Theatre & Film Archives - Page 2 of 119

Safety Not Guaranteed at Signature Theatre is the Wild Ride Rock Musical We All Need Right Now

Safety Not Guaranteed at Signature Theatre is the

Wild Ride Rock Musical We All Need Right Now

Safety Not Guaranteed

Signature Theatre

Jordan Wright

March 21, 2026

Gunnar Manchester (Kenneth) and Mia Pak (Darius) in Safety Not Guaranteed at Signature Theatre. (Photo/Daniel Rader)

Intrigued by a classified ISO ad in the local Ocean View Examiner that reads, “Someone to go back in time with me. Must bring your own weapons. SAFETY NOT GUARANTEED.”, a group of young interns from a California-based marketing company hunt down the writer. Bored with their dead-end jobs creating clickbait on strict orders from Jeff the manager, the group’s aspiring journalist Darius follows clues to unmask the writer and solve the mystery.

Based on the movie by the same name, the musical follows a madcap, ill-planned odyssey into the ad writer’s bizarre query. That’s the premise. The thrill is the blind faith adventure and the oddball characters who buy into it. It’s not hard to imagine what could very quickly go very wrong.

Tyler Dobies (Arnau), Mia Pak (Darius), and Preston Truman Boyd (Jeff). (Photo/Christopher Mueller)

Set to a fantastic score and backed by a kickass band, our heroine Darius, who knows a good story when she sees it, and her newly revealed ad writing guide, Kenneth Calloway, a grocery store stock boy and hipster intellectual, lead us on one of the strangest odysseys ever set to an indie-rock music score. Think rock operas like “Tommy” and “Hair” coupled with the fantasy-driven, dark comedies, “Ride the Cyclone” and “Freaky Friday” the musical. The Mission: Go back in time and alter a disastrous moment in their youth to have a happy ending. Wouldn’t we all?

When a particle accelerator, a time machine, a Moog synthesizer, a laser and a suspected bomb feature into a love story, you know you’re on a wild ride. I loved every aspect of this musical – clever lyrics, catchy tunes (16 numbers played by a 5-piece onstage band), a terrific cast, quirky characters, unique story lines, eye-popping set design, dynamic lighting effects, rock concert sound and superb staging all rolled into one crazy fun musical.

Mia Pak (Darius) and Gunnar Manchester (Kenneth) with Preston Truman Boyd (Jeff), Erin Weaver (Liz/Others), Tyler Dobies (Arnau), and Joshua Morgan (Tristan/Others). (Photo/Daniel Rader)

With Preston Truman Boyd as Jeff; Mia Pak as Darius; Gunnar Manchester as Kenneth; Tyler Dobies as Arnau; Joshua Morgan as Tristan & others; Erin Weaver as Liz and others.

Directed by Oliver Butler with Music & Lyrics by Ryan Miller; Book by Nick Blaemire; Based on the motion picture written by Derek Connolly; Scenic Design by Arnulfo Maldonado; Costume Design by Shahrzad Mazaheri; Lighting Design by Jason Lyons; Sound Design by Eric Norris; Music Direction by Jeff Tanski; Music Supervision, Orchestrations & Arrangements by Bill Sherman; Choreographed by Lisa Fagan.

Highly recommended. Go! And take everyone you know!

Through April 12^th at Signature Theatre in Shirlington Village, 4200 Campbell Avenue, Arlington, VA 22206. For tickets and information call the box office at 703.820.9771 or visit www.SigTheatre.org.

What’s Onstage in the DMV For April and May 2026

Jordan Wright

March 18, 2026

Special to The Zebra

Aguardiente Where Magic Transcends Borders via GALA Hispanic Theatre

GALA Hispanic Theatre www.GALATheatre.org

Aguardiente: Where Magic Transcends Borders

Apr 30 – May 24

Arena Stage www.ArenaStage.org

A Good Day to Me Not to You through May 3

The Motion May 6 – Jun 14

Broadway at the National – National Theatre Washington www.BoxOfficeTicketSales.com

