I came to see Pippin at this theater and cannot begin to express how impressed I was with the…read moretalent here. From singing to costuming to choreography, each performer gave everything to the audience. Since this is a theater in the round in a very intimate setting, I had my concerns that I would be in a section in which the performers had their backs to me. Quickly I realized that the seasoned cast is skilled at playing to each side and the staging wouldn't inhibit anyone's view. I purchased tickets with a partial view ( Row 4), and felt that my view from there was better than many Broadway shows I've attended. I did not find them to inhibit the show in any way, and the leg room was spacious. I really enjoy watching the support cast (chorus) and in this show particularly their roles were important to every element and integrated into the foreground. This is something you often don't see in traditional shows where the leads are foreground and the chorus is just left to be background noise. Great job by all. The theater is located near some eateries and an ice cream shop, but take advantage of this before the show. I felt every single person headed right to the ice cream shop after the show, and some of the eateries closed just as we exited at 9:00pm on a Sunday.

Now that the Signature Theatre is on my radar screen, I am happy to report that my 2nd visit - to…read moresee Pippin - reflects a live theater experience that is fantastic. I have already rated the theater facility/building as great so I won't go into much more detail about that. Although here goes - the building's entry is grand, the lobby is welcoming and exciting and the ushers/staff are friendly and first rate. The performance of Pippin that I saw was likewise first rate. Signature Theatre has taken a show I have seen multiple times in the past, and freshened it up. A lot! Presented in the round - which I normally do not like - it presents like live-action happening right in front of your eyes for the 1st time. And the theater is small enough that I felt immersed in the action! Indeed, several times, players would come right up into the seats and interact with me and other audience members. It really made the show seem like a story being presented for first time, spontaneously, right in front of me. And, the performances were so fresh, so intense that I felt that each and every emotion/action was directed only to me. Very nicely staged! The quality of talent in this show is also noticeable. Particular kudos to the man who portrayed Pippin. The ensemble too was Broadway caliber. The dancing in particular was exhilarating! I felt every kick and twist. Fosse lives in this production! This show is old, however, having been first conceived in the early 1970's. But there was very little that was tired or old or vintage. It was fresh and cutting edge. The Signature production was unlike any of the other presentations of Pippin I have seen. The actors' entrances came in from the audience entrances - all 4 corners of the theater - and it was enthralling. The close proximity made every actor seem like they were talking/singing just to me. It was the kind of show that you really need to see more than once because there is so much going on all at once. Bravo to the Signature Theatre once again!

I saw a play called In The Next Room here today. The play itself was pretty great! There were a…read morefew flubbed lines and missteps, but the recovery was spectacular in all cases. The venue left a little to be desired. This is a very small Playhouse in an old church that desperately needs renovation. I would say that it seats probably 40 or so, which made for a rather intimate experience. Still, despite the chill in the air and the boarded up windows, I was transported. I was very impressed by the production that was put on using what must've been bare-bones and shoestring type budget. I cannot recommend this place enough! The more support that this troupe receives, the better it is going to get. The set designer did a terrific job and I appreciated the transitions between acts. By all means, drop several hundred dollars to go see a show at the Kennedy Center. I know that I do. I also like to drop $20 or so to spend a few hours enjoying local artists honing their craft. I can't wait to see what comes from this small playhouse next! I hope that you'll take the time to check it out.

My friend and I went last night and saw "Shining City". We could not have been more impressed…read more From beginning to end this thought provoking performance was a believable slice of everyday challenges. The play was perfectly selected for the delightfully intimate venue. The small cast was totally engaging and quite professional. We are definitely looking forward to their next production. A special shout out to the actor that played "John"......Tom Flatt ~ He really delivered. Limited parking but ample street parking. Water/soft drinks and snacks for sale.

