Synetic Theatre Reimagines Frankenstein And Prometheus With Five Star Performances
Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus
Synetic Theater
Jordan Wright
November 5, 2025
 Alex Mills (Prometheus), Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature), and Maryam Najafzada (Gaia) in Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus at Synetic Theater. (Photo/Katerina Kato)
In a wonderfully dark and explosive drama, Synetic Theater yet again reinvents theatre’s dynamic with their unique form of physical theatre. No other companies compare. The entire production is wordless – a style their audiences are quite familiar with. This iconic Georgian troupe stands alone in combining mime, originality, creativity, artistry, costume design, music, sound FX, and physicality. I’ve been reviewing their productions for over a decade and this one was jaw-dropping.
Celebrating their 24th year with Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus in a story that requires no specific holiday, Director and Synetic Theater Co-Founder Paata Tsikurishvili and Resident Dramaturg/Adaptor Nathan Weinberger have breathed new life into Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley’s familiar Gothic creation myth. The title is the original title from Shelley’s book.
 Alex Mills (Prometheus) with the Synetic Ensemble. (Photo/Katerina Kato)
Synetic’s reimagining of Frankenstein paired with the myth of Prometheus feels like stepping into a classic Victorian Era painting peopled with characters torn from the artistry of the painter Hieronymus Bosch, the sculptor Hans Mueck and the author Charles Dickens. It’s fascinating. In this telling, pathos is paired with horror and grief while science wrangles with the vagaries of humanity in a world without empathy to reflect the broader human dilemma.
Prometheus, played brilliantly by Alex Mills in a riveting performance, along with his wife Gaia played poignantly by the sylph-like beauty Maryam Najafzada, and a roving band of survivors survive a terrible storm in the Caucus mountains. Their baby is killed and she is blinded. Prometheus climbs the ice-covered mountains and discovers fire using its power to create The Creature played by the inimitable Vato Tsikurishvili in the performance of a lifetime. Phillip Fletcher, another longtime Synetic troupe member, plays Fire.
 Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature) and Alex Mills (Prometheus). (Photo/Katerina Kato)
There are explosive fight scenes as the gang challenges The Creature, I thought of Picasso’s anti-war painting, “Guernica”, in its grotesque depiction of war. As we have come to expect from this troupe’s dazzling performances, there are mind-blowing displays of sheer physicality, intricately choreographed dance, gravity-defying leaps and flips and classic pantomime. All the action is set to experimental electronica and CG Sound FX by the incomparable sound wizard, Koki Lortkipanidze.
The entirety of this cast is outstanding in every respect. The production redefines acting as both an intensely physical and dramatically interpretive design that requires a unique kind of performer – one classically trained in ballet and acrobatics, and in top physical condition. Every cast member fits that requirement.
I was utterly blown away by the fearless athleticism expressed by this cast as well as the talents of its Choreographer and the troupe’s Co-founder Irina Tsikurishvili and Fight Choreographer Vato Tsikurishvili whose unforgettable portrayal of The Monster is sheer genius. Vato’s massive size and glowing bald head belie his jaw-dropping abilities in the fight scenes, but even more so in the heights he reaches with his leaps, tumbles and lifts in his tender scenes with Gaia. His unparalleled mime skills, and frankly, his entire performance, deserve a Helen Hayes Award.
 Maryam Najafzada (Gaia) and Vato Tsikurishvili (The Creature). (Photo/Katerina Kato)
The super amazing ensemble includes Tony Amante, Stella Bunch, Natan-Maël Gray, Liam Klopfenstein and Kaitlyn Shifflett.
Assistant Composer/Sound Design by Aaron Kan; Scenic and Props Design by Phil Charlwood; Costume Design by Erik Teague; Lighting Design by Brian S. Allard; Projections Design by Zavier Augustus Lee Taylor.
Highly recommended!!!