The Wiz Apr 7 – 12

The Book of Mormon Apr 28 – May 3

The Great Gatsby – A New Musical May 12 – 24

Constellation Theatre www.ConstellationTheatre.org

Or, May 15 – Jun 7

Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company www.WoollyMammoth.net

Travesty through April 12

Ismenia Mendes (Ana) and Rohan Maletira (Jonah) in Studio Theatre’s Jonah (Photo/Margot Schulman)

Studio Theatre www.StudioTheatre.org

Jonah though April 19

Purlie Victorius May 6 – Jun 14

Rorschach Theatre www.RorschachTheatre.com

Dragon Play Apr 17 – May 17

Silver Spring Stage www.SSStage.org

The Effect of Gamma Rays on Man-in-the-Moon Marigolds

May 8 – 24

Avant Bard Theatre www.AvantBard.org

Ghost Limb Apr 30 – May 23

Hexagon Revue www.Hexagon.org/Tickets

Lollapalosers! Apr 17 – 26

Little Women: The Musical via Creative Cauldron

Creative Cauldron www.CreativeCauldron.org

Little Women: The Musical May 14 – Jun 7

The Arlington Players www.TheArlingtonPlayers.org

Secret Garden May 9 – 23

Round House Theatre www.RoundHouseThearre.org

Sally & Tom May 27 – June 28

1stStage www.1stStage.org

Young Americans Apr 9 – 26

The Puppet Company www.ThePuppetCo.org

Cinderella through April 19

44 The Musical (Photo/Jenny Anderson)

Shakespeare Theatre Company www.ShakespeareTheatre.org

Hamnet through April 12

The Tragedy of Hamlet through April 11

44: The Musical Apr 18 – May 10

Othello May 19 – Jun 28

Hippodrome Broadway – Baltimore www.BaltimoreBroadway.com

Kimberly Akimbo Apr 28 – May 3

Suffs May 26 – 31

McLean Community Players www.McLeanPlayers.org

The Legend of Georgia McBride Apr 10 – 18

Dominion Stage www.DominionStage.org

Dead Air May 29 – June 13

Keegan Theatre www.KeaganTheatre.com

The Minutes Apr 4 – May 3

Reston Community Players www.RestonPlayers.org

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum

Apr 17 – May 9

Caesar and Cleopatra via Washington Stage Guild

Washington Stage Guild www.StageGuild.org

Caesar and Cleopatra Apr 9 – May 3

Nu Sass Productions www.NuSass.com

Everything Devoured April – dates TBA

Compass Rose Theater www.CompassRoseTheater.org

Compass Rose Cabaret Apr 10 – 26

Vienna Theatre Company www.ViennaTheatreCompany.org

The Sunshine Boys Apr 17 – May 3

Folger Theatre www.Folger.edu

As You Like It through April 12

Emma via Everyman Theatre

Everyman Theatre www.EverymanTheatre.org

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike through April 19

Emma May 17 – Jun 14

Toby’s Dinner Theatre www.TobysDinnerTheatre.com

The Wizard of Oz through June 7

Mosaic Theatre www.MosaicTheatre.org

A Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest through June 7

Imagination Stage www.ImaginationStage.org

Good Morning, Good Night through April 19

Signature Theatre www.SigTheatre.org

Safety Not Guaranteed through April 12

Damascus Theatre www.DamascusTheatre.org

Once On This Island JR. May 15 – 17

I Know How to Curse – A Re-Blackening of Shakespeare via Perisphere Theater

Perisphere Theater www.PerisphereTheater.com

I Know How To Curse – A Re-Blackening of Shakespeare

Apr 3 – 25

Workhouse Arts Center

www.WorkhouseArts.org/Theater-performances

Murder on the Orient Express through April 12

Ford’s Theatre www.MyFords.org

1776 through May 16

Olney Theatre www.OlneyTheatre.org

Appropriate through Apr 26

I & You: The Musical Apr 22 – May 24

NextStop Theatre Company www.NextStopTheatre.org

Guards of the Taj through April 19

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner via The Little Theatre of Alexandria

