Reston's got a "Newsie" hit in Tysons!

The cast in Reston Community Players' Newsies, now at Capital One, Tysons/Heather Regan Photography

Some of the shows are already sold out which is easy to understand since I came away awestruck by the enormous talent of local teens starring in Reston Community Players' new musical, Newsies.

It's fun, it's delightful and solid entertainment at the Black Box Theatre at Capital One, Tysons.

Newsies has a huge cast, all who shine and capture us for more than two hours in a story based on the true newsboys' strike against the greedy Joseph Pulitzer when he tried to exact more money from the poor boys way back in 1899.

Led by "Jack Kelly" (Kyler Neville), the "boys" (and girls) dance and prance around the stage all night amidst scaffolding which triples and quadruples in set roles, including an escape from thugs, led by one bad boy, named, what else? "Mr. Snyder" (Anoushka Sharma).

Snyder leads the chase for the evil and conniving Mr. Pulitzer, one of my favorites of the night, exquisitely portrayed by Haydyn Dollery who can command a city, mind you, with his haughty demeanor and steely confidence, girded by a tall black hat and intimidating black suit.

In Pulitzer's first scene, an impish, silent barber, Nunzio (Allie Blanchet) tries to cut the hair of the newspaper publisher while he's seated at his desk and then stands, all the while yapping, yapping, yapping, followed by Blanchet who follows him around from desk to standing and back again, flopping back and forth from one of the publisher's arms to the other in an hilarious scene which also featured an impromptu hair balancing act by "Hannah" (Hadley Smith), who never seemed a trifle amiss that her hair was a muss.

Another of my favorite characters was Ms. Medda Larkin (Caitlyn Quigley) in colorful, flashy garb who makes several appearances "va-va voom!" a friend of the newsboys, and quite willing to hide them in her "venue."

Jane Keifer is "Les," a pesty newsboy who hops around non-stop with funny lines and antics. Elizabeth Cha is a lead dancer with plenty of energy to deliver "paps" 24 hours a day!

What would a show be without romance and sex? Not a good one, and sparks ignite early on between the melancholic Mr. Kelly and an initially mousy woman, "Katherine Plumber" (Gwendolyn Ihdt), who undergoes a blossoming transition when love strikes!

Costumer Lori Crockett and her assistants, Lisa Leary and Jackie Tidball, have delivered a splendid assortment of apparel for the cast, all decked out in period clothing of caps, suspenders, vests, trousers, and ascots (a time or two).

The choreography, duets, quartets and ensemble singing were outstanding, and it doesn't matter that the songs are not familiar; they grow on you.

Like the taped music which seems very present.

The fight scenes (by Ian Claar, choreographer) were almost too realistic, the effects heightened by Richard Bird's sound, causing me to wince more than once at the "blows."

Based on the 1992 Disney film, the show was a bit of a dud when it first screened, but over time,gained cult status on home video and was adapted for the stage 20 years later.

On Broadway, Newsies ran about two years and was nominated for eight Tony Awards in 2012, winning Best Choreography and Best Original Score.

The actors and seven apprentice technicians are part of RCP's new apprentice program from New York, which "includes pre-professional performance and technical opportunities for students ages 13 to 18, providing them with exposure to the process of building a theatrical production from the ground up," according to a RCP press release.

Kate Keifer, RCP’s president and Newsies' hair and makeup designer, expounds:

"The ability for our young performers to work with professional teaching artists from New York City and to perform at a brand new venue like Capital One Hall is a one of a kind experience. We aim to give each participant in our program a 360 degree view of everything that goes into mounting a theatrical production as they gain in depth knowledge in the areas of stage craft, theatrical design and production elements.”

With an upbeat message, Newsies will put some pep in your step to enjoy another day. After all, carpe diem!

The cast includes James Abidin, Bryson Begg, Henry Carter, Kidlat Keen Gant, Mayumi Raine Gant, Jahlil Greene, Ela Howard, Danielle Kessler, Mikayla Kirr, Josh Lewis, Myriah Miller, Sydney Schneider, Wyatt Unrue, Lana Vittor, Alexis West, and Elizabeth Wolfert.

Apprentice production members are William Daly, Caroline Firestone, Jaeden Kunkel, Rae Palma-Rivas, Kyle Ratner, Anna Schoenborn, and Morgan Weis.

