The DC Traveler

A young, innocent and beautiful peasant girl, falls in love with the handsome nobleman, she believes is just a peasant like her.
When she discovers his deceit and that he is betrothed to the daughter of the prince, she is driven mad and dies of a broken heart after her discovering the truth.
She later comes back to protect her former lover by helping him survive the evil spell cast on him by wicked ghosts.
The production of Giselle by the San Francisco ballet is complete with lavish sets and costumes, classic music and world-class dancers that set the standard for romantic …read more

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The night before the Washington, DC opening Cirque du Soleil KOOZA, I had the opportunity to visit the backstage warm-up and rehearsal area and meet one of the artists.
The atmosphere the afternoon before opening night was surprisingly relaxed. As when I entered the tent, a group of about 20 of artists involved with KOOZA, were all casually sitting on the floor chatting, laughing and joking around. The scene seemed similar to what you might find at any college dorm or student center with young people just hanging out and talking.
But all that changed a few minutes later when the …read more

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The children’s musical, Miss Nelson is Missing, is based on the children’s book by Harry Allard and James Marshall (The Stupids, George and Martha series). 
In a play perfect for children ages 4 and up, Imagination Stage brings back this musical comedy about the “worst behaved class in whole school” – the fifth graders of Room 207 at Horace B. Smedley Elementary School.
The unruly and spitball shooting students are so bad, even during story time, that their behavior drives their beloved and sweet Miss Nelson away. The next day, the appearance of the dreaded and not-so-sweet substitute, Miss Viola Swamp, …read more

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Boom, the Twilight Zone-meet-sitcom end of civilization play now playing at Woolly Mammoth Theater in Washington, DC, tells the story of Peter, a student who simply wanted to study theatre. Yet during his second year, his wise advisor warned him against becoming a playwright, due to the low earnings potential of that type of career.
So deciding to be safe, he selected a second major, marine biology, based on his love of scuba diving .  And that’s where the two subjects started their collision course, and a discovery of the cycle that eventually kill all living things on the planet. …read more

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One of my favorite Washington, DC theaters, Arena Stage, is offerings a special deal for one day only — Tickets to 7 upcoming show for only $25.00 per ticket.
Starting midnight Thursday, Nov. 13 through midnight Friday, Nov. 14, 2008, ALL TICKETS for only $25.00 each for the remaining 7 plays in the season will be available .
Tickets are available for the first week of performances only, so act fast. These tickets offer theater-goers up to 60% off standard Arena Stage ticket prices. 
Performances:

Next to Normal, November 21 – 28, 2008
I Love a Piano, January 29 – February 4, 2009
A …read more

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In 1977, five years after the Watergate break in scandal and after President Richard Nixon’s resignation, legendary political interviewer David Frost sat down with Nixon for a series of interviews.
These lengthy and historical interviews, the first since Nixon’s resignation in 1974, aired on television and showed Nixon, speaking at length about his presidency and literally taking over the interview, often not allowing Frost to effectively ask questions.
During the interviews, he did admit for the first time, an apology, stating he had “let the American people down” through his part in the Watergate burglary and cover-up.
The Tony Award nominated play, …read more

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Lasts night, I  saw one the most unique, powerful and raw dance performances I’ve seen in years.
I normally don’t write a review of a performance that has just two shows, the second being tonight, but David Dorfman Dance’s Underground was 60 minutes of intense, raw energy and primal passion intermingled with question about our existence and how, we as humans, interact with our fellow man. 
Would you kill another human?  Would you kill another human for your country? Would you kill another human to save your family? These are a few of the questions asked in this multimedia dance …read more

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Here’s an interesting FREE symposium on Monday for musical theater lovers…Where are you taking me?: What’s next in musical theater?
This free, day-long symposium with musical theater practitioners from both DC theaters (Signature Theatre, Arena Stage) and from around the country, will participate in a day long event, that lets the theater-going public the opportunity for a behind the scenes trends, strategies and challenges of creating and producing a new musical play.
The symposium includes:

Roundtable discussions of trends, challenges and best practices in developing new American musicals – 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Performance of  over ten songs from up-and-coming musicals currently …read more

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Former punk rock icon and hardcore Black Flag front man, Henry Rollins is hitting the road with a his new election-time ‘Recountdown Tour’ talking tour.
You’ll be sure to hear lots of Bush bashing, anti-war, anti-establishment, anti-government, and straight talking (and at times angry) social commentary on subjects ranging from music and culture to society and celebrities.
The host of the IFC one-on-one interview program The Henry Rollins Show, Henry grew up in Washington, DC where he sang for a couple punk bands, before joining Black Flag. He was considered one of the most intense and aggressive punk performers on the scene.  …read more

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Cirque du Soleil’s KOOZA opened last night under the yellow and blue Grand Chapiteau at National Harbor in Washington, DC.
The only word to describe KOOZA is… AMAZING!!!
I’ve seen several Cirque du Soleil productions and KOOZA was by far, the most physical, high-energy and awe inspiring show of all. 
The audience’s reaction to the gravity defying, body contorting, magical balancing, and fearless performances resulted in at not several, but many moments during the show, of audible group gasps, screams and shrieks. The story, led by a team of very funny clowns made for a slap-stick, …read more

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