The Little Theatre of Alexandria www.TheLittleTheatre.com

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner through April 18

The Drowsy Chaperone May 16 – Jun 6

Washington National Opera www.WashNatOpera.org

West Side Story May 8 – May 15

Faction of Fools www.FactionofFools.org

Much Ado About Nothing Apr 9 – May 2

Maryland Ensemble Theatre www.MarylandEnsemble.org

The Crucible Apr 3 – 26

Arthur and Friends Make a Musical Apr 18 – May 10

Every Brilliant Thing May 14 – Jun 14

The Colonial Players www.TheColonialPlayers.org

Poor Clare Apr 24 – May 16

In a Co-Production by Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company and Theater J The World to Come Celebrates the Bonds of Friendship in a Dystopian World

The World to Come

Woolly Mammoth

Jordan Wright

February 14, 2026

Claudia J. Arenas (Ruth), Brigid Cleary (Barbara), Naomi Jacobson (Fanny), and Michael Russotto (Hal) in The World to Come at Woolly Mammoth. (Photo/Cameron Whitman)

At the SeaBreeze Hebrew Home where ninety elderly people reside, we meet a core group of four calling themselves the “Supper Club”. It’s a tightly knit group consisting of Fanny (Naomi Jacobson), Barbara (Brigid Cleary), Hal (Michael Russotto)and Ruth (Claudia J. Arenas) who amuse themselves with jokes, off-color banter, gossip and card games, teasing each other relentlessly with feisty Fanny being the chief instigator.

New to the group is Ruth whose knowledge of Judaism is extensive (her late husband was a rabbi) and soon a tender romance develops between Ruth and Hal, a bit of a roué who falls madly in love with her. They are lovingly cared for by Nurse Mike (Rob Boddie who also plays Jerry/Soldier).

We soon learn it has rained for forty days and forty nights, fires rage throughout the country, they have no means of communication with the outside world, and the United Nations has been disbanded. A million people are dead in Massachusetts, and they cannot leave the residence as the hazardous air quality is killing people. In this dystopian world with death fast encroaching, the quartet of friends becomes dependent upon each other to survive.

Michael Russotto (Hal), Brigid Cleary (Barbara), and Naomi Jacobson (Fanny). (Photo/Cameron Whitman)

Playwright Ali Viterbi takes inspiration from Jewish culture and religious text to inform her characters, their global predicament and their tender interactions. In The World to Come acts of survival blend seamlessly with gallows humor, hilarity and a fierce desire to help one another. “These all sound like the end times,” Hal prophesizes, as talk of doomsday is accompanied by references to ravens, ostriches and arrow snakes taken directly from the Book of Prophets.

As each day brings alarming news, a framed photograph is placed reverentially atop a spinet piano. Another resident has passed away, and the small group reflects on their collective memories of a friend. Soon Nurse Mike is caught stealing medications, forbidden by law to dispense to the elderly, and he is fired. A cycle of revolving nurses and angry soldiers appear in ever more frightening protective gear. One of the soldiers blames the older generation for the destruction of the planet. “We’re cleaning up your mess!” he admonishes. The accusation causes the friends to self-blame for not being more proactive in saving the planet while in their desperate search for food and medicine the hellish sounds of fighter planes bombing and ravens cawing echo ominously.

Viteri’s surrealistic ‘apocalypse play’ provides us with the key to the bonds of friendship and the sacrifices that define humanity in a world gone terribly wrong. It put me in mind of the great French Romanian playwright, Eugene Ionesco, the godfather of the Theatre of the Absurd, who employed surrealism to describe the iniquities of Fascism and Nazism, two isms recently resurfaced in our modern world.

Claudia J. Arenas (Ruth), Michael Russotto (Hal), Rob Boddie (Nurse Mike), Brigid Cleary (Barbara), and Naomi Jacobson (Fanny). (Photo/Cameron Whitman)

Brilliantly directed by Woolly Mammoth Founder Howard Shalwitz in a co-production with Theatre J, and exquisitely performed by this multi award-winning ensemble, this powerful play is staged with imaginative sting. Viterbi reminds us that the shofar is sounding. It is time to act.