RCP’s production of Newsies is directed and choreographed by Alisa Claire and Brian Collier, visiting teaching artists from NYC’s The LMproject.

Other members of the production team: Merissa Driscoll, musical director; Dan Widerski, technical director and set designer, assisted by Anna Mintz; Mary Jo Ford, properties and company manager; Franklin Coleman, lighting; Jack Rollins, stage manager and Dom Monette, assistant.

Newsies' music by Alan Menken; lyrics, Jack Feldman; book by Harvey Fierstein.


What: Newsies

When: 2 p.m, Sundays, July 10 and 17; 7 p.m. July 15 and 16, Friday and Saturday

Where: Black Box Theatre ("The Vault"), Capital One Hall, 7750 Capital One Tower Rd, Tysons, VA 22102

Tickets: $20 each

Masks: Required

Parking: Pay to park at Capital One. Get two hours free with validation at Wegman's (no purchase necessary) inside the center, and $2/hour thereafter.

Reston Community Players receives funding from ArtsFairfax, Virginia Commission for the Arts, and National Endowment for the Arts.

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Reston's 'Delightful Quarantine' is just that

L-R, Anthony Pohl is "Tug Goff," Liz Weber is "Mavis," and Kim Thornley is "Violet" in Reston Community Players' A Delightful Quarantine/Heather Regen Photography  
 

Attention, Theatregoers:   This one I could see again!  There aren't many shows I can write that about, but Reston Community Players' A Delightful Quarantine is so much fun.

What's to say that all quarantines are bad?  

Not necessarily so in  Susqua Creek Acres, Pennsylvania where some "extra-terrestrials" have landed and it's  immediate confinement to whatever house you're in!  

Head for the doors! 

Liz Shaher's surround sirens ignite the show and away we go!

Charlene Sloan is "Shirley" and Kevin Dykstra is "Roy" in Reston Community Players' A Delightful Quarantine/Heather Regen Photography

It's an hilarious romp with a huge cast (I love 'em), multiple scenes (ditto), many costume changes (yes!) and just about everything one could want in a stage show.

Director Liz Mykietyn writes in program notes that she found the play by Mark Dunn 15 years ago, but it took 10 years to convince anyone to do it. Enter and thank you, RCP! 

How some strangers come to be commingled is life as it is! And, not to be discriminatory, but I do believe the female actors  outshone the men!

The cast has uncoupled couples (?) stuck together, a crossdresser, a long-lost daughter, a prayerful sister, and many more. 

"It" is not the "it" you think "it " is!

My favs were the two "elderly" women (Liz Weber as Mavis, Kim Thornley as Violet) perfectly costumed (by Kathy Dunlap) in little old lady garb of flowered dresses, sweaters (de rigueur!)  and pearl necklaces. (Wait! They're in vogue!)

But it's their mannerisms, the weaves, the bobs, and "Violet's" teetering and tottering which steal the show.  I never wanted them to leave. 

Ms. Mykietyn choreographed the fights and helped design and paint the set, but her tutelage of the two women could be an acting class. 

Although I am not a "cat woman," Shelby Kaplan as the convincing "Judeen" almost made her stumbling date, "Chester" (Michael Wong) and me, into cat fanciers. 

Ms. Kaplan was another favorite whose performance, delivery, and voice grow stronger in every scene she's in, producing cat howls from the audience, for to get 14 cats on stage simultaneously is quite the feat.

A sneeze is a sneeze is a sneeze (maybe, two). (?) He flushed the toilet twice! (?) 

"Professor" Lucy Fuller (Beth Atkins) is the seesawing "moderator" who leads the show with a terrific voice to boot!  It is no wonder she's the music coach, too.

The playbook calls for seven different interior house scenes and before the show, I wondered how that would be achieved.  

Not to worry.

Minimalism may be in vogue, but here, not so much.

One scene easily flows into another on the complicated, stacked stage of different rooms which all work splendidly with Jeff Auerbach and Kimberly Crago's expert lighting, blinking in different colors to target the speaker. 

A laughing good time at the theatre will set your mind apart from another world, for this Quarantine is a fantastic escape to kick off spring to a rollicking start.

