Category Archives: Drama

Prince George’s Community College presents Out of the Vineyard, Feb 19-26

Prince George’s Community College presents Out of the Vineyard, Feb 19-26

Prince George’s Community College presents:
Out of the Vineyard
by Psalmayene 24

February 19 – 26, 2025
Wednesday, February 19th at 6:30 PM
Friday, February 21st at 7:30 PM
Saturday, February 22nd at 3:00 PM
Saturday, February 22nd at 7:30 PM
Wednesday, February 26th at 3:00 PM

Location: Prince George’s Community College.

Center for Performing Arts, 301 Largo Road Largo, MD 20774

A vivid, deeply-researched narrative constructed from interviews with descendants of enslaved families and individuals. Through powerful imagery and movement, “Out of the Vineyard” brushes against the grain of history to bring the experiences of freedom-making from enslavement to life.

“Out of the Vineyard (OOTV)” was written by esteemed playwright Psalmayene 24, who masterfully adapts the groundbreaking historical work “A Question of Freedom: The Families Who Challenged Slavery from the Nation’s Founding to Civil War” by historian William G. Thomas III for the stage.

The play highlights the families, names, and places, illuminating stories of quests for freedom and opportunity against systematic racism. By exploring how slavery has shaped our societies and by encouraging audiences to think critically about the legacy of hiding the details of history, “Out of the Vineyard” promotes a deeper understanding of the issues facing us today. The play inspires audiences to work toward a more just and equitable future.

Unraveling over seven decades, the enslaved families of Prince George’s County, Maryland, including the Butlers, Queens, Mahoneys, Bells, and more, embarked on a relentless legal quest for freedom. These brave families confronted formidable slavery within the court system, leading their crusade to the highest echelons of justice: the Supreme Court.

Tickets $40 General, or $10 Students, click here.

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf by 2nd Star Productions at the Bowie Playhouse, Feb 7-Mar 1

for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf by 2nd Star Productions at the Bowie Playhouse, Feb 7-Mar 1

2nd Star Productions at the Bowie Playhouse presents:
for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf
Directed by Rikki Howie Lacewell

February 7 – March 1, 2025
Fridays at 8pm, Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm; closing Saturday, March 1 at 2pm

2nd Star Productions at the Bowie Playhouse

for colored girls… is a choreopoem written by Ntozake Shange. It’s a piece that explores the stories, experiences and journey of growing up as a woman of color in America. The play uses music, dance, and poetic drama to take us through the tragedy and the triumphs of life, and life’s struggles, as we move from childhood to womanhood, embracing the power of self-discovery, self-determination, and affirmation.

WARNING: mature and highly sensitive content.

Tickets for shows at Bowie Playhouse are $25.00 for General Admission, $22.00 for seniors (60 and over), military and full time students, and $15 for Children 11 and under. Buy tickets here.

Fires in the Mirror at Laurel Mill Playhouse, Feb 7-23

Fires in the Mirror at Laurel Mill Playhouse, Feb 7-23

Laurel Mill Playhouse presents:
FIRES IN THE MIRROR
Written by Anna Deavere Smith
Directed by Lorraine Brooks
Produced by Maureen Rogers

Performances February 7, 2025 – February 23, 2025. Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm.

Location: Laurel Mill Playhouse

The play is a compilation of interviews and headlines dealing with the Crown Heights race riots in Brooklyn New York in 1991. The riots stemmed from the death of Gavin Cato, a Black boy who was killed when a vehicle driven by a Hasidic Jew allegedly ran a stop light and careened onto a sidewalk where Gavin Cato was playing. The incident set off a series of angry reactions on both sides, and culminated in the stabbing death of Rabbinical student Yankel Rosenbaum. The circumstances and aftermath reflected long-standing tensions between the Black and Jewish communities, and highlighted the (often similar) struggles of each group against discrimination and bias.

Themes include race relations, press coverage bias, perceptions of disparate treatment in health care, law enforcement, and political representation.

Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults: $20, Children 18 and under, Seniors 65 and over, and active duty military: $15

For further information, please call 301-617-9906, or contact Maureen Rogers at maureencrogers@gmail.com or 301-452-2557.

Experimental Performance Series at the Clarice, Feb 1

Experimental Performance Series at the Clarice, Feb 1

The University of Maryland and the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center present:
Experimental Performance Series #3
Saturday, February 1, 2025 • 2PM & 7:30PM

Venue: Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center.

The Experimental Performance Series is a collection of self produced works from undergraduate and graduate students in theatre and dance, ranging from production of established works to brand new plays and choreography.

This performance will feature an excerpt of an original theatre piece written and directed by Miele Murray and a dance performance co-created by Christina Collins and daniel miramontes.

Socabane and Vestorin (Concept Scene) by Miele Murray

A foolhardy prince (Raymond Zajic) and a headstrong princess (Miele Murray), must grapple with their shared longings for frivolity and freedom and the irrevocable duty they owe to their respective countries. Excerpted from work-in-progress, written and designed by Miele Murray.

Approximate run time: Scene (19 minutes), Artistic Presentation (10 minutes)

echoes by Daniel Miramontes and Christina Collins

In this dance performance, 3rd year dance MFA co-creators Christina Collins and daniel miramontes explore themes of friendship and resilience by combining elements of strength, agility, softness and vulnerability through movement.

Approximate run time: 15 mins.

Tickets: free, tickets required, click here.

The Rude Mechanicals present The Seagull at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Jan 23-Feb 1

The Rude Mechanicals present The Seagull at the Greenbelt Arts Center, Jan 23-Feb 1

The Rude Mechanicals in residence at Greenbelt Arts Center presents:
The Seagull
by Anton Chekhov
This is a musical production of the Seagull featuring rock songs from the 1970s.

January 23 – February 1, 2025
Fri. & Sat. at 8pm; Sun. at 2pm

Location: Greenbelt Arts Center

The Rude Mechanicals are known for concept Shakespeare, but concept Chekhov? Well that’s not something people do. Or is it? Our next production of The Seagull transports these drama queens of the Russian theatre in the late 1800s to the American music industry of the late 1900s. 1979 to be exact. In this production we aim to explore how the revolutionary revamping of theatre that occurred during Chekhov and Stanislavski’s era bears similarities to the way the birth and rising popularity of punk rock revolutionized music in the late 1970s. Come and witness new forms in music taking shape.

Constantine is a tortured songwriter involved in founding the punk rock movement in the late 1970s. He’d love nothing more than to prove his worth to his rich and famous but cold and withholding mother, the famous diva, Arkadina. Constantine is in love with Nina, a young aspiring singer who wants to make it big. Nina is a little star struck by the wildly successful Trigorin, who is dating Arkadina. Masha, the gothiest goth who ever gothed, is in unrequited love with Constantine and soothes the pain of unreturned love with substance abuse and witty denial. Medviedenko the schoolteacher is in unrequited love with Masha. Everyone at Sorin’s estate is clearly very, very happy.

Chekhov. Where comedies end with suicide.

Ticket prices: $24 General Admission, $22 Seniors/Military, $12 Student/Youth. Buy tickets here.