Lie Low, Ciara Elizabeth Smyth's subversive and "thrillingly twisted" play, is “a welcome addition to the contemporary feminist theater canon,” writes critic Daniella Ignacio. Read the review:

“DHCD is a mess.” The agency forfeited roughly $35M in federal affordable housing assistance. Part of that money went to a “credit swap” used to bail out a well-connected developer. Full story:

What do Rachel Sennot, Kim Kardashian, and Sarah Snook have in common? They’re all starring in shows columnist Bill Frost says you should stream right now.

This year, our newsroom showed up when it counted. We broke stories, uplifted local voices, and held power to account. Every dollar brings us closer to our $36,260 goal. Give today:

Victor Salinas and Gabriel de la Cruz are honoring the queer Latine community and sparking conversation with La Pluma Theatre company. “We cannot be silenced. We have to keep doing this,” Salinas says. “There’s not a better moment to do it.”

Now You See Me: Now You Don’t brings a new generation of magicians together with the Horsemen of yore for the ultimate heist. It’s a bit overstuffed, writes critic Lydia Wei, but the franchise has still got a few new tricks up its sleeve. The review:

At Theater Alliance, Furlough’s Paradise follows cousins reunited to grieve a family loss. They're living different lives, but both are searching for freedom. The play’s “greatest victory is its dedication to empathy,” writes Douglas Corzine. Read the review:

Margaret Hutton’s debut novel traces the decades-long relationship between two women who arrive in D.C. to fill the jobs left vacant by men serving in WWII. Contributor Costa Beavin Pappas chats with Hutton about the local history behind If You Leave:

Train Dreams is a thoughtful historical drama about the struggles of an ordinary man who modernity threatens to leave behind. Critic Alan Zilberman reviews:

In Predator: Badlands, a bisected bot and a young-and-hungry Yautja take on interstellar capitalism. Somehow, it becomes “a borderline schmaltzy adventure about found families,” writes critic Chris Klimek.

Paula Vogel, the “frank and fearless” Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright, talks to contributor D.R. Lewis about ancient Greece, “mother plays,” and her third play at Studio Theatre. Read their conversation:

The People Issue is back: a nomadic chef, a persistent muralist, an exotic dance expert, a lawyer who won’t stay quiet, and one very familiar face weighing a fourth term. We’re grateful to share their stories with you. Photos by @darrow-m.bsky.social:

Melanie Field opens up about motherhood, playing Gina in The Wild Duck, and her D.C. bucket list. Read the full chat with contributor Serena Zets:

Council Chair Phil Mendelson attended his annual lobbyist-filled fundraiser to replenish his constituent services fund last night. We took a look at spending from each elected official’s fund, and how you can access the dough:

Little District Books’ new home means more room for readers, events, and a tea bar coming soon. “We can do things that create more community,” says owner Patrick Kern. “But it’s also that now, we’re not tucked away.”

Our end-of-year campaign starts today! Washington City Paper was built for moments like these: keeping our community informed when it matters most. Help us reach our $36,260 goal and power the reporting D.C. depends on:

The latest masterpiece from Iranian filmmaker Jafar Panahi follows ordinary people who seek retribution against their past tormentor. The film is “a dangerous act of defiance” from a man whose work has been banned in his home country, writes critic Alan Zilberman.

Annapolis-based artist Tawny Chatmon uses portraiture to show the reality and beauty she sees among her loved ones. Her solo show at NMWA “doesn’t just unpack racial stereotypes but explodes them completely,” writes contributor Stephanie Rudig.

Wage theft is costing D.C. workers millions. Suzie Amanuel reviewed dozens of local lawsuits and complaints that show how employers dodge pay—and what it’s costing workers. “They’re not asking for a handout. They’re asking for what’s theirs,” says one local employment attorney. Full story:

Kathryn Bigelow returns after eight years with another divisive film. In her latest nail-biter, A House of Dynamite, POTUS and his team have 40 minutes to respond to an incoming nuclear missile. The review:

A revival of The Wild Duck, Henrik Ibsen’s 1884 tragicomedy, might just be a once-in-a-lifetime occurrence. Shakespeare Theatre Company gives the seldom-performed drama a stirring new staging:

A federal agent fired three times at an unarmed driver during a traffic stop in D.C. MPD officers left it out of their report. “He thought they were trying to kill him,” his attorney says. Full story:

Fifth Date follows two 30-somethings trying to seal their relationship while personifications of their worst fears and anxieties try to sabotage the evening. Nu Sass’ production leans into Y2K vibes, but not always for the best. The review:

Columnist Hannah Grieco chats with local author Amber Sparks, whose debut novel follows a young girl solving the mystery of her haunted apartment building. Plus, more books for your TBR and some lit events.

Here's the final installment of Postcards of Home, staff photographer @darrow-m.bsky.social’s trip through his early archives. Take a look back: buff.ly/Qj2pbbr

Making its world premiere at Arena Stage, Fremont Ave. follows three generations of a middle-class Black family making sense of the hands they’ve been dealt. Critic Chris Klimek reviews:

Who pays for what in a relationship and why does TikTok care so much? Ms. Guided takes on the “sprinkle sprinkle” method and the feminist math of modern love.

