OnStage Old Town- March
By Mark Edelman
March may not come in like a lion, but you’ll still be roaring with laughter at some of these theater offerings in the DMV:
Through March 10th
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG
Keegan Theater
Stephen Sondheim’s problem musical—albeit with his most gorgeous, touching score—gets a solid production on this intimate DuPont- area stage with fine performances from Ryan Burke and Harrison Smith as “the next Rodgers & Hammerstein.” But it’s Sarah Chapin’s Mary—the unrequited love interest—who will melt your heart. She did mine.
Hats off to co-directors Christina Coakley and Jennifer Hopkins, who made the story congeal for me with the clever addition of a simple prop—one I’d never seen in Merrily before. Projections by Jeremy Bennett guided us through the show’s awkward timeline in another inspired Keegan addition. The band did a nice job with Jonathan Tunick’s popping orchestrations, which the ensemble performed admirably.
All in all, a very nice job—and for 1/8 the 400 bucks they’re charging on Broadway (okay, you do get to see Harry Potter in that one). Tickets at http://www.keegantheatre.com.
PRIVATE JONES
Signature Theater
Inspired by the true story of a deaf Welshman who becomes a celebrated World War I sniper, this new musical affirms the importance of friendship and the cost of war. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org.
WHERE WE BELONG
Folger Theatre
Writer/actor Madeline Sayet’s compelling tale about her Mohegan people and the trials they faced over centuries of betrayal and displacement. Tickets at http://www.folger.edu
Through March 17th
DESPERATE MEASURES
Constellation Theatre
Shakespeare’s Measure for Measure, set to music and relocated from 15th Century Vienna to the Wild West. Tickets at www.constellationtheatre.org
TEMPESTUOUS ELEMENTS
Arena Stage
The story of Anna Julia Cooper, a visionary Black feminist and educator, and her herculean efforts to keep Black education alive, despite the racism, gossip and sexism that threatened to consign her to obscurity. Tickets at http://www.arenastage.org
Through March 24th
ROMEO & JULIET
Synetic Theatre
Shakespeare again, this time in Synetic’s wordless movement style. Tickets at http://www.synetictheatre.org
THE LEHMAN TRILOGY
Shakespeare Theatre CompanyThe rise and fall of investment bank Lehman Brothers over 160 years of family struggles, achievements, and missteps, ending in the largest financial crisis in American history. Tickets at www.shakespearetheatre.org
Through March 30th
JUNIE B. JONES THE MUSICAL
Adventure Theatre MTC
First grade has never been more daunting (and exciting) for Junie B when this stage musical adaptation of Barbara Park’s popular young reader series– now in its 30th year– visits historic Glen Echo Park. Tickets at www.adverturetheatre-mtc.org.
March 2nd – 17th
THROUGH THE SUNKEN LANDS
Kennedy Center
Artemis, a wheelchair user, finds himself trapped in the library after a flood devastates his hometown. How will he get home? A Kennedy Center commission, this new musical teaches us how we can make the world a little better for everyone. For young audiences age nine and above. Tickets http://www.kennedy-center.org.
March 5th – 17th
THE BOOK OF MORMON
National Theatre
TV’s South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone teamed up with Broadway composer Robert Lopez (Avenue Q and Frozen) to pen this wacky Tony ® Award-winning send up of America’s homegrown religion. Irreverent as it may be (have you watched South Park?), Mormon turns out to be a kinda sweet Rodgers & Hammerstein-like musical, albeit with plenty of fart jokes. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.co
March 5th – April 21st
PENELOPE
Signature Theater
The long-suffering Mrs.Odysseus, stuck home in Ithaca while hubby gets all the ink, has a few things to get off her chest. A new, woke take on Homer’s The Iliad and The Odyssey, this world premier musical flips the script on the dutiful wife, as Penelope steps out of the background to claim her share of the spotlight. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org
March 9th – 23rd
QUIJOTE Y SANCHO PANZA
Gala Hispanic Theatre
Join the lively misadventures of the gentleman from La Mancha and his loyal squire as they face daring rescues, unconventional challenges, and mistaken identities in this bi-lingual performance from the DMV’s pre-eminent teatro en espanol. Tickets at www.galatheatre.org
March 12th – 31st
COMPANY
Kennedy Center
Stephen Sondheim’s groundbreaking musical comedy about a group of New Yorkers celebrating their single friend Bobby’s birthday gets a change to the distaff side. This time, those friends of “Bobbie” keep asking why can’t she find the right man, and isn’t it time to settle down and start a family? In his Tony ® Award winning score, Sondheim plumbs the depths of being single, being married and being alive. Tickets at http://www.kennedy-center.org
March 13th – April 20th
AT THE WEDDING
Studio Theatre
Carlo crashes her ex’s wedding with three simple goals: Don’t get drunk. Don’t make any kids cry. Don’t try to win back the bride, no matter how boring the groom is. Studio offers up a new comedy about loneliness, estrangement, and a slow-burn romance with being alive. Tickets at http://www.studiotheatre.org
March 15th – May 18th
LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS
Ford’s Theatre
That big old scary plant returns to Ford’s in this musical theater favorite. Doo wop and Motown infuse a classic boy-meets-girl, boy-introduces-girl-to carnivorous, blood-thirsty plant story with a great score by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman, who went on to save Disney animation with The Little Mermaid and Beauty and the Beast. Tickets at http://www.fords.org
March 23rd – April 13th
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS
Alexandria Little Theatre
DC’s own Ken Ludwig adapted Agatha Christie’s potboiler about a wealthy American businessman discovered dead on the eponymous and opulent Continental sleeper train. If “whodunit?” is a question you enjoy pondering, this plot-twisting masterpiece should be just the thrill ride for you. Tickets at www.thelittletheatre.com
About the Author: Mark Edelman is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony voter.
Photo credits: Sam McClellan and national tour of Book of Mormon photo by Julieta Cervantes; Ryan Burke, Sarah Chapin, and Harrison Smith in Merrily We Roll Along by Cameron Whitman. Britney Coleman and Jacob Dickey in Company by Matthew Murphy