Signature’s Fiddler on the Roof hits new heights
Fiddler on the Roof, the 1964 musical based on stories by Yiddish-language author Sholem Aleichem, is back. The theater-in-the-round revival at Arlington’s Signature Theatre, which runs through Jan. 25, is superb. Directed by Joe Calarco, Signature’s Fiddler on the Roof will win the admiration of those old fans as well as newcomers to this important staple of American musical... READ MORE
‘Deceived’ at Everyman delivers thrills
Baltimore’s Everyman Theatre has made it a bit of a tradition to start the holidays with a mystery, a work of suspense. Last year for instance, Everyman staged Agatha Christie’s classic whodunit And Then There Were None. This holiday season, Vincent Lancisi directs a stellar four-member cast in Deceived, Johanna Wright and Patty Jamieson’s adaptation of Patrick Hamilton’s... READ MORE
‘Elf’ brings holiday magic and fun to Toby’s
The plot of a mythical character encouraging a cynical Macy’s employee to believe again in the magic of Christmas will likely remind many of the holiday film classic Miracle on 34th Street. But the story of Buddy the Elf, now playing at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, is unique, timeless and adorable. Over the past two decades, Elf, the 2003 movie starring Will Ferrell, has... READ MORE
On the soccer sidelines as a grandfather
Grandpa gets there early. The Jaguars are warming up. About 10 parents are congregating along one sideline, including my son. Coffee is being sipped. Smiles are being shared. Six-year-old soccer is on stage, yet again. Thirty years ago, my son was the player and I was the congregant. The generations trundle on. The Jaguars aren’t having a very good season. In fact, they have lost ... READ MORE
Two nonfiction books for winter evenings
History Matters, by David McCullough, 192 pages, Simon & Schuster, 2025 The late Pulitzer Prize-winning historian David McCullough told an audience in 2012 that writing history was like working on a detective case. “And once on the case, you want to know more and more and more,” he said in remarks at Dartmouth College. “Follow your curiosity.” One thing that’s clear... READ MORE
Love — or at least friendship — in a hurry
Q: I signed up for a speed-dating event and have never done one before. I’m 75, never married, no kids, and am very happy with my life, but would like a companion to go places and do things with. My last relationship ended almost 30 years ago, and it’s way past time. Any suggestions would be welcome. —Robyn, Maryland A: Congratulations on taking the first step toward potential... READ MORE
Retired physician publishes her memoir
When Kay White Drew was in her early 20s, a close friend suffered the death of her premature son. That loss drove Drew to a career in neonatology. While attending medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, and later completing a pediatric residency at the University of Maryland Hospital, Drew saw many injustices. Last year Drew, now retired, published her memoir of that... READ MORE
Familiar spirits reappear at Ford’s Theatre
If theaters are haunted, as popular lore has it, Ford’s Theatre provides more than a few ghosts in its splendid adaptation by Michael Wilson of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Of course, the site of the 1865 assassination of President Lincoln already has the chill of history, but apparitions in this production include the ghost of Ebenezer Scrooge’s business partner, Jacob... READ MORE
How haiku healed a Baltimore widow
When you lose someone, the holidays can bring back the pain of that loss no matter how many years have passed. After all, grief isn’t linear; it comes in waves — it ebbs and flows. For Jane Flattery, healing took the form of three lines, 17 syllables, and a 5-7-5 syllable pattern: a haiku. Flattery, an 88-year-old Baltimore native, published a book of her poetry five years ago.... READ MORE
Choir performs beloved holiday concerts
During the darkest period of the year, the incandescence of the holidays glows. This holiday season, audiences can unwrap a lineup chockablock with performances from the Baltimore Choral Arts Society, a 99-voice strong chorus of sopranos, altos, tenors and basses. The lineup kicks off this year on December 2 with a performance at the Baltimore Basilica. That’s followed on Dec. 5 with... READ MORE
