Kiernan McGowan

Helen Hayes Recommended We Happy Few (PERICLES, 2018; LOVERS' VOWS, 2019) continues its Classics-in-Action series with a new adaptation of Alexandre Dumas' novel of betrayal, revenge, and hope. Showcasing our signature ensemble casting and collaborative devising, our team of four actresses fill a world with treacherous enemies and unexpected friends of the unfortunate Edmond Dantes. The Count of Monte Cristo is a pop up performance and will be presented in a wide range of venues in March and April. Catch it at the Otis Street Arts Project, Capitol Hill Arts Workshop, Republic Restoratives, and Hole in the Sky DC.

We Happy Few entreats you to follow your heart in November 2019 with a scandalous play by 18th-century female playwright Elizabeth Inchbald, at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.

The model that We Happy Few Productions has built and perfected over the last seven years is, for my money, one of the most admirable and sustainable of any theatre company in DC. Their goal is to make classical stories (traditionally Shakespeare, though they've wisely branched out of late) accessible to audiences by way of simple, direct storytelling. By utilizing smaller, versatile casts, succinct text preparation and adaptation, and straightforward yet dynamic design elements, they hone in on what makes a story endure by working the imagination. Every show by We Happy Few feels like an event, and I am especially fond of the energy they're bringing to Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, their first-ever traveling production - an apt format for this particular tale. This review covers the performance on Monday, May 6th at 7:30pm at Capitol Hill Arts Workshop.

As acknowledged by Director Kiernan McGowan's program note, Pericles is a hot mess of a show. It was only half-written by Shakespeare, completed later by George Wilkins (who isn't remembered for good reason). The incoherence of the plot reveals the fractured nature of the play's creation. It's understandable why this play is rarely produced. As We Happy Few demonstrates, however, this show can still be a fun ride if your performers lean into the script's ridiculousness.

Shakespeare's CYMBELINE may be named for the play's king, but his daughter Imogen is the real star of the tale, the center of the action. Pointless Theatre's original adaptation by playwright-director Charlie Marie McGrath corrects the misnomer in a version entitled IMOGEN, which uses creative choreography and shadow puppetry to captivating effect. It's overly long, but it's Shakespeare as you likely haven't seen it before, which is saying something.

We Happy Few productions, named by the DCist as one of the Best Small Theatre Companies of 2015, will bring a masterpiece from the Spanish Golden Age to life this fall: Lope De Vega's THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

We Happy Few productions, named by the DCist as one of the Best Small Theatre Companies of 2015, will bring a masterpiece from the Spanish Golden Age to life this fall: Lope De Vega's THE DOG IN THE MANGER.

Shakespeare's HENRY V gains new perspective with a retelling by We Happy Few Productions that takes a closer look at the stories and stakes of the everyday foot soldiers. It is a fascinating, resonant, and important new take on a known work that's only around for another week, so make plans now to take it in.

In the American premiere Fiona Doyle's COOLATULLY, Kilian (David Mavricos)is stuck in the village of Coolatully and has few prospects. Once the powerful champion of the hurling team, Kilian has watched so many of his generation leave for opportunities abroad that the tiny town no longer has enough young people left to field a hurling team. The garda station is closed and the post office shuttered. When an opportunity to leave presents itself, Kilian must decide if there is enough to tie him to Coolatully when so much seems to indicate that he cannot afford to stay.

Playwright Sarah Ruhl, confronted with her beloved father's death, must have wrestled hard with how to honor his passing, without losing herself in the process.  Her play, Eurydice-in Jay D. Brock's production at Next Stop Theatre-is in some ways a witty take on the old Orpheus myth, but the wit is clearly in service of something more personal and contemporary.

"Eurydice" by Sarah Ruhl is now appearing Thursdays through Sundays until November 20, 2016 at NextStop Theatre, in Herndon, Virginia. The first look at photos from the production are now available.

Amid an intense political battle raging in Washington, where nasty behavior towards women has been the focus of recent news, NextStop Theatre Company in Herndon, Virginia, just 20 miles west of the political capital, is honoring women center stage.

The Welders-Washington's only playwrights' collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new work-have launched their second production. Not Enuf Lifetimes, a new play by Caleen Sinnette Jennings, opens tonight, November 1, 2014 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Psalmayene 24 will direct.

Tickets may also be purchased in person at The Atlas Performing Arts Center, 1333 H Street, NE, Washington, D.C.

The Welders-Washington's only playwrights' collective devoted exclusively to developing and producing new work-have launched their second production. Not Enuf Lifetimes, a new play by Caleen Sinnette Jennings, opens November 1, 2014 at the Atlas Performing Arts Center. Psalmayene 24 will direct.

We Happy Few Productions has once again brought its signature commitment to enlivening classic theatre through bare-bones, ensemble storytelling to this year's Capital Fringe Festival. Happily, they have re-energized a 90-minute version of the Jacobean drama, THE DUCHESS OF MALFI by John Webster, and placed its prescient outrage at the subordination and persecution of women before a 21st century audience still battling this oldest of injustices.

The Wild Root Company, a New York City-based production endeavor committed to cultivating new works from emerging playwrights and screenwriters, will present two free industry readings of Topher Payne's timely new comedy PERFECT ARRANGEMENT today, June 19, 2014 at 3:00 and 7:30 pm at The Creative Center at Manhattan Theatre Club. Linda Lombardi, who helmed the play's critically acclaimed, sold-out world premiere at The Source Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2013, will direct. The Wild Root Company will produce the readings in association with Sean Hudock, Rocco Natale and Thatcher Stevens.

The Wild Root Company, a New York City-based production endeavor committed to cultivating new works from emerging playwrights and screenwriters, will present two free industry readings of Topher Payne's timely new comedy PERFECT ARRANGEMENTon Thursday June 19, 2014 at 3:00 and 7:30 pm at The Creative Center at Manhattan Theatre Club. Linda Lombardi, who helmed the play's critically acclaimed, sold-out world premiere at The Source Festival in Washington, D.C. in 2013, will direct. The Wild Root Company will produce the readings in association with Sean Hudock, Rocco Natale and Thatcher Stevens.

We Happy Few Productions, one of Washington D.C.'s preeminent emerging theatre companies, concludes its lauded inaugural season with its signature take on William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet tonight.

We Happy Few Productions, one of Washington D.C.'s preeminent emerging theatre companies, will conclude its lauded inaugural season with its signature take on William Shakespeare's ROMEO & JULIET. The 90-minute production, which continues We Happy Few's celebrated commitment to illuminating Shakespeare's text through a fresh lens while maintaining the integrity of his story, characters and language, will run July 14-24, 2013 at Source Theatre in Washington, D.C. as part of this year's 8th Annual Capital Fringe Festival.