DCMetroTheaterArts
Your source for theater news, reviews, and interviews in DC, MD, Northern VA, and New York
“I don’t perform ‘You Don’t Know What Love Is’ that often,” jazz singer Sara Jones admits. “I mean, the song’s a real downer. You have lyrics in that song like ‘lips that taste like tears’ or ‘lose their taste for kissing.’ Think about that for a moment, the idea that tears are running down someone’s […]
Acclaimed vocalists Capathia Jenkins, Sy Smith and Montego Glover joyously hopped the A train to Harlem along with the NSO Pops in tribute to the Queen of Jazz in Sophisticated Ladies: 100 Years of Ella & Company. This year marks Ella Fitzgerald’s 100th birthday and conductor Steven Reineke’s brilliant creation to honor the First Lady […]
Regina Carter and her violin: a human voice has never sounded so true. If you get a chance to experience Regina Carter: Simply Ella, the jazz quintet composed of Regina Carter (violin), Marvin Sewell (guitar), Brandon McCune (piano), Chris Lightcap (bass), and Alvester Garnett (drums), then buy your tickets now. It is an experience not […]
You know him as Aaron Burr, Sir, the damned fool who shot Alexander Hamilton. Now get to know Leslie Odom, Jr., the man behind America’s most notorious villain. I spoke with Odom in advance of the 6th Annual An Evening of Unexpected Delights fundraiser benefiting The Journey Home at the Baltimore Lyric Opera House where […]
Tonight I had the great pleasure of a brief but extremely rewarding and stimulating telephone interview with the Tony Award-winning (Purlie) and Grammy and Emmy –Award nominated singer and actress Melba Moore. Ms. Moore was most gracious, frank, and enlightening as she talked about her very rich career over these past forty years of career […]
Death is a Cabaret Ol’ Chum—A Graveyard Cabaret, or: When the dead come alive at the Laurel Hill Cemetery with REV Theatre Company Death, dying, and the supernatural have fascinated the public around the world, especially when visiting cemeteries. “How many years do we really have?” may be the question on many peoples’ minds when […]
Serendipity counts in music as in anything else. A year and a half ago I recommended two outstanding debut albums by artists with local connections. Soprano Danielle Talamantes, a Northern Virginia native with a burgeoning opera career, and pianist Einav Yarden, a protégé of the Peabody Institute’s Leon Fleischer with an international concert career, had […]
Comedienne extraordinaire Carol Burnett brought her distinctive and legendary persona to the Music Center at Strathmore last night and the audience responded with glee and deserved appreciation. Burnett’s ninety-minute presentation was like Ms. Burnett herself—-amusing, creative, and –most importantly, unpretentious and “down –to –earth” in spirit. Burnett is the last of a dying breed —-she […]
“A chance at an intimate, up close and personal conversation.” That is how Matthew Decker, Arden Theatre Associate Artistic Director and Cabaret Series Director, described the goal of The Arden Cabaret Series—now in the midst of its inaugural year. Joilet Harris’ From Me to You With Love certainly does not disappoint. Ms. Harris is a […]
In the Venn Diagram of your brain on burlesque and your brain on standup, Barenaked Comedy is the intersection. It made for an interesting energy flow at BNC’s first show in their new home, the Bier Baron, as both the burlesquers and the comedians addressed pretty much the same life issues we all deal with […]
Delaware Theatre Company perfectly kicks off its 37th season with Tappin’ Thru Life. A life as fascinating as Tony Nominated Maurice Hines’ deserves to be told in this theatrical manner. Tony-Award winning Broadway director Jeff Calhoun facilitates this bombastic show, reminiscent of both the days of vaudeville and the Golden Age of Broadway simultaneously. With incredible […]
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts rolled out the red carpet on Sunday evening with a star-studded salute to the swing era of the 1930s and ‘40s. Under the direction of Grammy-winning jazz producer John Clayton, television sensation Megan Hilty, Broadway star Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Award winner Jennifer Holliday, Grammy Award winner […]
Freda Payne, singer “extraordinaire” who was especially prolific during the 1970s, delivered a powerhouse performance Thursday night at the Bethesda Blues and Jazz Supper Club. Embodying a style that merged a jazz-infused core with theatrical and pop flourishes, Payne was indefatigable in powering through sixteen songs and two encores with no break or intermission whatsoever. […]
Grammy and Oscar-winning songwriter and vocalist Patti Austin returned to team up with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for a spectacular performance of jazz classics, paying homage to the brilliance of native Washingtonian Duke Ellington and “The First Lady of Song,” Ella Fitzgerald last night at Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Led by Principal Pops Conductor Jack […]
A man staggers onto the stage at Arena’s Kreeger Theater. Nomax, played with deep loss by Kevin McAllister, has offended his girl with yet another drunken night. He sings “Early in the Morning,” an emotionally riveting blues number by Louis Jordan, Leo Hickman, and Dallas Bartley. The audience fills with pathos, beautiful and heartfelt pains […]
Who can resist the youthful, sensuous, energy of five high-stepping, superfine dudes who can sing and dance? “Jump blues” back to the rockin’ days of guys and dolls for an entertaining evening of sexy, boy-band eye candy and infectious high energy in the Arena Stage’s Five Guys Named Moe. A dynamic high-five to the “King of […]
A Valentine’s Day treat was offered to all those who were lucky enough to attend celebrated jazz and cabaret artist Ann Hampton Callaway’s concert Let’s Fall in Love: Ann Hampton Callaway Sings Streisand, Songbook Classics, & More at last night at the Kennedy Center’s Terrace Theater. The very prodigious Callaway‘s artistic output is phenomenal from being the […]
The press opening performance of Ella Fitzgerald: First Lady of Song, conceived, directed, and choreographed by Maurice Hines, was a tour de force. I strongly recommend that anyone with an interest in early jazz, swing, be bop, Ella Fitzgerald, great vocals, or just having a great time in the theatre buy their tickets for this production […]
Christie Dashiell and her band graced the stage at the Mansion at Strathmore on Wednesday night with a seven-song set. Her skills as a jazz vocalist and composer brought joy throughout the performance, starting with the very first number, “Up Jumped Spring.” In this original composition, Dashiell’s velvety voice soared above her band. The performance […]
It’s that time of the year when everyone makes their list of favorites, and the staff of DCMetroTheaterArts, have selected their favorites of 2013. For the next week, we will be posting a new category every day with our list of our honorees. You will have your chance too! In the COMMENT BOX please leave your list […]