Is the conflict between the archetypal, masculine hero and the worship of a more contemporary, sensitive man still one that resonates decades later? Happy Birthday, Wanda June, a play by Kurt Vonnegut (yes, apparently Vonnegut wrote plays — at least this one, anyway). It was written in 1970, and the anti-Vietnam undertones are rather prevalent in this story; comparisons to the current conflict might have proven an inspiration for American Century to pick up this…

The DC theater community is starting the year off right with…no more productions of A Christmas Carol. Seriously, there’s plenty to like in January, from gutsy works to brand-new musicals. The Neo-Futurists (pictured) are back! Too Much Light Makes The Baby Go Blind, which our critic Chris Klimek loved, makes a return engagement at Woolly Mammoth (Jan. 4). Stick ’em up! The American Century Theater gets nostalgic for police dramas with their production of Cops…

Thank god for the Capital Fringe Festival. The event, now in its second year, makes sure that our July isn’t totally barren when it comes to edgy, exciting theater. We’ll be giving you a more detailed report on what the Fringe has to offer this year (hint: Avenue Q and Harry Potter parodies, Chocolate Jesuses and an operatic Lysistrata are among the choices), but here’s what the less fringified theaters around here will be up…

Lillian Hellman’s The Autumn Garden, now being staged at American Century Theater, is a slow-moving but well-executed drama with enough moments of humor and truth to complement a lazy, reflective Sunday afternoon. The play is set in a summer home near New Orleans, where Constance (Deborah Rinn Critzer) is staying, along with the Ellis family of Carrie (Jan Boulet), son Frederick (Joshua Drew) and mother Mary (Linda High), among others. Constance’s niece Sophie (Maura Stadem)…