Playhouse, but it didn't matter. “People For Whom…
The dancing in the Olney Theatre production of “On The Town” is a delicious gift from the heavens. The voices are a wonderful gift as well, and hearing so many DMV theatre favori…
When you see this show, see it without the expectations of a typical story arc. Experiencing it fully in the here and now is a wonderful jolt of adrenaline and brio. …the cast, in a swirli…
In Bob Bartlett's languid “Swimming With Whales,” now playing at 1st Stage, one gets the sense that death is the sixth character on that stage. We have three adults, one 15-year-…
Shakespeare Theatre Company’s sumptuous version of the Lerner & Loewe classic musical, “Camelot” is filled with glorious songs and the engagement of a myth that feels b…
It was a magical night at the first performance of 'Giselle' by the Ballet Nacional de Cuba for several reasons. Not only was the dancing joyous and simply gorgeous, but the prima ballerina …
Between the utterly glorious dancing and some truly incandescent songs come the gut punches that slam audience members to their seats. The surface is a trifle gaudy, a little silly at times,…
Clash. This is a story of clashes"between cultures, between values, between religions, between the haves and have-nots. It is not an easy play, nor is it comfortable for the audience. It ask…
Zesty. Zany. Funny. Dry-witted. Life-affirming. These can all describe the production of “Calendar Girls” now playing at the Port Tobacco Players theatre in LaPlata, MD. This …
This is one of the most incisive, insightful works about incest, victimization, alcoholism, misogyny, victim-blaming"so many things"I have ever seen on a stage. Written by Paula Vogel, it wa…
“Titus Andronicus” may well be the original telenovela, soap opera, and forerunner to many a horror film adapted from Poe's works. For over three centuries, Shakespearian scholar…
Scott Turow said, "The purpose of narrative is to present us with complexity and ambiguity." Whatever one thinks of Mr. Turow's literary efforts, that statement came to mind when watching th…
There is one thing that “Translations” excels at"the feeling of helplessness and hopelessness that permeates one's very existence when one culture cannot speak the dominant cultu…
This play, “Alabama Story,” currently running at the Undercroft Theatre, is a gem. It invites you in and then tells a wonderful story of a reluctant anti-discrimination wa…
“The Pavilion” at Hub Theatre is a lyrical meditation on choices, consequences, forgiveness and acceptance. It is very effectively staged at The Hub Theatre"it is an intimate pla…
The revival of “Jesus Christ Superstar” by the Port Tobacco Players in their little jewel box of a theatre in LaPlata, MD, is a delight. The depth of the choreography and …
