Alexandria has greatness thrust upon it

Noah Mutterperl is Shakespeare in Little Theatre of Alexandria's ''Something Rotten''/Photo by Matthew Randall

There's nothing "rotten" in Alexandria recently named by Travel and Leisure to the nation's Top 15 Best Cities to visit,* but Something Rotten at Little Theatre of Alexandria has got the whole crew and townspeople eggstraeggcited (?) and happy.

Theatregoers, this show is LTA's best musical comedy ever!  

Chuck Dluhy (left) is Nostradamus and Matt Liptak is Nick Bottom in Little Theatre of Alexandria's 'Something Rotten'/Photo by Matthew Randall

Immense will power to bring this off was required of director Frank D. Shutts II and choreographer Stefan Sittig who met the challenges with wondrous excellence.

The centerpiece is one William Shakespeare and the competition to beat him, can it be?

Evan Zimmerman, left, is Robin with ensemble members, Daniel Boos, center, and Josh Mutterperl in Little Theatre of Alexandria's 'Something Rotten'/Photo by Matthew Randall

Never fear, Shakespeare sufferers:  Knowledge of the bard's works is not required.  But, surely, you've seen at least one of 30-odd shows mentioned in the production?**

The title, Something Rotten comes from one of the bard's plays***, but this Rotten of 1595 finds two brothers in England with a sad last name (Bottom) competing to top the best and write the world's first musical.

As soon as laugh-a-minute Nostredamus (Chuck Dluhy) makes his appearance, it's non-stop hilarity, amplified by the increasingly wild gyrations of eggomaniac Elvis Shakyspeare (Noah Mutterperl) who rattles and roils the stage.  

He bears a charmed life.

Evan Zimmerman is Robin, another favorite actor, who never abandons long frocks to dance with delight and glide across the stage as if hopscotching the clouds,  floating across the sky in new apparel each time.  

Speaking of frocks, costumers Jean Schlichting and Kit Sibley, aided by wardrobe coordinator, Robin Worthington, skilfully outfit the cast of 23, most in multiple scenes and most in different dress.

Hair and makeup artist Robin Maline has her hands full, perfecting the looks of Elizabethan characters in exceptional manner.

Lighting designer Ken and Patti Crowley are busy, giving the audience an "aaahhhh" moment when brother Nigel Bottom (Jack Dalrymple) and Portia (Katie Conn) realize in a starstruck milli-second, that the other is their one and only. Lights flicker, hearts flutter and pounding pulses could be heard, or maybe that was just the effect created by sound designer David Correia.

Christopher A. Tomasino leads an orchestra of nine  unseen-but-well-heard-and-received musicians who add tremendous depth and enjoyment to the show.  

These performers are Gwyn Jones, Terry Bradley, John Fargo, Emilie Taylor, Tom Fuller, Francine Krasowska, Mila Weiss, and on alternate nights, Randy Dahlberg, Ruben Vellecoop, Bill Wright and Scott Fridy. 

In real life, brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick spent years talking about this play before they finally got down with John O'Farrell to put it all together and write the book, music and lyrics. 

(Read about their odyssey here.)

"We know what we are, but know not what we may be."

In 2015 Rotten received nominations for nine Tonys, eight Drama Desks, and 11 Outer Critics Circle Awards and I wondered why it only lasted for 708 performances on Broadway, but it's here now, and that's what counts.

Other cast members are Brian Ash, Marcus Barbret, Brittany Bolick, Daniel Boos, Paul Caffrey, Peter Fannon, Odette Gutierrez del Arroyo, Julia Hornok (dance captain), Matt Liptak, J.P. McElyea, Luke Martin, Amanda Mason, Josh Mutterperl, Eddie Perez, Anna Phillips-Brown, Mary Rodrigues, Andrew Sanchez, and Lourdes Turnblom.

