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.
Hilarity and Highjinks Abound in Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing at The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Much Ado About Nothing
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jordan Wright
April 2, 2025
Special to The Zebra
 Paul Brewster, Amelia Jacquat, Jess Rawls, Tameka Taylor, Judy Rolph Ebner (Photo/Mark Alan Andre) Pull up a barstool at the Bar Messina. We’re in the courtyard and a duo is playing a jazzy rendition of “A Sunday Kind of Love”. It’s present day in the French Quarter of New Orleans where this unconventionally told love story begins. Surely The Bard never envisioned his classic romcom set in the wilds of NOLA, and neither could we, but this rendition seems, well, just right, which is precisely the magic of Shakespeare – its relevancy to our modern times.
Director Joey Pierce, a New Orleans transplant, gives us all the flair and fabulousness we could ever dream of, plus a tremendous 19-actor cast that keeps the merriment at peak performance. There’s the feisty, clever-tongued Beatrice who scorns all suitors and her wordplay match, Benedick, who sets his cap for her. Claudio and his maiden, Hero, a charmer, who crushes on Claudio much to his amazement until Don Pedro, a swashbuckling soldier (who in this incarnation is gay) and his illegitimate brother, Don John who along with Borachio foments a plot against the lovers. And, lest you forget, there’s Leonato, Hero’s father who with his wife, Antonia (an introduced character), seek to protect their daughter against all slyly invented scandal.
 Smithchai Cutchainon (Photo/Mark Alan Andre) Amid all this undermining, scheming and duly faithful affection, our characters show us a festive time. There’s line dancing – the Electric Slide! – and massive doses of comedic pratfalls, secretive plots, frequent drinking, a madly funny scene with Benedick hiding behind the bar listening in to a men’s convo led by Don Pedro about how Beatrice adores him all the while pretending they don’t know he’s there. It’s the consummate set up to convince him she’s in love with him. When our heroine, Bea, hooks up with her gal pals, to share the exciting news, they all do shots. Well, it is New Orleans, after all. Make me a sazerac!
Later we encounter an ersatz sheriff with his band of nincompoops, aka “The Watch”. In fine comic form they have been deputized to arrest the duplicitous men who are lolling about engaged in a TV show about swamp creatures. Cue the Cajun accents and conjure up the Keystone Kops.
 Jaye Frazier, Brendan Chaney, Michael Townsend, Ruth Sherr (Photo/Mark Alan Andre) The whole play is witty, silly, charming and absolutely hilarious – played to the hilt and beyond. Julie Fischer’s two-level set design is oh-so-clever and Joan Lawrence’s costumes nail the styles with Benedick, Claudio and their cohorts in military camouflage, the ladies in brightly colored dresses, and Hero’s faux funeral scene that has all the hallmarks of a New Orleans’ style homegoing.
Recommended to cure what ails you!
 Tameka Taylor, Ruth Sherr, Megan Fraedrich, Amelia Jacquat & Lily Larsen (Photo/Mark Alan Andre) With Paul Brewster as Leonato, Amelia Jacquat as Hero, Jess Rawls as Beatrice, Seth Rue as Benedick, Zachary Litwiller as Don John, Michael McGovern as Don Pedro, Lily Larsen as Margaret, Brendan Chaney as Borachio, Smithchai Chutchainon as Claudio, Judy Rolph Ebner as Antonia, Jeff Elmore as Dogberry, Megan Fraedrich as Balthasar Sister/Sexton, Tamika Taylor as Ursula, Michelle Hughes as Balthasar Sister, Dan Lavanga as Verges/Friar Francis, Leo Mairena as First Watchman, Ruth Scherr as Second Watchman, Jaye Frazier as Messenger/Third Watchman and Michael Townsend as Conrade.
Assistant Director Heather Sanderson, Choreography by Melissa Dunlap, Lighting Design by Jeffrey Auerbach and Kimberly Crago (JK Lighting), Sound Design by Alan Wray, Hair and Makeup by Jennifer Finn.
