MR. KOJO NNAMDIFrom WAMU 88.5 at American University in Washington, welcome to "The Kojo Nnamdi Show," connecting your neighborhood with the world. Later in the broadcast, the curious cook has tips for cooking fish. He says it's one of the harder dishes to master in the kitchen. But, first, this has been quite a year in Washington theater. We've seen highs and lows, big productions and intimate fear. For some, 2010 will be remembered as the year of Arena Stage, which reopened after $135 million renovation. That's right. You heard it right, $135 million. Others are celebrating the return of Cherry Red Productions, one of Washington's smallest and edgiest theater companies.

MR. KOJO NNAMDIWe've invited some theater regulars to help us understand how the Washington Theater scene is changing and to help you figure out where to spend your limited entertainment dollars over the next few weeks and months. Joining us in studio is Peter Marks, chief theater critic with The Washington Post. Peter, happy holidays. Good to see you again.

MR. PETER MARKSYou, too, Kojo. Thank you.

NNAMDIAlso joining us in studio, Sherri Edelen and Nancy Robinette, two actors currently starring in "Walter Cronkite is Dead" at the Signature Theatre. Both have more than 20 years experience acting in Washington theater. Nancy Robinette, thank you for joining us.

MS. NANCY ROBINETTEThank you for having me.

NNAMDISherri Edelen, good to make your acquaintance.

MS. SHERRI EDELENGood to see you too.

NNAMDIIf you have suggestions or comments about the theater scene, you can call us at 800-433-8850, or go to our website, kojoshow.org. Join the conversation there. Peter, we're in Washington, so I guess we should not be surprised that so many plays have political overtones -- undertones of one kind or another.

MARKSIndeed. In fact, we have two terrific actresses here who are in a play that is very much about the times we live in -- the political times we live in as experienced by two average Americans. And, of course, you do find these -- the strains of politics in almost every play coming through town. From the play that you mentioned, Cherry Red's "Wife Swappers," which seems as far from politics as you could possibly get. However, it does turn out that these "Wife Swappers," who we do see in the altogether in -- during the course of this play, they are all naked and -- for much of it. And it turns out that their politics are not what you expect them to be for people who are so free with their bodies.

NNAMDIAnd, of course, "Walter Cronkite is Dead" features politics, too. Every time I see that name, I remember my favorite Walter Cronkite story after he retired. And because this happens in an airport, somebody ran into him in an airport and said, didn't you used to be Walter Cronkite? Well...

ROBINETTEOh, wow.

NNAMDIIn this play, we've got two women, red state, blue state women. And it is my understanding that Joe Calarco, the director and playwright, wrote "Walter Cronkite is Dead" with Sherri and Nancy in mind. How flattering is that, Nancy?

ROBINETTEYou can't ask for anything better in the theater. It's divine to work in a new play and one that's been...

NNAMDICrafted...

ROBINETTE...tailored for you.

NNAMDI...especially for you. Well, as I said, this has to do with two women -- one red state, one blue state -- meeting in an airport and discovering, I guess, with some surprise, that they have some things in common.

EDELENMm hmm.

NNAMDICan you just do a little bit of the play from it so that our listeners will get some understanding of how this evolved?

EDELENAbsolutely. Do you want to set it up a little bit, Nancy?

ROBINETTEYes. We've -- we're sitting together because there are no other seats available. So we're sort of forced to talk to each other and deal with each other. And at this point in the play, the ice has been broken, and we find a common bond over our children.

NNAMDIOkay. Ladies and gentleman, Sherri Edelen and Nancy Robinette from "Walter Cronkite is Dead."

ROBINETTESounds like your daughter has a lot of interests, travel, far-flung places.

EDELENHmm. Far-flung is right. Always thought she liked it here. All the marble, all the concrete.

ROBINETTEPardon?

EDELENPamela hates trees.

ROBINETTEOh, all right then. That's curious.

EDELENOh, she couldn't stand it back in Tennessee. All these trees, mama, and all the squirrels sitting in those trees just looking at me, gnashing their teeth, ready to attack.

ROBINETTEMy word.

EDELENOh, don't get me started. And then her boyfriend said, you know, I've always wanted to be in the Secret Service. Let's move to D.C.

ROBINETTEOh, her boyfriend is with the Secret Service?

