by Mark Edelman

Though their ranks have thinned a bit before the new season begins, our DMV theaters nevertheless give us every reason to cool off in the air-conditioned comfort of their spaces this month. Spend a few bucks at one of the following box offices and keep free speech alive!

 

CATCH ME IF YOU CAN

Little Theatre of Alexandria

Now through August 8

The celebrated Stephen Spielberg film made it to Broadway in this musical comedy gift from   composer Marc Shaiman, lyricist Scott Wittman and book writer Terrence McNally, all Tony® Award winners at the top of their games. Based on the true story of one of history’s most outrageous impersonators and the federal agent whose dogged pursuit finally lead to the miscreant’s capture, the musical gets the local treatment from the gang at LTA. Tickets at http://www.thelittletheatre.com

 

AS YOU LIKE IT and OUR TOWN 

American Shakespeare Center in Staunton, VA

Now through August 9

A bit outside the DMV and just past Charlottesville on the Interstate and Amtrak, you can enjoy Shakespeare the way audiences did it back in the 1600s (well, except women, mostly, play female characters now). The Blackfriars Playhouse is a faithful recreation of the venue where James Burbage and company produced some of the Bard’s greatest hits. This summer, you can spend the weekend and catch productions of Shakespeare’s trippy comedy “As You Like It” and an American classic—Thorton Wilder’s “Our Town.” They close off Main Street, so you can promenade along, dine alfresco and people watch to your heart’s content. And for those of you missing a leader of gravitas not greed, Woodrow Wilson’s home and library are a few blocks away. Tickets at http://www.americanshakespearecenter.com

 

CRAZYSEXYCOOL—THE TLC MUSICAL

Arena Stage

Now through August 9

Arena continues its series of Wow! Broadway try-outs (“Damn Yankees,” “Dear Evan Hansen” etc) with this dynamite musical about one of the biggest female vocal groups in pop history, the aforementioned TLC. Writer/ director Kwame Kwei-Armah wears both caps admirably, telling the trio’s tale in the most touching terms while keeping the bass line throbbing. All technical elements were superb and the three young ladies leading the company—Holli Gabrielle Conway as T-Boz, Stoney B. Woods as Chilli and the especially poignant Jade Milan as Left Eye Lopez—more than confirmed their Broadway acting chops. Chloe O. Davis’s choreography and David Holcenberg’s arrangements and orchestrations are top notch; and the DMV’s own delightful diva Felecia Curry delivers a Tony nom worthy performance as TLC’s manager and Left Eye’s guru. You know it’s good when half the audience is mouthing the lyrics and pumping their elbows. Tickets at http://www.arenastage.org.

 

A GENTLEMAN’S GUIDE TO LOVE AND MURDER

Olney Theatre Center

Now through August 23

After his mother’s death, our gentleman hero Monty learn that he’s a distant relative of a fabulous rich family. Hoping his newly discovered kin will help him out financially, he’s disappointed to learn that, as the eighth in line to the family jewels, he’s unlikely to inherit much—unless something happens to the other seven. Follow along and keep count of the murderous mayhem in this Tony ® Award winning Best Musical.  Tickets at http://www.olneytheatre.org

 

MEAN GIRLS

Now through August 23

Toby’s Dinner Theatre

Tina Fey of 30 Rock fame adapted her hit movie into this new musical, nominated for twelve Tony Awards. When Cady, who grew up on the African savanna, finds her family transported to suburban Illinois, the culture shock is magnified when she runs into the queens of campus, the ruthless Plastics, and their leader, most popular girl Regina George. Can Cady learn to fit into high school’s unforgiving pecking order? Musical comedy fun ensues when she gives it a try and proves two can play a mean girl’s game.  Tickets at www.tobysdinnertheatre.com

 

SLEEPING BEAUTY: THE TIME TRAVELER

Now through August 23

Adventure MTC

A new spin on an old favorite finds Sleeping Beauty transplanted back to the year 1000, when Charlemagne rules all of Europe and his poor daughter Aurora is cooped up in the castle. From far off 2026, Rollie comes time traveling by to help Aurora find her way home. In Glen Echo Park, where kids get a first taste of musical theater. Tickets at http://www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org

 

WOODY GUTHRIE’S AMERICAN SONG

The Wharf Riverfront Park

August 6-29

While their name home is being built, the folks at Theatre Alliance bring us THE musical event of this, our 250^th anniversary. From the iconic anthem “This Land Is Your Land to timely protest songs like “All You Fascists Bound to Lose,” there’s a truth and sincerity in Woody Guthrie’s music—and an honest effort to raise up his follow man. Tickets at http://www.theateralliance.com

 

GRUESOME PLAYGROUND INJURIES

Keegan Theatre

August 15- Sep 6

Two kindred spirits find their way back to each other across a lifetime of scraped knees, broken bones, and a whole host of imperfect moments in this new comedy by award-winning playwright Rajiv Joseph. Beneath the play’s sharp wit and darkly comic edge lies a tender story of love, resilience, and the quiet ways we hold on to one another. Tickets at http://www.keegantheatre.com

 

THE NOTEBOOK

National Theatre

August 18-30

Allie and Noah, from different worlds, share a lifetime of love despite the forces that threaten to pull them apart across the decades. Based on the popular film. Tickets at http://www.broadwayatthenational.com.

 

MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

Signature Theatre

August 25- Nov 1

Those keepers of the Sondheim flame out in Shirlington dig into the composer/lyricist’s masterwork about friendship, ambition and the compromises that shape a life. Matthew Gardiner directs the show twenty years after its last Signature production. Tickets at www.sigtheatre.org

 

FREDDIE: A GIRL

Capitol Hill Arts Workshop

August 27- Sep 13

Taffety Punk is back with a gripping tale about the Oversteegen sisters, teenage girls who fought in the Dutch Resistance during World War II by luring Nazi officials into the woods. Tickets at http://www.taffetypunk.com

About the Author: Edelman is a playwright who loves writing about theater. He is a lifetime member of the Broadway League and a Tony® voter. Catch his monthly podcast at http://www.onstagedmv.org.

Photo credits:  Notebook by Matthew Murphy; Crazy Sexy Cool by Daniel Rader; Mean Girls by Jeri Tidwell; Sleeping Beauty by Cameron Whitman; As You Like It by Madison Patterson.