All stories by John Stoltenberg on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, April 27, 2022

Rep Stage looks at ‘Glass Menagerie’ through a mixed-race lens by John Stoltenberg

Director Joseph Ritsch and Dramaturg Khalid Long on how race, queerness, gender, and ability intersect in Tennessee Williams's classic.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:27AM
Sunday, April 17, 2022

Charming new play ‘Fiveplay’ depicts housemates with benefits by John Stoltenberg

From the Coil Project comes an inviting show of possibility for polyamorous playmaking.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 04:25PM

‘In sex we trust’ say the acrobats in ‘AirOtic Soirée’ by John Stoltenberg

Now performing in DC at Hook Hall is a sensual cabaret combining circus and burlesque. Is it theater? Let's see.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:29AM
Saturday, April 9, 2022

Oh what a gloriously edgy ‘Oklahoma!’ by John Stoltenberg

An iconoclastic take on the classic excites on tour at KenCen.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:55PM
Monday, April 4, 2022

A chillingly terrific ‘Twigs & Bone’ premieres at Nu Sass by John Stoltenberg

To the sound and lighting falls the task of making the gothic horror erupt — and by god do they deliver.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 04:39PM
Saturday, April 2, 2022

Ionesco’s ‘Rhinocéros!’ from Pointless actually has a point by John Stoltenberg

It prompts a provocative question: Just who are the rhinos today?

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:36AM
Sunday, March 27, 2022

A gripping and electric ‘Private’ astounds at Mosaic by John Stoltenberg

It’s as if the playwright has scripted the subtext of every relational betrayal and said all the quiet parts out loud.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:13PM
Saturday, March 19, 2022

ExPats’ outstanding ‘Christmas Eve’ is a present for all seasons by John Stoltenberg

The Austrian and German playwright, Daniel Kehlmann, calls his twisty script 'a play for two actors and a clock.' And it's right on time.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:41PM
Thursday, March 17, 2022

Our amazing afternoon at the multi-abled Omnium Circus by John Stoltenberg and Sophia Howes

Two DC theater critics take in the world's most inclusive circus and are blown away.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:46AM
Sunday, March 13, 2022

‘(y)Our Town’ at WIT has all the funny and all the feels by John Stoltenberg

In its twist on Thornton Wilder's 'Our Town,' Washington Improv Theater not only cracks jokes but cracks open the emotion in the moment.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:05AM
Monday, March 7, 2022

Mosaic launches its next chapter with powerful 2022/23 lineup by John Stoltenberg

The first season planned by new Artistic Director Reginald L. Douglas aims to spark conversation across DC around issues of and for the moment.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 09:27PM
Monday, February 28, 2022

Perisphere Theater opens a powerful and poetic ‘Blue Door’ by John Stoltenberg

A profoundly illuminating play about a Black man who lives in the glare of the white gaze.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:42AM
Wednesday, February 23, 2022

A gripping drama of love and blood pulses through ‘Phlebotimist’ at 1st Stage by John Stoltenberg

In a dystopian near future, a twentysomething romance heats up steadily alongside a chilling public health crisis.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:22AM
Sunday, February 13, 2022

Exegesis of a sexy Jesus: A look at love in ‘A.D. 16’ by John Stoltenberg

A magnificently entertaining and beautifully profound new musical has opened at Olney. Here's what love's got to do with it.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 11:27AM
Monday, February 7, 2022

A rap with RJ Brown, the slave player in ‘White Noise’ at Studio by John Stoltenberg

You cannot watch his performance in this shocking role without feeling agitated and aghast — and he was willing to talk about it.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 08:46PM
Wednesday, February 2, 2022

‘Compulsion’ at Theater J aches with memory of a harm beyond telling by John Stoltenberg

The teenage diarist Anne Frank appears as a puppet; an author tries to pull strings to stage her story.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:13PM
Tuesday, January 25, 2022

‘White Noise’ is a shock to the system in stunning staging at Studio by John Stoltenberg

It’s as if Suzan-Lori Parks scalds and skins the body politic in one fell swoop.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:55PM
Monday, December 20, 2021

