The Rogers Revue

Movie Revue: "Booksmart"

Booksmart Offers Fresh Spin on Coming of Age Tale

May 20, 2019 Derrick Dunn Movie Reviews, Movies

Actress Olivia Wilde makes her directorial debut with the witty and charming Booksmart from United Artists Releasing. Lifelong friends Amy (Kaitlyn Dever) and Molly (Beanie Feldstein) have spent their high school career overachieving in the field of academics. The girls’ classmates find them to be pretentious and do not associate with them. One day during a bathroom break, Molly overhears one of her rivals Annabelle (Molly Gordon) bad mouthing her and takes the moment to stand up Read more

Movie Revue: John Wick: Chapter 3 - Parabellum"

Action Reigns Supreme in John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum

May 19, 2019 Derrick Dunn Movie Reviews, Movies

The latest entry in Keanu Reeve’s action-packed franchise arrives in Lionsgate’s John Wick: Chapter 3- Parabellum from director Chad Stahelski. Picking up immediately after the ending of John Wick: Chapter 2, this third installment finds Wick (Keanu Reeves) a marked man on the run as the High Table has declared Wick excommunicado. This means all of the benefits which were available to Wick as a hitman are no longer accessible. Wick reaches out to old friends Sofia Read more

Mary McCormack Joins as Co-Host for 30th Anniversary National Memorial Day Concert in DC

May 16, 2019 TRR News Television, Television News

PBS’ NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT announced today that Tony-nominated actress and star of TV’s THE KIDS ARE ALRIGHT, Mary McCormack will be joining Tony Award-winner and long-time concert host Joe Mantegna to co-host the multi-award winning live show for its 30th-anniversary broadcast, Sunday, May 26th. Also added to the lineup, AMERICAN IDOL Season 17 finalist Alyssa Raghu joins the show for a special performance of the “National Anthem.”

The Kennedy Center Presents HERstory, June 14-15

May 16, 2019 TRR News Theatre, Theatre News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents a Kennedy Center co-commission, HERstory: Love Forever, Hip Hop. Long-time D.C. resident Goldie Patrick, revives the 90-minute production in a stroll down memory lane. First commissioned by the DC Hip Hop Theater Festival in 2005, HERstory is an examination of the often-erased role of women in Hip Hop. Presented as a part of the Hip Hop Culture season, HERstory: Love Forever, Hip Hop will run June 14–15, 2019 in the Family Theater.

GRAMMY Nominee DRAM headlined the inaugural event that highlighted the local music scene

Recording Academy hosts First Block Party for D.C. Chapter

May 11, 2019 TRR News Uncategorized

The Recording Academy Washington, D.C. Chapter hosted its first annual Block Party at the City Winery in Washington, D.C on May 10. The inaugural membership event celebrated the local music scene and united more than 200members of the Recording Academy Washington, D.C. Chapter for an evening of unforgettable performances by past GRAMMY nominee DRAM, Chaz French, Angelica Garcia, MAKUTA, Rare Essence, and Kevin Ross.

Chae Stephen Stars as Marvin Gaye In “Pride and Joy”

May 10, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Theatre

Motown is a name everyone knows. Many of us have our favorite artists or songs produced under the Motown label, such as The Marvelettes, Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Jackson 5, and of course, the late, great Marvin Gaye. No matter what generation you are, you know Marvin’s hits “Let’s Get It On,” “Sexual Healing,” “What’s Going On?” and many others. “Pride and Joy” is a stage production that tells the story of Marvin’s life and relationship with Anna Gordy Gaye, sister of Motown founder, Berry Gordy. Chae Stephen appears as Marvin and was thrilled to discuss his role and the impact Marvin’s music has had on him in more ways than one.

TRR Exclusive interview with Executive Director of the DC Chapter, Jeriel Johnson

Recording Academy D.C. Chapter Celebrates Inaugural Block Party

May 10, 2019 Lauren Beverly Interviews, Music

The Grammy Awards is an event we all look forward to. We get to see our favorite performers take the stage and give us an electrifying performance and walk the red carpet with style and grace. While this year’s Grammy Awards was held in Los Angeles, The Recording Academy is not just limited to the West Coast. The Recording Academy has a D.C. chapter, and I had the chance to speak with Executive Director of the DC Chapter, Jeriel Johnson about an Inaugural Block Party being held this evening. We discussed the Recording Academy, the musical guests, and the block party itself.

Movie Revue "The Hustle"

The Hustle Is A Serviceable Comedic Con

May 10, 2019 Derrick Dunn Movie Reviews, Movies

The premise of dueling con artists who eventually team up to take down a mark gets a new spin in director Chris Addison’s The Hustle from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. The Hustle is a remake of the classic 1988 comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels which was a remake of the sixties film Bedtime Story. The Hustle opens up with an introduction of Penny (Rebel Wilson) and her style of coning a mark. Penny uses her natural gift of gab to get over on men. Across the pond French con artist Josephine (Anne Hathaway), uses a style of the con that involves her beauty and downplaying her intelligence.

Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of The Oresteia at the Shakespeare Theatre Company’s Sidney Harman Hall

The Oresteia: Michael Kahn’s Swan Song

May 10, 2019 Jaya Ghosh Theatre, Theatre Reviews

Orestes dispenses justice. Photo of the cast of The Oresteia by Scott Suchman.

The Oresteia shows us that the trials and tribulations faced by the ancient Greeks still maintain relevance to our moral and political dilemmas today, and that much can still be learned from these historic texts.

In addition to being Michael Kahn’s piece de resistance after an accomplished 33 year career with the Shakespeare Theatre Company, this performance is the world premier of Ellen McLaughlin’s adaptation of The Oresteia, three Greek tragedies by Aeschylus. Aeschylus’ Oresteia include Agamemnon, The Libation Bearers, and The Eumenides, and tell the story of the ill-fated House of Atreus following the Trojan War.

Alison Sudol (fka A Fine Frenzy) shares new single “The Runner” & announces new Moonlite EP & tour

May 10, 2019 TRR News Music, Music News

A true artist in every sense of the word, Alison Sudol is an immensely talented actress, musician, and individual. She will be performing at the Rock & Roll Hotel Sept 25th!