The annual affection of what’s accident on Washington stages.
Wall to bank tap dancing drives the agile “Crazy for You,” the Gershwin-tuned ball actuality active at Signature Theatre. Revelation of the week: amateur Felonius Munk’s funny-sober annual “Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains).”
It’s the aftermost anniversary for “Mean Girls,” about a sellout in its pre-Broadway assignment at the National Theatre.
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READ MORE:
A dozen actors to watch
“Get in, loser, we’re activity to the theater”: What “Mean Girls” bureau (still)
Meet the new “Mean Girls”
PREVIEWING
“Amazing Grace.” A non-Equity bout of the 2015 Broadway agreeable opens the 472-seat
World Date Amphitheater in the new Museum of the Bible. Nov. 18-Jan. 7 at the Museum of the Bible, 409 3rd St SW. Tickets $85-$100. Alarm 202-848-1600 or appointment museumofthebible.org.
“The Book of Merman.” A banter performed by Landless Amphitheater Company. Through Dec. 8 at DC Arts Center, 2438 18th St. NW. Tickets $25. Appointment landlesstheatre.com.
“Mean Girls.” Headed for Broadway abutting spring; book by Tina Fey, based on her 2004 movie. Music by TV composer-producer Jeff Richmond (“SNL,” “30 Rock” — and Fey’s husband), lyrics by Nell Benjamin (“Legally Blonde”), directed by Casey Nicholaw (“Book of Mormon”). Through Dec. 3 at the National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets $48-$128. Alarm 202-628-6161 or appointment thenationaldc.org.
Peter Marks with Tina Fey and the “Mean Girls” team
“Misterman.” Thomas Keegan plays the bedeviled actualization in Irish biographer Enda Walsh’s monologue. Through Dec. 9 at Ball Loft on 14, 4618 14th Street NW. Tickets $35-$45. appointment solasnua.org.
“My Name Is Asher Lev.” Aaron Posner’s adjustment of the Chaim Potok novel. Through Dec. 17 at 1st Stage, 1524 Spring Hill Rd., McLean. Tickets $15-$33. Alarm 703-854-1856 or appointment 1ststagetysons.org.
“Twelfth Night.” Ethan McSweeny directs Shakespeare’s comedy. Through Dec. 20 at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall, 610 F St. NW. Tickets $25-$118, accountable to change. Alarm 202-547-1122 or appointment shakespearetheatre.org.
‘The Ugly One.” Nu Sass Productions takes on the banter about what happens aback a man gets artificial surgery, by German biographer Marius von Mayenburg. Nov. 17-Dec. 17 at Caos on F, 923 F St. NW. Tickets $30. Appointment nusass.com.
CONTINUING
“An Act of God.” “More like a ‘A Riff From God,’ a 75-minute ball amateur set delivered Vegas-style by the Lord. Its one-liners acquire from ‘The Daily Actualization With Jon Stewart’ Emmy champ David Javerbaum’s Twitter annual @TheTweetOfGod (3 amateur followers). Tom Adventure wryly delivers the angelic shtick, but this glossy assembly cries out for added convincing comedy-club rapport.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Nov. 26 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington. Tickets $40-$104, accountable to change. Alarm 703-820-9771 or appointment sigtheatre.org.
Nelson Pressley on “An Act of God”
“Annie.” Wilson Jermaine Heredia, the aboriginal Angel in Broadway’s “Rent,” plays the bastard Rooster in a casting that includes Kevin McAllister and Rachel Zampelli. Through Dec. 31 at the Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Rd., Olney, Tickets $42-$84. Alarm 301-924-3400 or appointment olneytheatre.org.
“A Christmas Carol.” “Craig Wallace’s admirable scowl anchors the anniversary basic at Ford’s. The show’s accents don’t consistently accelerate you to Dickens’s London, but the alive apparition adventure is still command ample (a casting of almost two dozen, with several big chilling effects) in Michael Baron’s absurd production.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Dec. 31 at Ford’s Theatre, 511 10th St. NW. Tickets $$24-$107. Alarm 888-616-0270 or appointment fords.org.
“A Coffin in Egypt” and “St. Nicholas.” Horton Foote’s “Coffin,” about a 90 year old widow, plays on alternating nights with Connor McPherson’s “St. Nicholas,” about a ball critic’s adventures. Through Dec. 17 at The Writer’s Center, 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda. Tickets $30. Alarm 301-816-1023 or appointment quotidiantheatre.org.
“Crazy For You.” The dance-happy Gershwin agreeable ball that debuted on Broadway in 1992. Denis Jones (“Honeymoon in Vegas”) choreographs. Through Jan. 14 at Signature Theatre, 4200 Campbell Ave., Shirlington. Tickets $40-$108, accountable to change. Alarm 703-820-9771 or appointment sigtheatre.org.
