Onstage DMV

Mark catches up with Jessica Crouch, who's starring in Mamma Mia, now playing the National Theatre. After that he sits down with Vanessa Severo, the playwright and actress responsible for the current hit at STC's Klein Theatre, Frida..a Self Portrait, all about the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.

It's a triple play this month as Mark sits down with theatre makers at work on some of the Fall's new productions. DC director and playwright Pslmayene 24 talks about his adaptation of Shakespeare's serious comedy MEASURE FOR MEASURE at the Folger. Befor that visit, Nastasia Diaz joins the podcast to discuss her key role in Mosaic's production of SOMEWHERE OVER THE BORDER at the Atlas. And we start things off chatting with Spooking Action Artistic Director Elizabeth Dinkova about their new take on the Scheherade legend HAKAWATIS.

Two interviews this week: first up, Mark meets Jakari Sherman, the talented director/choreographer of Step Afrika's brand new work The Fruits of Our Labor coming to Arena Stage. Then it's off to suburban Olney for a visit with Haillie Gordon, Senior Artistic Associate Director, to talk about their newly renovated theater and the 2026-27 season to come.

Mark sits down with leaders of three of the DMVs important mid-size theaters-- Alexis Hartwick, Heather Lanza and Alex Levy-- to talk about the role they play in the DC theater community and their upcoming seasons.

Mark joins director/playwright Janet Stanford and actors Chelsea Majors and Carl L. Williams to celebrate Adventure MTC's 75th anniversary with its current production SLEEPING BEAUTY: THE TIME TRAVELER now thru August 23. First up, though, we head over to Arena Stage for the pre-Broadway musical CRAZY SEXY COOL The TLC Musical (now thru August 9) and a chat with the show's executive producer Steve Gabriel.

Mark talks to Steph Del Rosso and Jaki Bradley, playwright and director respectively, about their new play PRECARIOUS. Mosaic Theatre presents its world premier this month at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

Mark meets Eli Bauman, composer-lyricist-director and co-producer of the musical comedy hit 44: THE MUSICAL, a loving look back at the Obama presidency, now at STC's Klein Theatre in Penn Quarter. Then it's off to Shirlington to visit cast and creatives preparing for Signature's season finale, a new production of Stephen Schwartz's first Broadway musical PIPPIN.

Mark visits Imagination Stage, the innovative Theatre for Young Audiences in Bethesda, to talk about plays for the Very Young with Kathryn Chase Bryer and Doug Robinson, director and playwright respectively, of Imagination Stage's brand new play Good Morning Good Night, now thru April 19.

Mark travels to STC to talk Samuel Beckett with the Tony Award winning actor who's made the Irish playwright his personal cause celebre. Starring in a one man show at STC's Klein Theatre this month, Irwin waxes enthusiastic about Beckett's body of work, including reflections on performing Waiting for Godot.

Mark visits Woolly Mammoth to talk about a new play co-produced by Woolly and Theatre J with playwright Ali Viterbi and director (and Woolly Mammoth co-founder) Howard Shalwitz.

Mark heads over to the Signature Theatre in Shirlington to talk with the theater artists behind two musicals. First up, we meet the creative team behind the new one woman show IN CLAY. Following that, Tevye, Golde and Yente talk about life in Anatevka performed in the round at Signature's esteemed revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF.

Mark travels to the STC rehearsal studios in Eastern Market to talk about Shakespeare Theatre Company's new production of GUYS AND DOLLS with ensemble member Katherine Riddle and dance captain Jack Sippel. The Frank Loesser musical plays Harman Hall now thru Jan 4.

Mark joins DC theater writers Jordan Wright, Dex Kinsman and Nicole Hertvik to talk about the 2025-26 DMV theater season-- what we've liked, what we're looking forward to and a whole lot more talk about theater.

Mark checks into the Folger Shakespeare Library to interview director Nicole Brewer and actor Nikkole Salter about multi-hyphenate Al Letson's exploration of jealousy and betrayal, among other themes, in his new play JULIUS X. The Bard's TRAGEDY OF JULIUS CAESAR and the life of Malcolm X figure prominently in the piece, playing now thru October 26 at the Library's Theater on Capitol Hill.

Mark travels to Bethesda to talk to actors Jonathan Atkinson, Cole Sitilides and Dylan Toms during a break from their rehearsals for the DMV premier of the Tony and Olivier Award winning play THE INHERITANCE by Matthew Lopez. The two-part tour de force plays now thru October 19 at Round House Theatre.

Mark welcomes Ben Thys, who plays Draco Malfoy in the national touring production of HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD now playing at the National Theatre. Then it's off to Woolly Mammoth, where Amy Austin, CEO of Theatre Washington, talks about the Helen Hayes Awards with Constellation Theatre artistic director Allison Stockman and actress Renea S. Brown, both past winners.

Cast members Rebecca Madeira and Jayke Workman talk about the new musical A WRINKLE IN TIME now thru July 20 at Arena Stage and what it's like to work on a new show compared to the classics they've done throughout their careers.

Mark visits the Keegan Theatre to interview the cast and creatives behind the revival of William Finn's Broadway musical FALSETTOS, onstage in honor of Pride Month. Music Director Elisa Rosman joins John Loughney (Marvin) and Katie Mc Manus (Trina) to talk about the show; director/choreographer Kurt Boehm squeezes in for more insights on this funny, touching piece.

Two interview segments this month! Washington National Opera Artistic Director Francesca Zambello talks about her upcoming production of PORGY AND BESS at the Kennedy Center. Then we're joined by Mei Ann Teo, director, and Lilli Hokama and Alyssa Keegan, stars of Folger Theatre's new production of TWELFTH NIGHT, to discuss one of the Bard's most popular comedies and its relevance today, five hundred years after it opened..

Theater Alliance artistic director Shanara Gabrielle and Hot House New Play coordinator Aria Velz join Mark to discuss TA's current production of AMERICAN FAST, now thru April 13; and the upcoming New Play Block Party April 25-26 in Southwest DC's up and coming theater district. Now ensconced in a pop up space around the corner from Arena Stage, Shanara shares her hopes and dreams for the neighborhood's burgeoning arts scene.