Misty Copeland brings star power to 'On the Town' by Peter Marks

NEW YORK " Re-electrifying a show in its dying days, ballet sensation Misty Copeland brings considerable charisma and elegant physicality to her Broadway debut as a gamine beauty queen in th…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:57pm on August 26, 2015☆⚑

Talking with Kristen Chenoweth: Little package, big voice (and opinions)

Kristin Chenoweth, the pride of Broken Arrow, Okla., has always worked her image as the opera singer next door. The sure-fire Broadway star, former "Glee" actress and frequent guest on Jay L…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 8:54pm on August 25, 2015☆⚑

His players, in their 80s, bid fond farewell to their 100-year-old coach by Sarah Kaufman

One step at a time, in solemn synchrony, the casket team carried the coffin up the grassy hill on Tuesday at Arlington National Cemetery. Harry Ostro, the beloved Brooklyn high school footba…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 7:24pm on August 25, 2015☆⚑

Jimmy Carter, facing cancer with grace by Sarah Kaufman

"Everything has been pleasant for me. So I'm thankful. And hopeful." With those words, and a big, toothy smile, former President Jimmy Carter, 90, ended his press conference Thursday. He loo…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 8:24pm on August 21, 2015☆⚑

A singer's pride in Africa by Celia Wren

The singer Rafiya racked up a lot of miles during her childhood. Born in Los Angeles to Congolese parents, the singer (who uses one name professionally) grew up in Congo, Cape Verde, Benin, …

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:56am on August 21, 2015☆⚑

Oh, "The Fix" these dirty politicians are in by Nelson Pressley

If your tolerance for corrosive behavior is high and you've been craving a musical version of Netflix's "House of Cards," "The Fix" may see you through. The show at Signature Theatre in Arli…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 5:34pm on August 20, 2015☆⚑

From 'Jessie' to 'Ricki,' Rick Springfield keeps it fresh by Nelson Pressley

Rocker-actor-writer Rick Springfield was already onto his second phase of American stardom when his 1981 single "Jessie's Girl" went into heavy radio rotation and a craze emerged for "Genera…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:03pm on August 19, 2015☆⚑

One play's weirdness has meaning; the other just seems to be fooling around

Weirdness that is deep, measured and suspenseful trumps weirdness that is scattered, frantic and jokey. At least, that statement holds true when you're talking about the double-bill of one-a…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:44pm on August 18, 2015☆⚑

One play's weirdness has meaning; the other just seems to be fooling around by Celia Wren

Weirdness that is deep, measured and suspenseful trumps weirdness that is scattered, frantic and jokey. At least, that statement holds true when you're talking about the double-bill of one-a…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:59pm on August 18, 2015☆⚑

Ben Platt, on pitch in 'Dear Evan Hansen' by Nelson Pressley

Audiences weep at the new musical "Dear Evan Hansen," and they shed their tears for Ben Platt. The "Pitch Perfect" movie actor plays an anxious teen whose public profile accidentally goes vi…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:55pm on August 14, 2015☆⚑

A fairy tale with a real-life grit by Celia Wren

A juvenile delinquent wielding a can of spray paint may not be the kind of character most people associate with fairy tales, but ­Paris-based director Hicham Ayouch says there's a touch o…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:53pm on August 14, 2015☆⚑

Dear Evan Hansen: You're going to New York by Peter Marks

"Dear Evan Hansen," the new musical that opened to excellent reviews earlier this month in its world premiere run at Arena Stage, is moving to New York in spring 2016.Second Stage Theatre an…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 4:59pm on August 13, 2015☆⚑

Grim 'Oliver!' turns on the dark: Consider yourself warned

Adventure Theatre MTC is graduating from one-act kids' shows to a full-blown "Oliver!" at Bethesda's Round House Theatre, and what an unpleasant "Oliver!" it is " creepy, ultra-violent and p…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:06pm on August 12, 2015☆⚑

Grim 'Oliver!' turns on the dark: Consider yourself warned by Nelson Pressley

Adventure Theatre MTC is graduating from one-act kids' shows to a full-blown "Oliver!" at Bethesda's Round House Theatre, and what an unpleasant "Oliver!" it is " creepy, ultra-violent and p…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:15am on August 12, 2015☆⚑

Gun-violence play banishes politics by Nelson Pressley

"One in the Chamber" is a play that has something to say but feels the stage is an inappropriate place to say it. Marja-Lewis Ryan's script simply wants to break your heart over an accidenta…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:56pm on August 11, 2015☆⚑

When our icons tumble by — Philip Kennicott, Anne Midgette, — Anne Midgette, — Geoff Edgers, — Ann Hornaday, — Nelson Pressley

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SOURCE: Washington Post at 3:00pm on August 7, 2015☆⚑

Artists whose works show how their gardens grow by Sarah Kaufman

"I paint flowers so they will not die," wrote Frida Kahlo. She painted them for other reasons, too, as you can see in a show at the New York Botanical Garden: "Frida Kahlo: Art, Garden, Life…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:44pm on August 7, 2015☆⚑

Song and dance as a political 'Fix' by Nelson Pressley

The most ridiculously impossible ticket to get on Broadway right now is stamped "Hamilton," because of course everyone has just been dying for a musical steeped in public finance and nation-…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:44pm on August 7, 2015☆⚑

From Hong Kong, a movie about fame and desire by Celia Wren

Sometimes a swimming pool is more than a swimming pool. Such is the case in "Diva," Heiward Mak's film about the Hong Kong pop-music industry. The 2012 movie repeatedly depicts characters in…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:44pm on August 7, 2015☆⚑

'Hamilton': Making ecstatic history by Peter Marks

NEW YORK " Thomas Jefferson was honored with a majestic memorial, George Washington by the name of our capital city. But lovers of show tunes know that among the Founding Fathers, Alexander …

SOURCE: Washington Post at 9:29pm on August 6, 2015☆⚑

'Code name: CYNTHIA,' true story of Washington society spy by Celia Wren

About half way through the World War II spy musical "code name: CYNTHIA," a Washington society beauty preps for a heist. Under the eagle eye of an Allied intelligence mastermind, Betty Thorp…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:19am on August 4, 2015☆⚑

'Dear Evan Hansen' radiates charm and wit, and that's no lie by Peter Marks

If your upcoming vacation plans allow you any flexibility, then by any means possible add "Dear Evan Hansen" to your itinerary. The heart-piercingly lovely new musical, receiving its world p…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:50am on August 3, 2015☆⚑

'Hamilton' director Thomas Kail, at the height of his powers by Peter Marks

NEW YORK "Read full article >>

SOURCE: Washington Post at 2:58pm on July 31, 2015☆⚑

A musical bridge between past and present by Celia Wren

In classical music, there is an exciting symbiosis between the present and the past. That, at least, is the opinion of Austrian flutist Elisabeth Möst, a champion of contemporary music who …

SOURCE: Washington Post at 1:16pm on July 31, 2015☆⚑

From Instagirl to YouTuber, Karlie Kloss controls the message by Sarah Kaufman

Beauty vloggers, PewDiePie: Make room. Supermodel Karlie Kloss is now a YouTuber, and if her 2.9 million Instagram followers are any indication, Klossy"as her channel is called"could launch�…

SOURCE: Washington Post at 6:12am on July 29, 2015☆⚑