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Fall Arts Preview Pages 7-14
DMV Theatre Reviews
By Patricia Leslie
Dodie and Princess Diana, Shakespeare mixed with Malcolm X, musicals, comedy, drama, classics, mysteries and more are on stage this fall in Washington’s region where theatregoers have many choices to celebrate the world of live performances.
After all, Washington is consistently rated among the top five U.S. theater cities, and sometimes the world, with its more than 1,000 yearly shows.
Now, “that’s entertainment!”
Many of the venues listed offer discounts for groups, seniors, military and children, and many have free parking. Some offer rush tickets or early bird pricing. Most prices here include fees, if any. Check websites.
And, away we go!
“Damn Yankees” at Arena Stage is one of America’s best loved musicals, all about the love of baseball which returns to the stage “re-tooled” for the 21st century, about one man’s fateful (and hilarious) pact with the Devil, accompanied by Broadway’s sexiest femme fatale.
Who can forget “Whatever Lola Wants” and “Who’s Got the Pain?”
After the show opened in 1955 on Broadway, it won seven Tony Awards.
Sept. 9 – Nov. 9, Tuesday –Sunday nights, some weekday and all weekend matinees. Tickets start at $49. 1101 Sixth St. SW, Washington, D.C. 20024, ph. 202-488-3300.
“The Turn of the Screw” at Creative Cauldron, Fall Church’s very own theatre, arrives just in time for Halloween. It’s the return of the successful 2015 world premiere of Cauldron’s musical adaptation of Henry James’s classic ghost story.
On a remote country estate, a governess cares for two children who convince her they are haunted by two dead employees. For ages 13 and up. Oct. 2 – Oct. 26, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Adult prices start at $40. 127 E Broad St, Falls Church 22046, ph. 703-436-9948.
“Spadura,” “The Jewish Dog,”
and “George – Don’t Do That!” for the Logan Festival of Solo Performance at 1st Stage offers three plays in tandem.
The baby industrial complex, aging, and the unique fertility obstacles facing Black women are the focus of “Spadura” while “The Jewish Dog” offers a view of the Holocaust through the eyes of a canine unusually fascinated by human affairs. (What?)
When Nuremberg Laws separate the dog from his Jewish owners, he is confiscated by the Nazis and employed by the SS as a military concentration camp dog. Featuring Adam Meir as the dog and adapted from the novel by Asher Kravitz.
“George!” features song, sketches, anecdotes and reminiscences to celebrate the life of beloved British comedian Joyce Grenfell.
Sept. 18 – Sept. 28, Thursday – Sunday nights with weekend matinees and some late afternoon shows on Saturdays and Sundays. Tickets start at $20. 1524 Spring Hill Road, Tysons, VA 22102, ph. 703-8541856.
“Julius X: A Re-envisioning of The Tragedy of Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare’’ at Folger Theatre is by award-winning writer, journalist, and podcast host Al Letson who blends Shakespeare’s original text with verse and the story of civil rights leader Malcolm X to highlight and reflect on today’s challenges.
Sept. 23 – Oct. 26. No one under age 4 admitted. One Tuesday and all Wednesday – Sunday nights with weekend matinees. Tickets start at $20. The Tuesday, Sept 23 show is “pay what you will.” One ticket/ person. 201 East Capitol Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003. Enter the building at 3rd and East Capitol streets. Ph. 202-544-7077.
“Kiss of the Spider Woman” at GALA Hispanic Theatre presents a comedy and sensual story between two complete opposites who discover that love can happen anywhere, including an Argentine prison cell. Valentin, a political prisoner
A Mason Arts Venue
Darren Criss
Photo by Jason Bell
FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Drama, Comedy, and Classics:
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committed to the Marxist cause, forges an unlikely relationship with queer, movie-loving Molina, who escapes his harsh reality by retelling film noir classics as glamorous leading ladies.
GALA says it’s “poignant, chilling, funny and sensual.” In Spanish with English surtitles.
Sept. 4 – Sept. 28 Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Tickets start at $22. 3333 14th Street, NW, Washington, DC 20010, ph. 202-234-7174.
white financier husband who commemorate the 25th anniversary of Princess Diana and Dodi Fayed by facing their own complicated relationship and how their fate may already be written in the stars.
Sept. 4 – Sept. 28. Most Thursday –Saturday nights, weekend and some Thursday matinees. Prices start at $51. Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street NE, Washington, DC 20002, ph. 202-399-7993, x 501.
‘”Dream Hou$e” at NextStop Theatre Company asks whether death will bring a family together or pull it apart.