The production and technical crew:  Russell M. Wyland, technical director, rigging and co-producer with Rachel Alberts and Robbie Herbst ; Helen Bard-Sobola and Margaret Chapman, properties; Robert S. Barr Jr., sets; Myke, set dressing;  Luana Bossolo, Jim Hutzler, Mary Hutzler, Jeff Nesmeyer, set painting and construction; 

Also, Jennifer Rhorer and Sherry Clarke, stage managers, and Jacquanna David, assistant to the director.

The Kennedy Center might just want to cross the Potomac, take a look and import this cast and crew!

*Alexandria was #8 in readers' choices. 

** At the theatre, ushers give theatregoers a list of 31 musicals referenced in Something Rotten, but there's more.  Which four did it omit?  

***Hamlet has the reference to "something rotten."

What: Something Rotten

When: Now through August 13, 2022, Wednesdays through Saturdays, 8 p.m.; Sundays, 3 p.m.

Where: The Little Theatre of Alexandria, 600 Wolfe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314.

Tickets: $29, weekdays; $34, weekends. 

Duration: About two hours plus one 15-minute intermission.

Fowl language: Many "s" words

Masks and vaccine cards or proof of a negative covid test within 48 hours of show time are required. No exceptions.

Public transportation: Check the Metro and Dash bus websites. Dash is free to ride and has routes which are close to LTA.

Parking: On the streets and in many garages nearby with free parking during performances at Capital One Bank at Wilkes and Washington streets.

For more information: Box Office: 703-683-0496; Business: 703-683-5778. boxoffice@thelittletheatre.com or Asklta@thelittletheatre.com

patricialesli@gmail.com

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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'Michael Jackson' is alive and onstage in New York City!

From the  MJ  playbill, 2022

Dynamite!  

Myles Frost must win the Tony!

Electric! 

On fire! 

I swear Michael Jackson had "returned" from the dead for a concert with all his hits!

The audience's screaming and yelling were louder than any theatre performance I've ever attended, but there was no problem hearing the show.

MJ The Musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, April 1, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie

It was the best theatre performance I've seen and with a few decades of experience, I've seen one or two.

Attention, Michael Jackson fans: Yes, it's worth a trip to New York City from Washington, D.C., and I may go again. You will not be disappointed.

From MJ The Musical at the Neil Simon Theatre, New York City, April 1, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Times Square, New York City, April 1, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie 

The music is fantastic!

The dancing is fantastic!

The lighting is fantastic!

Did I leave anything out?

The costumes! They're fantastic, too!

Some have pooh-poohed: "But he was a pervert." 

I was not going to the show to condone what he did. I was going to the show for the music!  Music!  Music! And it may take me there again. 

Had I not had a ticket for Tina the next night (which was almost as good, but hurry!  Closing August 14), I would have paid $175 to see MJ  The Musical again. (Besides, Tina is coming to the National in October for almost three weeks. Must see!)

Kayla Davion was Tina at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, April 2, 2022/Photo by Patricia Leslie

MJ will last for years (if Mr. Frost can hold out), and the actress from The Prom  road show, who sat beside me, said he came out of nowhere to get the role.

He taught himself how to sing;

he taught himself how to dance;

and he taught himself how to be Michael.

You may think Michael Jackson is dead. I tell you he's back and on stage every night at Neil Simon.

Write if I am wrong.

patricialesli@gmail.com

'On Your Feet!' at Gala

Front, from left, Amy Romero, Gaby Albo (center), Miranda Pepin. Back, from left, Hugo Bruments, Steven Orrego Upegui, and Graciela Rey in Gala Hispanic Theatre's On Your Feet!/Photo, Daniel Martinez

Broadway is at Gala!

That's right: Gloria and Emilio Estefan's story comes alive at the Hispanic Theatre in a high-kickin', dynamic glossy show in the world premiere in Spanish of On Your Feet! (with English surtitles).