EDELENOh, no. He didn't end up passing whatever those tests you got to take are. Surprise, surprise. He's a disappointment-and-a-half to me. Can you imagine how his own mother must feel? Though she's far from a prize herself, let me tell you.

ROBINETTENow, now.

EDELENHe's a security guard at the Costco.

ROBINETTEOh.

EDELENUh huh. Well, I told her, now you can't run from trees, sweetie. They're everywhere. They have a place right here in Crystal City.

ROBINETTEOh, no. Hateful. It's just hateful.

EDELENI know. All those tunnels everywhere, connecting the buildings and all. You never have to go above ground if you don't want to. Why would anyone want such a thing?

ROBINETTEI am so sorry.

EDELENBut when I -- when my husband passed, I moved up here to be near to her. She's all I have left. Just a little itty bitty thing of a house. I do have a backyard, though -- lots of trees. Needless to say, she doesn't visit very often.

NNAMDIThat's Sherri Edelen and Nancy Robinette from "Walter Cronkite is Dead." They are currently starring in it at the Signature Theatre. They both have more than 20 years experience acting in Washington theater. And it's significant, depending on what your political posture is, how you refer to this airport.

ROBINETTEYes.

ROBINETTESome of us in Northern Virginia call it National Airport still, and others call it Reagan National Airport.

NNAMDIReagan National Airport. Peter Marks, I haven't seen it yet, but every tongue confess now on stage at Arena's Kogod Cradle sounds pretty unique. It explores hate crimes in the South in a pretty complicated plot.

MARKSYeah, it's by a young playwright by the name of Marcus Gardley. And as Nancy was saying, you know, new plays are exciting for everybody, not just the actors, obviously. For a person who writes about the theater, it's always exciting to see a new play done in Washington by a major company. And this one is -- takes place in the -- it's almost done in an allegorical way. It's not done as a sort of linear story, particularly, and it's got some wonderful actors in it in this gorgeous new space called the Kogod Cradle. It's the third space at Arena. It's a magnificent new theater, and it's supposed to be devoted mostly to new work. So, you know, it's a plus on every level for Washington theater.

NNAMDIThe biggest story of the 2010 theater season has got to be the reopening of that space at Arena Stage. You're driving along Main Avenue, and then, woo, there it is. It dominates the entire space.

MARKSYeah, have you guys been inside?

ROBINETTEYeah.

EDELENI have yet to go in.

ROBINETTEIt's beautiful.

NNAMDII have not been inside, yet I'm impressed enough with the outside as it is.

MARKSYeah, the transformation is extraordinary, especially since they retained the two theaters -- those two sort of emblematic Arena Stage spaces -- the Kreeger and the Fichandler Stage. They are intact within the shell of this amazing structure that looks like a ship, a glass -- a giant glass ship...

NNAMDIYep.

MARKS...and you wander among the three theaters. It's almost now like a village of theaters. It's kind of marvelous, and the audiences for the different shows and the acts. And there's bars on different levels. It's a gathering place, I think, a huge shot in the arm for theater-goers and actors in Washington. You really feel sort of this energy in that space that's marvelous.

NNAMDISherri and Nancy are already seeing themselves working in that space even as you speak.

MARKSIndeed.

NNAMDIGary in Washington, D.C. seems to like it. Gary, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

GARYYes, good afternoon. Yeah, I went to opening night for "Oklahoma," and I primarily went because I just wanted to see what the new facility looked like. I was quite surprised. Like the gentleman said, it is great. It's an experience just to walk around without even going in to see the theater. And when I saw -- I wasn't really -- you know, "Oklahoma." I would say, ah, no big deal, but this production of "Oklahoma" was great. I really -- if you're watching your regular Gordon MacRae -- it's the same songs and everything -- but it had a whole different flavor to it, and I highly recommend the show.

NNAMDIOkay. Thank you very much for your call, Gary. You, too, can call us at 800-433-8850. Peter, Arena Stage is not the only local theater with a new space. In fact, most local theaters seem to have opened new locations or substantially expanded in the past two years. Is that a coincidence? Or is something bigger going on?

MARKSIt's not most. It's every.

NNAMDIEvery.

MARKSEvery major theater in Washington has opened a new stage or a new -- or moved into a new space in the last 10 years. It's a transformation. I know I sound like Mr.-- you know, Mr. Hype Machine here, but it's the most extraordinary transformation architecturally and physically for any theater town in America. I mean, from Woolly Mammoth to Signature, where Sherri and Nancy currently are, to...

ROBINETTERoundhouse.

MARKS...Roundhouse to...

EDELENFord's.

MARKS...Ford's. I mean, everybody has put huge -- oh, Shakespeare Theater...

EDELENYes.

ROBINETTEDallas Studio.

MARKSI mean, the -- one -- I mean, everybody had -- I mean, the seating capacity has expanded. The aesthetics are way better than they were. And now they're -- I mean, the real question is going to be these spaces over the next decade living up to these -- I mean, the theater companies living up to the spaces they've created. You want to see real meaty theater in these places.

NNAMDINobody who reads you will ever confuse you with Mr. Hype.

NNAMDIAs a mater of fact...

MARKSThank you.

NNAMDI...one theory is that these theaters expanded because, after Peter came here in 2002, everybody felt we got to get bigger and better.

MARKSOh, no. That's so nice.

NNAMDIOnto -- but in terms of the kinds of expansion we've been seeing here, Nancy, as actors -- and you, too, Sherri -- what does these expansion mean to you, more opportunities, more competition for parts or something else?

ROBINETTEI think it's mostly more opportunities, and...

EDELENAbsolutely.

ROBINETTE...also it's very nice. It's much nicer backstage.

ROBINETTEYou know, it's very much more creature comfortly (sic) now.

EDELENUh huh.

ROBINETTEIt's very pleasant being at the Signature and the other theaters as well.

EDELENMm hmm.

NNAMDIWell, Sherri, now you can say who used to have the worst green room.

EDELENOh.

MARKSYeah.

EDELENOh, my lips are sealed.

NNAMDICome on, Nancy, tell us, tell us. Who had the worst green room?

ROBINETTEOh, well, I wanted a competition of designers to try to refurbish the green rooms of Washington, but now, they've been refurbished. Honestly, all these buildings have completely sprung up. I guess there was a lot of building money in a certain -- you know, with the foundations and everything...

MARKSWell, it's actually...

ROBINETTE...a certain (word?).

MARKS...private investors are the savior of Washington theater. It's the...

ROBINETTEOh.

MARKSIt's philanthropy on a very -- it's not corporate. It really is individuals like Jaylee Mead and Gil Mead and the Kogans. I mean, they've given tremendous amounts of money to the theater here.

ROBINETTEYeah.

NNAMDIWell, I mentioned competition, Peter. Is it my imagination or is the growth of the Washington theater scene bringing with it a growth in the number of out-of-town actors?

MARKSYou know, I wondered -- I would love to hear what you guys have to say about this...

ROBINETTEYes.

MARKS...because it strikes me as some theaters -- you know, once upon a time, Arena had its own company of Washington actors. Places like Signature seemed to go out of town a lot for major roles. Do you find it more -- both of you are at a very high level of accomplishment in Washington theater. Sherri played Mrs. Lovett -- for goodness' sake -- this year. Nancy plays everybody. So, I mean, you both have done a tremendous amount of work. But do you find that -- is it harder to get the parts you want given -- maybe the ambition is changing and maybe, you know, people, you know, are looking beyond Washington for actors? Or do you find that you have relationships that allow you to get the roles you want?

NNAMDINancy?

ROBINETTEI don't know what it's like for young people now and how they get into the whole system, but I think there's a really healthy mix. And I don't feel that competition as much as I would have 20 years ago when local actors weren't being hired very much for paid jobs. And I actually -- I love the fact that there is this healthy mix because you get -- they get the best of our community, which is really a very strong and committed and generous community mixed with -- and we've worked things out with each other.

ROBINETTEWe've worked together long enough. We have a body of work that we share. We don't have to start from scratch. And then these people from New York that bring their expertise and their point of view and their aesthetic, so I think this town is fabulous for theater. And it's -- I want people to know what a great theater town this is.

NNAMDIHow is it working out for you, Sherri, in terms of out-of-town actors coming here, being attracted by the expansion in theater?

EDELENWell, I don't seem to mind the out-of-town actors coming in at all. I think it's great to expand the bridge between New York and D.C. And to get to work with the New York actors is almost like a master class in and of itself.

NNAMDII told you, it's Marks' fault. He is the bridge.

MARKSNo, not at all. I was also wondering -- I mean, Sherri, I know you've done national tours.

EDELENMm hmm.

MARKSI know, Nancy, you've been -- done plays roundabout in New York. I mean, how much do you go beyond Washington yourselves? Do you look for opportunities outside of the city?

EDELENAbsolutely.

MARKSOr do you pretty much -- and your foundation is here. And then you look beyond?

EDELENThis is definitely a home base for me, but I have certainly worked a great deal in Philadelphia recently. And that's one -- also another great theater town.

MARKSOh, that's right. I've...

EDELENYes. And a lot of great actors from Philadelphia were coming down here. Also, you know, the local actors here are just as good as New York.

MARKSAbsolutely.

EDELENI don't want to say that we are less than, but it's always great to work with...

MARKSAnd not only that, when I first -- one of the stunning things when I first came here -- being a New York snob, when I came -- not -- I had seen Washington theater and actually liked it, and that's why I came. But actors in Washington have stage muscles that New York actors don't have because they are working all the time.

EDELENMm hmm.

MARKSThey have a -- it's their natural environment. It's not -- they're not entering a universe that they have to get accustomed to, which changes the alchemy on the stage tremendously, and it makes an audience feel -- you know, audiences here are almost spoiled by that. They don't even recognize that when they're seeing people of Sherri and Nancy's caliber that that is what -- it accumulates over the course of a career, that ability to just be on the stage and understand what an audience needs, what level of communication they need.

EDELENI...

NNAMDIWe've got to -- go ahead, Sherri.

EDELENI remember, Peter, when you came to see "Urinetown," and you brought some of your students over.

MARKSRight.

EDELENAnd I was very impressed with how impressed you were with us...

MARKSYeah.

EDELEN...which was mostly a local cast.

MARKSYes. That was a fabulous production.

EDELENYes.

MARKSThat was a fabulous production.

NNAMDIGot to take a short break. If you happen to be an actor in Washington who would like to comment on the expansion of theaters here and how it's affecting you and your work, you can call us at 800-433-8850. Or send us a tweet @kojoshow.org. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.

NNAMDIWelcome back. We're talking about theater in the Washington area with Peter Marks, chief theater critic at The Washington Post, and Sherri Edelen and Nancy Robinette. They are two actors currently starring in "Walter Cronkite is Dead," at Signature Theater. They both have more than 20 years experience acting in Washington theater. Peter, for some people -- though not usually the critics -- the Ford's Theater production of the "Christmas Carol" is a holiday favorite. You seem surprised that you actually liked it this year.

MARKSWell, it's -- you know -- I mean, how many times can you see a show? I mean, I must have seen -- I have probably seen 15 or 16 productions of "A Christmas Carol." Sherri, have you been in it at Ford's?

EDELENI -- yes.

MARKSYeah, I think I've seen you in an -- you know, I must have.

EDELENI did it for four years. I got on that train for four years. It's fabulous. It's a great show to do at this time of year.

MARKSSo, anyway, there's so many versions of this piece, I'm not even quite sure why this one story has become kind of the universal piece at Christmastime in theaters everywhere. I don't know why it's that one Christmas story. There are 4,000 Christmas stories. Anyway...

NNAMDIHow do you motivate yourself to go see it again?

MARKSWell, I mean -- well, you know, you're sitting around a lot of people who have -- who go every year, too.

NNAMDIYes.

MARKSI mean, a lot of the -- it's a year -- I try to take some breaks from it. But this year I went back 'cause there was a new production that started last year at Ford's, and I actually really liked it. I thought it was a very nice production. And, of course, a stalwart Washington actor, Ed Gero, is playing Scrooge, and that makes a tremendous amount of difference. And the cast around him is top notch, top notch actors, even in tiny parts. When you have Tom Story and Erin Driscoll playing little walk-on roles, you know you've got a really good production, and that doesn't -- that's not even mentioning some of the other actors who are in it. So, yeah, I mean, it's kind of fun to be able to say, hey, I don't have to be, you know, a jaded critic about this show. I can actually say this is enjoyable, and people should go.

NNAMDIAnother Washington tradition, taking out-of-town visitors to the Kennedy Center to see "Shear Madness." Critics hate it. Audiences love it.

MARKSYeah, I can't even speak of it. I mean, it's -- I refuse to...

EDELENI've never seen "Shear Madness."

MARKSYou're lucky.

EDELENOh, I have to admit it.

MARKSYou're lucky.

NNAMDIHow about you, Nancy? Have you ever seen it?

ROBINETTEI did years and years ago.

NNAMDIYou did.

