The main character, prison parolee Jean Valjean, who is unable to find work after years in a labor camp, must steal in order to survive.  But his victim gives him a second chance when Valjean is caught by the police.  He takes the gift and changes his identify and his life.  Spending most of his life attempting to avoid being identified as to who he really is, he leads a life of the straight and narrow.

While Valjean is able to find redemption and becomes a productive and respected man, he must continue to hide his true identity. Especially when a new police inspector, his old prison guard, comes to the town where Valjean has risen to become mayor and a wealthy business owner.  Yet the ruthless and single-minded police inspector is determined to discover Valjean’s true identity and return him to prison.

Valjean also must shield his adopted daughter Cosette, from the world of crime and French revolution, while she falls in love with a young revolutionary.

The production of Les Mis at Signature Theatre in suburban Arlington, Virginia, is led by Greg Stone, from the national touring company in the lead role of Jean Valjean.  Tom Zemon, is a believably wicked and powerful Police Inspector Javert.  And Felicia Curry (who has incidentally performed with DC’s Capitol Steps) delivers the most powerful singing of the performance, as the unnoticed and hopelessly in love Eponine. Although not all the voices of some of the lead characters were consistently strong, the ensemble delivered a powerful singular voice.

The production boasts a cast of 30 actors and incorporate over 100 stylishly dramatic costumes.  Some of the most elaborate and stunning lighting and effectively unique barricades as part of the environmental staging , made up of scrap metal, makes for a production that thrusts the action into the audience’s seats. 

The seating is three-quarter in the round with the actors also entering and exiting the stage between rows of seats, making the production significantly more intimate.

The 14-piece live orchestra playing the Broadway score is a strong addition, but at times so loud, it was hard to hear the words of some of the songs.

Les Misérables
Signature Theatre
MAX Theatre
4200 Campbell Avenue, in Shirlington Village, just off I-395
Arlington, Virginia  22206 (map it)

Dates and Times – Tuesdays – Sundays, December 2, 2008 – February 22, 2009. Matinees on weekends. And make sure you arrive on time, as late-comers wait until the first production break to be seated (a GREAT policy).

Tickets – $65.00 to $87.00, and are available online or by phone at 703-573-7328. Try for seats in the middle section, if available.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow lines, then a $7.00 – $8.00 taxi ride.  Look for a cab in front of the Ritz Carlton Hotel.

Parking – Two free parking garages are located across the street and behind the theatre.

Images – courtesy of Signature Theatre – Photos by Scott Suchman _________________________________________________

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American Dance Institute’s Youth Ensemble will perform a shorter version, just an hour long, of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker.

Children an experience the magic of the story and dance in  less intimidating setting and more relaxed environment.

The performances will be held in the intimate 140-seat world-class facility, where children can get a close up view of the performance by ADI students and instructors.

The Nutcracker
The American Dance Institute
1570 E, Jefferson Street
Rockville, Maryland  20852 (map it)
301-984-3003

Dates and Times – Saturday and Sunday, December 20 and 21, 2008, at 3:00 p.m. or 7:30 p.m.

Tickets – Adults – $20.00, Seniors and children 12 and under -$10.00. Contact the Institute at tickets@americandance.org or by phone at 301-984-3003

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Twinbrook Station – Red line, then a 10 minute walk, or take the Ride On #26 bus Glenmont – Montgomery Mall. 

Parking – Free

Image – Flickr
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Combining the Victorian charm, old world scenery and dazzling costumes of battling soldiers, pesky mice, snow-flake ballerinas, holiday party-goers and costumed dancers from around the globe, it’s sure to put anyone in to the holiday spirit.

I would recommend this performance over the Washington Ballet’s production of the same.

The Joffrey Ballet: The Nutcracker  
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
Opera House
2700 F Street, NW
Washington DC. 20566 (map it)

Dates and Times – Thursday – Sunday, December 11-14, 2008.