“The Dog in the Manger.” From the small-scale abstract affiliation We Happy Few. “Lope de Vega’s 17th-century ball about adulation and rank. The admiral abort to abundantly accommodate the cast’s collection of acting modes, which accommodate some caper and ball choices, not to acknowledgment aggressive mugging.” (Celia Wren). Through Dec. 2 at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, 545 7th St. SE. Tickets $15. Alarm 757-999-0418 or appointment wehappyfewdc.com.
Celia Wren reviews “The Dog in the Manger”
“Nina Simone: Four Women.” A ball with music by Christina Ham, agreement the activist accompanist Simone in the austere Alabama abbey area four girls were dead in 1963. Through Dec. 24 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets $40-$111, accountable to change. Alarm 202-488-3300 or appointment arenastage.org.
The adventure abaft “Nina Simone: Four Women”
“Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains).” “Good comedians accept a allowance for acid to the affection of a problem, and that’s what happens over and over in Second City’s hasty ‘Nothing to Lose (But Our Chains).’ The aboriginal actualization is a annual by aerialist Felonius Munk, and it’s funny. It’s Munk’s a tell-all about ambidextrous drugs, cutting a man and confined six years in prison, and his censor keeps bustling up to belie some of the affirmation — so it’s serious. That bifold access makes ‘Nothing to Lose’ arguably the finest assignment the active Second City has done in D.C.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Dec. 31. at Woolly Mammoth, 641 D St. NW. Tickets $49-$69, accountable to change. Alarm 202-393-3939 or appointment woollymammoth.org.
The absolute Felonius Munk, from bastille to stage
“The Pajama Game.” “Old fashioned, but there’s no acumen it can’t adhesive a smile on your face if it’s got abundant cheerful, alluring beef heat. Alan Paul’s new assembly at Arena Date gets a lot right, and it doesn’t accomplish the aberration of aggravating to change the agreeable comedy’s best stripes. The bald actualization of ‘A Chorus Line’ Tony champ Donna McKechnie as appointment secretary Mabel gives the admirers a lift, and Esse has amphitheater fun with hula hoops and badminton rackets in the barbecue ball bonanza ‘Once a Year Day.’ But the burdensome accouterment isn’t absolutely there.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Dec. 24 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets $40-$120, accountable to change. Alarm 202-488-3300 or appointment arenastage.org.
Nelson Pressley on “The Pajama Game”
“I appetite to dance”: Donna McKechnie joins Arena Stage’s “Pajama Game”
“The Ravens.” “The job in Alana Valentine’s ball is the oldest profession. Suzanne Edgar keeps you absorbed in Venus Theatre’s affectionate storefront production, which appearance a pole for pole dancing in the average of the baby stage. Edgar does the acceptable girl-bad babe affair able-bodied abundant to accept you acclaim for her, and again despairing.” Through Nov. 26 at the Venus Theatre Ball Shack, 21 C St., Laurel. Tickets $40. Alarm 202-236-4078 or appointment venustheatre.org.
Nelson Pressley on “The Ravens”
“The Absolute Americans.” “A heartland circuitous channeled through abandoned writer-performer Dan Hoyle’s analytical (and liberal) perspective; the agile Hoyle plays bodies he met on the alley over the accomplished several years of political tumult. Aback it clicks, it’s aloof what you appetite to hear: all-over-the-map choir authoritative faculty of what seems to be the country’s spinning compass. The alone snag is whether it starts fast abundant and goes abysmal enough.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Dec. 17 at the Atlas Assuming Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets $45-$65. Alarm 202-399-7993 or appointment mosaictheater.org.
Nelson Pressley reviews “The Absolute Americans”
“Shakespeare in Love.” “If you appetite an big-ticket archetype of the affably escapist 1999 Best Picture winner, by all bureau analysis it out. The players chaw into the actual with bite and anapestic verve. They are beautifully outfitted in Kathleen Geldard’s apparel and underscored by Matthew M. Nielson’s cinema-ready soundtrack. You could blur it.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Nov. 26 at Baltimore Center Stage, 700 N. Calvert St., Baltimore. Tickets, $20-$79. Alarm 410-332-0033 or appointment centerstage.org.
Nelson Pressley on “Shakespeare in Love”
“A Short Alternation of Disagreements Presented Actuality in Chronological Order.” “Riding his bike abreast his London flat, Daniel Kitson, a British banana monologuist with a band following, witnessed the after-effects of addition cyclist’s bashing by a car. As she was actuality hoisted into an ambulance, Kitson swears, the victim winked at him. Not anybody has the afraid activity and bookish adroitness to booty a cursory moment (and the resulting, appropriate cardboard trail) and about-face it into a two-hour-plus annual of their analysis into a South London bike club that may or may not accept harbored a backup of anti-automobile driveway terrorists.” (Peter Marks) Through Nov. 25 at Studio Theatre, 1501 14th St. NW. Tickets $25. alarm 202-332-3300 or appointment studiotheatre.org.
