All stories by Celia Wren on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, November 2, 2021

At Olney Theatre, casting ‘Beauty and the Beast’ with an eye to inclusion by Celia Wren

Disney’s musical fairy tale about looking beyond lookism takes on added resonance.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:42AM
Wednesday, October 27, 2021

She might get top billing, but ‘Celia and Fidel’ at Arena Stage shortchanges the female revolutionary by Celia Wren

World premiere run of Eduardo Machado’s play about Celia Sánchez and Castro was shut down immediately after opening night at the start of pandemic.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 03:36PM
Tuesday, October 26, 2021

The sound of Constellation Theatre’s ‘Mysticism & Music’ transcends its script by Celia Wren

Chinese-dulcimer virtuoso Chao Tian and percussionist Tom Teasley infuse an age-old quest with new energy.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:03AM
Monday, October 11, 2021

Soul-searching and suspense carry a riveting ‘Lesson of Jan Karski’ at Shakespeare Theatre by Celia Wren

A virtuosic David Strathairn plays the real-life Holocaust witness and diplomat in solo show written by Clark Young and Derek Goldman.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:36PM
Tuesday, October 5, 2021

‘Thanksgiving Play’ at Olney Theatre Center takes a carving knife to wokeness by Celia Wren

A serious undercurrent runs through Larissa FastHorse’s funny if writ-large satire of White wokeness.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:06PM
Friday, September 17, 2021

Round House Theatre’s dark and playful ‘Quixote Nuevo’ strikes a contemporary chord by Celia Wren

Production of Octavio Solis’s 2018 play, also streaming starting Sept. 23, is by turns a commentary on migrants, fear and loss.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:12PM
Monday, September 13, 2021

Drama and momentum are in short supply in ‘Doña Rosita’ at GALA Hispanic Theatre by Celia Wren

New adaptation of Federico Garc�a Lorca play resonates with the text’s bursts of lyricism but embraces tedium all too well.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:32PM
Monday, August 9, 2021

‘Twelfth Night’ at the D.C. War Memorial features pop music and the (unscripted) sounds of traffic by Celia Wren

In this outdoor production by Her Majesty & Sons, 20th-century tunes amplify the wit.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:42PM
Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Native American dramatist explores her roots in the one-woman show ‘Where We Belong’ by Celia Wren

Woolly Mammoth mounts a streaming version of Madeline Sayet’s play, in association with the Folger Shakespeare Library.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 09:48AM
Sunday, June 6, 2021

This LGBTQ ‘Giselle’ celebrates individuality, putting a spotlight on non-inclusiveness in classical ballet by Celia Wren

For “Giselle of Loneliness,” Ballez founder Katy Pyle cast dancers who have their own complicated relationships with ballet.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:24AM
Thursday, May 27, 2021

The park setting of ‘In the Middle of the Fields’ is compelling but can’t make up for the sliver of a plot by Celia Wren

The Solas Nua production of the Deirdre Kinahan play takes place at P Street Beach in Northwest Washington.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:12PM
Friday, May 21, 2021

‘The Mayor of Harlem’ celebrates Bill Robinson as dance superstar, as well as social activist by Celia Wren

Trio of tap stars has directed and choreographed the new documentary, on-demand through June 3 as part of the Joyce Theater’s digital season.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 06:33AM
Monday, May 17, 2021

God and catfish: Two streaming plays evoke roaming, restless minds by Celia Wren

Woolly’s “Animal Wisdom” fully succeeds in the digital format, while Studio’s “2.5 Minute Ride” is less successful.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 04:18PM
Monday, May 3, 2021

At Kennedy Center’s ‘Evening of Jazz and Dance,’ glimmers of renewal by Celia Wren

Dance and music performances, featuring Roman Mejia, Tiler Peck, Gregory Porter and Jason Moran, will be on demand through Aug. 1.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:48PM
Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Happenstance Theater shifts its stage to an interactive website inspired by the shadow boxes of Joseph Cornell by Celia Wren

At a time without live performance, “The Juxtapose Tenement” conjures theatrical magic in the cyber realm.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:18AM
Monday, April 26, 2021

Constellation’s ‘Children of Medea’ spins a dreamscape family portrait by Celia Wren

The production, streaming through May 16, isn’t well served by the elaborate production design.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:12PM
Wednesday, April 7, 2021

This D.C.-based choreographer creates dances about trailblazers, hoping you’ll embrace their ideals by Celia Wren

The video series from the Dana Tai Soon Burgess Dance Company honors civil rights icons, including Marian Anderson and William Ayers Campbell.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:48AM
Friday, March 19, 2021

Signature Theatre’s latest show is a ‘Jam’ to savor by Celia Wren

Actor Daniel J. Watts is serving up a high-energy meditation on his life, and he’s hoping it sticks with you.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:24PM
Saturday, March 6, 2021

Inspired by Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, a new play ponders race, gender and inclusion by Celia Wren

Steppenwolf Theatre begins streaming Vivian J.O. Barnes’s “Duchess! Duchess! Duchess!” on March 10.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 08:03AM
Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Arena Stage creates a series of nine snail-mailings for fans for ‘Dear Jack, Dear Louise’ by Celia Wren

Props department will send patrons correspondence evoking the courtship depicted in the 2019 show.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 12:12PM
Wednesday, January 27, 2021

New one-man play aims to dispel myths about the sexuality of the disabled by Celia Wren

Actor-playwright Ryan J. Haddad’s ‘Hi, Are You Single?’ streams via Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:42AM
Saturday, December 19, 2020

‘Dance in DC’ short films capture the city’s spirit of entrepreneurship by Celia Wren

Washington Performing Arts commissioned local dancer-choreographers to devise, and perform, dances customized for spaces at six area businesses.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:24AM
Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Rorschach Theatre gets the audience out of the house with ‘Distance Frequencies’ by Celia Wren

D.C. theater curates a months-long immersive experience that takes in the great outdoors.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 10:12AM
Wednesday, December 2, 2020

Alvin Ailey’s ‘Revelations’ has a place of honor in company’s first virtual season by Celia Wren

Troupe experiments with filming outdoors and creates “Testament,” an homage to the beloved 1960 work.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:54AM
Wednesday, November 18, 2020

A forgotten female Sherlock Holmes gets her due in this audio play (with physical clues) by Celia Wren

We Happy Few adapts tale of detective Loveday Brooke for home listening, with extras sent by mail.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 07:48AM
Wednesday, November 11, 2020

Why haven’t more people heard of playwright Adrienne Kennedy? Round House Theatre hopes to fix that problem. by Celia Wren

A month-long festival shines a spotlight on the writer of intense and often surreal dramas.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 11:06AM
Thursday, November 5, 2020

Audio adaptation of Beltway drama ‘Kings’ tantalizes but ultimately falls flat without a stage by Celia Wren

Sarah Burgess’s play registers as a tad blunt and obvious, qualities that might not have manifested in a live production.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 08:06AM
Monday, November 2, 2020

Tickets are limited and temperatures are taken, but indoor theater in D.C. is back by Celia Wren

GALA theater’s “The Dog in a Manger” is a comedy classic that flashes its teeth.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 02:06PM
Thursday, October 8, 2020

The audience helps decide the outcome in this Zoom play about immigration by Celia Wren

Round House Theatre hosts the opening stop of the “American Dreams” digital tour, through Oct. 11.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 01:48PM
Wednesday, October 7, 2020

At Woolly Mammoth, a ‘play’ you access only by telephone by Celia Wren

A collaboration with the Telephonic Literary Union, “Human Resources” is funny, biting — and yes, even poetic.

SOURCE: Washington Post at 09:18AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards