ARTS Pick: Mike Birbiglia

Honesty has been the best policy for actor, writer, and comic Mike Birbiglia. He earned a slew of accolades for his one-man show Sleepwalk With Me, in which he chronicled his struggles with Rapid Eye Movement Disorder, an affliction that frequently found him in a state of dream walking, talking, and even jumping—he once leapt […]

ARTS Pick: Man at a Crossroad

Lyndia Porter had no idea that she was creating a new form of ministry when she sat down to write her stage play Man at a Crossroad. Performed by volunteers from across Virginia, the play explores the struggles of living a Christian life within a secular society. But unlike some stage performances, nothing here is […]

ARTS Pick: Women of Ireland

Prepare for St. Patrick’s Day with an evening of traditional Irish song and dance as former Riverdance members and a number of other talented dancers make up the Women of Ireland. The all-female lineup performs iconic steps to enchanting Celtic vocals by a sisterly trio from County Kerry, Ireland. Special guest Anthony Fallon, a four-time world champion […]

ARTS Pick: Bye Bye Birdie

Take a family-friendly romp through the 1960s in Four County Players’ production of the mod musical Bye Bye Birdie. When teen heartthrob Conrad Birde is drafted into the Army, his agent plans to send him off in style with one last kiss from a lucky fan. Based on the legend of Elvis Presley’s draft controversy, […]

ARTS Pick: Frankenstein

During a stormy summer holiday, Mary Shelley and her companions were challenged by their host Lord Byron to see who could compose the best ghost story. After a few fretful days devoid of inspiration, the tale of Frankenstein revealed itself to her in a lucid dream. Gorilla Theater presents a modern adaptation of the thriller […]

Interview: The American Shakespeare Center doubles down

The American Shakespeare Center in Staunton reached two milestones this season: the quarter-century mark and the completion of Shakespeare’s canon. All but two of the 38 plays we attribute to Shakespeare were published in the First Folio in 1623, and with its current production of Timon of Athens, ASC can claim performances of all of […]

ARTS Pick: War Horse

A young boy and his beloved horse Joey are plucked from tranquil farm life in Devon and thrust into the depraved and violent landscape of World War I. Such is the tale of War Horse, adapted for the stage from the book by Michael Morpurgo, and broadcast live from the National Theatre in London. In […]

Wake up call: Comic Bill Burr stands up for himself

With notable TV appearances on Comedy Central, three standup recordings, and several film roles under his belt, Burr is on track to become the next household name in comedy. Not to be overlooked is his work as a dramatic actor, like his role as Patrick Kuby on “Breaking Bad.”

ARTS Pick: Museum

If you’ve ever joined the hundreds of New York City spectators that flood the MoMA on Free Friday Nights, you know half the fun of modern art is watching the audience react. Tina Howe’s 1976 play Museum paints a meta-picture in bright, absurdist colors that details the chaos and conversation of 30-plus patrons during the […]