Daniel Kitson advised by Peter Marks
Who is Daniel Kitson, and why is he a British band favorite?
“Top Girls.” “Caryl Churchill’s 1982 ‘Top Girls’ is still amazing as women alignment from the 9th-century Pope Joan to 13th-century bedmate Lady Nijo and Victorian-era charlatan Isabella Bird accumulate for a active banquet affair hosted by a avant-garde application bureau administrator who is adulatory a promotion. The acting is conspicuously acute and intelligent, abnormally in the artistic aperture act and during the bawdy astute sisterly showdown of Act 3, which crackles with decidedly up-to-the-minute political friction.” Through Dec. 2 at Keegan Theatre, 1742 Abbey St. NW. Tickets $45. Alarm 202-265-3767 or appointment keegantheatre.com.
Nelson Pressley on “Top Girls”
“Vicuña & The American Epilogue.” “The aboriginal best political ball of the Trump era. It’s acceptable because alike admitting it’s satire, it takes the presidential contender, actuality called Kurt Seaman, baleful seriously. And it portrays those abutting to him not as cardboard-cutout toadies, but as atrocious banana characters spinning about the cesspool of an enveloping cataclysm.” (Peter Marks) Through Dec. 3 at the Atlas Assuming Arts Center, 1333 H St. NE. Tickets $20-$65. Alarm 202-399-7993 or appointment mosaictheater.org.
Peter Marks on “Vicuña”
CLOSING
“The Adventures of Peter Pan.” “A funny, fast-paced, visually arresting new Synetic Amphitheater production. Among the adaptation’s arresting appearance is a cogent backstory for Tinker Bell. Portrayed with brownie action by Ana Tsikurishvili, the bogie is a arresting amount whose lime-green dress swirls with tiny lights and whose antsy movements adumbration at the beastly activity she channels.” (Celia Wren) Through Nov. 19 at Synetic Theater, 1800 S. Bell St., Arlington. Tickets $20-$60. Alarm 866-811-4111 or appointment synetictheater.org.
Celia Wren reviews “Peter Pan”
“Antony & Cleopatra.” “You could accomplish ‘Antony and Cleopatra’ arena-scale and get abroad with it; the passions and prima donna reversals are that grand. Administrator Robert
Richmond goes the added way at the Folger, authoritative a attenuate about-face of the 250-ish bench Elizabethan date to a comfortable in-the-round space. Cody Nickell and Shirine Babb beautifully actualize the able lovers in Mariah Hale’s aces and adulatory costumes, and they command our absorption as if by birthright. But they don’t generally acquisition tones amid joy and anger.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Nov. 19 at Folger Theatre, 201 East Capitol St. SE. Tickets $35-$79. Alarm 202-544-7077 or appointment folger.edu.
Nelson Pressley reviews “Antony and Cleopatra”
Profile of “Antony and Cleopatra” administrator Robert Richmond
“The Book of Mormon.” “South Park” does Broadway in this accepted agreeable comedy, aback at the Kennedy Center for its third tour. “Money can buy happiness. You’ll not alone laugh; you’ll additionally curiosity at the accomplishment with which this actualization is constructed. Yes, the jibes alight into the juvenile, and the jokes at the amount of religion, AIDS and Third World abjection may bulldoze you to admiration how that sweet-looking earlier brace at the end of your alley is demography to all the acutely cursing profanity. But the hasty affair about ‘Book of Mormon’ is that admitting all its anarchic swagger, it’s a agreeable with a soul.” (Peter Marks) Through Nov. 19 at the Kennedy Center’s Opera House. Tickets $59-$199. Alarm 202-467-4600 or appointment kennedy-center.org.
Peter Marks on “Book of Mormon” in 2013
“Emilie: La Marquise Du Châtelet Defends Her Life Tonight.” “Lauren Gunderson’s bracing, able ball based on real-life 18th-century French accurate ability Émilie du Châtelet, whose achievements included authoritative bare fixes to Newton’s physics. Gunderson’s ball demands an amateur who can assuredly arm-twist Emilie’s active ability and wit, and in Avant Bard’s accepted production, Sara Barker rises to the task.” (Celia Wren) Through Nov 19 at Gunston Arts Center Amphitheater II, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington. Tickets $35. Alarm 703-418-4808 or appointment wscavantbard.org.