Through November 23rd at the Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre, 125 South Old Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22204. For tickets and information visit www.SyneticTheater.org
What’s Onstage in the DMV – November/December 2025
Jordan Wright
October 5, 2025
 2025 North American Tour Production of Hadestown (Photo/Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
Broadway at the National
Hadestown Nov 18 – 23
Some Like It Hot Nov 25 – Dec 7
Water for Elephants Dec 9 – Dec 14 www.TicketMaster.com
Shakespeare Theatre Company
The Wild Duck through Nov 16
Guys and Dolls Dec 2 – Jan 4 www.ShakespeareTheatre.org
IN Series – The Delta King’s Blues Dec 6, 7, 12 & 13 www.INseries.org
Solas Nua – Lie Low Nov 6 – 23 www.SolasNua.org
Mosaic Theater – A Case for the Existence of God Nov 13-Dec 7 www.MosaicTheater.org
 Hello Dolly via Olney Theatre
Olney Theatre – Hello, Dolly! Nov 6 – Jan 4 www.OlneyTheatre.org
MetroStage – An Evening with Lisa Vromen and Joe Walsh One night only – Nov 10 www.MetroStage.org
1st Stage – Birthday Candles Dec 4 – 21 www.1stStage.org
Happenstance Theater & Edge of the Universe Theater – Death and the Fool Nov 8 & 9 www.Tix.com
Everyman Theatre – ‘Art’ through Nov 16 www.EverymanTheatre.org
 Fiddler on the Roof via Signature Theatre
Signature Theatre – Fiddler on the Roof Nov 4 – Jan 25 www.SigTheatre.org
Ford’s Theatre – A Christmas Carol Nov 20 – Dec 31 www.MyFords.org
Keegan Theatre – Lizzie the Musical through Nov 30 www.KeeganTheatre.com
Arena Stage – Freemont Ave. through Nov 19
Step Afrika’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show Dec 5 – Dec 21 www.ArenaStage.org
Silver Spring Stage – A Christmas Carol Dec 12 – Dec 21 www.SolverStage.org
 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat via Port Tobacco Players
Port Tobacco Players – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Nov 21 – Dec 14 www.PTPlayers.com
Adventure Theatre – Frosty the Snowman Nov 28 – January 11 www.AdventureTheatre-MTC.org
Studio Theatre – Mother Play: A Play in Five Evictions Nov 12 – Dec 21 www.StudioTheatre.org
Woolly Mammoth Theatre – Ho Ho Ho Ha Ha Ha Ha Nov 13 – Dec 21 www.WoollyMammoth.net
The Hippodrome Theatre – A Christmas Carol Dec 6 – Dec 21 www.TheHipp.org
Gaithersburg Arts Barn – Best Hanukkah Show Ever! Nov 28 – Dec 14 www.GaithersburgMD.gov
Colonial Players
Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors through Nov 15
A Christmas Carol Dec 3 – Dec 14 www.TheColonialPlayers.org
 Elf via Toby’s Dinner Theatre
Toby’s Dinner Theatre – Elf Nov 7 – Jan 4 www.TobysDinnerTheatre.com
Theater Alliance – Furlough’s Paradise through Nov 23 www.TheatreAlliance.com
Stage Guild – Accused! The Victorian Ladies’ Detective Collective Returns Nov 20 – Dec 14 www.StageGuild.org
NextStop Theatre – The Last 5 Years through Nov 23 www.NextStopTheatre.org
Creative Cauldron – Peter Pan and Wendy Nov 7 – 23 www.CreativeCauldron.org
Imagination Stage – The Snowman and the Snowdog Nov 22 – Jan 4 www.ImaginationStage.org
GALA Hispanic Theatre – 21st Annual Fuego Flamenco Festival Nov 6 – 22 www.GALATheatre.org
 A Sherlock Carol via Providence Players of Fairfax
Providence Players of Fairfax – A Sherlock Carol Dec 12 – 21 www.ProvidencePlayers.org
Synetic Theater – Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus Nov 2 – 23 www.SyneticTheater.mysalesforce-sites.com
Theatre J – An Enemy of the People through Nov 23 www.EDCJCC.org
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Grease through Nov 15
A Christmas Carol Dec 6 – 20 www.TheLittleTheatre.com
Round House Theatre – Rules for Living Dec 3 – Jan 4 www.RoundHouseTheatre.org