“Lost in Yonkers” at Little Theatre of Alexandria is a funny and heartwarming play by Neil Simon which won four Tonys and the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1991. It was first staged in Winston-Salem, N.C. in 1990.
The drama of cruel and painful memories scar a family in 1942 after the death of a mother sends two young brothers to stay with their strict and mean grandmother for the longest ten months of their lives.
But it’s not all over since there is life ahead and laughter, tears, and insight.
Sept. 6 – Sept. 27, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. Tickets are $29. 600 Wolfe St., Alexandria 22314, ph. 703-6830496.
Mosaic Theatre Company unveils “Dodi and Diana” about an Egyptian actress and her
Two Latina sisters appear on a reality show to sell their family home, hoping to capitalize on the gentrification in their “changing neighborhood.” Dream Hou$e is a comedy which asks: What is the cultural cost of progress in America? And is cashing in always selling out?
A limited number of Early Bird tickets are available for certain performances early in the run of the show. Enter promotional code EBDH.
Sept. 11 – Oct. 5, Thursday – Saturday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $45. 269 Sunset Park Dr, Herndon, VA 20170, ph. 703-481-5930, ext. 1.
“Red Pitch” at the Mulitz-Gudelsky Theatre Lab, Olney Theatre Center stages the changes
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SEPTEMBER 4 - 10, 2025 | PAGE 9
Washington’s Fall Theater Season Brings Stories to Life
which face three boys who’ve grown up together playing soccer in their south London neighborhood.
Professional teams are arriving soon to sign up prospects, and on top of this stress are new apartments and franchise coffee shops going up in the ‘hood, pushing out longtime residents and local favorites.
Can their friendship survive these changes?
Three local soccer legends, Oguchi Onyewu, Bruce Murray and Hamisi Amani-Dove will serve as Olney’s “honorary producers” for this American premiere which won all five off-West End (London) awards for Best New Play. Rated PG. Sept. 17 – Oct.19, Wednesday – Saturday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $47, and first-time patrons of Olney Theatre can reserve up to four free tickets to a preview performance of Red Pitch (Sept 17-19), using the code 1stTimeFree. 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832, ph. 301-924-3400.
“Mouse Trap” at Providence Players of Fairfax presents the famous mystery with a group of strangers snowed in Monkswell Manor, a remote country guest house.
News of a recent murder in London and a policeman’s arrival further heighten tensions since it’s revealed that the killer might be among them! As guests and owners share their secrets and alibis, suspicions grow, and there’s a second murder. Whodunnit?
Oct. 10 – Oct. 25, Thursday through Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. All seats, $21. The James Lee Community Center Theatre, 2855 Annandale Rd., Falls Church 22042, ph. 703-425-6782.
“Merry Wives” at Shakespeare Theatre Company is the master’s farce with Falstaff, short on cash, falling into the melting pot of modern Harlem and two sharp-witted West African wives whose purses he pursues.
As their proud husbands’ suspicions grow, the wives cook up a scheme to shame the would-be homewrecker and prove that “wives
may be merry, and yet honest too.”
After all, the world is his oyster but he’d “better three hours too soon than a minute too late” when he sets aside the attractions of his good parts, his other charms vanish. (??)
Sept. 9 – Oct. 5, Tuesday –Sunday nights and weekend matinees. Tickets start at $35. Harman Hall, 610 F Street NW, Washington, DC 20004, ph. 202-547-1122.
“Play On” at Signature Theatre is a delightful musical based on Shakespeare’s comedy Twelfth Night.
It’s set to the syncopated soundtrack of Duke Ellington’s greatest hits like “Take the ‘A’ Train,” “Mood Indigo,” “It Don’t Mean a Thing” and “I Got it Bad and That Ain’t Good” with stunning dancing to boot!
Recommended for ages 8 and up.
On stage now through Oct. 5 Tuesday – Sunday nights and weekend matinees. Prices start at $47. 4200 Campbell Ave., Arlington, VA 22206, ph. 703-820-9771.
“Becky Nurse of Salem” at Vienna Theatre Company is another good one for Halloween.
If you saw playwright Sarah Ruhl’s hilarious “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” in Washington a few years back, you’ll want to be sure and see “Becky Nurse,” a dark contemporary comedy about a modern-day descendant of Rebecca Nurse (c. 16211692) who was hanged in Salem, MA for witchcraft (and whose descendants number in the tens of thousands and include Vincent Price, Amy Grant, Mitt Romney, my children and maybe, yours, too).