Guillermo del Toro’s brings Shelley’s classic melodrama to life with high Gothic flair, terrific performances, and a cerebral approach. Critic Alan Zilberman reviews the long-awaited Frankenstein:

Raygun Busch, the vocalist for noise-rock group Chat Pile, plays sludgy, intense metal that confronts homelessness and American ugliness. He’s also a hardcore cinephile. Film critic Alan Zilberman chats with Busch ahead of the band’s D.C. show on Oct. 26.

In Fair Play, the friendship between two teen runners is tested when one is banned from competition over her testosterone levels. Critic Lydia Wei reviews Ella Road’s deeply personal take on sports, gender, and female friendships:

After five decades of leading the Howard Jazz Ensemble, Fred Irby III is passing the baton to a member of “D.C. jazz royalty”—saxophonist, educator, and Mid-Atlantic Jazz Festival founder Paul Carr. More from Michael J. West for Swing Beat:

What happens when Malcom X meets Julius Caesar? Al Letson tries to make sense of two political assassinations, 2,000 years apart. It’s timely, poetic, and maybe a bit overstuffed. The review:

Howard University’s Temples of Hope, Rituals of Survival: Gordon Parks and Black Religious Life is the first exhibit devoted to Gordon Parks’ images of Black American religious and spiritual life. Contributor Coley Gray talks with curator Dr. Melanee C. Harvey:

The RESALE Act aims to curb ticket scalping and increase transparency for D.C. concertgoers. But critics warn its 10% resale cap could end up helping Ticketmaster by eliminating its competitors. Full story:

City Paper Arts readers, I'm curious: How do you feel about attending shows at the Kennedy Center in 2025? Considering their are employees attempting to unionize and that some artists have less options to cancel and play elsewhere to get paid? @wcp.bsky.social

More than 200,000 people showed up for the “No Kings” protest in D.C. on Saturday. City Paper staff photographer @darrow-m.bsky.social spent some time downtown to capture the moment:

In his debut film, writer and director Harris Dickinson creates an involving character study of an unhoused man with an addiction problem that avoids easy answers. Critic Alan Zilberman reviews Urchin:

Strategic Love Play, penned by Succession writer Miriam Battye, is a dark anti-rom-com about two 30-somethings on their first date. The funny, sometimes tender, two-hander asks cynical questions about love, online dating, and human nature.

Federal prosecutors intend to use records from MGM to support their criminal bribery cases against Trayon White. The casino handed over 767 pages regarding gaming, credit, and loyalty rewards in response to a subpoena. More here:

Making its U.S. premiere at Washington Stage Guild, Joe Bravaco’s two-hander The One Good Thing, Or ‘Are Ya Patrick Swayze? is a “remarkably sensitive” exploration of brotherly love and how the bonds of kin reverberate throughout time. Stephanie Rudig reviews:

Stephen Nakagawa wrote that he hopes to bring a “return to classical ballet’s purity” to the Kennedy Center amid the “rise of ‘woke’ culture” in ballet. But a look at the history of ballet shows that it has always been influenced by diverse and marginalized communities:

The DC Auditor’s analysis shows the city’s sports and convention authority miscalculated the excess cash it’s supposed to transfer back to the District. Events DC disagrees. Full story:

The Inheritance weaves the story of three generations of gay men grappling with class, identity, creativity, and loss in the shadow of the ‘80s AIDS crisis. At seven hours it’s a theatrical endurance test, but one our critic “would gladly take again.”

Red Pitch follows three Black soccer players dealing with the gentrification of their South London neighborhood. British playwright Tyrell Williams’ sports drama touches on class, masculinity, and loss, but the result isn’t always satisfying.

The D.C. Court of Appeals tossed out an armed carjacking conviction due to an MPD detective's "highly suggestive" tactics prompting a witness to identify the suspect.

Beverly Perry, longtime adviser to Mayor Muriel Bower, is stepping down from her role. She will head a new lobbying shop at Taft Law Firm. Tom Sherwood has the details:

As he approaches 40 years with WCP, @darrow-m.bsky.social is digging into his archive. All of the photos predate his move to digital cameras and were shot, developed, and printed in the series of darkrooms he built over the years. Read about the project and catch up on the shots you missed:

Guillermo del Toro isn’t the only one paying homage to Frankenstein this spooky season. In D.C., Bob Bartlett and Rorschach Theatre Company are staging Mary Shelley-themed shows that go beyond 200-year-old tale. Critic Chris Klimek takes a closer look:

Four local productions confront America’s past oppressions, racial stereotypes, and immigrant stories with humor and heart. “To choose to tell true history in this moment is an act of bravery, when it shouldn’t be,” says one director. Full story:

There’s a 140-year-old farmhouse in Northeast D.C. known as the Sherwood Farmhouse. It’s been home to farmers, nuns, Jesuit radicals, and Howard theologians. Now vacant for a decade, its legacy is one of happy accidents, preservation efforts, and interracial activism. Tanya Paperny tells its story: