Citizen Review: Ella and the Crystal City Experience

By Steve from Bethesda

What an incredible show!

I was lucky enough to catch the final rehearsal of “Ella” last night, and it is wonderful!  Tina Fabrique was great in “The Women of Brewster Place” but she is incredible as Ella Fitzgerald.  Ms. Fabrique has the chops to accept the challenge of comparison to the great Ella.  She can scat and swing, hit the high notes and take on the blues.  The stage band is tight, and the set and lighting are top notch.  With apologies to the Gershwin brothers, this is no lady be good – this lady be great!

The new space in Crystal City will be good for theater goers from across the region.  The seats are comfortable with good leg room (for those of us with long legs).  The best part of the temporary quarters for Arena – it is accessible by METRO.  Actually “METRO accessible” is a gross understatement – the theater lobby is a short walk from the train stop – through a tunnel.  There will be no excuse to miss this show when the weather is bad. 

I took the METRO from Bethesda to the show and got a ride from friends back.  The drive to my home was about as long as the trip from Arena’s Southwest DC home – with many fewer traffic lights.