Lee Sung Jin was ready to walk away from "Beef" after Netflix declined pitch after pitch for Season 2. “But,” he says, “real life kind of hit me in the face.”
I sat down with Lee, the creator of the hit anthology, to discuss how a neighborhood shouting match inspired a searing second installment.
"Death of a Salesman" is seismic. "Cats: The Jellicle Ball" is exhilarating. "Giant" and "Becky Shaw" impress. And "Dog Day Afternoon" goes awry.
Assessing the recent spate of Broadway openings in my latest critic's notebook for The Post:
“1776” isn’t my favorite show, but Luis Salgado’s vibrant vision at Ford’s Theatre still meets the moment.
Reviewing that buzzy revival — plus “Young John Lewis” at Mosaic, “Appropriate” at Olney and Eddie Izzard’s solo “Hamlet” at STC — in another critic’s notebook:
“I think all of us in Washington could use a reminder of his kind of leadership, which was leading with love and truth and courage.”
Spoke to the creative team behind “Young John Lewis: Prodigy of Protest,” the galvanizing new musical getting its D.C. premiere at Mosaic Theater Company.
"Hamnet" at Shakespeare Theatre Company didn't work for me. But Studio Theatre's "Jonah" and Theater J's "Eureka Day" very much did! Here's a critic's notebook assessing five shows on D.C. stages:
A pair of musical triumphs — “Safety Not Guaranteed” and “Chez Joey” — are currently dazzling on D.C.-area stages. Catch them while you can.
Final score: 20/24. I’ll take it!
I'll be contributing to The Washington Post's live coverage of the #Oscars tonight with updates, analysis and awards season factoids. You can follow along right here:
My #Oscars picks are in!
Thanks sir!
Getting back to our regularly scheduled programming: Here’s my breakdown of the most enticing stage productions to catch in D.C. and NYC this spring.
That said, this pivot means I’m looking for long-term work and free to freelance for other outlets, so you might see my bylines pop up elsewhere. I very much plan to stay busy writing about film, theater, TV, soccer and whatever else piques my interest.
Personal news post: Like many, many others, I was affected by The Washington Post’s recent cuts. But I'll remain a contributing writer for The Post and, as of today, have resumed some of my editing work on contract. So I still have a role there.
How does Tony winner Bill Irwin, the 75-year-old “Odyssey” actor and esteemed clown, perform his loose-limbed solo show “On Beckett” eight times a week? Being a “gym junkie,” lots of walks with his dog and an enduring interest in the words of Samuel Beckett.
I think we’re collectively trying to figure that out!
Titanic missed a few (most famously DiCaprio in lead actor)
“Sinners” didn’t just break the record with 16 Oscar nominations — it got nominated in literally every category it was eligible in. Only places it didn’t show up were the three shorts, plus adapted screenplay, documentary, animated, international and lead actress. #Oscars
The D.C. theater slate is pack with eclectic offerings once more this year, with shows including an underground "Streetcar," a Wendell Pierce-starring "Othello" and a new musical about TLC. Here's my rundown of the most enticing productions on tap:
The World Cup isn’t coming to the D.C. area, but at least one high-profile tune-up is: Kylian Mbappé’s France will face Colombia on March 29 at Northwest Stadium in Landover.
“He is the leading man in one of the biggest franchises of all time, yet he also exists as someone comparatively unknown to many people.”
In Monday’s Post: My profile of “Avatar: Fire and Ash” star Sam Worthington, the Australian actor who is happy to be the mega-franchise’s unrecognizable hero.
Sam Worthington is the top-billed star of two of the three highest-grossing movies of all time.
But over the past decade, he has sneaked into stealthy anonymity.
“I always like anonymity. Having a blue avatar face, it may not get you nearly as recognized — but I’m not in it for that.”
Sam Worthington, the self-described introvert returning as Jake Sully in “Avatar: Fire and Ash,” is happy to be the mega-franchise’s surprisingly unrecognizable star.
Joined "The Julie Mason Show" today to discuss my favorite films of 2025 — you can give the segment a listen right here:
The FIFA Peace Prize, explained ⬇️
"Sketch comedy and pop songwriting go so hand in hand. ... Setup, punch line — that’s like verse, chorus."
Caught up with Matt Rogers before the inimitable actor takes his festive set of comedy songs — branded this year as "Christmas in December" — to 9:30 Club.
Hopped on “Post Reports” with @avarwallace.bsky.social and Rick Maese to discuss FIFA, Donald Trump and the World Cup draw. Give it a listen here:
A portrait of the Kennedy Center, ten months after Trump's takeover. The latest from @janaykingsberry.bsky.social and me.
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