On stage, Becky works at the
local witch museum and is dogged by bad luck, including looking for love in all the wrong places with a mix of misogyny, witchcraft and even Arthur Miller.
“Becky Nurse” is for all the women who are still called witches. (Would that be all of us?)
Oct. 17 – Nov. 2, Thursday – Saturday nights and Sunday matinees. All seats, $16. Vienna Community Center: 120 Cherry S. SE, Vienna VA 22081, ph. 703255-6360.
GREG WATKINS, JALISA WILLIAMS AND CAST in “Play On” at Signature Theatre. (Photo: Daniel Rader)
Fall F.C. Area Arts Events
Harvey’s 3rd Annual Yacht Club Saturday, September 20, 2025 4:00 p.m.–8:00 p.m.
Harvey’s, 513 W. Broad St., Falls Church, VA 22046
Join Harvey’s for its 3rd Annual Yacht Club celebration featuring all-you-can-eat oysters, a pig roast with sides, and beer and wine included. This 21+ only event brings together great food, drinks, and community for an afternoon party in the heart of Falls Church.
Little City Concerts: Nen Daiko Saturday, September 20, 2025 7:30 p.m.
The Falls Church Episcopal
Little City Concerts launches its third season with the exhilarating sounds of Nen Daiko, a Japanese taiko ensemble renowned for powerful drumming, movement, and striking visual performance.
Tickets are FREE for youth/students, $25 for general admission, with 50% of proceeds donated to Hamkae Center.
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ARENA STAGE BRINGS America’s favorite baseball musical Damn Yankees back to the stage, re-tooled for a new generation with wit, heart, and plenty of swing.
(Photo: Arena Stage)
By Falls Church News-Press
FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
‘The Roses’ Boldly Reimagines Marriage as a Dark Comedy
By Lisa Sinrod
This is a peculiar movie. Combine excellent actors with a choppy, uneven script which is both funny and morose, and you have this update of the 1989 film “War of the Roses.”
The 1989 movie, based on a book by Warren Adler and directed by Danny Devito, plumbed the depths of marital discord with Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas as the married couple. Both films (1989’s and 2025’s “The Roses”) are comedic satires in which a once thriving and joyful marriage disintegrates into embers of contempt and physical aggression between the spouses. I enjoyed “The Roses,” despite finding it at times to be tedious, because the dark humor appealed to me and the principal actors made the very best of the roles they had.
Olivia Colman and Benedict Cumberbatch play Ivy and Theo Rose, a British couple who move together from England to California soon after meeting each other. We watch the first ten years of their marriage, which are good years where they support each other’s careers,
raise children and make the time to keep the spark alive. The loving quips are endearing and the strength of their marriage is apparent. The actors themselves are both British, which adds to the authenticity of their portrayals. Mid-point, the film turns as their alliance careens dramatically downward in a vicious battle of wills between these two strong personalities. Career setbacks and other challenges result in the parties turning against each other and volatile fights erupt. Divorce is under consideration, sharp verbal barbs are exchanged and mutual friends are dragged along in the misery.
The downturn of the marriage is spiked with biting humor and background details of each of the Roses’ careers, one rising and one bottoming out. Theo is an architect and Ivy is a chef. The scenery at their Mendocino coastal home is lovely to look at. The film hits the right notes in conveying the blended history of these two talented people in a residential enclave meant to be their personal paradise.
Supporting actors include Allison Janney, Kate McKinnon and Andy Samberg, all of whom add margin-
ally to the funnier side of things. The emotional warfare of the spouses is fast-paced with elements of petty revenge and funny exaggerations. Personality quirks of the characters, including the supporting actors, are purposely on display. Themes of the movie in addition to domestic power struggles include personal identity, ego and ambition. Amidst all of the chaos is an emotional depth which some viewers may appreciate.
Colman and Cumberbatch have been good friends in real life for decades. They are both executive producers of this film. According to media reports, they rehearsed for the filming of “The Roses” by regularly shouting at each other. As volatile as Ivy and Theo’s battles toward the end of the movie are, they are tamer than the physical combat between the spouses in the 1989 movie. This may be representative of the times today as compared to when the version starring Turner and Douglas was made. Between the two, I prefer the 2025 iteration of the story. In interviews with the press, Director Jay Roach has described the new film as more of a “re-imagining”
than a remake of the original “War of the Roses” movie.
“The Roses,” rated R, is over the top in every way. Ivy and Theo live large and with passion when they are loving, working, playing and fighting. Colman and Cumberbatch inhabit their roles as though they’ve lived them their entire lives. If you’re looking for a diversion from the
day to day, this could be it. If a feel-good movie or light romantic comedy is what you need, you may want to look elsewhere. Reactions from other viewers when I watched the film at Falls Church’s own wonderful Paragon Theaters was mixed, although it was generally well received. On the letter scale, I give it a B-minus.
Area Fall Exhibitions Showcase Frida,
Guerrillas & More
By Patricia Leslie
Hollywood, guerrillas, recycled tires, cities and Mexico’s Frida Kahlo are some of the topics on display in Washington this fall in exceptional museum exhibitions.
Free entry is found at several of these venues, and for those charging admission, free times and discounts for seniors, students, military and children are usually available.
Curators everywhere know that, like the music of Rachmaninoff, the public can’t get enough of Frida as in Kahlo as in Richmond at the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts. I can’t ever recall hearing so much talk about an exhibition at VMFA like that about “Frida: Beyond the Myth.”
To see the full review visit: fcnp.com/2025/09/03/dmv-artexhibitions/
FALL ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Fall F.C. Area Arts Events
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An Evening with Darren Criss Saturday, September 27, 2025 8:30 p.m.
Center for the Arts, George Mason University
Tony, Emmy, and Golden Globe Award winner Darren Criss headlines the 20th annual ARTS by George! with a special concert celebrating his wildly eclectic career. Known for Glee, StarKid Productions, and acclaimed Broadway runs, Criss will perform songs spanning his work as a songwriter and performer. Fresh off his 2025 Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for Maybe Happy Ending (directed by Michael Arden), Criss brings Broadway brilliance to Fairfax.
Tickets start at $55 at cfa.gmu.edu.
Falls Church Arts: Plein Air Festival
The visual arts in Falls Church are thriving. After a busy summer of exhibits and classes, Falls Church Arts presents the annual Plein Air Festival this September. Artists from across the East Coast—from New York to Florida—will descend on Falls Church to paint scenes of the city.
The public is invited to view the finished works and prize ceremony on Saturday, September 27, 2025 at the Farmers Market, where top honors will be awarded.
Amadeus Concerts: Schwarz & Stern
Sunday, September 28, 2025 4 p.m.
Great Falls Grange
Now in its 44th season, Amadeus Concerts opens with a thrilling program featuring awardwinning cellist Julian Schwarz and acclaimed percussionist Jeff Stern. The duo will perform dynamic new works by Caroline Shaw, Viet Cuong, and Andy Akiho—pieces that use everything from traditional drums to ceramic flowerpots as instruments.
Tickets: FREE for ages 18 and under and active-duty military; $25 for ages 19–29; $50 for ages 30 and up.
Fall 2025 Greek Festival
Friday, October 3 –Sunday, October 5, 2025
St. Katherine’s Greek Orthodox Church, Falls Church
Celebrate culture, music, and food at the Fall 2025 Greek Festival. Enjoy authentic Greek food, pastries, live Greek music, and traditional dancing all weekend long.
Friday, October 3: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Saturday, October 4: 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Sunday, October 5: 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Admission and parking are FREE, with all foods and pastries available for carry-out.
Festival volunteers are welcome— sign up at signup.com/go/PdqqiMO.
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THE VISUAL ARTS IN FALLS CHURCH have had a busy year starting with the World Art Day in April, a summer of exhibits and classes in various media at Falls Church Arts. The annual Plein Air Falls Church Festival will start this weekend - with many artists coming to Falls Church to paint in September. Artists registered so far are from around the DMV and east coast from New York to Florida. and The public gets to see them all on Saturday September 27, at the Farmers Market – where the top prizes will be awarded. (Photo: Falls Church Arts)
Fall F.C. Area Arts Events
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington: Annual Fall Cabaret
Saturday, October 11, 2025
2:00 p.m. (ASL), 5:00 p.m., & 8:00 p.m.
Keegan Theatre – 1742 Church Street NW, Washington, DC 20036
The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington’s popular annual cabaret returns this fall, and this year it’s spicier than ever. Expect a night of risqué stories, saucy songs about dates gone wrong, and a joyful dose of bawdy positivity. From double entendres to delightfully naughty confessionals, the cabaret is designed to keep audiences laughing and blushing in equal measure.
Songs include classics such as “Whatever Lola Wants,” “Bring on the Men,” and “In Excess.”
Recommended for ages 16 and up.
ASL interpreted performance at 2:00 p.m.
Group tickets (10+) and ASL tickets available by calling 202-2931548.
