It’s the
1980s. Fashions are colorful. Big hair is in. Clouds of hairspray linger in the
air. It is against this backdrop that the latest offering from NASA Goddard’s
MAD Productions is set. Steel Magnolias
(directed by Paul Morris and produced by Katrina Jackson)tells the story of a gaggle of women in Chinquapin, Louisiana, who
spend their time socializing at the fictional “Truvy’s Beauty Shop” –
gossiping, getting their hair and nails done,
Queenie was a blonde.
And Burrs will make you happy.
And Kate is the life of the party.
And maybe they like it that way.
They’re raising the roof over at The Greenbelt Arts Center with their wild, wild party. Not just any party, but Andrew Lippa’s The Wild Party, directed by Jeffrey Lesniak with Musical Direction by Elizabeth Alford, and Choreography by Rikki Lacewell.
Fun fact: The story of Beauty and the Beast was originally published in 1740 as “La Belle et La Bête,” a French tale written by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Gallon de Villeneuve (now, that’s a mouthful!) Oddly enough, there weren’t any talking clocks or candelabras involved in that iteration. Two and a half centuries later, Disney turned it into the animated classic most modern audiences are familiar with. It has also been adapted for the stage,
To see or not to see… that is the question! Spotlighters’ latest production in their 56th season is none other than Paul Rudnick’s 1991 comedy-drama I Hate Hamlet, directed by Hillary Glass and Ilene Chalmers. The play revolves around the young and successful television actor Andrew Rally who has just relocated to New York after the recent cancellation of his television show. He finds his agent has booked him a gig as the titular character in Shakespeare’s Hamlet,
What should I say? What can I tell them? Just be honest. Don’t perform— leave that to the folks at Tantallon Community Players and their exceptional production of A Chorus Line. Raw, honest, compelling, and engaging, this stellar performance is one for the books! Directed by Christopher Gerkin, with Musical Direction by Levar Betts and Choreography by Debbie Clark & Richelle Lacewell, this timeless musical of the unsung theatrical heroes— the chorus line dancers— will solidify its placement in your heart before the evening is through.