Archive for 'Arts'

‘The Last Five Years’ puts the music before the plot

‘The Last Five Years’ puts the music before the plot

By Jordan Wright Being a theater critic is not always the best way to enjoy a show. I’m not a typical audience member out for a spot of entertainment. Scribbling furiously in the dark, I analyze [...]

Arena Stage conquers ‘The Mountaintop’

Arena Stage conquers ‘The Mountaintop’

By Jordan Wright When playwright and actor Katori Hall’s “The Mountaintop” was staged on Broadway in 2011, it starred Angela Bassett and Samuel L. Jackson, two of the finest American actors we know. But after taking [...]

Pet Matters: Diagnosing common health and behavioral problems

Pet Matters: Diagnosing common health and behavioral problems

By Isabel Alvarez Our pets often behave in ways we find annoying, disgusting or burdensome, but we can’t seem to correct it despite a great deal of effort. For some reason, telling them to “stop it” [...]

Dream comes true for Irishman-turned-Alexandrian

Dream comes true for Irishman-turned-Alexandrian

By Melissa Quinn For Irishman-turned-Alexandrian Tony Culley-Foster, a 25-year-old dream has finally become reality. For a quarter-century, the native Irishman hoped to bridge the vast expanse of ocean between the United States and Ireland through broadcast [...]

‘Mary T. and Lizzy K.’ falls flat

‘Mary T. and Lizzy K.’ falls flat

By Jordan Wright Four exceptional actors captivate audiences at Arena Stage’s world premiere of “Mary T. and Lizzy K.” Of that there should be no argument. They are in an elite class of actors — powerful [...]

An Alexandria photographer forges new bonds in Palestine

An Alexandria photographer forges new bonds in Palestine

By Susan Hale Thomas Cloudlike puffs of our breath escape as we giggle, buried under six blankets and illuminated by our smartphone flashlight apps, trying to figure out how we’re going to make it through the [...]

Agua Viva to get a makeover

Agua Viva to get a makeover

By Derrick Perkins Less than two years after throwing open the doors at Agua Viva, owner Michael Cordero is jettisoning the Latin infusion concept in favor of a 1950s-style steakhouse. “We came here as a Latin [...]

Of gods and men

Of gods and men

By Jordan Wright At Arena Stage’s Mead Center, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” unfolds on a stage transformed into a giant central pool.   Ornamented by a single crystal chandelier, the shallow body of water [...]

Of gods and men

Of gods and men

By Jordan Wright At Arena Stage’s Mead Center, Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman’s “Metamorphoses” unfolds on a stage transformed into a giant central pool. Ornamented by a single crystal chandelier, the shallow body of water is [...]

Cowboy Junkies ready to roll into Alexandria

Cowboy Junkies ready to roll into Alexandria

By Denise Dunbar The Cowboy Junkies are an alternative country/blues/rock band with a spare, mellow sound. The Canadian band consists of Timmins siblings Michael, Margo and Peter plus bassist Alan Anton. They will appear at the [...]