Tickets – $47.00 – $150.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom/George Washington University (23rd and I St.) – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

To avoid the walk from the Metro station, ride the free Kennedy Center shuttle that runs every 15 minutes Monday – Friday from 9:45 a.m.- Midnight, Saturdays 10:00 a.m.- Midnight, and from Noon – Midnight on Sundays.

Parking - limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $17.00.

Images – Giselle, Russian production of Giselle, both – public domain ________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

With the help of a law school professor, a beauty parlor confident and interactions with classmates, makes her realize that her idea of the perfect husband, is not what she wants.

The Broadway production of Legally Blonde grossed over $1 million and was nominated seven Tony Awards.

Legally Blonde the Musical
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts 
Opera House 
2700 F Street, NW
Washington, DC  20566 (map it)
202-467-4600

Date and Time – Tuesday, December 16 through Sunday, January 11, 2008.

Tickets – $25.00 – $95.00 and are available online.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Foggy Bottom/George Washington University station (23rd and I St.) – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.  Take Metro and use the free Kennedy Center shuttle on Saturday. It runs 10:00 a.m. – Midnight.

Parking - limited parking is available at the Kennedy Center for $17.00.

Image – Flickr – poster, ________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

With the familiar musical score by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim and songs such as "America," "Maria," and "I Feel Pretty", adds to the story on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

The production coming to the National Theater in Washington, DC starting December 15th should be a wonderful production of song and dance.

“America”, From the film West Side Story.

West Side Story
National Theatre
1321 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, DC  (map it)
202-783-3372

Dates and Times – December 15, 2008 – January 17, 2009.

Tickets – $46.00- $96.00 and are available online or by phone at 800-432-7250.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Metro Center – Blue, Orange or Red lines, or Federal Triangle – Blue and Orange lines, then a 3-block walk.

Parking – Paid garage and limited metered street parking is available. ___________________________________________________

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The Elephant Deal explorers the gap between military life and civilian life in the United States. Taken from Man Equals Man and The Elephant Calf, it explores how the common man is transformed though the breaking and recreating of the recruit, from a civilian into the perfect fighting machine.

500 Clown and The Elephant Deal
Ina and Jack Kay Theater
University of Maryland
Route 193 (University Blvd.) and Stadium Drive (next to the football stadium)
College Park, Maryland  (map it)

Dates and Times – Thursday – Sunday, December 11-14, 2008 at 8:00 p.m., except Sat. and Sun. at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets – $35.00, Seniors – $32.00, students with ID – $7.00 and are available online or by phone at 301-405-2787.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – College Park-University of Maryland – Green line, then a 2-mile cab ride. The theater can call a cab for you to get back to the Metro.

Parking – Garage parking across for the theater is $5.00.

Image – Flickr – 500 Clown
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Post from: The DC Traveler

Four years later, WGN-TV in Chicago, broadcast a 3-minute holiday short, that brought Frosty the Snowman to life.

In 1969, a 30-minute television cartoon was broadcast and is today, an annual holiday classic.

Adventure Theater in suburban Glen Echo, Maryland bring to live the story of how the mischievous Frosty comes to life, thanks to a magical top het, and quickly becomes everyone’s favorite snowman.

Adventure Theatre
Glen Echo Park 
7300 MacArthur Blvd.
Glen Echo, MD 20812  (map it)

Dates and Times - December 5, 2008 through January 4, 2009.
Saturdays at 11:00 a.m., 1:30 and & 4:00 p.m., Sundays at 1:30, additional afternoon performances on December 26, 29, 30, and January 2 and 7:00 p.m evening performances on December 5, 16, 17, 18,19, and 23.

Tickets – Adults – $15.00, children 12 & under – $12.00 and are available online.  this is an all ages shop.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Bethesda – Red line, then a 3-mile taxi ride.

Parking – Free parking is available in the park’s lot at MacArthur Blvd and Oxford Road. The theater is a short 5-10 minute walk though the park.

