Covering Annandale, Bailey's Crossroads, Lincolnia, and Seven Corners in Fairfax County, Virginia

Port City players present ‘Hamlet’ with a twist

Port City Playhouse is performing William Shakespeare’s classic “Hamlet” – with a twist – Oct. 13-28 right here in Mason District. Performances are at Sleepy Hollow United Methodist Church, 3435 Sleepy Hollow Road, Falls Church. Hamlet, considered to be one of the greatest plays in the English language, follows the exploits of the title character, … Continued

Review: ‘Rapture, Blister, Burn’

Gianna Rap and Aly B. Ettman in :Rapture, Blister, Burn.” [Peter’s Alley Theater Company]. By David Siegel In these days of constant bombast and weaponized words, when sounding reasonable and wanting to be open to another person’s point of view sounds almost quaint, Peter’s Alley Theatre has taken a quiet approach for its production of … Continued

Taste of Annandale: new details emerge

Check out the ad on a Fairfax Connector bus. With the Taste of Annandale just a few weeks away, we’ve got some updates to report, including new sponsors, food vendors, and entertainers. The Taste of Annandale is a free, family-friendly community festival on Saturday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., on Tom Davis Drive. That’s in … Continued

Play at 1st Stage explores the world of the incarcerated

Teresa Castracane and Louis Alberto Gonzalez. [Teresa Wood/1st Stage] By David Siegel With pounding performances from fiercely committed actors, audiences at 1st Stage witness the nightmare world of the incarcerated. It is a transfixing and unapologetic tale. The searing production is “Jesus Hopped the ‘A’ Train” by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Stephen Adly Guirgis, appearing through … Continued

In the moment: ‘A Little Night Music’ at Signature

Holly Twyford as Desiree Armfeldt, Will Gartshore as Carl-Magnus Malcolm, and Bobby Smith as Fredrik Egerman. [Photos by Christopher Mueller] By David Siegel Opening in 1973, “A Little Night Music” was part of the muscular turbulence of those well-remembered primal days of rage – rage that bred inhaled cynicism like a needed eye-opening drug into … Continued

Public invited to multimedia drama presented by Bangladeshi community

A green screen rehearsal for “Palki.” The board of directors of the Bangladesh Association of America Inc. (BAAI) invites the public to a unique “cinematic stage drama” Aug. 19 and 20 at the Ernst Cultural Center at the Annandale campus of Northern Virginia Community College. The show, titled “Palki,” is a technologically dependent musical drama fusing … Continued

Local parks offer music on summer nights

The Vietnamese-American Youth String Orchestra. The Vietnamese-American Youth String Orchestra performed classical and popular music at Vietnamese Cultural Heritage Night at Ossian Hall Park on Saturday evening. The group offers young musicians an opportunity to play in a professional-level ensemble. It is open to students age 18 and under from all cultural backgrounds who play … Continued

Hub Theatre presents ‘The Happiest Place on Earth’

Tia Shearer in “The Happiest Place on Earth.” [DJ Corey Photography] By David Siegel Set in a fictionalized American magical kingdom, “The Happiest Place on Earth,” playing at the Hub Theatre in Fairfax through July 23, is a wonderfully bittersweet family saga that actor Tia Shearer crushes in her solo performance. Written by Philip Dawkins, “The … Continued

New musical covers Fairfax County history

The cast of “The Complete History of Fairfax (The Musical),” from the left: Christopher McDonnell, Hillary Leersnyder, Jesse Pollack, and Alex Poirier. [Class Act Theatre Players Company] By David Siegel “The Complete History of Fairfax (The Musical)” celebrates Fairfax County’s 275th birthday with a humorous look at well-known, little-known, and mythical characters from the past. … Continued

The past comes alive at Fairfax County’s 275th birthday celebration

Fairfax County celebrated its 275th birthday in style June 17 at the Historic Courthouse in Fairfax with many costumed re-enactors, live music, storytellers, crafts, and living history exhibits. Members of the 3rd U.S. Infantry Regiment stationed at Ft. Myer in Arlington appear as soldiers of the Continental Army in 1776. Re-enactors portray the 17th Virginia … Continued