The Puppet Company – The Nutcracker Nov 18 – 23 www.ThePuppetCo.org
Voices Festival Productions
“November 4” Nov 12 – Dec 7
Imperfect Allies: Children of Opposite Sides Dec 11 – Dec 14 www.VoicesFestivalProductions.com
What’s Onstage in the DMV – October 2025
September 14, 2025
Jordan Wright
 Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar via Folger Theatre
Folger Theatre – Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar – through Oct 26 www.Folger.edu
Washington Stage Guild – The One Good Thing – or “Are ya’ Patrick Swayze?” – Oct 2 – Oct 19 www.CI.OvationTix.com
Signature Theatre – Strategic Love Play – through Nov 9 www.SigTheatre.org
Cirque du Soleil – Luzia – through Oct 19 www.tickets-center.com
 Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit via Dominion Stage
Dominion Stage – Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit – Oct 24 – Nov 8 www.DominionStage.org
Round House Theatre – The Inheritance – through Oct 19 www.RoundHouseTheatre.org
Olney Theatre – Red Pitch – through Oct 19 www.OlneyTheatre.org
MetroStage at the Lyceum – Love Notes and Blue Notes with Aaron Myers and Yvette Spears – Oct 6
A Cabaret with Lisa Vroman – Nov 10 www.MetroStage.org
 The Wild Duck via Shakespeare Theater Company
Shakespeare Theatre Company – The Wild Duck – Oct 18 – Nov 16 www.ShakespeareTheatre.org
Everyman Theatre – ‘Art’ – Oct 19 – Nov 16 www.EverymanTheatre.org
Woolly Mammoth – The Great Privation (How to flip ten cents into a dollar) – through Oct 12 www.WoollyMammoth.net
The Little Theatre of Alexandria – Grease – Oct 25 – Nov 15 www.TheLittleTheatre.com
 The Outsider via Aldersgate Theatre
Aldersgate Theatre – The Outsider – Oct 3 – 19 www.ACCTonline.org
IN Series – St. John the Baptist – through Oct 12 www.inseries.org
Compass Rose Theater – Annie – through Oct 19 www.CompassRoseTheater.org
1st Stage – Fair Play – Oct 16 – Nov 2 www.1stStage.org
 Lizzie the Musical via Keegan Theatre
Keegan Theatre – Lizzie the Musical – Oct 31 – Nov 30 www.KeeganTheatre.com
Arena Stage – Damn Yankees – through Nov 9
Freemont Ave. – Oct 8 – Nov 23 www.ArenaStage.org
Toby’s Dinner Theatre – Saturday Night Live – through Nov 7 www.TobysDinnerTheatre.com
Providence Players of Fairfax – The Mousetrap – Oct 10 – Oct 25 www.ProvidencePlayers.org
GALA Hispanic Theatre – Héctor, The Electric Kid – Oct 18 – Nov 1 www.GALATheatre.org
 The Last Five Years via Next Stop Theatre
Next Stop Theatre – The Last Five Years – Oct 30 – Nov 23 www.NextStopTheatre.org
Silver Spring Stage – Friends With Guns – through Oct 12
Witch – Oct 31 – Nov 16 www.SSStage.org
Adventure Theatre – Not Your Mother Goose! – Oct 3 – Nov 2 www.AdventureTheatre-MTC.org
Studio Theatre – The Heart Sellers – through Oct 26 www.StudioTheatre.org
Spooky Action Theatre – The Dragon – through Oct 19 www.SpookyAction.org
 The Turn of the Screw – The Musical via Creative Cauldron
Creative Cauldron – The Turn of the Screw – The Musical – Oct 2 – 27 www.CreativeCauldron.org
National Theatre – PlayStation – The Concert – Oct 17 & 18 – Twilight – In Concert – Oct 24 and 25 www.BroadwayAtTheNational.com
Hippodrome Baltimore – The Rocky Horror Show – Oct 17 – Nov 2 www.TheHipp.org
Taffety Punk – Cyrano – through Oct 11 www.TaffetyPunk.com
Rorschach Theatre – So Late Into The Night – Oct 7 – Nov 2 www.rorschachTheatre.com
 Evil Dead – The Musical via Workhouse Arts Center
Workhouse Arts Center – Evil Dead – The Musical – through Nov 2 www.WorkhouseArts.org
ExPats Theatre – Cold Country – through Oct 19 www.ExPatsTheatre.com
The Colonial Players – Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors – Oct 24 – Nov 15 www.ColonialPlayers.org