Scenic Design by Misha Kachman, Lighting Design by Colin K. Bills, Puppet Design by Ksenya Litvak, Costume Design by Ivania Stack, Dramaturg Sonia Fernandez, Sound Design by Sarah O’Halloran, Projections Design by Kelly Colburn, Dialect and Vocal Coach Katie McDonald, Fight and Intimacy Choreographer Lorraine Ressegger-Slone.

Highly recommended.

Through March 1^st at Woolly Mammoth Theatre, 641 D Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.393.3939 or visit www.WoollyMammoth.net

Now at The National Theatre the Multi Tony Award-Winning Play Stereophonic Reflects the Personal Struggles of a Band Who Made Some of the Most Beloved Iconic Music of Its Day

Broadway at the National

Jordan Wright

February 12, 2026

Jack Barrett (Grover) in the First National Tour of Stereophonic. (Photo/Julieta Cervantes)

Let’s just get this one particular misconception about this production out of the way. Stereophonic is not a rock concert per se. As many, myself included, have envisioned it to be. The producers call it “a play”. Nevertheless, it most assuredly has gorgeous original music by composer Will Butler (formerly of the band Arcade Fire) and an emotional story based on Fleetwood Mac’s years’ long effort to complete their iconic album “Rumours”. And, just to clear up one more thing, the show, Stereophonic, is in no way related to the Welsh band of the same name.

Writer David Adjmi’s story recalls 70’s era music production and that period’s notorious reputation of drugs, booze and Rock and Roll. Divided into four acts, the story focuses on a dysfunctional five-member band and two studio engineers, Grover (Jack Barrett), “We’ll just give them coke and booze.” and Charlie (Steven Lee Johnson), his assistant engineer and gofer, both young men trying futilely to keep the band’s massive egos under control. Lead singer and producer of the album Peter (Denver Milord) and the beautiful lead singer Diana (Claire Dejean) are an on-again-off-again couple, and, for a time, so are bass player, coke head and philanderer Reg (Christopher Mowod) and his wife keyboardist and vocalist Holly (Emilie Kouatchou), who seems to be the only band member who is sober and neatly grounded. Simon (Cornelius McMoyler), the drummer, the group’s manager and resident control freak, pines for his wife and kids back in England, who sadly never reunite with him in California. Despite their feuds, gaslighting and drama the group lays down beautiful music and gorgeous harmonies.

Claire DeJean (Diana), Emilie Kouatchou (Holly), and Denver Milord (Peter). (Photo/ Julieta Cervantes)

Set Designer David Zinn’s two-story set is remarkable. The lower half is a control room with a large mixing board cum lounge where the band hangs out, freaks out and disses each other, and listens to their playbacks. The upper half is the ‘live room’ where the group performs and is separated from the control room by glass walls so that the cast is always within our view and where we can hear them. In their chats they reference 70’s pop culture, debating the movie, Don’t Look Back, which starred filmdom’s “It Girl”, Julie Christie, and her co-star Donald Sutherland and mentioning Carlos Casteneda, a Peruvian shaman whose books on magical realism were all the rage at the time.

In the fourth and final act the band moves to a studio in Los Angeles where the album at last comes to fruition. Expect mental breakdowns and mind games in this searing psychodrama as the unlikely group rises to the top of the charts in this wildly successful, five-time Tony Award-winning production. What sets this story apart from other “rock musicals” is the candor and intimacy between the group members and how, despite all odds, they are able to produce incredibly harmonious music.

In April 2024, Stereophonic became the most Tony-nominated play in history receiving 13 Award nominations. It then became the most Tony Award-winning show of the 2024 season, winning 5 Tony Awards including “Best Play”.

Denver Milord (Peter), Christopher Mowod (Reg), Claire DeJean as (Diana), and Emilie Kouatchou (Holly). (Photo/Julieta Cervantes)

Directed by Tony Award winner, Daniel Aukin, it’s a stunner with a terrific cast!

Costume Design by Enver Chakartash; Lighting Design by Jiyoun Chang; Sound Design by Ryan Rumery; Orchestrations by Will Butler & Justin Craig; Music Direction by Justin Craig.

