By Mark Edelman
February is for lovers, so take that special someone to one of these special productions this month. Fall head over heels over these labors of love, live on stage in the DMV:
SCHMIGADOON
Kennedy Center
Through February 6th
New York doctors Josh and Melissa go backpacking in a last-ditch effort to save their failing relationship. Wouldn’t you know it though– they get lost in the woods and end up trapped in a magical town that’s a classic Golden Age Broadway musical come ridiculously to life! Jeffrey Finn and his team at the Ken Cen score an impressive bullseye, getting the world’s stage premiere of this Emmy Award®–winning TV show, a must-see if you’re a fan of the great American musical. Tickets at http://www.kennedy-center.org.
DOWNSTATE
Studio Theatre
Through February 16th
Plays introduce us to worlds we may never know; great plays pull us into those worlds, whether we like them or not. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Bruce Norris grabs us by the conscience in this effective play, given a terrific production under the able hand of Studio artistic director David Muse. The world is that of the pedophile, “monsters” who nevertheless must carry on after paying their debts to society. When—and can—we forgive their odious, criminal acts? Where does redemption fit in this picture? An exceptional cast led by Stephen Conrad Moore, Dan Daily and Tim Getman helps us find the answers, if there are answers to be found. This is a profound experience in the theater, albeit an uncomfortable one. Tickets at http://www.studiotheatre.org.
WHAT THE CONSTITUTION MEANS TO ME
Round House Theatre
Through February 16th
Plumbing a topic that’s suddenly become front-page news, playwright Heidi Schreck takes a closer look at our Constitution and its impact on four generations of women in her family in this personal look at the evolution of our nation’s most debated document. A hit on Broadway, now live! in Bethesda in this new Round House production. Tickets at http://www.roundhousetheatre.org
GUAC
Woolly Mammoth
Through February 16th
Direct from its engagement at the Public Theatre in NYC, Manuel Oliver offers stirring testimony to the tragedy that, as the father of a Parkland shooting victim, he had to endure. Oliver pulls no punches in this fearless, funny one-man tour-de-force theatrical experience about an immigrant family yearning for the American Dream, only to be confronted by an American Nightmare. Tickets at www.woollymammoth.net
THE BEDWETTER
Arena Stage
Through March 6th
This world premier musical from the in-your-face comedy wunderkindl Sarah Silverman, based on her bestselling memoir, follows ten-year-old Sarah as she navigates a new school, her parents’ divorce, and a painful secret you’ve probably already guessed. Tickets at http://www.arenastage.org
JOB
Signature Theatre
Through March 16th
A gripping tale about a fragile young woman and the psychotherapist who must decide whether she can return to work and earn her livelihood. Secrets emerge and facades are torn down as doctor and patient edge toward an epic showdown. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org
HAND TO GOD
Keegan Theatre
Through March 2nd
Troubled youth Jason discovers an outlet for his anxiety at a Christian Puppet Ministry in smalltown Texas. His complicated relationships with the town pastor, the school bully, the girl next door, and his mom take on an other-worldly dimension when Jason’s hand puppet Tyrone takes on a shocking personality all its own. Tickets at http://www.keegantheatre.com
CONSTELLATIONS
Constellation Theatre
Through March 9th
A hit in London’s West End, this of-the-moment new play transports us thru a swirling multiverse, where two star-crossed lovers share experiences from barbecue to ballroom dancing to bar-hopping and beekeeping. Through it all, their love illuminates destiny, adversity, and hope and their infinite possibilities. A Valentine’s Day must see! Tickets at http://www.constellationtheatre.org
DRAGONS LOVE TACOS
Adventure MTC Theatre
February 7th – March 30th
A boy and his dog are watching a TV show about dragons when they unexpectedly get caught up in the ‘Dos and Don’ts’ of what to serve to dragons to eat. As the title implies, Dragons love tacos, but if they accidentally eat spicy salsa…watch out! Fun y divertidos for the whole family. Tickets to the production over in Glen Echo Park at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org
MATILDA
Alexandria Little Theatre
February 8th – March 1st
From the classic Roald Dahl’s children’s book comes this family-friendly musical about an exceptionally gifted young girl with a vivid imagination who loves books. Along with her friends and favorite teacher Miss Honey, Matilda stands up for justice against the wicked headmistress Mrs. Trunchbull, her selfish parents and adults everywhere who can’t be bothered with the affairs of their children. Tickets at http://www.thelittletheatre.com
IN THE HEIGHTS
Signature Theatre
February 11th – May 4th
Before Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda celebrated his Washington Heights heritage with this
tuneful treasure, which earned him his first Tony ® Award. With his ‘hood on the brink of gentrification and a life-changing winning lottery ticket somewhere in their midst, Usnavi and his neighbors share hope, loss and love the American way. Immigrants—they get it done! Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org
WAITRESS
Olney Theatre Center
February 13th – March 30th
Pop star Sarah Bareilles’ charming musical rom com follows the tale—like the movie it’s based on—of a hapless young woman who finds strength and purpose in the one-of-a-kind pies
she makes for all emotional occasions. Tickets at http://www.olneytheatre.org
KUNENE AND THE KING
Shakespeare Theatre Company
February 16th – March 16th
A celebrated South African actor takes on the role of King Lear in the midst of a painful
diagnosis. As he faces his own mortality, the actor clashes and connects with his at-home
caregiver, discovering in the Bard’s play and his own machinations aspects of the meaning of life. Tickets at http://www.shakespearetheatre.org
SHUCKED
National Theatre
February 25th — March 2nd
A fall-out-of-your chair funny musical comedy about, of all things, corn. There’s a love story,
some backwoods skullduggery and enough great songs by acclaimed tunesmiths Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally to keep you in a state of Broadway bliss. Some of the jokes get a bit bawdy, but that’s all part of the fun. Tickets at www.broadwayatthenational.com
The writer is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway
League and a Tony® voter.
Photo credits: Shucked photo by Matthew Murphy and Evan Zimmerman . Downstate photo by D. J. Corey. GUAC photo by Peter Johnston.