CLICK READ MORE BELOW TO READ TO WORDS TO “FROSTY”

Image – Flickr – Frosty

Frosty the Snowman

Frosty the snowman was a jolly happy soul,
With a corncob pipe and a button nose,
And two eyes made out of coal.

Frosty the snowman is a fairy tale, they say,
He was made of snow but the children
know how he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that
Old silk hat they found.
For when they placed it on his head,
He began to dance around.

Oh, Frosty the snowman
Was alive as he could be,
And the children say he could laugh
And play just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow.

Frosty the snowman knew
The sun was hot that day,
So he said, ‘Let’s run and
we’ll have some fun
now before I melt away.’

Down to the village,
With a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there all
Around the square saying,
Catch me if you can.

He led them down the streets of town
Right to the traffic cop.
And he only paused a moment when
He heard him holler ‘Stop!’

For Frosty the snowman
Had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye saying,
‘Don’t you cry,
I’ll be back again some day.’

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump thump,
Thumpety thump thump,
Over the hills of snow. _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

They may be a bit dangerous and tied into the world of crime, but they both desire to keep their promises to their families and loved ones, to walk the straight and narrow. 

But one of the men desperately needs cash to send his child on  school soccer trip, so there’s a decision, should we risk it all again for one last heist….

This, at times, comic drama is based on interviews with real Irish men who were fighting to break out of lives of crime and their resulting incarnation. 

The story can be a bit disjointed at times, especially with one performer playing 5 different roles, out of the 7 characters in total.  While adding props and some scenery would add much to the show, strong and emotional performances, especially by Eric Lucas (Gary), make this an interesting, one act, 85-minute performance.

Love, Peace and Robbery
Theatre on the Run, presented by the Keegan Theatre
3700 S. Four Mile Run
Arlington, Virginia
703-892-0202 (map it)

Dates and Times – November 28 – December 21, 2008. Thursdays-Saturdays at 8:00 p.m., Sunday matinees at 3:00 p.m.

Tickets – $30.00, students with ID and Seniors – $25.00 and are available by e-mail at boxoffice@keegantheatre.com or by calling 703-892-0202, Ext. 2.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Pentagon City – Blue and Yellow lines, then a 3-mile taxi ride.

Parking – Free lot and some on street parking is available.

Image – Flickr – View from a prison in Cork
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Post from: The DC Traveler

As part of a 23 city national tour, the Rockettes, dressed in their famous Babes in Toyland outfits, will delight audiences with their precision chorus line dancing and signature high kicks.

I saw the Rockettes’ show in New York City a few years ago and it is a fun performance.

Radio City Christmas Spectacular
1st Mariner Arena
201 W Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland  (map it)

Dates and Times – December 2 – 7, 2008, different show times depending on the day of the week.

Tickets – $29.00, $59.00 and $79.00 and are available online.

Parking – Paid parking is available.

Images – Flickr – saluting  _________________________________________________

Post from: The DC Traveler

Enjoy as Alice partakes in a race where everyone wins, a mad tea party, stolen tarts and her dream-filled escape to a strange land of amazing creatures, including the Madd Hatter, King and Queen of Hearts and the grinning Cheshire Cat.

The World Premiere of Alice, at Round House Theatre in suburban Bethesda, blends the childlike fantasy with a wildly imaginative theatrical experience that should delight both children and adults alike. 

Alice
Round House Theatre
4545 East West Highway
Bethesda, MD 20814 (map it)

Dates and Times – Wednesdays – Sundays, November 26 – December 28, 2008.

Tickets – $50.00 – $60.00 and are available online.  Appropriate for children 6 and up.

Nearest Metro Subway Station – Bethesda, Red line, then a 1-block walk.

Parking – Paid parking ($4.00) in the attended underground garage across the street from the theatre. Entrance is on Waverly Street.

Image – Alice – public domain
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Post from: The DC Traveler