Fabulous dancing and outstanding, glittering costumes (by Jeannette Christensen, assisted by Cidney Forkpah which make you wonder how did they change so fast?) trace the Cuban-American couple's rise to stardom and 26 Grammy wins in this fast-paced production. 

Gaby Albo (center). From left, on the sides facing front: Brayan Llamoza and Steven Orrego Upegui and members of the cast in Gala Hispanic Theatre's On Your Feet!/Photo, Daniel Martinez

At the end the crowd was on its feet, stompin' and clappin' to join the cast in a fun and energetic display of the real show on Broadway where it ran two years before starting a world tour. 

Get up and make it happen
Stand up, stand up, stand up and take some action

It's a "jukebox musical" with popular Estefan titles including four which Gloria has enriched with new lyrics.

Gaby Albo is Gloria in a convincing performance to make her namesake proud. Samuel Garnica is her husband in a strong, subordinate role whose ego never wilts under his wife's glow.

From left, Fran Tapia, Gaby Albo, and Samuel Garnica in Gala Hispanic Theatre's On Your Feet!/Photo, Daniel Martinez

Some other best performances are those by women in Gloria's "family": Fran Tapia as Gloria's mother, Madelin Marchant is Gloria's grandmother, and 

Gina Maria Fernandez is Gloria's sister.

The mother is a mean woman encumbered by her own background and failure to pursue her dreams.  She resists and resents her daughter's climb to fame.  In flashbacks, Ms. Tapia shows age matters not when it comes to her incredible dance. 

Gloria's supportive Grandmother Consuelo counterbalances the mother with Consuelo's perfectly timed appearances to assure her granddaughter that her dreams can become real. 

The grandmother was an audience favorite but nothing exceeded the roar of the crowd at the end when the house almost came down at the sight of  youngsters "Little Gloria" (Kamila Rodriguez) and "Little Emilio" (Winsley Dejesus) dancing expertly in a duet to belie their young years. 

The wreck scene which left Gloria's life and career initially in doubt, is a jarring shock, smashing in your face and expertly crafted by Patrick Lord, assisted by Clara Ashe-Moore.

A huge international cast of happy actors included Jose Capellan starring as Jose Fajardo, Gloria's father, and ensemble members: Rodolfo Santamarina, Camila Cardona, Camila Taleisnik, Brayan Llamoza, Jonathan Mouset, Amy Romero, Miranda Pepin, Grant Latus, Carlos Adol, Hugo Brument, Steve Orrego Upegui, Luis Armando Benitez, Laura Castrillon, and Graciela Rey.

Dance captains Myriam Gadri and Bryan Menjivar assisted in choreography.

The production team included Alexander Dinelaries, book; Emilio and Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine, music producers; Esmeralda Azkarate-Gaztelu, book translation; Luis Salgado, director and choreographer.

Also,  Clifton Chadick, scenic design; Matthew Rowe, sound; George-Edward A. Burgtorf, properties; Lashawn Melton, wigs/makeup; Valeria Cossu, associate director. 

Lighting designer Christopher Annas-Lee and assistant Zachary Heffner deftly met the demands of the show.

Other crew members: Maria Jose ”Majo” Ferrucho, stage manager; P. Vanessa Losada, production manager; Heather Hogan, creative consultant;
Hugo Medrano, producer; and Rebecca Medrano, executive producer.

The 10-member band was led by pianist Walter “Bobby” McCoy and assisted by Daniel Gutierrez on keyboards. The musicians were partially hidden up high on either side of the theatre and at stage rear, producing surround sound indeed! 

Extra applause to trumpeter, Brad Clements, for his solos.   

This is a storybook tale that provides inspiration to all dreamers who may sometimes doubt their drive in struggles to reach the top, but hard work and persistence pay off.  Nothing is totally due to chance. 

Seize the opportunity and get on your feet and get to the theatre where a good time of outstanding fun and entertainment are guaranteed at Gala which makes a memorial mark in the history of theatre in Washington, D.C.

What: On Your Feet!