The show runs approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.
Levine Music New Falls Church Campus –Next to Meridian High School
Why study at Levine Music? Whether you’re young or old, playing your very first notes or returning for an encore, Levine offers a welcoming community and outstanding instruction.
Students can choose from private lessons in over 22 instruments and voice, group classes, ensembles, and summer camps. Levine also presents workshops, lectures, and concert series designed to inspire music lovers of all ages and stages of life.
With the opening of its brandnew Falls Church campus, Levine continues its mission of making high-quality music education accessible across the region.
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago Saturday, October 25, 2025 8 p.m. Center for the Arts, George Mason University
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, one of America’s foremost modern dance repertory companies, brings its signature blend of movement, music, and innovative choreography to the stage. Praised as “a perfect storm of movement, music and choreography” ( Los Angeles Times ), the company has performed in 19 countries and 44 states, showcasing works from the world’s leading choreographers.
Tickets start at $41 at cfa. gmu.edu.
From Broadway stars and international dance to local festivals, music schools, and cabaret nights, the fall season promises unforgettable experiences across Falls Church and the D.C. region.
LITTLE CITY CONCERTS LAUNCHES its third season on September 20 with a powerful performance by taiko ensemble Nen Daiko at The Falls Church Episcopal. (Photo: Courtesy)
AWARD-WINNING CELLIST Julian Schwarz and acclaimed percussionist Jeff Stern will launch Amadeus Concerts’ 44th Season on Sunday, September 28 at 4 p.m. at the Great Falls Grange. (Photo: Courtesy)
Signature Theatre Opens Education Studios, Launches Fall 2025 Programs
By Falls Church News-Press
Arlington, VA — Signature Theatre has announced the grand opening of its brandnew Education Studios, a renovated facility designed to broaden the theater’s educational reach and deepen its training opportunities for artists of all ages.
Located at 2784 South Arlington Mill Drive in Shirlington, just down the street from Signature’s mainstage, the new facility includes two state-of-the-art classrooms, two private coaching rooms, and expanded office space for the education department. The studios will serve as a hub for year-round classes, workshops, and community engagement.
“Education has been central to Signature Theatre’s mission for over 30 years, and Signature Education is now reaching nearly 10,000 people a year,” said Education Director David Zobell. “The new Education Studios will allow us to expand our programming even further, providing space for every interested artist and audience member.”
Signature’s Managing Director Maggie Boland emphasized the community impact. “This expansion demonstrates Signature’s commitment to education and learning as cornerstones of our mission. We are excited to see how this additional facility will amplify Signature’s ability to impact students and community members of all ages in Arlington, the greater DC area, and beyond.”
The project received major support from Amazon and The Village at Shirlington. “The Signature Theatre Education Studios represent an exciting investment in the next generation of artists and storytellers,” said Patrick Phillippi, Amazon’s Head of Community Engagement for the Mid-Atlantic. Deidre Johnson, Senior Vice President of Asset Management for Federal Realty, which manages The Village at
Shirlington, added, “Arts education is vitally important to learning and to healthy communities, and we are proud to support Signature in this mission.”
Fall 2025 Education Programming
Coinciding with the studio’s opening, Signature will launch a new slate of fall classes:
• Musical Theater Fundamentals (Sept. 16–Dec. 2, Ages 11–14): A crash course in acting, singing, and dancing. Tuition $300.
• Signature Conservatory (Sept. 10–Nov. 19, Ages 14–18): Advanced training for high school actors preparing for auditions. Tuition $333.
• Ace the Musical Theater Audition (Sept. 29–Nov. 10, Ages 18+): A six-week program for professional and pre-professional actors. Tuition $400.
• Musical Theater Dance Class (Oct. 23–Dec. 4, Ages 18+): A fun and energetic class taught by choreographer Nikki Mirza. Tuition $150 for six sessions or $25 per class. Financial aid is available for all programs. Registration and pricing details can be found at SigTheatre.org.
About Signature Theatre
Founded in 1989, Signature Theatre is a Tony Award®-winning regional theater known for its bold productions, inventive adaptations, and definitive stagings of Stephen Sondheim’s works. Signature opens its doors to more than 100,000 people annually from the Washington, DC region and beyond and reaches more than 10,000 students every year through through educational programs, including its acclaimed Signature in the Schools initiative. To date, Signature has earned 148 Helen Hayes Awards and produced 61 world premieres. Tickets, registration, and additional information are available at SigTheatre. org or by calling the box office at 703820-9771.
