All stories by Mary Ann Johnson on BroadwayStars

Monday, July 6, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Les Blancs,’ brought to streaming by the National Theatre, England by Mary Ann Johnson

This filmed play is an enhanced archive recording from 2016 and features the original English cast. This is an incredibly thoughtful and anguished work and brilliantly produced. . . . It is …

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 01:00PM
Tuesday, June 30, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Mercury,’ streaming from Rorschach Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

For a show set entirely in a small, out-of-the-way girls’ bathroom in a high school, this was a show that was surprisingly big. It was big in ideas and concepts. As a very nice touch, pre-…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:36AM
Monday, June 29, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Inheritance’ by Maryland Ensemble Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

This was a brisk, mildly diverting new play reading in three acts presented by Maryland Theatre Ensemble. The structure lent itself to elliptical story-telling as it is comprised of three mo…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:53AM
Thursday, June 25, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘STC’s 34th Mock Trial,’ on Vimeo by Shakespeare Theatre Company by Mary Ann Johnson

One judge wore a cream bathrobe with “JUDGE” embroidered on the chest. One wore her robes and looked quite serious. One cracked herself up at one point with her pun (to be fair, everyone…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 10:19PM
Monday, June 22, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Transferal,’ brought to streaming by Spooky Action Theater on Sunday, June 21 at 3:00 p.m. by Mary Ann Johnson

‘Transferal’ by Jack Novak was the last in Spook Action’s New Works in Action that was presented for the last month or so on-line on their YouTube channel. Fittingly, it was about lett…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 05:37PM
Thursday, June 18, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Circular,’ streamed by Spooky Action Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

‘Circular’ is a two-hander, ably acted via Zoom by Lisa Hodsoll and Jonathan Holmes. It clocks in at a brisk one hour and 35 minutes, which is no small feat with a story that begins with…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 02:24PM
Thursday, June 4, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘We Victorians,’ streaming by Spooky Action Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

This is a big play about lots of big ideas – lots of big ideas. Having had a taste of Matthew Cole Kelly’s talent I would say that I look forward to seeing this play developed further �…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 06:36PM
Sunday, May 31, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Shattered Space,’ brought to streaming by the Scattered Players by Mary Ann Johnson

Scattered Players, a new, virtually-formed theatre company, presented its first preview for ‘Shattered Space’ on Saturday night, May 30. This is an immersive, participatory style of thea…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 02:29PM
Tuesday, May 26, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Moderation,’ part of the ‘New Works in Action’ series streaming by Spooky Action Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

“Moderation” is a psychological thriller by Kevin Kautzman. Since Spooky Action can’t present live readings, they are producing them via their YouTube channel. This is a fun way to spe…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 03:32PM
Saturday, May 16, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Barber Shop Chronicles,’ streaming from the National Theatre and Leeds Playhouse by Mary Ann Johnson

‘Barber Shop Chronicles’ is the show we need right now—it pulls you in so sharply and you care so much about the characters you can completely forget about the mundane world around you…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 05:38PM
Sunday, May 3, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘What Do We Need To Talk About? Conservations on Zoom’ by Public Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

This was simply lovely. The Apple family is back, having a Zoon conversation in the time of COVID-19. They’re older, feeling their mortality, and making plans for the future. They’re fra…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 03:47PM
Monday, March 16, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘The Realistic Joneses’ at Spooky Action Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

People can be fragile. Marriages can be fragile. Life is fragile. These are the themes of this multi-layered lovely little work about two couples who happen to be named Jones. One couple are…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 07:36PM
Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Head Over Heels’ at Monumental Theatre Company by Mary Ann Johnson

This is one of the most exuberant, silly, funny and irreverent jukebox musicals I have ever seen. Just like “Mamma Mia” or “Xanadu” or any of a number of jukebox musicals, the book b…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 07:38PM
Tuesday, March 3, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Suddenly, Last Summer,’ and pre-show play, ‘Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen,’ Avant Bard Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

Both are lyrical plays, both are written by Tennessee Williams, although one is a rarely-produced, short fever dream and the other a study in more than just dysfunctional families; it’s a …

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 08:52PM
Monday, March 2, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes’ at Signature Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

Family ties can be hard, even as an adult. And when the adult child comes fleeing home after some unwise choices, they can be even harder. And when you add in a couple of other young lost so…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 09:57PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Weep’ at Nu Sass Productions by Mary Ann Johnson

“Weep” by Amanda Zeitler is the final iteration of La Llorona produced at the Capital Fringe in 2014 when she was still an MFA in playwrighting graduate student at Catholic University. B…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 08:10PM
Tuesday, February 18, 2020