Covid vaccine card and picture ID required for admission or a negative covid test taken within 72 hours of the show.

When: Thursday - Sunday nights through June 5, 2022

Where: Gala Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.

Tickets: $65, or seniors (ages 65+), students, teachers, military, and groups (10+), $45.  Ages 25 and under, $35. To purchase, visit galatheatre.org or call 202-234-7174.

Handicapped accessible

Duration: About two and a half hours with one intermission

Metro stations: Columbia Heights is one block from GALA. Or, get off Metro at McPherson Square, take bus #52 or #54 up 14th, or, walk the two miles from McPherson Square and save money and expend calories! Lots of places to eat along the way.

Parking:  Discounted parking at Giant's garage around the corner on Park Road. Validate your ticket in GALA's lobby. 

For more information: Call (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org

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GALA's 'Tango' is out-of-this-world

Rosalía Gasso and Alejandro Barrientos/Their photo

There's no need for dance lovers to travel to Tokyo this summer since GALA Hispanic Theatre brings the Olympics of dance to Washington with astonishing  performances by professional tangoists, musicians and the costumer, Jeanette Christensen. 

Who needs a script when music, dazzling dance, and dress carry you to fantasyland? Like the swirling dancers, the music and costumes combine in Ella es tango to present an electrifying tango show.

Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia/ Photo, Daniel Martinez

GALA's founding producing artistic director, Hugo Medrano, has written an original musical revue (that he directs) about some of last century's female composers/vocalists/tangoists who competed in the male-dominated world to make themselves seen and heard so they could advance in their chosen profession, even disguising themselves as men (not the first - nor the last - time this has been attempted).

Mariana Quinteros and Patricia Torres are the duo of  top vocalists in the show whose best melodies are their duets. 

Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia/Photo, Daniel Martinez

The featured ladies are portrayed by GALA company members, Lorena Sabogal as Libertad Lamarque (1908-2000), Krystal Pou as Camila Quiroga (a fictional character); Patricia Suarez is Tita Merello (1904-2002), Cecilia Esquivel is Azucena Maizani (1902-1970), and the brief biography of another tango artist, Mercedes Simon (1904-1990), is included. 

In song and dance they tell us their sad stories to present what we came to see and to hear.

Rosalía Gasso and Alejandro Barrientos/Photo, Daniel Martinez

The dancing is what brought us to the spectacle and it, combined with music by members of the Pan American Symphony Orchestra, perform in tandem with the script to captivate the magic and allure of the night to star. 

World acclaimed choreographers and teachers, Alejandro and Rosalía Barrientos are the dancers accompanied at times by Marcos Pereira and Florencia Borgnia, world tango championship finalists, who have many of their own solos.

Swirling tails, dresses, legs, and arms flash by, leaving astonished theatregoers in their wake, happy to witness magnificence.

The numerous shimmering, glittering costumes alone make the price of admission well worth the cost, and it's not just the females who come dressed to kill: The men's costumes are equally as outstanding in their glimmering jackets and ballroom tuxedo whites.

Musical direction and orchestration are by Sergio Busjle of the PASO; conducting is Argentine composer Ariel Pirotti; choreography is by the Barrientoses; and texts are by Argentine playwright, Patricia Suárez Cohen. 

Claudio Gustavo Aprile, the assistant director, appears in various male roles.

Other creative team members are Clifton Chadick and Exquista Agonía, scenic design;  Christopher Annas-Lee, lighting; Dylan Uremovich, projections; Nicolas Onischuk, additional media; David Crandall, sound; P. Vanessa Losada, stage manager; and Tony Koehler, production manager.

Ella es tango is presented in Spanish with English subtitles. 

What: Ella es tango (She is tango)

Masks:  Required.  Temperatures taken at the entrance.

When: Now through June 20, 2021, Wednesdays through Saturdays at 8 p.m., Sundays at 2 p.m. with open milonga dancing after the show on Wednesday, June 16.