Through March 1^st at The National Theatre, 1321 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information call the box office at 202.628.6161 or visit www.BroadwayatTheNational.com

What’s Onstage in the DMV For March and Early April 2026

Jordan Wright

February 11, 2026

Special to The Zebra

As You Like It via Folger Theatre

Folger Theatre www.Folger.edu

As You Like It Mar 10 – Apr 12

GALA Hispanic Theatre www.GALATheatre.org

The Library Mouse Mar 14 – 28

Studio Theatre www.StudioTheatre.org

Jonah Mar 11 – Apr 19

Aldersgate Theatre www.ACCTonline.org

Hay Fever Mar 13 – 29

IN Series www.INSeries.org

Passion Plays Festival Series

Only the Air Mar 6, 7, 8

Pasio Mar 13, 14, 15

For Women Serving Time Mar 20, 21, 22

Shakespeare Theatre Company www.ShakespeareTheatre.org

On Beckett through Mar 15

Hamnet Mar 17 – Apr 12

Hamlet Mar 27 – Apr 5

Safety Not Guaranteed via Signature Theatre

Signature Theatre www.SigTheatre.org

I’m Here: Black Broadway – Cabaret Series Mar 17 – 29

Safety Not Guaranteed Mar 3 – Apr 12

Mosaic Theater www.MosaicTheater.org

A Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest Mar 26 – Apr 26

Best Medicine Rep Theatre Company www.BestMedicineRep.org

The Last Virginity Tour Mar 13 – 29

The Puppet Company www.ThePuppetCo.org

Cinderella Mar 7 – Apr 19

Toby’s Dinner Theatre www.TobysDinnerTheatre.com

Rock of Ages through Mar 15

The Wizard of Oz Mar 20 – June 7

Imagination Stage www.ImaginatioStage.org

Good Morning, Good Night Mar 21 – Apr 19

Travesty via Woolly Mammoth

Woolly Mammoth www.WoollyMammoth.net

Travesty Mar 24 – Apr 12

Broadway at the National www.BroadwayattheNational.com

The Simon and Garfunkel Story Mar 14 & Mar 15 only

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Mar 18 – Apr 5

Workhouse Arts Center www.WorkhouseArts.org/Theater-performances

Murder on the Orient Express Mar 6 – Apr 12

MetroStage at The Lyceum www.MetroStage.org

Still Unforgettable: A Birthday Salute to Nat King Cole Mar 30 only

Providence Players of Fairfax www.ProvidencePlayers.org

Crimes of the Heart Mar 13 – 22

Creative Cauldron www.CreativeCauldron.org

Twelve Dancing Princesses Mar 13 – 29

Next to Normal via Iron Crow Theatre

Iron Crow Theatre at the Hippodrome www.Baltimore.Broadway.com

Next to Normal Mar 6 – 15

Adventure Theatre MTC www.My.AdventureTheatre-MTC.org

Freckleface Strawberry Pajama Party through Mar 29

Arena Stage www.ArenaStage.org

Chez Joey through Mar 15

Inherit the Wind through April 5

Hippodrome Baltimore www.BaltimoreBroadway.com

Hadestown Mar 13 & 14

Ford’s Theatre www.MyFords.org

1776 Mar 13 – May 16

Theatre J www.EDCJCC.org

Eureka Day Mar 11 – Apr 5

The Two Gentlemen of Killarney via Avant Bard

Avant Bard www.AvantBard.org

Two Gentlemen of Killarney Mar 5 -28

Olney Theatre www.OlneyTheatre.org

Appropriate Mar 18 – Apr 19

Atlas Performing Arts Center www.AtlasArts.org

INTERSECTIONS Festival through Mar 15

Port Tobacco Players www.PTPlayers.com

Bright Star Mar 13 – 29

The Little Theatre of Alexandria www.TheLittleTheatre.com

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner Mar 28 – Apr 18

NextStop Theatre Company www.NextStopTheatre.org

Guards of the Taj Mar 26 – Apr 19

City of Angels via Colonial Players

Colonial Players www.TheColonialPlayers.org

City of Angels Mar 5 – Mar 28

Everyman Theatre www.EverymanTheatre.org

Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike Mar 22 – Apr 19

Pinky Swear Productions www.PinkySwear-Productions.com

The H Twins through Mar 22

ExPats Theatre www.ExPatsTheatre.com

Pressure Mar 14 – Apr 5

Laurel Mill Playhouse www.LaurelMillPlayhouse.org

By the Way, Meet Vera Stark through Mar 15

Silver Spring Stage www.SSStage.org

Coriolanus Apr 10 – Apr 12

Prince William Little Theatre at the Hylton Performing Arts Center www.PWLT.org

Head Over Heels March 13 – 22