Celia Wren reviews “Emilie”
“Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar and Grill.” Celeste Jones plays Billie Anniversary in the austere concert ball from 1986 that’s accepting three altered productions this division about D.C. The applesauce leash is fine, but the cabaret basement is odd, back no aliment or alcohol was accessible on aperture night. It’s absolutely all about Jones, a clear, assured accompanist who finer burrows into Holiday’s bagged brume during this absinthian late-career set. (Nelson Pressley) Through Nov. 19 at Rep Stage, 10901 Little Patuxent Parkway, Columbia. Tickets $15-$40. Alarm 443-518-1500 or appointment repstage.org.
“Mystery School.” Nora Achrati plays the bristles women in Paul Selig’s one-woman drama, presented by the Edge of the Universe Players 2 in Woolly Mammoth’s call hall. Through Nov. 20 at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, 641 D St. NW. Tickets $25. Appointment universeplayers2.org.
“The Price.” Arthur Miller’s 1968 ball of average age-old brother advancing to agreement as they cash ancestors assets, with Hal Linden as 89 year old acclimated appliance banker Gregory Solomon. “Miller knew salesmen, and Solomon’s a beauty: he charms, he jokes and he philosophizes as he nibbles a adamantine above egg from his briefcase. Solomon brings amusement and ablaze to a ball that’s abounding of abundant showdowns, and mostly the role fits Linden like a bendable covering glove. Of advance the guy who played Barney Miller in one of TV’s smarter sitcoms knows how to bead dry punchlines into the prevailing inanity. Linden additionally knows how to acclaim complete addendum of time and loss, which abroad in this achievement blast like gongs.” (Nelson Pressley) Through Nov. 19 at Arena Stage, 1101 Sixth St. SW. Tickets $40-$111, accountable to change. Alarm 202-488-3300 or appointment arenastage.org.
“The Price” advised by Nelson Pressley
TYA: Amphitheater for Young Audiences
“Charlotte’s Web.” The E.B. White archetypal about Wilbur the pig, with alive music and aeriform silks. Through Jan. 7 at Imagination Stage, 4908 Auburn Ave., Bethesda. Tickets $14-$32. Alarm 301-280-1660 or appointment imaginationstage.org.
“Frosty the Snowman.” An adjustment for all ages, directed by Flying V’s Jason
Schlafstein. Through Dec. 31 at Adventure Theatre, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo. Tickets $19.50. Alarm 301-634-2270 or appointment adventuretheatre-mtc.org.
“Me . . . Jane: The Dreams and Adventures of Young Jane Goodall.” A premiere about the acclaimed beastly rights activist, with a top-flight casting (including Sam Ludwig, Erin Weaver and Tracy Lynn Olivera), songs by Andy Mitton and choreography by Christopher d’Amboise. Nov. 18-Dec. 10 at the Kennedy Center’s Ancestors Theater. Tickets $20-$25. Alarm 202-467-4600 or appointment kennedy-center.org.
READ MORE: A adviser to accepted youth-friendly shows
ETC.
“Broadway: The Abutting Generation.” ASCAP (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) presents a week-long alternation showcasing agreeable amphitheater composers assuming their work. Nov. 16: Max Vernon. Nov. 17: Andrew Lippa. At the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage. Alarm 202-467-4600 or appointment kennedy-center.org.
The Capitol Steps. The longtime political satirists, disturbing action from the headlines. Fridays and Saturdays in the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center Amphitheater, 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. Tickets $40.50. Alarm 202-397-7328 or appointment www.capsteps.com.
“A Night With Janis Joplin.” The rock-driven bio that played Arena Date alights for one night only. Kelly McIntyre plays Janis. Nov. 19 at the Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, Bethesda. Tickets $45-$95. Alarm 301-581-5100 or appointment strathmore.org.
“Shear Madness.” The abiding alternate ball whodunit, at 12,000-plus performances. Ongoing in the Kennedy Center’s Amphitheater Lab. Tickets $50-$54. Alarm 202-467-4600 or appointment kennedy-center.org.
READ MORE:
Donna McKechnie on Michael Bennett & Bob Fosse
Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom” aftereffect “Love Never Dies” sneaks through Baltimore
A complete adviser to DC’s 2017-18 amphitheater season, with addendum from Post critics
NEW YORK NOTES:
“The Band’s Visit” is Broadway’s best new musical
Oddly, “1984” will be disqualified for Tonys
Ayad Akhtar’s new 1980s economics ball “Junk” in New York
Springsteen on Broadway
“The Boys in the Band” affairs a starry awakening abutting spring
Jackie Gleason’s “The Honeymooners” is a musical
“The ‘B’ Side” from Manhattan’s Wooster Group
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