OPENING THIS MONTH
The jukebox show
Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story became one of the most successful West End musicals in history when it debuted in
London in 1989, running for 12 years; a revival followed in 2007 and is still playing
today. The show, about the ’50s rock-and-roll musician, includes the hits “Peggy Sue”
and “That’ll Be the Day.” July 2 and 3.
Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company
Famed Chicago comedy troupe the Second City returns to Woolly with
America All Better!!, inspired by the highs of 2013 (the economy’s upward swing, the progress of gay marriage,
and the legalization of marijuana) compared with the lows of the recession. July 9
through August 4.
Studio stages The Rocky Horror Show 40 years after the cult musical’s original London run. Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway’s Rock of Ages) stars as Frank N. Furter, and the production’s directed by Alan Paul and Keith Alan Baker with choreography by Michael Bobbitt. July 10 through August 4.
Forum presents a new work by writer, director, and Georgetown professor Natsu Onoda
Power.
The T Party features vignettes exploring stories of transgression, transgendered people, and
theater. July 18 to 27.
Synetic reprises its popular
A Midsummer Night’s Dream, a wordless adaptation of the Shakespeare classic by Paata and Irina Tsikurishvili.
July 18 through August 4.
American Century stages
I Do! I Do!, Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt’s 1966 musical about a 50-year marriage. July 19 through
August 17.
Contemporary American Theater Festival
The festival returns with five new plays—three world premieres—90 minutes from downtown
DC at West Virginia’s Shepherd University. The slate includes Sam Shepard’s
Heartless, which explores the human condition through a Los Angeles family;
Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah, a premiere by Mark St. Germain about F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ernest Hemingway; and
H20, a play by Jane Martin about an actor who wins the role of Hamlet. July 5 through
28.
The Fringe Festival returns with more than 135 groups presenting offbeat shows over
18 days, most of them at Fort Fringe headquarters (607 New York Ave., NW). This year’s
lineup includes shows by Faction of Fools, Bowen McCauley Dance, Pinky Swear Productions,
and Washington Improv Theater. July 11 through 28.
ONGOING/LAST CHANCE
Anything Goes
is at the
Kennedy Center through July 7. Read our
review.
Angel Street
is at
Olney through July 14.
Caesar and Dada
is at
WSC Avant Bard through July 14.
Baby Universe
is at
Studio Theatre through July 14. Read our
review.
Rabbit Hole
is at
Keegan Theatre through July 21.
One Night With Janis Joplin
continues at
Arena Stage through August 11, before it heads
to Broadway in the fall. Read our review of last
year’s
run.