I must say I felt some guilt and unease having a jolly good time watching the play unfold in this time of global tragedy and death and destruction in Ukraine.  It's impossible to escape all the horror, but RCP managed to make me forget troubles for a little while and I am grateful.

Other cast members are Alexa Yarboro Pettengill (also, properties designer and set dresser), America Michelle, Nida Syed (another standout actor), Rebecca Asch, Josh Keiter, Charlene Sloan, Kevin Dykstra, Allie Blanchet (Mar. 5, 6, 11),  Birdie Thomas (Mar. 11), Jane Keifer (Mar. 5, 6, 11),  Cara Ethington (Mar. 12), Eileen Marshall, Danny Seal, Anthony Pohl, Ryan Heise (also the stage manager), Kate Keifer (also, the marketer), Anna Mintz (also, set designer and painter), Charlotte McIntosh (also, assistant stage manager), David Reph, Richard Durkin (also the producer).

The production team included Dan Widerski, master carpenter, electrician, and with Sara Birkhead, technical director; Kat Brais, hair and makeup; Jon Roberts, projections; and Ali Althen, marketing.

Who: Reston Community Players

What:  A Delightful Quarantine by Mark Dunn

When: March 5, 11 and 12 at 8 p.m. and March 6, 2 p.m.

Where: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191

Tickets:  Buy online, at the box office at the Community Center, or call 703-476-4500 and press 3 for 24-hour service. $30, adults; $25, juniors and seniors, plus, $2, fee each ticket. The Reston Community Center’s box office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m.; Saturday, 1 - 5 p.m.; and 2 hours before any ticketed performance.

Ages: For all but likely too complex for those under age 12. 

Duration: Two hours plus one 15-minute intermission. 

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Reston's outstanding 'Anne Frank'

Sophia Manicone as Anne Frank in Reston Community Players' The Diary of Anne Frank/Jennifer Heffner Photography

You may think you remember The Diary of Anne Frank from reading the book years ago, but you don't remember it the way the Reston Community Players present it.  

This is one of the best productions I have seen over many years of attending theatre in Washington. Its timing coincides with the sad reality that discrimination exists, and the world witnesses, for whatever reasons, increasing anti-Semitism.

The production, expertly directed by Gloria DuGan, brings the horror to the stage: Hunted like animals by the Nazis, confined to the small quarters of an attic, eight persons, young and old, related or not, live an existence necessary to save lives.
 
No one can escape for a breath of fresh air, to take a walk, to get away from the living cell which, ultimately, saved only one life, Anne's father's.

There are no lapses here. The production has it all, told in an unemotional way, until the end. And Anne records it, writing in her diary from June 12, 1942, the day she turned 13, until August 1, 1944, three days before the families were arrested.

The acting is superb and that Sophia Manicone, who stars as Anne, is only a ninth grader, is astonishing.  She shows maturity and acting ability far beyond her years. 

When the Van Daans (Michael Sherman and Lorraine Magee) fight and argue, their movements, words, and gestures are so realistic to generate the feeling of peeping Toms among audience members. They are the parents of Peter (Logan Matthew Baker) who becomes Anne's boyfriend.
A substitute actor at the last moment was Judy Lewis who played Anne's mother in a sound and realistic performance, although she always carried a script during the show. Since she knew her lines well, this bit of small baggage seemed unnecessary.

Costumer Judy Whelihan dresses the females in 1940s garb, naturally enough: heels, dresses and skirts.  Gentlemen wear period clothing, as well.  Casual clothing is not part of this play, and one could not help wonder if the people actually dressed up while hiding, for "dressing up" then compared to now is entirely different. 

Lighting design by Franklin Coleman was excellent, and no scene had any lighting miscues which almost seems standard in many productions.
 
The set by Maggie Modig and Sandy Dotson is well drawn and duplicates as much as possible the actual quarters where the families lived.  

Stage center is a wooden, rectangular kitchen table where the residents often gathered for talk. Elevated platforms hold segregated sections for sleeping quarters. A bathroom provides a means of "escape" when it's needed for mental health and other reasons.  

 A window in the roof duplicates the one in the annex where Anne often sat and daydreamed, and she described it in her diary. From the window the outdoor scene shows a grey overcast sky until near the end of the play when it becomes a rectangular painting with beautiful colors, a church spire, and the branches of a chestnut tree.