Theatre review: ‘Shipwreck, A History Play About 2017,’ Woolly Mammoth by Mary Ann Johnson

‘Shipwreck’ is a big play—big on ideas, big in its exploration of people’s expectations and view of themselves versus reality, hellbent on exploring the divide in America with the el…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 08:37PM
Monday, February 17, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Paint’ and ‘Cats & Kings,’ Two One-Act Plays at American University by Mary Ann Johnson

Matthew Senie, a recent graduate of American University’s MA program in philosophy, showcased two of his plays, running in reparatory this past weekend. While outwardly dissimilar, both de…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 07:53PM
Monday, February 10, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘A Daughter’s A Daughter’ at Arlington Players by Mary Ann Johnson

“A Daughter’s A Daughter” is one of the most meh titles I have ever read, and this confused play by Agatha Christie written under the pseudonym of Mary Westmacott in the 1930s, put on …

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 09:36PM
Tuesday, February 4, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘The Royale’ at 1st Stage by Mary Ann Johnson

Go. See. This. Show. That is all. This is a must-see production. The strength of the script transcends the boxing world to encompass a world of bigotry and hatred where humans are denied bei…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:42PM

Theatre Review: ‘Venus in Fur’ at Providence Players of Fairfax by Mary Ann Johnson

“Venus in Fur” is a bold, riveting exploration of more than just sexuality—it’s about the exchanges of power between people and the lies we tell ourselves and others. It’s about st…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:29PM

Theatre Review: ‘Comedy of Venice’ at Best Medicine Rep Theater by Mary Ann Johnson

“Comedy of Venice” is a mildly diverting amusing pastiche of an old art form—the Commedia dell’ Arte. Focusing on two rivals for the hearts of Venetian playgoers, Carlo Goldoni (John…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:12PM
Thursday, January 30, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Silent Sky’ at Ford’s Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

Henrietta Leavitt and her glass-ceiling-shattering compatriots, Annie Canon and Williamina Fleming, are the subject of Lauren Gunderson’s 2011 play, “Silent Sky” which covers about 20 …

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 06:08PM
Monday, January 27, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Bloomsday,’ Washington Stage Guild by Mary Ann Johnson

What would you do if you could go back in time and observe and interact with your younger self? If you knew how things were going to turn out? But yet you didn’t know how things might have…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 07:22PM
Tuesday, January 21, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Move Over, Mrs. Markham’ at Port Tobacco Players by Mary Ann Johnson

“Move Over, Mrs. Markham” is a sprightly way to segue into the new year and beat back some of the doldrums of January and February. . . . the Port Tobacco Players have created a zesty, t…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 04:02PM
Saturday, January 18, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘Sheltered’ at Theater J by Mary Ann Johnson

“Sheltered,” like “The Children” currently playing in Annapolis, asks some very important questions regarding what do we as a society owe to the next generation? This play goes a ste…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 01:49PM
Tuesday, January 14, 2020

Theatre Review: ‘The Children’ at Colonial Players of Annapolis by Mary Ann Johnson

“The Children” is one of the most thought-provoking, humorous and heart-wrenching stories I’ve seen in quite a while. The writing is brilliant, and the story is timeless. This is a pro…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 08:12PM
Friday, January 10, 2020

Cabaret Review: ‘Passport to the World of Music’ Danielle Wertz Cabaret by Creative Cauldron by Mary Ann Johnson

Creative Cauldron kicked off the 2020 “Passport to the World of Music” cabarets with a breezy, relaxing jazz show by San Francisco Bay Area-based jazz vocalist and arranger Danielle Wert…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:52AM
Sunday, December 15, 2019

Theatre Review: ‘Acuña, Acuna’ at Washington Improv Theatre, Source Theatre by Mary Ann Johnson

Erick Acuña is a Peruvian comedian living and working in Washington, DC. He presents a series of gently amusing monologues taken from his life as a Latino immigrant. Skits include filling o…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 06:28PM
Thursday, December 12, 2019

Theatre Review: ‘I Take Your Hand in Mine’ at Taffety Punk Theatre Company, with The Chekhov Collective, and Theatrus. by Mary Ann Johnson

Prepare to fall in love—with words, with writing, with creating, with art, with theatre, and with Anton Chekhov and Olga Knipper. This beautiful work is based on the 412 letters that the t…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 11:45PM
Tuesday, December 10, 2019

Theatre Review: ‘The Infinite Tales’ at 4615 Theatre Company by Mary Ann Johnson

Adapted and directed by Gregory Keng Strasser, “The Infinite Tales” at 4615 Theatre Company covers three of the four major periods recognized in Irish mythology. In this production, we h…

SOURCE: mdtheatreguide.com at 09:58PM

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