ROBINETTEI worked at the Kennedy Center for a while in fundraising, and just being there really challenged me as to what I really wanted to do with my life. And -- but, yeah, "Shear Madness" had just started, and I bet it's pretty close -- they keep...

MARKSYeah.

NNAMDISlapstick humor, double entendre, middle kids, slacker teens, hipster adults (word?)...

MARKSAnd it's a paycheck for actors.

ROBINETTEAbsolutely. Thank you, Peter Marks.

NNAMDIWe have a lot of people who want to talk to us. Let's start with James in Takoma Park, Md. Hi, James.

JAMESGood afternoon, Kojo.

NNAMDIGood afternoon.

JAMESAnd I want just to give a shout out to my GW colleague, Peter Marks.

JAMESThis is James Levy calling in...

MARKSHi, James.

JAMES...to tout my show. If new plays are exciting, hopefully, new science fiction rock operas are even more exciting. And my show...

NNAMDIJames, you should know, wrote the science fiction rock opera being performed this weekend at the Lisner Auditorium's black-box theater, correct?

JAMESThat's me. Yes.

NNAMDITell us a little bit more about it.

JAMESWell, we did it in last summer's Capital Fringe Festival and D.C. Theater Scene gave us five out of five stars. And that was lucky for us because we only had an hour to set up for each show. So for this show, we're all set up in the theater. We did it a few times last weekend. And, this week, we're doing it Thursday, Friday, Saturday night and a Sunday matinee with much the same cast that got a lot of praise last summer.

NNAMDIYou have a name for the thing yet?

JAMESYes. It's called "When ET Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest."

NNAMDI"When ET Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." The story takes place in Los Angeles in the 1990s and a rock star's questioning her sanity in the nearby sanitarium. A man with amnesia wakes up screaming. A girl seems too scared to live, and on the dark side of the moon, a ship powers up. Does that capture it?

JAMESYeah, yep. That's my show.

NNAMDIOkay.

JAMESI jammed with a couple of ideas, a person who tries really hard to do the right thing and a picture of what first contact might be like between us and some ETs. And I figured it would probably happen in a lunatic asylum.

NNAMDIGood luck to you, James. Thank you very much for your call. Here is John in Southwest Washington. John, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

JOHNYes, hi. How are you?

NNAMDII'm well.

JOHNGood. Yeah, I just want to comment on Arena Stage as well. My family and I live in Southwest about, you know -- about a block-and-a-half...

NNAMDIWhat impact has it had on your neighborhood?

JOHNOh, people are extremely excited about it. It's just, you know, we've been watching it go up, of course, and they've -- Arena is -- for a number of years has been very good to the neighborhood. They have a Southwest night which has discount ticket. So we're -- we've been able to go for years and see all the shows...

NNAMDINo wonder that Tom Sherwood moved to Southwest. But go ahead...

JOHNAnd, yes, so it's -- yeah, the neighborhood's really excited about it. And we went to see "Oklahoma," and of all the shows that we have seen in Arena, I wouldn't say necessarily, it's probably -- sort of the best in any sort of, you know, absolute sense -- but it was the most entertaining. It was the most fun we've ever had in Arena, so I highly recommend it. And anybody who hasn't seen it -- the inside of the theater should definitely check it out.

NNAMDIThe anti-NIMBY construction. John, thank you very much for your call. Peter, it seems like it could be 1950. This year's big offerings include "South Pacific," "Candide," "Sunset Boulevard." What's with all these revivals?

MARKSWell, three of the big revivals, "Candide," "Oklahoma" and "South Pacific" are from way back when "Sunset Boulevard" was actually a musicalization of the movie by Andrew Lloyd Webber. In the '90s, it was actually debuted, and that's revived. It's actually the -- the interesting thing is that so many big cast musicals are being done at once in Washington. I mean those are four huge shows. One is a tour. The other three are produced locally. But I think, also, Washington has become kind of good at -- probably spear-headed by Signature -- at reviving major musicals. I think it's become a forte. I mean, we exported "Ragtime" last year to Broadway.

MARKSThere were some rumors even, that "Oklahoma," this terrific production at Arena -- I think, one of the best things they've done in the eight years I've been here -- might even go to Broadway. There was some chatter about that. I think that's died down a bit, but I think that's just something that's done really, really well here. You know, maybe it's part of the archiving tradition in Washington. Maybe the idea of exploring history extends to theater history. But it really has -- and there are solid actors here to do these shows. It's harder to have a composing team locally creating musicals although we have new musicals happening here, too. But revivals, in particular, have become a very strong brand here.

