Elliot Lanes

Today’s subject Jordan Slattery is currently living her theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing the role of Jane in Job. The production runs through March 16th in Signature’s ARK space.

Longevity is becoming rarer and rarer in the performing arts. Today’s subject Jennifer Tipton has been a lighting designer for theatre, opera, ballet, and more for over 65 years and in the process has given us a body of work that is unparalleled. Her current project American Ballet Theatre’s (ABT’s) production of Crime and Punishment will be playing at Kennedy Center in the Opera House from February 12th through the 16th.

During the pandemic, musical theatre lovers were hit with withdrawal. Apple TV took us out of our funk when Schmigadoon hit the air in July of 2021. The series took an original story line and based it around a specific genre of musical theatre. The result had us laughing and singing along for two seasons. The first season was more of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic variety of musical while season two had more of a Chicago/Pippin vibe. For whatever reason, the third season was written but Apple TV elected not to go into production with it.

Today’s subject Kaitlyn Jackson is currently living her theatre life on tour playing multiple characters which include Beverley the pilot in the North American Tour of Come From Away. The show will be in our area from January 31st to February 2nd at Capital One Hall.

Today’s subject Barry Edelstein is currently living his theatre life as the Artistic Director of San Diego’s renowned Old Globe. On January 30th he will be giving a special presentation on putting together his adaptation of Shakespeare’s Henry VI plays entitled Henry 6. at our very own Folger Theatre as part of their third annual Reding Room Series which runs from January 30th through February 2nd.

Today’s subject Taha Mandviwala is currently living his theatre life on stage at Kennedy Center playing the title character in the North American Tour of Life of Pi. The show runs plays through January 5th in the Eisenhower Theater.

Today’s subject Rachel Simone Webb is currently living her theatre life onstage at the Kennedy Center in the North American Tour of & Juliet playing the role of Juliet. The show runs through January 5th in the Opera House.

The holiday season is in full swing and this past weekend the holidays got a touch of the Irish as the international singing sensations Celtic Woman graced the stage of Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall with YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) for an evening of traditional holiday tunes with a sprinkling of Irish classics as well.

I often say that certain things in the theatre are a total mystery to me. Today’s subject Katie Kleiger is currently living her theatre life as Jacqueline de Bellefort in a true mystery of the theatre Agatha Christie’s Death On The Nile. The show runs through December 29th in Arena’s Kreeger Theater space.

One of my favorite holiday traditions is attending the yearly A Holiday Pops! concert at Kennedy Center. Hearing YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) under the always superb direction of Maestro Steven Reineke play some familiar holiday favorites mixed in with some newer pieces is a great way to get in to the holiday spirit. This year’s edition featured Broadway/recording star Jessica Vosk and The Heritage Signature Chorale. Trust me, the program was so good it could even turn a Grinch or a Scrooge into a Tiny Tim.

Today’s subjects Chris Nee, Michael Kooman, and Christopher Dimond are the creators of a fantastic World Premiere Commission Theatre for Young Audiences (TYA) musical at Kennedy Center called Finn. The show runs through December 22nd in the Family Theater. The trio collaborated on the book, music, and lyrics with Michael Kooman providing the dance arrangements and the underscoring.

With the holiday season now upon us, there are many theatrical viewing options. Many of them have a holiday theme, but for those of you that want something off the tinsel and caroling path, I am about to tell you about a world premiere commission musical that the Kennedy Center is running at this festive time of year.

For many years, Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company has had a long standing relationship with Chicago’s legendary comedy troupe The Second City. This holiday season, they are back with Dance Like There’s Black People Watching. The production runs through December 22nd.

As the holiday season gets ready to kick into full force, Ford’s Theatre once again will be presenting their always excellent production of A Christmas Carol. This year’s production runs from November 21st to December 31st.

Today’s subject Christopher Bloch is currently living his theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing the role of Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The production runs through January 12th in Signature’s MAX space.

Today’s subject Soloman Howard is currently living his theatre life onstage at Kennedy Center in the role of Banquo for Washington National Opera’s (WNO) production of Macbeth. The production plays through November 23rd in the Opera House.

Over the last eight years, I have been fortunate to interview pretty much every theater critic at The Washington Post for this column. Now I have the distinct pleasure of introducing you to another stellar journalist that joins the list.

Maestro Steven Reineke never ceases to amaze me with the wide range of artists he brings to DC to play with YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO). In the past he’s featured everything from such Broadway stars as Norm Lewis and Megan Hilty to Grammy winning Latin performers Ozomatli. He always introduces his audiences to music they might not be familiar with, and I very much appreciate that both as a reviewer and as an audience member.

With the size of theatrical orchestras being drastically cut, one of the few places left to hear a full string section is at a symphonic concert. What better symphony is there than YOUR National Symphony Orchestra (NSO)?

Judy Kaye has been living her theatre life for over half a century. The Tony Award winning performer has been seen on Broadway, on tour, in regional theatres and has been heard on many recordings. Currently Ms. Kaye can be seen onstage at Shakespeare Theatre Company (STC) in Babbitt where she plays a plethora of roles. The show runs through November 3rd at Harman Hall.