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.