NNAMDI"Sunset Boulevard," of course, for those of you who remember, was a 1950 Billy Wilder movie. Nancy and Sherri, you two perform in one of Signature's two theaters. Right next door, there are rehearsals for "Sunset Boulevard." Any impressions so far?

ROBINETTEOh, the -- it sounds glorious. They have a full orchestra as Peter wrote about in the paper last Sunday, was it?

MARKSYeah, yesterday.

NNAMDIYesterday.

ROBINETTEAnd apparently, that's rare now. I didn't realize that...

MARKSMm hmm.

EDELENWell, that many pieces, they have a 20-piece orchestra, and Andrew Lloyd Webber wouldn't let him do it with less. So...

NNAMDIA 20-piece orchestra.

EDELENMm hmm. (all talking at once)

NNAMDIWhen I did my guest performance at Warner Theater recently with Washington Ballet, the members of the orchestra were outside picketing because they were using recorded music.

MARKSYeah, it's a sad thing. It's one of the great bad trends in theater, was the idea you could cut costs by cutting -- you know, it's called -- I mean, ballet is one thing, and I think they need live music with ballet. But a musical -- it's called a musical because musicians play it. That was the -- the notion, and the idea that you can do it with five musicians and a synthesizer -- you know, audiences know that there's a difference. And, in fact -- Sherri, correct me if I'm wrong -- actors love singing with that full accompaniment, isn't it?

EDELENIt's glorious. You ask any singer to sing with a live orchestra, and the more pieces you have, the more gorgeous it is.

NNAMDINancy, you have an orchestra pet?

MARKSRight. Have you ever done a musical, Nancy?

ROBINETTENo. Have I? I don't think I have.

MARKSBut do you sing? Do you sing?

EDELENYes, she does sing.

ROBINETTEWell, no.

MARKSWell, you did "Souvenir."

EDELENOf course, yes.

ROBINETTEYes.

MARKSRight. That was...

ROBINETTEBut I couldn't sing the final song, so we did something else at the end. And it worked out just fine. I loved that role. That was one of my favorites. But it was about a woman who couldn't sing.

NNAMDINancy Robinette grew up here, and she's been performing in Washington Theater since 1973, started out at Source Theater and Woolly Mammoth. So when you asked her if she's ever performed in a musical, she's like, let me see...

MARKSRight. Right.

ROBINETTERight.

NNAMDI...(word?) to my role next year, (unintelligible). On to Sarah in Falls Church, Va. Sarah, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

SARAHHi. I'm just calling -- I'm finishing up a term as a Helen Hayes judge, so I've seen a lot of theater in the past three years. And it's been great to see all the new theaters coming up. But I also want to give a shout out to the theaters that are too small to be opening up new spaces. There are some really amazing ones out there. Forum is one. I know they're housed in Round House Silver Spring now. Sadly, Catalyst was one as well, but it's no longer with us. But I do want to give a shout out to those smaller companies. So people who are looking for theater out there, don't just go the Kennedy Center or the Shakespeare Theater and those big ones. Go see some other things as well, and those fantastic children's theater as well. I don't even like kids, but I've been just enamored about the theater I've seen for children.

NNAMDISome of the smaller theaters, the GALA Theater, Theater J, the Theater Alliance at 8th Street -- Playhouse is offering a performance called "Black Nativity" again this year. They build themselves as H Street's holiday tradition, includes gospel sing-along for the whole family. I don't know if you've seen that yet, Peter.

MARKSNo, I haven't. I'm seeing -- but I'm seeing an interesting play at Theater J this weekend. It's a holiday piece called "Oy Vey in a Manger"...

NNAMDIOh, yeah.

MARKS...by the Kinsey Sicks. So yeah, right. "Oy Vey in a Manger" is, like, you know, in a manger, you know -- you sort of get an idea. I -- can I ask a question? I wanted to ask Sherri and Nancy something I've always been curious about. One thing I'm curious about is can -- you know, in terms of making a living as an actor here -- you know, you mentioned, Nancy, that years ago, you worked at the Kennedy Center. Is -- can Washington actors exist on theater alone? I mean, is it possible to -- are there actors who were employed so many weeks a year that they can actually, you know, support themselves? Or do you really have to have other...