Bethesda Little Theatre – French Cupcakes – Oct 10 – 19 www.BLT-online.org
Synetic Theatre – Frankenstein or The Modern Prometheus – Nov 1 – 23 www.SyneticTheatre.org
 Furlough’s Paradise via Theater Alliance
Theater Alliance – Furlough’s Paradise – through Nov 23 www.TheaterAlliance.com
Theatre J – This Much I Know – through Oct 19 www.EDCJCC.org
Avant Bard Theatre – The 9th Annual Scripts in Play Festival – Oct 4 – Oct 20 www.AvantBard.org
Prince William Little Theatre – The Woman in Black – Oct 10 – Oct 18 www.HyltonCenter.org
What’s Onstage in the DMV for June and July
What’s Onstage in the DMV
June and July
Jordan Wright
May 11, 2025
Special to The Zebra
 A Wrinkle in Time via Arena Stage Arena Stage – A Wrinkle in Time June 12th – July 15th
We Are Gathered through June 15th www.ArenaStage.org
The Little Theatre of Alexandria – The Play That Goes Wrong June 7th – June 24th www.TheLittleTheatre.com
Studio Theatre – Wipeout June 18th – July 27th www.StudioTheatre.org
Perisphere Theater – Marie Antoinette: The Color of Flesh June 6th – June 21stwww.PerisphereTheater.com
Toby’s Dinner Theatre – Disney’s The Little Mermaid through Aug 17th www.TobysDinnerTheatre.com
Imagination Stage – Dory Fantasmagory Jun 18th – Aug 3rd www.ImaginationStage.org
 Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations via Broadway at The National (Photo/Joan Marcus) Broadway at The National – Ain’t Too Proud – The Life and Times of the Temptations June 17th – June 22nd www.TicketMaster.com
Everyman Theatre – The Mystery of Irma Vep – A Penny Dreadful through June 22nd www.EverymanTheatre.org
1st Stage Theatre – The Piano Lesson Jun 5th – Jun 22nd www.1stStageTheatre.org
Keegan Theatre – Falsettos through June 15th www.KeeganTheatre.com
Synetic Theater – A Midsummer Night’s Dream July 17th – Aug 10th www.SyneticTheater.org
Shakespeare Theatre Company – Frankenstein through June 29th
Duel Reality July 1st – July 20th
www.ShakespeareTheatre.org
 The Berlin Diaries via Theatre J Theatre J – The Berlin Diaries June 4th – June 15th www.EDCJCC.org
Signature Theatre – Hedwig and the Angry Inch through June 22nd
The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical through Jul 13th
Signature Theatre and Wolf Trap Present Broadway in the Park June 28th
www.SigTheatre.org
Olney Theatre – Senior Class through June 22nd
Kim’s Convenience June 25th – Jul 27th
www.OlneyTheatre.org
Atlas Arts Mosaic Theatre – Andy Warhol in Iran through June 29th www.AtlasArts.org
The Kennedy Center – Dungeons & Dragons – The Twenty Sided Tavern July 22nd – Aug 3rd
Les Miserables June 11th – July 13th
www.Kennedy-Center.org
The Puppet Company – Twisted Tales: The Three Goldilocks Gruff June 7th – June 29th www.ThePuppetCompany.org
Creative Cauldron – Disney’s Aladdin through June 15th www.CreativeCauldron.org
Folger Theatre – Twelfth Night through June 22nd www.Folger.edu
Workhouse Arts Center – Jesus Christ Superstar through June 15th www.WorkhouseArts.org
Round House Theatre – King James through June 22nd www.RoundHouseTheatre.org
 A Lovely Day to Kill Your Spouse via Dominion Stage Dominion Stage – A Lovely Day to Kill Your Spouse June 13th – June 21st www.DominionStage.org
Providence Players of Fairfax – Shooting Star June 6th – June 24th www.ProvidencePlayers.org
The Gaithersburg Arts Barn – Bull in a China Shop June 6th – June 22nd www.GaithersburgMD.gov
Arlington Players – You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown June 6th – June 8th and June 13th – 15thwww.TheArlingtonPlayers.org
Be sure to check with your favorite theaters to discover summer theater camps and classes for kids and adults.