The script contains diary passages which Anne stops to read every so often under a spotlight while the other actors stand motionless behind her in the shadows or they move slowly about the kitchen:

The fact that we can never go outside bothers me more than I can say, and then I'm really afraid that we'll be discovered and shot, not a very nice prospect, needless to say. [July 11, 1942]*

Applause to Dan Moses Schreier and Stan Harris who filled the stage with the reminiscent sounds of the times, the soldiers' shouts, sirens, and the eerily isolated whistles from horrible trains carrying millions to their deaths. 

 Anne Frank from Getty Images


The Diary of Anne Frank has a wretched ending, and the cast comes out afterwards to the stage in the dark to stand glumly in a line to receive audience praise until the lights go dark again, and the curtain closes. Lest we forget.

Other cast members in The Diary are Michael Kharfen as Anne's father, Madison Chase, Steven Palkovitz, Earle Greene, Jessi Shull, Francis Kosciesza, Kevin Carrington, and Ian Brown.

Assisting in the production are Diane P. Mullens, producer: Jessica Carrington, stage manager; Kevin Carrington, assistant stage manager; Tom Geutig, special effects and master carpenter; Mary Jo Ford, properties; and Sara Birkhead, lead electrician.

I hope the following receive WATCH nominations:  

Dan Moses Schreier and Stan Harris, Best Sound  

Franklin Coleman, Best Lighting

Michael Kharfen, Best Actor who leads the play with his forceful personality

Michael Sherman, Best Supporting Actor

Lorraine Magee, Best Supporting Actress
  

Just imagine how interesting it would be if I were to publish a romance of the "Secret Annex." The title alone would be enough to make people think it was a detective story. But, seriously, it would be quite funny 10 years after the war if we Jews were to tell how we lived and what we ate and talked about here. Although I tell you a lot, still, even so, you only know very little of our lives.
[March 29, 1944]*

Who: Reston Community Players

What: The Diary of Anne Frank by Frances Goodrich and Albert Hackett and newly adapted by Wendy Kesselman

When: Only two shows remain:  March 13 and 14 at 8 p.m. 

Where: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191 

Tickets: Buy online, at the box office at the Community Center, or call 703-476-4500 and press 3 for 24-hour service. $28, adults; $24, students and seniors. $15 student tickets are available through RCP’s "Access to the Arts." To reserve tickets within these special blocks, contact Ali Althen at communityrelations@restonplayers.org.  The Reston Community Center’s box office is open Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m.; Saturday from 1 - 5 p.m.; and 2 hours before any ticketed performance.

Language: G

Ages: For families and appropriate for all ages but may be too intense for children under age 10. 

*Thank you to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum for the use of these passages from Anne's diary.

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A 'gentleman's' rampage in Reston

The Reston Community Players' ensemble in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder now onstage at the Reston Community Center/Jennifer Hefner Photography

The Reston Community Players  have done it again: Produced another great musical comedy, sure to draw full houses once word reaches the street.

That A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder  was presented only six years ago on Broadway (where it won four Tonys, including Best Musical) and counters the sensation that it has been around a while longer. It exhibits all the traits of classical theatre.

This "gentleman" ain't especially the nice kind. How could he be a nice guy and be the subject of a play? What's a play (life?) with a bunch of nice guys? A boring play.

"Monty" (Aaron Paige) slays the dragons who clutter the highway on his climb to the summit of his success, namely, to become the Earl of Highhurst. His methods consume the story which is hilarious from beginning to end, boosted by elegant apparel of the Edwardian age, post-Victorian, 1909 London. (Costuming by Lori Crockett surely will gain her a WATCH nomination.)
 
Director Richard Farella guides the best from the star, Patrick Graham (another likely WATCH nominee) in his knockout roles as eight (or nine?) members of the D'Ysquith family in uncanny fashion with individualized antics, pauses, bends, voices, inflections, what have you, easily a class in theatre itself. 

Rapid costume changes for Mr. Graham are necessary, but who's counting? Certainly, no one in the audience.

The Reston Community Players' ensemble has a lovely dinner in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder now onstage at the Reston Community Center/Jennifer Hefner Photography

Two ladies (both with splendid personalities and voices to match: AnnaBelle Lowe who is Sibella, Monty's first love, and Holly Kelly is Phoebe) vie for Monty's attention.
 
In a memorable scene, the lover boy sails from one closed hallway door to another where his lady friends await behind opposite doors as he tries to keep the presence of each unknown to the other. (We've seen it once; we've seen it before, yet slamming doors never get old when they produce the desired effect. The precise door choreography is cause for applause.)
  
It doesn't take much to see portraits come alive! Talk about talking heads!

The actors' voices all seem strong enough to carry throughout the auditorium, making microphones unnecessary which cause too much amplification at times.

Simple but effective sets by Dan Remmers with Cathy Rieder,  scenic designer, and Sandy Dotson, set decorator, are changed by slides with nominal interruption.

Mary Jo Ford supplies basic props which are perfectly adequate in number and style for their short presence on stage. 

Kudos to the excellently executed ensemble dancing, choreographed by Paige Wakefield, who is also the assistant director.

Marvelous musical accompaniment mingles throughout the performance from the 14-member orchestra in the pit, led by Blakeman Brophy who singles as a romantic pianist in an interlude for Monty and a lady.  (Emily "EJ" Jonas is the "intimacy coach," a title increasingly found in theatre credits. I wonder what the training is. )

The play (by Robert L. Freeman based on the 1907 novel by Roy Horniman) is not entirely fictitious since H. H. Asquith (1852-1928) was the first Earl of Oxford and Asquith and UK prime minister from 1908-1916. Wikipedia notes, "it was a matter of family pride" for Lord Asquith that his family had an ancestor who served jail time for participation in a movement to reject a return to the monarchy (1663).

Gentleman's Guide opens with Monty writing his memoirs from a prison cell.

Attention, Audience:  You are about to witness murder in the ninth degree which is nine removed from Earldom.  Perfect timing for Halloween!

Other cast members are the naughty Sara C. Watson as Miss Shingle, Jolene Vettese, Julia A. Braxton, Joey Olson, Maura Lacy (also dance captain), Jake Lefler, Brandon Steele, and James P. Maxted. 

Creative team members include Steven Lutvak, music and lyrics; Robert L. Freedman, book and lyrics; Janet Bordeaux, producer; Colleen Stock, production stage manager; Mitch Macdonald, stage manager; Ryan Desmond, lighting designer; Phil Natalini, sound; Sheila Hyman, hair and makeup; and Alden Michels, dialect coach.


Language: G (no "bad words"!)
 
Ages: Appropriate for all who may not be able to follow every moment of the story, but quick costume and scene changes and dialogue combine to keep everyone happily engaged.

Who: Reston Community Players

What: A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder

When: Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. through Nov. 9 with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., Nov. 3, 2019.

Where: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191

Tickets: Buy online, at the box office at the Community Center, or call 703-476-4500 and press 3 for 24-hour service. $28, adults; $24, students and seniors.


The Reston Community Center’s CenterStage box office is open on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 4 - 9 p.m.; Saturday from 1 - 5  p.m.; and 2 hours before any ticketed performance. 


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'Superior Donuts' is a super play in Reston

 From left, Bryce Monroe ("Franco") and Michael Kharfen  ("Arthur") star in Reston Community Players' Superior Donuts/ Jennifer Heffner Photography

The superior acting in the Reston's Community Players' newest production, Superior Donuts, more than makes up for the lame title which, I suspect, does not draw audiences and might even turn some away. 


Who wants to see a play about donuts?  Or so, it would appear. 


May I be so bold to suggest a different title, Trading Places?

Indeed, it was "trading places," the theme which struck me, rather than racism which director Seth Ghitelman writes in the program notes.

The production begins with the pernicious, prickly parasite, Max (wickedly acted by Tel Monks) in the racist role, but Max means no offense. 

He taunts the black policeman, Officer Bailey (Matthew McCarthy): "I didn't mean anything by it, really."

Sure.


The play's timing is right for Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Black History Month next month, but, to me, this was all about contrasts of young and old, new and stale, go and stop, zest and doom. It had nothing to do with "donuts" which serves as a substitute for a much bigger piece of life's pie.  (Groan)


Mr. Ghitelman extracts marvelous performances from his cast, especially from the star of the show, Michael Kharfen who is Arthur Przybyszewski, the shopkeeper who makes the best donuts in Chicago, but whose life is rather hum-drum. 