Iconic Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Moves to the Warner Theatre Celebrating with Their Classic “Revelations” and the Premiere of a New Dance Piece Set to Avishai Cohen’s Jazz Trumpet

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater

Warner Theatre

Jordan Wright

February 1, 2026

Photo courtesy of Alvin Alley American Dance Theater.

A series of short dance vignettes set to inspirational music captures the essence of this renowned troupe of contemporary dancers. They are divided into sections entitled “Embrace”, “Difference Between”, “Song of the Anchorite” (a world premiere) and lastly “Revelations”. In the first series a male soloist takes the stage alternating between power moves and tenderness set to Stevie Wonder’s tender ballad, “Never Dreamed You’d Leave in Summer”. Balletomanes and, more specifically, Ailey fans are hyper-energized and, no matter where you are sitting in this opulent Neo-Renaissance theater, you can sense their shared excitement building.

Etta James haunting song, “At Last” follows. Performed by four males along with four female partners and a mesmerizing female dancer in a silky bright yellow dress who takes center stage on a raised wooden platform. These platforms will be used in a myriad of ways throughout the vignettes as the dancers configure them to reflect each unique piece.

Pink’s track “What About Us” becomes the background music for a piece about feeling unheard and personal isolation. It is a large ensemble piece that starts off with two males challenging each other to fight, seeming to search for the boundaries of their manhood, while the others endeavor to support them.

In the next piece, Ed Sheeran’s “Photograph” becomes the backdrop music for a haunting dance of desire and remembrance that put me in mind of the upcoming Winter Olympics and the ice dancing teams who perform similarly elegant and daring lifts.

Des’ree’s “I’m Kissing You” is a romantic ensemble piece featuring two lovers in a pas de deux that captures the essence of passionate unrequited love.

Artistic Director Alicia Graf Mack with members of the Company. (Photo/Andrew Eccles)

With Blackberry Smoke’s “One Horse Town” the theme echoes the familiar dilemma of young people aspiring to become more than their heritage and small town affords them. The final introductory piece is a powerful evocative solo by a principal dancer performed against a backdrop of Avishai Cohen’s sultry Jazz trumpet to bring down the house.

In all these pieces the troupe’s free-flowing, elegant, deeply expressive movements captivate. Signature positions such as wide-spread legs in deep pliés, hands flung backwards Egyptian style, coupled with their sensuous, serpentine bodies and awe-inspiring athleticism, all define the company’s ethos.

After the second and final intermission (I’m envisioning the dancers plunging into in ice baths), the ensemble’s iconic masterpiece “Revelations” is performed. Audiences know and love this dance which premiered in 1960 and reflects the life and times of Ailey himself. Its themes of African American heritage and culture resonate through the familiar struggles and challenges of the period.

Set to gospel choir music, familiar spirituals and Southern blues, this extraordinary and identifiable piece explodes with high-powered praise dancing and ground-breaking interpretive movement. A curated trove of traditional songs serves to emphasize the mood from historic struggles to hopefulness. A sassy, Caribbean-influenced opening beat leads to its crescendo in the beautiful strains of “Wade in the Water”, “I Want to be Ready”, “Sinner Man”, and “Rocka My Soul in the Bosom of Abraham”.

Moving and exhilarating in beauty, excellence and spirit. Highly recommended!

Through February 8^th at the Warner Theatre, 513 13^th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20004. For tickets and information visit www.WarnerTheatreDC.com and www.TicketMaster.com