Synetic’s The Tell-Tale Heart is Absolutely, Positively, Freakin’ Brilliant!
The Tell-Tale Heart
Synetic Theater
Jordan Wright
October 9, 2023
Special to The Zebra
 Alex Mills as Edgar with the Synetic Ensemble. (Photo/Jorge Amaya) Yes, I know you read Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart in high school, but it’s certain you’ve never seen it come to life through the eyes of Synetic’s extraordinary creative team of Resident Dramaturg and Adaptor Nathan Weinberger, Synetic’s Co-Founder and Director Paata Tsikurishvili, Co-Founder and Choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili, Resident Composer Koki Lortkipanidze, Scenic Designer Daniel Pinha and veteran Costume Designer Erik Teague. I mention the team up front because I try mightily to imagine them sitting around a table tossing ideas around, coming up with a mind-bendingly original interpretation of this classic horror story, then unifying their wildly experimental approach, and against all odds, producing it. I’d like to be a fly on their wall because I don’t know how they do it.
For those of you who have never experienced a Synetic production, I promise you it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen before. Expect highly athletic dancers trained in both classical ballet and modern interpretive dance coupled with master class-level mime and pugilistic skills. In this monumentally macabre version of The Tell-Tale Heart you will witness all of these skills underpinned by a dark, twisted, spooky and mercilessly disturbing story – just in time for the haunting season. Hello, Halloween!
 Irakli Kavsadze as the Old Man and Alex Mills as Edgar. (Photo/Jorge Amaya) As Act One opens, two central characters command our attention – Edgar (Alex Mills) and Old Man (Irakli Kavsadze). Edgar is the caregiver for the old man who lives in a house filled with oddities and antiquities stacked in dozens of wooden boxes. The Old Man is speechless communicating through guttural grunts of anger and frustration. He is clearly non compos mentis spending his days in a wheelchair when not throwing objects willy-nilly and destroying everything within his reach. Edgar patiently cares for him trying his best to calm the old man’s fears. After a time, Edgar becomes gripped by fear and frustration – inhabited by the specter of six ravenous Vultures. When they encircle him and take control of his mind, he too descends into madness.
Here fantasy becomes horror as the Vultures mirror his attempts at escape transmogrifying their flesh-eating desires into Edgar’s very self. It is schadenfreude. We cannot help but feel both reviled and attracted as we sense the futility of his plight. The cacophony of the Vultures caws and the sound of the beating heart echo in the wordless silence.
 Irakli Kavsadze as the Old Man, Alex Mills as Edgar, with the Synetic Ensemble. (Photo/Jorge Amaya) With extraordinary physicality and precision, Mills’ keenly portrayed passion is felt throughout the theater. The audience is dead silent too – watching and waiting. As well, one cannot help but thrill over Kavsadze’s performance. His subtle and skillful talents are yet another master class in the art of mime.
In the end… oh! I’m not going to spoil it for you. See it. It’s absolutely brilliant!
The Vultures are played by Lev Belolipetski, Kaitlin Shifflett, Tony Amante, Josh Lucas, Zana Gankhuyag and Vato Tsikurishvili. Lighting Design by Brian S. Allard; Props Design by Claire Caverly and Fight Choreography by Vato Tsikurishvili.
Highly recommended. Absolutely brilliant!
Through November 5th at Synetic Theater, 1800 Bell Street, Arlington, VA at National Landing. For tickets and information call the box office at 703 824-8060 ext. 117 or visit www.SyneticTheater.org.