Through April 19th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information call the box office at 703-683-0496 or visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com.
The Explorers Club
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jordan Wright
September 6, 2024
Special to The Zebra
 Lucius Fretway (Michael Townsend) tries to catch a drink from blue-skinned bartender Luigi (Omar Quintero) at The Explorers Club (Photo/Matt Liptak) When Lucius Fretway (Michael Townsend), a handsome young botanist, puts up a pretty female explorer for membership in the exclusive all-men’s club, all hell breaks loose in this nifty farce. The old codgers in The Explorers Club whose past conquests and ongoing research are decidedly questionable, rail against the mere hint of a woman in their tony club. Biblical scholar and serial misogynist, Professor Sloane (Richard Fiske), calls her a “harlot” for violating her feminine station and the doddering adventurer Sir Harry Percy (John Henderson), who claims to have discovered the “East Pole”, agrees wholeheartedly, that is until the lovely Phyllida Spotte-Hume (Rachel Hubbard) arrives, and he begins to challenge Fretway for her attentions. Professor Cope (Ricardo Padilla), a herpetologist whose snake has a mind of its own, is determined to keep her out.
The indelibly charming and brilliant explorer, Phyllida, has recently returned from the discovery of the lost city of NaKong where she has discovered a tribe of feral natives. Naturally, she brings back one of the savages whom she fondly calls Luigi (Omar Quintero). He is totally blue, as in skin color, as opposed to his daffy disposition.
 Professors Walling (Steve Rosenthal). Cope (Ricardo Padilla) and Sloane (Richard Fiske) speak no evil, hear no evil and see no evil (Photo/Matt Liptak) Phyllida has figured out how to tame Luigi by learning his language and recognizing that a common spoon represents his god. With this insight she plans to present him to Queen Victoria who has agreed to an audience – a fortuitous and equally absurd opportunity. You will love the puns and rapid-fire hilarity delivered by a crack cast who speak Brit Wit in upper crust British accents thanks to Co-Producer and Accent Coach, Carol Strachan.
Things go sideways (frequently!) as when the club receives Sir Bernard Humphries (Meghan Mohon), an emissary from the palace, to seek redress after a club member has slandered the Irish who send a well-armed contingent to destroy the club. To settle the naysayers, Luigi fills in as the club’s absentee barman serving drug-laced cigars and drinks which brings howls from the audience.
 Sir Bernard Humphries (Meghan Mohon), Beebe (Michael J Fischer), Professor Sloane (Richard Fiske) & Sir Harry Percy (John Henderson) relaxing over “brandy and cigars (Photo/Matt Liptak) The period costumes by Michelle Harris are spot on as is a gob-smacking set design by Tom O’Reilly. Huge props to Hubbard, Quintero and Townsend who take things over the top.
Playwright Nell Benjamin (award-winning playwright of the musical Legally Blonde and lyricist for Mean Girls and Because of Winn Dixie) sets this corker in Victorian London when women were relegated to rearing children while highborn gentlemen spent their time and money garnering support for far-flung adventures while exploiting the natives.
With Hubbard also playing Countess Glamorgan and Michael Fisher as Beebe and Irish Assassin.
Directed by Adam Konowe; Co-Produced by Alan Wray; Lighting Design by Myke Taister; Sound Design and opening musical number composed by William Chrapcynski; Hair and Makeup by Robbie Snow.
Highly recommended!
Through September 21st at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information call the box office at 703 683-0496 or visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com.
Mark Twain’s Hilarious Farce Is He Dead? at the Little Theatre of Alexandria
Mark Twain’s Is He Dead?
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jordan Wright
May 29, 2024
Special to The Zebra
 Sarah Keisler, Lanny Warkentien (Photo/Matthew Randall) How to pump up the audience and give them a taste of what’s to come? Open with the soundtrack of Lady Gaga’s “Bad Romance” and, bam! We’re in Paris. That’s how Director Joey Pierce prepares the audience for Mark Twain’s Is He Dead? Set in the Barbizon area, it’s a zany comedy about how an artists’ works are worth buckets more dough when he’s dead. The trick is convincing buyers that the artist is truly dead and not just on the Barbary Coast, which is their big, thankfully unchallenged, lie. Three friends and the artist himself, all very much in debt and needing money to escape jail, ignominy and poverty, conjure a way out of their fraught situation, offering up lots of absurdities for us to gobble up.
Mark Twain (pen name of the great American writer, Samuel Clemens) represents all the irreverence and general societal nose-thumbing I found exquisitely redeeming as a young reader. Like me, many of his fans are unfamiliar with his little-known foray into playwriting. This recently unearthed comedy should set the record straight and serve to bring new fans to his work.
 Hanlon Smith-Dorsey, Brendan Chaney, Zachary Litwiller, Lanny Warkentien (Photo/Matthew Randall) Discovered by Twain scholar, Shelley Fisher Fishkin, in an archive of his works at UC Berkeley, the farce was brought to Broadway in 2007 with the help of contemporary playwright, David Ives, who adapted the production.
It tells a fictional story of the famed pastoral painter, Jean-Francois Millet (Lanny Warkentien), who is in love with the beautiful Marie Leroux (Sarah Keisler) but in debt to Bastien Andre (Kirk Lambert). If Millet can’t come up with the dough, Andre wants to marry Marie. The action opens at Millet’s studio where he and his pals, Agamemnon Buckner “Chicago” (Brendan Chaney), Phelim O’Shaughnessy (Zachary Litwiller) and Hans von Bismarck “Dutchy” (Hanlon Smith Dorsey) are plotting to get Millet out of imminent danger. This trio of copains are as disparate as could ever be conjured up. Here’s where the plot is hatched to fake Millet’s death. They will rake up the prices and invite Basil Thorpe (Justin Beland), a villainous British art dealer art dealer to return. Naturellement, nothing goes as planned and that’s when the fun begins.
They invite him to return on the pretext of announcing the terrible news and he falls for it, buying up all the paintings at hugely inflated prices. Disguising Millet as Millet’s grieving widow is the first step and Warkentien steals the show in a hot pink satin frock with over-sized paniers. I thought of Milton Berle and Jonathan Winters – both comedians well-known for their cross-dressing characters. Two elderly ladies, Mdme. Bathilde (Beverly Gholston) and Mdme. Caron (Anne Shively), friends of the artist who know nothing about the switcheroo, come for tea with the “widow” and pass off “her” odd behavior as a woman grieving the loss of her husband.
 Kirk Lambert, Brendan Chaney, Lenny Warkentien, Sarah Keisler, Alayna Theunissen (Photo/Matthew Randall) From a humble artist’s atelier in the first act to a lavish set design of a drawing room in Act Two of the now, well-to-do widow’s 19th century maison attended by her nutty butler Charlie (Justin Beland), we are privy to a sea change in Millet’s fortunes. Drawing on burlesque this witty comedy exposes the perils and deceptions of the art world.
This cast clicks, but it’s Brendan Chaney as Chicago and Lanny Warkentien who are both the glue and the energy that take this farce to the next level.
Great fun and a terrific summer romp!
With the cast in multiple roles and a slew of costume changes. Alayna Theunissen as Cecile Leroux; Leo Mairena as Papa Leroux; Lanny Warkentien as Jean-Francois Millet and the Widow Tillou; Beverly Gholston as Madame Bathilde and Emperor of Russia; Anne Shively as Madame Caron and the Sultan of Turkey; Justin Beland as Basil Thorpe, Reporter, Charlie and the King of France. Understudy Justin von Stein plays Millet/Tillou on May 22, 31and June 1.
Original adaption by David Ives; Set Design by Matt Liptak; Lighting Design by Adam Konowe; Sound Design by Alan Wray and Christine McShay; Costume Design by Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley; Makeup and Hair Design by Sue Pinkman.
Through June 8th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information visit www.The Little Theatre.com or call the box office at 703 683-5778.
Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express is a Standout at The Little Theatre of Alexandria
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jordan Wright
March 26, 2024
Special to The Zebra
 (L – R) Michael Kharfen (Hercule Poirot), Brianna Goode (Countess Andrenyi) and Brian Lyons-Burke (Monsieur Bouc). (Photo/Matt Liptak) “Touch nothing!” is the no-nonsense command given by writer Agatha Christie’s über-detective, Hercule Poirot (Michael Kharfen who inhabits Poirot with an absolutely brilliant performance). A man is found murdered in his stateroom and everyone’s a suspect. For those who love crime drama and murder mysteries with a soupçon of humor, it’s the first order of business when investigating a fresh crime. Without DNA or CCTV an old-fashioned detective needed to have mad deductive skills. That said, it’s not only fun to play along with the Belgian gumshoe’s innate ability to seek out liars like a truffle-hunting pig, but to try and puzzle it out for ourselves. Even if you’ve seen this dramedy before, you’ll still thrill to its witticisms and this marvelous cast.
Set in the 1930’s, ten passengers traveling on the posh Orient Express are under deep suspicion. Who had the motive? Who had the means? Who had a provable alibi? Who was closest to the scene? And, who had the most to gain? As clues and red herrings spring up like weeds, Poirot must unravel truth from fiction.
 (L – R) Brian Lyons-Burke (Monsieur Bouc), Michael Kharfen (Hercule Poirot), Brianna Goode (Countess Andrenyi) and Paul Donahoe (Head Waiter/Michel) (Photo/Matt Liptak) With so many suspects on board, who could be the perpetrator? Alibis abound. Was it the Russian Princess Dragomiroff (Patricia Nicklin)– a feisty noble traveling with Swedish missionary, Greta Ohlsson (Julia Rudgers); Helen Hubbard (Eleanore Tapscott), an American heiress on the hunt for her fourth husband; Michel the conductor (Paul Donahoe), whose uniform button was found beside a body; Scottish Colonel James Arbothnot (John Paul Odle) or his illicit paramour, the English governess Mary Debenham (Danielle Comer); Monsieur Bouc (Brian Lyons-Burke), Poirot’s dear friend, fellow Belgian and director of the Orient Express company Wagon-Lits; the pretty Hungarian doctor, Countess Andrenyi (Briana Goode); or Samuel Ratchett (Paul Caffrey), the rough and tumble American businessman traveling with his secretary, Hector McQueen (Avery Lance). When Ratchett turns up dead in his bed, everyone is questioned as to their whereabouts the night before.
 (Seated L-R) Brianna Goode (Countess Andrenyi), Eleanore Tapscott (Helen Hubbard), Patricia Nicklin (Princess Dragomiroff), Julia Rudgers (Greta Ohlsson)
(Standing L-R) Brian Lyons-Burke (Monsieur Bouc), Paul Caffrey (Samuel Ratchett), John Paul Odle (Colonel Arbuthnot), Michael Kharfen (Hercule Poirot), Danielle Comer (Mary Debenham), Avery Lance (Hector MacQueen) and Paul Donahoe (Head Waiter/Michel) (Photo/Matt Liptak) The stunning opening conjured up by Director Stefan Sittig, Lighting Designers, Ken and Patti Crowley, Sound Designer Janice Rivera and Set Designer Matt Liptak sets the perfect tone in the pitch dark of the theatre featuring a realistic-appearing, whistleblowing, Mars light ablaze locomotive roaring onto the stage. Creating an alluring ambiance for intrigue, the full-stage revolving set design features an elegantly furnished dining car for the passengers – insert audible audience’s gasp here – the second reveals a cutaway view of the passengers’ bedrooms. It’s quite dramatic and remarkably effective.
To all the amateur sleuths out there, I pose this question. Can you name the killer before the dénouement? Alors, mes amis, imagine yourself on a train bound for London in the middle of a blizzard and trapped by a massive snowdrift in the mountains of Yugoslavia with no way out. As Poirot might say, “Bonne chance!”
A clear winner for The Little Theatre!
 (L – R) Patricia Nicklin (Princess Dragomiroff) and Julia Rudgers (Greta Ohlsson). (Photo/Matt Liptak) Adapted by Ken Ludwig; Dialect Coach, Alden Michels; 1930’s period Costume Design by Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley; Fight Choreography by Stefan Sittig; Makeup and Hair Design by Larissa Norris.
Through April 13th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information call the box office at 703 683-5778 or visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com.
Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van – A Zany Spoof with 100 Laughs at The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van
The Little Theatre of Alexandria
Jordan Wright
September 12, 2023
Special to The Zebra
 Patrick Gallagher, Teresa Preston, and John Paul Odie (Photo/Fred Lash) In Mary Lynn Dobson’s comedy Two on the Aisle, Three in a Van we become witness to the antics of a zany theatre troupe at The Neighborhood Actors Summer Fun Repertory Theatre. Due to the limited space in the troupe’s playhouse, the company spends time backstage and in a parking lot where volunteer and resident aging hippie, Vondo (Paul Donahoe), who has a predilection for playing the intro to Iron Butterfly’s Smoke on the Water and lives out of his van with fellow techie and volunteer Jeannie.
As they prepare for their production of Hello Dolly led by Eric (Ian Wade), an artistic director with a knack for turning every musical into a murderous, sex-crazed horror show, things immediately start to go awry. “See beyond the words!” Eric tells the cast coming up with bizarre alternate realities for the plot. There’s hilarious conflict aplenty when Mike, the director, tries futilely to rein Eric in telling Meredith who’s playing Dolly Levy that, contrary to what Eric has told her, Dolly is most assuredly not meant to be portrayed as a pimp.
 Ian Wade (Eric) and Ann Brodnax (Meredith) (Photo/Fred Lash) Meanwhile chorus boy Daniel (well played by Joe Neff) is determined to suck up to Jeff, the theater’s producer, begging him to produce his silent play, “Mime: The Musical”. Some of the play’s funniest bits are Daniel racing around miming and tap dancing and driving them all crazy. Think Pee Wee Herman.
 John Paul Odie and Joe Neff (Daniel) (Photo/Fred Lash) This is the broadest sort of comedy with tons of sight gags, pratfalls, silly costumes and daffy shenanigans. Think Mel Brooks meets Monty Python while keeping all the balls in the air. There’s Meredith (Ann Brodnax) an over-the-hill diva who desperately wants the part of the ingenue in The Sound of Music. The ingenue, Robyn (Naomi Bertha), who is cast as Medea, in a dress fitted out with exploding entrails. And calm, cool and collected Harriet (Eleanore Tapscott), a counterpoint to the angsty Robyn, who gets miscast in everything yet has the sassiest comeback lines to put everyone in their proper place. Mike offers the best description of Scott (Patrick Gallagher), the Wardrobe Master, “He knows the difference between purple and aubergine.”
 Kirk Lambert (Jeff) and Eleanore Tapscott (Photo/Fred Lash) Thanks to a wonderfully lovable cast, Director Mike Donahue does a terrific job keeping the pace at breakneck speed in this outrageously funny farce that skewers anyone who has ever put on a show, experienced prop mayhem, or bolloxed up the sound cues with a nod to Charles Dragonette and Jenya Holbert for the wacky set design. Cheers to all actors and backstage crew who love the theater life and are celebrated in this madcap spoof.
See it for a hundred laughs.
Lighting Design by Ken and Patti Crowley; Sound Design by Janice Rivera; Costume Design by Robbie Snow and Ali Zaikouk.
 Paul Donahoe (Vondo), Teresa Preston (Jeannie), John Paul Odie (Mike), and Eleanore Tapscott (Harriet) (Photo/Fred Lash) Through September 30th at The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. For tickets and information call the box office at 703 683-5778 or visit www.TheLittleTheatre.com.
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