Where: Gala Theatre, 3333 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20010.

Tickets: $45; $30 for seniors (65+), military, and students; $30, group sales (10 or more). To purchase, call (202) 234-7174 or visit www.galatheatre.org. 

Handicapped accessible

Duration: About two hours with one intermission

Metro stations: Columbia Heights or McPherson Square and take a bus or the Circulator from McPherson Square up 14th, or walk two miles and save money and expend calories! Lots of places to eat along the way.

Parking: Discounted at the Giant around the corner and additional parking at Target, both on Park Road, NW.

For more information: Call (202) 234-7174 and/or email info@galatheatre.org

The production was made possible with support from the DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities.

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Herndon's unordinary night at the theatre

Carl Williams as Warren and Anna Phillips-Brown as Deb in Ordinary Days at NextStop Theatre Company/Photo by Lock and Company

It could be your extraordinary day, like it is for the foursome in NextStop Theatre's newest production, Ordinary Days.

Seize the opportunity!

Welcome change every day, new acquaintances and relationships, whoever or what awaits your life and pleasure around the next bend.

If you are lucky like Deb (Anna Phillips-Brown) who loses her thesis, you'll meet Warren (Carl Williams), a blissfully happy artist (huh? Artists are "happy"? He must not be an artist!) who finds and returns Deb's papers to brighten her life and those around Warren. (We all could use a little "Warren" in our lives.) 

Or, take a couple who is not a couple, but wait! Maybe, they are, after all. Bobby Libby is Jason and Sarah Anne Sillers is Claire, the twosome who "find each other" like Deb's papers and Warren "find" Deb.


Do you sometimes wish that the search for meaning and a better life would end so we could just ride along for the sheer enjoyment of another day? It is not to be among most of this crew of dissatisfied 20-and 30-somethings in New York City, but that's New York, isn't it?

 
The stars are the excellent acting which supply zest and humor to the musical, almost engulfed by Ms. Phillips-Brown's strong voice and dynamic personality. One couple contemplates marriage, and the other joins in to wonder what brought them together. Their lives cross. 

It's not always about sex.

Without the non-stop accompaniment by Elisa Rosman on the keyboards (who has no time for even one quick breather), these "ordinary days" would be anything but extraordinary. The one-woman orchestra ties it all together with energetic playing and direction. A total musical with ne'er a word spoken.

Upon entering the theatre, you experience the sensation that you have below you (the seats are elevated with excellent viewing from all) a surrealistic scene or gallery in a museum which indeed is what it is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Beyond its walls, the exteriors become effective places for coffee and chats while the interior nicely transitions into an apartment for the reckoning of said betrothed couple. (JD Madsen was the scenic designer.)

Visuals of contemporary Big Apple scenes are projected on three screens throughout the show, and although they often change, the dialogue and action are not disrupted.

Adam Gwon wrote the music and the lyrics.

Jay D. Brock directs. Other creative team members are
Kristen P Ahern, costumes;  Doug Del Pizzo, lighting; Evan Hoffmann, sound; Chris Foote, properties; Laura Moody, production stage manager; Quoc Tran, rehearsal stage manager and assistant director; Regan Hattersley, assistant stage manager; and Suzy Alden, scenic painter.

What: Ordinary Days 

Duration:  About 90 minutes without intermission

When:  Through Mar. 15, 2020 at 2 p.m. Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday, March 8, at 7 p.m., Sunday matinees at 2 p.m., and a Saturday matinee, March 14 at 2 p.m.  

Where: NextStop Theatre Company, 269 Sunset Park Drive, Herndon, VA 20170 in the back right corner of Sunset Business Park, near the intersection of Spring Street/Sunset Hills Road. Right off the Fairfax County Parkway. Lots of great restaurants nearby.

Tickets:  Start at $40.  
 

Language: Rated X 

Lighted, free parking: Available near the door. 

Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats

For more information: 703-481-5930 or info@nextstoptheatre.org

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A delightful 'Charlie Brown Christmas' lands in Manassas

 Nick MacFarlane, left, is Charlie Brown and Trevor Nordike is Linus in Prince William Little Theatre's A Charlie Brown Christmas/Photo by Melissa Jo York-Tilley

It doesn’t matter that you may have seen A Charlie Brown Christmas 100 times on television because the live show now on stage in Manassas is 100 times better than any old TV version.

And there's just one more weekend to see it.

 The cast from Prince William Little Theatre's Charlie Brown Christmas/Photo by Melissa Jo York-Tilley

Produced by the Prince William Little Theatre, this Christmas special at the Hylton Performing Arts Center is a joyful holiday treat for families to share together in the spirit of the season.

The message never gets tiresome, the scenics are always refreshing, and the Manassas players present a hilarious, sad, and charming musical, sure to leave theatergoers (yes, even the Scrooge in the bunch) happy, especially with a surprise ending.

Any director (Chrissy Mastrangelo here) would be hard put to find actors more fitting for these main roles than Nick MacFarlane as Charlie Brown and Trevor Nordike who is Linus.

Prince William's slumping, stooped-shouldered Charlie Brown shuffles his feet across the stage, accompanied by his able-bodied lieutenant, Linus (comforted, of course, by his blue blanket) in Charlie Brown's quest to find the real meaning of Christmas.

To capture Charlie Brown's essence, it would seem that Director Mastrangelo required Mr. MacFarlane to watch hours of the real Charlie Brown, so reminiscent is Mr. MacFarlane of the cartoon character.


Not to be outdone by any competitor is the effervescent Lucy ((Kacie Brady), the dynamo psychiatrist who is always game for whatever aids her.

"You've been dumb before," she says to Charlie Brown, "but this time you've really done it!"

He sighs:  "Nobody sent me a Christmas card today. I know nobody likes me."


To which mean Violet (Bevin Hester) shouts at our star: "I didn't send you a Christmas card!"


With friends like these, is it any wonder that poor Charlie Brown lacks pep in his step?

All is not lost, however, among Peanuts gang members.

The colorful set opens with a "skating rink" where actors ably glide their sock skates to dance in circles with later action shifting to Snoopy's huge, lighted dog house.

And what a dog to steal the show!

This Snoopy (Katherine Blondin) can even make animal sounds.

A big snowball fight adds merriment. (What were those snowballs made of?)

To make the show even better is the live music on stage, lead by Justin Streletz who plays the piano and reminds us of all the melodies lying at the back of our minds. Chris Anderson is the drummer and an unnamed bassist add immense enjoyment to the production.

A Charlie Brown Christmas is a great way to introduce youngsters to the joys of live theatre while basking in togetherness of the moment with loved ones (including yourself).

Throughout the presentation youthful laughter flows from the audience, an indication that not only does this Christmas have an important theme, but it's fun, too.

Other members of the Peanuts gang are Lisa Arnold, Timothy Burhouse, Cana Jordan Wade, Darcy Heisey, Laura Castillo, and Lindsey Capuno.

Crew members include Hayley Katarina, assistant director; Jennifer Rodriguez, producer; Katie Morris, stage manager; Suzy Moorstein, costume designer; Michelle Matthews, sound; Nick Mastrangelo, set; Peter Ponzini, lighting; Jeanie Ingram, program, and Ms. Mastrangelo choreographs.

What:  A Charlie Brown Christmas by Charles M. Schulz, based on the television special by Bill Melendez and Lee Mendelson. Major sponsor: Mark Moorstein of Offit/Kurman

When:  Friday, Dec. 20, 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21 and 22, 2 p.m.

Where:   Hylton Performing Arts Center, George Mason University,10960 George Mason Circle, Manassas, VA 20110

Admission:  $13 for 12 and younger; $17 for seniors, students, and active military; $20, general admission

For more information: Click here or call 703-993-7759, Tuesday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

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