Is it a nice venue? Yup! Not super cozy, but surprisingly intimate when the music starts. I found…read morethe interactions with the performers one of the highlights. And you will definitely have a seat. Will it be a good seat? That's another matter altogether. Frankly, I found the way The Birchmere's ticketing system works super confusing and not all that intuitive. If you're in-the-know, you'll get a great seat. If you're coming from out-of-town without any familiarity of the system or show up late, you may be hosed. And the staff, frankly, aren't very helpful in illuminating what all you need to do, even when pressed. I guess that's because just about anyone new won't know, and so will likely pester them with the same questions. And this happens over and over, day after day. I get their impatience. So, why not just print up a flyer, posted to their website, that says what the steps are? Barring that, let me help you be in-the-know. Here's what you need to do: 1. Buy your ticket, preferably in advance. You can pick up the ticket at will-call day of. That won't be a problem. 2. Arrive before 5 to get your chit. This established your place in line. It's open seating, so the lower your number, the better your potential seat will be. 3. Come back promptly at 6 (or just hang out and have a drink until 6). They'll start calling numbers at 6. 4. Grab seats at a table which you think will give you the best vantage if the stage. 5. Since you have 1.5 hours to kill, grab some food. (Clearly, they expect you to have dinner here.) Or grab a drink and nurse it for a while. Order another before the show. There. It may lead to a better experience at the venue. I would've given The Birchmere 5 stars if it weren't for the confusing ticketing system. I really did like the venue, and now that I'm familiar with their arcane ticketing and entry process, my next visit (and there *will* be a next visit, since I already have the tickets!) will be oh so much better. I hope that yours is too. :)

The parking is free here. Don't let third party vendors convince you otherwise…read more The first come first serve means get here before the doors open. Other reviews explained this very clearly. Obtain your table number by getting there super early, so that you can be near the stage for better eye view, otherwise there is a strain to see. While I like this venue and that there are seats with tables, It was a bit tight, which is to be expected for a concert type venue trying to squeeze everyone in. Although I wasn't close to the stage I had a few decent views of the artist. Raheem was extremely entertaining and he walked around the venue towards our table. Overall a decent first time experience. The quality of the live performance was really nice and his mic was on! I say, stick with the dry red wines! The processco I was given tasted flat. Perhaps it was expired.

My wife invited me and my teenage son to watch a work colleague perform in a fun community theater…read moreversion of Shakespeake's "Much Ado about Nothing". The 2-hour show (with intermission) was entertaining with the setting in New Orleans. This little theater had several pluses. First, the interior space is cozy and provides a fun vibe of live theater in which audience engagement is part of the experience. Second, it's only a few blocks away from restaurants on King Street. Street parking is not difficult to find if you arrive early. Third, the overall quality of individual theatrical performances was quite good. All the performers seemed to have regular day-jobs, but love theater for its own sake (perhaps from college). The only minus is the theater seats are very close to each other (think ballpark). Thus, if you happen to sit behind someone who is really tall, it may require a bit of peeking around to see parts of the stage. Hopefully, the folks in front of you will not be tall. Would definitely return for a future performance.

Cute, little quaint theatre! I was staying in the area and looking for something to do. I came upon…read moreA CHRISTMAS CAROL that was playing here on a tuesday evening. I reserved my seat online (got to choose my seat!) which was for E1 Street parking in the local neighborhood. I ended up parking and walking almost a block or so. not bad When I got in , there were ppl standing around waiting to be let in the auditorium. I checked in with a woman who had a printed list of ticket holder names. The seats were very close to one another and infront and back of you. I could see the stage very well It was hard to understand what the actors were saying at times, there is a speaker but in genera I couldn't understand some of the words (plus im deaf in my right ear, so theres that) Production was for an hour. Cute little theatre!

Great community theater ! Love the local troop ! Great version of foot loose ! We were visiting our…read moreson in Arlington!

A friend of a friend snagged a part in the chorus of "Thoroughly Modern Millie." I so love that…read moremusical, a bunch of us girlie girls went to check it out. The theater is actually part of TJ Middle School. It seats about 700 or so people. One of the ushers told me the makeup of the theater is called "proscenium" which means that it has a half shell arch at the front of the stage. In TJ's case, the arch is actually on the celing. The stage itself is raised above where we, the audience sat. We literally had front and center seats (second row). The orchestra pit was right in the middle of the stage. If you go to a show here, park near the Community Center which is to the left of the basketball court and all the way behind the school. The performance was great for an amateur filled show. "Like a squirrel, storing the nuts of life."

Don't be misled by the humble surroundings of this theater. Inside this small space something…read morewonderful invariably happens. I have seen numerous performances here, and they are all consistently at a high level. I have been to NYC. You don't need to spend $250 to be up close to great theater. The talent that comes to Metro Stage have Broadway in their resumes. The current performance of Black Pearl Sings set in the post depression 1930's, takes 2 women from different worlds and shows how they can bond through music. Their story stands on its own, and is not just a backdrop to launch into song. The show takes the viewer through a full range of emotions. The outcome is bittersweet. If you live in the DC. metro area, don't overlook what is in your own backyard. After all, it is a "Metro Stage."