Like the boring donut's shape, Arthur's life continues endlessly, round and round with nothing particularly to upset the apple cart other than constant sad memories he tells in soliloquies under a spot light (which tend to drag the play down. Dialogue could have better communicated the messages. I found myself thinking: "Oh no, not another one").

Regrets, yes, Arthur's had a few, but in walks a human tornado, Bryce Monroe as Franco, to drive Arthur's meaningless life pattern off course and set a new trajectory, or try to, anyway.


Arthur hires the upstart Franco who knows a thing or two about finding new customers, mind you, and how to attract members of the opposite sex. Franco doesn't hesitate to unload his ideas about shop and self improvements on Arthur.

To Arthur, Franco says:  Why doncha play some music in here? Rearrange the seating?  And if you have any interest in that pretty policewoman (Mattie Cohan is Officer Osteen), why don't you stand up straight?  Get some shoes besides those lifeless tennis shoes, cut your awful pony tail, trim those eyebrows, and wear a nice shirt. Shed your hippy, old-fashioned ways, and Officer Osteen might take a shine to you, if you showed you care.


But does Arthur care?


Franco is too peppy, too full of life, hopes and dreams.  He's enthusiastic, and he's young!  Let's get real here and "grow up!" Arthur shouts at him.  Dim your lights!

But who grows up? 

A dream is shattered and hope is quashed until revived by an odd life saver who is rescued himself.

The bad guys (expertly acted by Ian Mark Brown as a tough and realistic Chicago hood, ably assisted by Michael King) enact punishment which is far too extreme.  Did they have to go that far?

And what about the language? 

Audiences need to be forewarned that Donuts is full of bad words, none, necessary but included, one supposes, to attract millennials to the stage, but is that what they want?   Pshaw.  It's a put-off.

From left,  Ian Mark Brown ("Luther") and Michael Kharfen ("Arthur")  duke it out while Michael King  ("Kevin")  watches in Reston Community Players' Superior Donuts/ Jennifer Heffner Photography

 
The longest and best fight I have seen on stage was skillfully choreographed by Karen Schlumpf and Ian Claar (is there an award for fight choreography?) who direct two old men to duke it out all over the set and back in the kitchen.

One!

Two!

Pow!

Here, have some hot donut grease on top of that arm.

Ouch!

One of my favorite characters was Sally Cusenza who portrays a homeless woman who slouches in and out of the shop every now and then, a welcome creature dressed to the nines in homeless attire, lugging along a grocery cart full of her last belongings.  Her mannerisms and personality add a welcome dimension to the show, with some funny lines, but no one ridicules her. 

(Congratulations to Ms. Cusenza who excels in triple roles as hair and makeup designer.)


Donuts was billed as a comedy but if this is a comedy, you can eat all the donuts in Chicago for a year and not gain a pound. Besides, you'll be gnawing about these Donuts, not the sugary kind. 


Also in the cast is Tice Rust, a heavy who, in real life, is a Spanish teacher at Herndon High School.


Other crew members are Bea and Jerry Morse, producers and set decoration; Laura Baughman, stage manager; Ashley Primavera, assistant stage manager; Maggie Modig, set designer; Adam Konowe, lighting;  William Chrapcynski, sound; Mary Jo Ford, properties; Mary Gayle Rankin, costumes;  Sara Birkhead, master electrician; Scott Birkhead, master carpenter; Sandy Dotson, light board operator.

Tracy Letts, who wrote the 2008 Pulitzer winner, August: Osage County, is the playwright.

Rated: R 

Language:  X

Ages: Adults

Who: Reston Community Players 

What: Superior Donuts by Tracy Letts
 
When: Friday and Saturday nights at 8 p.m. through Feb. 2 with a Sunday matinee at 2 p.m., Jan. 27, 2019.

Where: Reston Community Center, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston, VA 20191

Tickets: Buy online, at the box office at the Community Center, or call 703-476-4500 and press 3 for 24-hour service.  $28, adults; $24, students and seniors.
 
Duration: About two hours and 15 minutes with one  intermission.
 
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