Synetic’s Beauty and the Beast Conquers All
Beauty and the Beast
Synetic Theater
Jordan Wright
March 7, 2023
Special to The Zebra
 Irina Kavsadze as Belle with Zana Gankhuyag as the Beast (Photo/Elman Studios) With his son Vato by his side, a standing ovation greeted Synetic co-founder, Paata Tsikurshvili as he stood onstage for the opening night of Beauty and the Beast. Paata had been in a serious car crash last December and seeing him in good health thrilled the audience of longtime supporters. As Founding Artistic Director of the highly creative Georgian troupe, Paata along with his choreographer wife, Irina, has continued to shepherd their wildly successful productions since their formation in 2009.
The troupe, which was to star father and son for the first time together on stage in years, had scheduled War of the Worlds for the March slot, but with Paata’s accident in mind pivoted to a version of one of their earlier successes. It was a night filled with anticipation and emotion.
 Rachael Small as Emmeranne (Witch), Nutsa Tediashvili as Claudette (Sister), Irina Kavsadze as Belle, and Irene Hamilton as Marie (Sister) (Photo/Elman Studios) “Everyone knows that crows don’t talk,” quoth Emmerane (Rachael Small) clad as a Goth crow who is both keeper of the legend and narrator of the story. In this ancient folk tale, lies the myth of the prince turned into a beast and restored to his former self through the love of a beautiful and kindly woman. In typical Synetic fashion, humor is interspersed with raging fight scenes, extraordinary acrobatics and romantic dance.
The opening scene finds the beautiful Belle (Irina Kavsadze) with her two adorably silly sisters Claudette (Nutsa Tediashvili) and Marie (Irene Hamilton) as they prepare to bid farewell to their father, John Paul (Irakli Kavsadze), off to retrieve his ship laden with fine goods. Claudette and Marie comically primp and pose, begging their father to bring them back jewels and finery. They tussle over Avenant (Jacob Thompson) a handsome prince who has eyes only for Belle. When Belle becomes lost in the woods while searching for her father, The Beast (Zana Gankhuyag) portrayed as half-man half-forest animal, rescues her from a pack of hungry wolves and takes her to his castle. The story remains close to the original with the addition of the astounding, gravity-defying physicality and clever mime routines.
 Rachael Small as Emmeranne (Witch) with Irakli Kavsadze as Jean Paul (Father), Irina Kavsadze as Belle, Nutsa Tediashvili as Claudette (Sister), and Irene Hamilton as Marie (Sister) (Photo/Elman Studios) To great effect, Director/Adaptor Ben Cunis features some of the chase scenes with black-and-white, backlit, silhouette artistry reminiscent of Arthur Rackham’s beautifully illustrated “Sleeping Beauty”. With this original interpretation there are breathtaking dramatic scenes mixed with deeply emotional poignancy – all with very little speaking. Some of the most incredible battle scenes you’ll ever witness in a theater come from the creative minds of Co-Director and Fight Choreographer Vato Tsikurishvili and Choreographer Irina Tsikurishvili.
I must confess I was particularly taken by Gankhuyag as The Beast. His terrifying entrance morphing seamlessly into a kind and caring lover, is both haunting and memorable and notable too is Small in the role of Emmerlane who held the audience captive as her speaking role predicated the story line. In the fight scenes both Synetic alum Philip Fletcher as Magnificent and Jacob Thompson as Avenant were utterly captivating with their dead falls and eye-popping leaps that catapulted the duo across the stage to audible gasps from the appreciative audience.
We all need fairy tales and this one is immortal. Not for children, but teens and adults will love it. Highly recommended.
 Irina Kavsadze as Belle with Zana (Photo/Elman Studios) Ensemble members Osama Ashour and Lev Belolipetski.
Co-Adaptor, Peter Cunis; Original Music by Clint Herring and Andrew Gerlicher; Puppet Designer, Zana Gankhuyag; Original Costume Designer, Kendra Rai; Remount Costume Designer, Delaney Theisz.
Through April 2nd at Synetic Theater at Crystal City, 1800 South Bell Street, Arlington, VA 22202. For tickets and information visit www.SyneticTheater.org or call the box office at 703 824-8060 x 117.
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