I saw The Letters here this weekend. It was $50/ticket for 2 people to sit on (padded) folding…read morechairs and see a short, 2-person play. We did enjoy ourselves, and the quality of the acting was quite good, but as an actress myself, I thought it was sort of pricey. As a patron, I thought it was pretty uncomfortable. In good news, the view seemed quite good from all angles which is good, considering that seating is unassigned. I'd go again, but I'd go more frequently if it were either a little less, or if there were a discount offered for more than one ticket or more than one play.

Just saw "Antony & Cleopatra." Fantastic! No dialog, only music and movement, but the stories are…read moreclear (we've also seen "Romeo & Juliet," years ago - also great!).

A true treasure. Their "The Immigrant" is so unbelievably timely. My family have been following…read morethem for years.

This is a beautiful little concert hall…read more The college partnered with some high school honors choirs to put on a free performance and It was wonderful. The concert was really well done and it was neat to see all the different choirs perform together and individually. Although my chair was a bit lacking in comfort, the layout and the acoustics are fantastic and more than made up for it. Two things that come to mind to be aware of is first finding the place and then second is finding where to park...a wee bit tricky if you've never been there before.

Overall, this concert hall is very exceptional, especially in delivering great sound quality. I…read moreattended the Alexandria Symphony Concert here, and the concert sounded beautiful in this hall. First, it is effective in seating and viewing plus hearing the concert! Though, I do not believe this hall is too accessible to everyone, though it has a great look and a great feeling especially when music is played! tl;dr: I would highly recommend attending concert events here. It sounds very harmonically pleasing and looks great.

I am an adult who has been taking guitar lessons at the Del Ray Performing Arts Center since June…read moreof 2013. The owner, Steve Attix, is my teacher. I've found it to be a terrific experience and would like to highlight several reasons why: 1. I'm a working professional, with a working wife, and two kids. My schedule is a bit crazy. Steve is very accommodating. He allows me to juggle times around and make up missed classes weeks later. This flexibility is a big deal. 2. Steve has customized the experience for me. He uses a classical approach - something I very much appreciate given previous experience as a kid with classical piano. It had been a long time since I played, but I can read music and understand/remember a little bit of music theory. Because of this, we've moved through portions of the core lesson book faster. Steve's also supplemented the book with outside pieces based on my requests, but also his suggestions customized to my interests. This ranges from Bach to classic rock to country. I feel like I'm learning the proper techniques, building a solid foundation, but also able to enjoy playing more than just exercises. 3. The lessons are both technical and conceptual. I ask a lot of questions about everything and to everyone. Guitar technique and music theory included. Steve seems happy to answer my questions. It's not just "play the scales," "wax on, wax off." 4. Steve has a great sense of when and where to push to challenge me - sometimes its playing a piece faster or playing something again and again and again until I get a complicated passage correct. If I haven't had a lot of time to practice that week or my fingers just aren't cooperating, he knows when to go back to something easy or to just practice a few scales. 5. He constantly preaches efficiency. This is incredibly underrated. Encouraging / reminding a student to focus most of their time on the hardest passage. Isolate the problem area and work it. Look at any of the recent studies about the highest level professionals in any field. They all work really smart which means focusing on the most challenging areas. Steve gets this. 6. Steve often plays with me. This is a new experience - something I never did when learning the piano. Perhaps it is typical with guitar - I have no idea. But, I do find it to be a nice complement to practicing alone at home and feel like it is building an additional skill. 7. In addition to my own experience, I've observed Steve interact with others, mostly kids, as I come or go from a lesson. He has a great rapport with kids. He seems to expect a lot out of them, but is never harsh. He is encouraging, but clearly has high expectations.

This is the WORST, absolute worst, business in Alexandria. They constantly double book lessons,…read moretreat their students and teachers as if they are expendable, and regularly mess up their billing. They have no merchandise to speak of and it seems like they have not cleaned the store in months. Avoid this place at all cost! If you want lessons check out ROAM, Fox's, Alexandria Music, even Craig's List first!!!!!