EDELENWell, it depends on...

MARKS...revenue streams?

EDELENWhat quality of living do you prefer?

EDELENYou know? And so if you...

NNAMDIIf you're kind of bread and water diet.

EDELENEven if you were to really book your year full, you know, you might make $35,000...

MARKSMm hmm.

EDELEN...and I'm kind of pricing it high there.

MARKSWow.

EDELENYou know, so...

MARKSEven for the top actors? We're talking -- you know...

EDELENYou know...

MARKS...the upper echelon.

EDELENYeah, you have to have a good agent and...

MARKSRight.

EDELENAlso, most people do supplement their income.

MARKSMm hmm.

EDELENA lot of people teach. A lot of the folks at the Shakespeare Theater teach and -- I know, Nancy, you've taught...

NNAMDINancy's worked as...

EDELENYeah.

NNAMDIShe's taught. She's worked as a legal secretary. You've done all kinds of things.

ROBINETTEYeah, you -- most actresses have to cobble it all together and...

MARKSHmm.

ROBINETTE...just -- it all depends on how many shows you get in a year and what your downtime is. That's the thing to avoid, too much downtime. But some actresses have studied completely other trades in order to supplement, like Web design. I know actress who does Web design, and she can do that when she needs to. And so it works out.

NNAMDIWe had one of our interns who is an actor, and she and her husband both learned carpentry. And they started designing and building sets on the side for a living in order...

MARKSHmm.

NNAMDI...to help themselves. So you do what you have to. Sarah, thank you very much for your call.

SARAHThank you.

NNAMDIOn to Arthur in Alexandria, Va. Arthur, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

ARTHURHi, Kojo.

NNAMDIGo ahead, Arthur.

ARTHURI'm calling about Theater J.

NNAMDIYes.

ARTHURThey treat you like you're a member of the family there. I have difficulty walking.

NNAMDIYes?

ARTHURAnd they always put me in the first row, even if we have to cancel for some reason and re-up.

NNAMDIAnd you feel that that is something that makes the Theater J -- despite the fact that it is a small theater in Washington -- particularly valuable to you?

ARTHURAbsolutely.

NNAMDIThank you very much for your call, Arthur. I know that Ari is going to love hearing what you say. Ari Roth is going to love hearing you say that.

MARKSYes, he will.

NNAMDIHere is Theresa in Cleveland Park in D.C. Theresa, you're on the air. Go ahead, please.

THERESAHi, Kojo, thanks for having me. I am a 26-year-old non-union actress working in D.C., and I actually have a question for Sherri and Nancy. But, first, if you will allow me to make a plug, I'm actually going to be doing Lean & Hungry Theater. It's radio drama of "Romeo & Juliet," which is going to air on WAMU in February.

NNAMDIYep.

THERESASo there are interesting different scenes happening in the theater scene. Even if you can't make it out to the Shakespeare (unintelligible), you just turn on your radio, and there will be "Romeo & Juliet." But my question for Sherri and Nancy is actually, what kind of advice do you give to young actors working in D.C., who aren't using D.C. as sort of a stepping stone to getting to New York and L.A.?

EDELENOh.

NNAMDIFirst you, Nancy.

ROBINETTEI think you've -- if you want to stay in Washington, you've picked a great place to work as an actress. I love what Peter said earlier, that you can act a lot here -- not always paid, of course. I always gripe about the money, to be honest, but there are such a variety of the kinds of plays you can do here and the risks that are taken here that the commercial theater just can't do. So in a way, it's -- I do think that this is a very unique community for theater. And I'm excited about the future, and I encourage you to hang in with it and see what you can do.

NNAMDITheresa, thank you very much for your call. That is about all the time we have. You should know that Peter Marks' 10 best theater shows of the year will be in The Washington Post this Sunday. There's going to be at least one surprise on the list, it is my understanding, but we all wait to find out what exactly it is. Peter Marks is chief theater critic with The Washington Post. Peter, always a pleasure.

MARKSFor me, too.

NNAMDISherri Edelen and Nancy Robinette are two actors currently starring in "Walter Cronkite is Dead" at the Signature Theatre. Sherri, thank you so much for joining us.

EDELENThank you so much.

NNAMDINancy, thank you for joining us.

ROBINETTEThank you.

NNAMDIWe're going to take a short break. When we come back, the curious cook. I'm Kojo Nnamdi.