‘A Strange Loop,’ a hit at Woolly, heads to Broadway by John Stoltenberg

Michael R. Jackson’s 'big, Black and queer-ass American Broadway show' will open in spring 2022 at the Lyceum Theatre.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:22PM

What’s ‘Once Upon a One More Time’ doing at the Shakespeare? by John Stoltenberg

There's got to be more to it than a cool chance to groove on the oeuvre of Britney Spears. | Column by JOHN STOLTENBERG

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:02AM
Sunday, December 5, 2021

‘A Strange Loop’ at Woolly Mammoth is a knockout smash by John Stoltenberg

Michael R. Jackson's Pulitzer Prize–winning musical sings of a singular poet’s journey from self-loathing to self-respect.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:52PM
Tuesday, October 26, 2021

A Q&A with Matthew Gardiner on his new gig at Sig by John Stoltenberg

"What is important in this moment for Signature," says its new artistic director, "is how we are creating a culture of consent going forward."

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 05:48AM
Wednesday, October 13, 2021

Spooky Action’s unrealistic ‘Realistic Joneses’ is a complete treat by John Stoltenberg

The text keeps us off-kilter in a way that tickles us silly even as a sobering undercurrent churns.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:40AM
Wednesday, September 8, 2021

‘Working’ rocks Black Lives Matter Plaza with a musical that matters by John Stoltenberg

A gutsy and gifted project called Working in DC puts on an ebullient show to remind us of the everyday dignity of work.

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 10:49AM
Sunday, June 6, 2021

Post-Play Palaver: A double take on ‘Blindness’ at STC by John Stoltenberg and Sophia Howes

Post-Play Palaver is an occasional series of conversations between DC Metro Theater Arts writers who saw the same performance, got really into talking about it, and decided to continue their…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 08:49PM
Saturday, May 15, 2021

Rep Stage radio play ‘Ghost/Writer’ is some mind-blowing writing by John Stoltenberg

Playwright Dane Figueroa Edidi mixes romance and vengeance and packs volumes of truth into stunning poetic dialog. The post Rep Stage radio play ‘Ghost/Writer’ is some mind-blowing writi…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 02:14PM
Sunday, May 9, 2021

Mike Daisey mansplains by John Stoltenberg

Men behaving badly is a masterplot in life and art as old as time, and Mike Daisey has given it a doozy of a twist. Not ten minutes into his one-night-only monologue Scott and Andy and All t…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 06:43PM
Saturday, April 3, 2021

The reopening long shot by John Stoltenberg and David Siegel

It’s been quite the terrifying year for us connected to the performing arts. An absolute scary time that began in mid-March 2020 as theaters went dark, lit only by their ghost lights. And …

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 01:43PM
Tuesday, March 30, 2021

Trans Lives and Theater as Change Agent: A Q&A with Dane Figueroa Edidi and Natsu Onoda Power by John Stoltenberg

In observance of the the 12th annual International Transgender Day of Visibility (March 31, 2021), we republish this in-depth conversation with two leading lights in DC-area theater. —John…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 07:55AM
Tuesday, January 12, 2021

Essential Theatre to mark MLK Jr. Day with Rosa Parks play by John Stoltenberg

In celebration of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday, The Essential Theatre  Performances in Cyberspace will present Rosa Parks: Such a Time. Written and performed by Gwendolyn Bri…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 03:22PM
Thursday, December 3, 2020

1st Stage joins nationwide reading of plays against gun violence Dec. 14 by John Stoltenberg

1st Stage is proud to be participating in the #ENOUGH: Plays to End Gun Violence project, working with visionary teenage playwrights across the country who have come together to speak out ag…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 07:17PM
Thursday, November 26, 2020

Studio’s new audio play is an anthem for a world on the brink by John Stoltenberg

As the world collectively plans to close the door (and maybe throw away the key?) on 2020, Studio Theatre offers a reflection on this complicated, unexpected, and consequential moment in h…

SOURCE: DC Metro Theater Arts at 12:28PM

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