Danny Saunders News

Spiro Veloudos chooses wisely when it comes to telling good stories and finding good directors to tell them. Daniel Gidron respects the religious and scholarly aspects of the book and delves deeply into the emotional intelligence of the characters and the richness of their relationships.

On Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m., the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will present the New York premiere of The Chosen, a staged reading of the play based on the 1967 novel by Chaim Potok.

On Wednesday, January 25 at 7 p.m., the Museum of Jewish Heritage - A Living Memorial to the Holocaust will present the New York premiere of The Chosen, a staged reading of the play based on the 1967 novel by Chaim Potok.

It's that time of the year to take a look back at which shows and performances I enjoyed in 2011 on DC area stages, and since I saw over 200 of them this year in professional, community, university, children's, and programs that train young actors, let me give it a whirl and I'll pick my 'Top 5' in each category.

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.

Two charming sisters sail the unpredictable seas of courtship in a captivating adaptation of Jane Austen's classic novel SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, presented in its American premiere by TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley. Sensible, reserved Elinor and passionate, impulsive Marianne find the course of true love beset with scandalous secrets, shocking betrayals, dashing suitors, and devious rivals in a dazzling, period-perfect tribute to everything Austen. Featuring Katie Fabel, Thomas Gorrebeeck, Jennifer Le Blanc, Lucy Littlewood, Michael Scott McLean, Mark Anderson Phillips, and Stacy Ross, with TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley at the helm, this delicious romance plays August 24-September 18, 2011 (Press night August 27) at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets ($19-$69), call (650) 463-1960 or visit theatreworks.org.

Mustard Seed Theatre opens THE CHOSEN October 22 - November 7, 2010, which follows two teen-age Jewish boys who meet as rivals in a baseball game and begin an unlikely friendship, navigating the opposing political and religious views of their fathers. Adapted from the classic novel by Chaim Potok. The cast includes Justin Ivan Brown as Reuven Malter, Adam Moskal as Young Reuven, Jim Leibrecht as David Malter, David Chandler as Danny Saunders and Richard Lewis as Reb Saunders.

The second half of the mini-Potok festival continues with an engaging and thoughtful dramatization of his classic novel THE CHOSEN, which I can recall reading (for English class) and enjoying myself many years ago. This adaptation, like the recent production of MY NAME IS ASHER LEV, is also written by playwright Aaron Posner, and it fully captures the flavor of the book, staging key scenes compactly, and with considerable economy, even though it relies on the use of a narrator, which the other adaptation eschewed in favor of having its protagonist portray the lead character at various stages. Mustard Seed Theatre's production is nicely conceived and executed, with a solid cast doing fine work under the guidance of director (of both productions) Deanna Jent.

Mustard Seed Theatre opens THE CHOSEN October 22 - November 7, 2010, which follows two teen-age Jewish boys who meet as rivals in a baseball game and begin an unlikely friendship, navigating the opposing political and religious views of their fathers. Adapted from the classic novel by Chaim Potok. The cast includes Justin Ivan Brown as Reuven Malter, Adam Moskal as Young Reuven, Jim Leibrecht as David Malter, David Chandler as Danny Saunders and Richard Lewis as Reb Saunders.

Mustard Seed Theatre opens THE CHOSEN October 22 - November 7, 2010, which follows two teen-age Jewish boys who meet as rivals in a baseball game and begin an unlikely friendship, navigating the opposing political and religious views of their fathers. Adapted from the classic novel by Chaim Potok. The cast includes Justin Ivan Brown as Reuven Malter, Adam Moskal as Young Reuven, Jim Leibrecht as David Malter, David Chandler as Danny Saunders and Richard Lewis as Reb Saunders.

Theatre J has announced its upcoming 2010- 2011 season including THE ODD COUPLE, THE CHOSEN, and the new play PHOTOGRAPH 51.

A silent father, an ancient tradition and an unexpectedly important game of baseball forge bonds of lifelong friendship between two Jewish boys from 'five blocks and a world apart' in Aaron Posner's award-winning adaptation of Chaim Potok's award-winning novel, The Chosen, coming to Portland Center Stage this spring. The Chosen will end its run on May 2, 2010.

A silent father, an ancient tradition and an unexpectedly important game of baseball forge bonds of lifelong friendship between two Jewish boys from 'five blocks and a world apart' in Aaron Posner's award-winning adaptation of Chaim Potok's award-winning novel, The Chosen, coming to Portland Center Stage this spring. The Chosen previews on Tuesday April 6, opens on Friday, April 9 and runs through May 2, 2010.

A silent father, an ancient tradition and an unexpectedly important game of baseball forge bonds of lifelong friendship between two Jewish boys from 'five blocks and a world apart' in Aaron Posner's award-winning adaptation of Chaim Potok's award-winning novel, The Chosen, coming to Portland Center Stage this spring. The Chosen previews on Tuesday April 6, opens on Friday, April 9 and runs through May 2, 2010.

John Lloyd Young, best known as Jersey Boys' original Frankie Valli, will debut his single, Love Believes, on iTunes on Valentine's Day, February 14.

John Lloyd Young, best known as Jersey Boys' original Frankie Valli, will debut his single, Love Believes, on iTunes on Valentine's Day, February 14. iTunes users can now hear a preview of the track by searching for John Lloyd Young.

John Lloyd Young, best known as Jersey Boys' original Frankie Valli, will debut his single, Love Believes, on iTunes on Valentine's Day, February 14.

Due to overwhelming response from eager audiences, TheatreWorks' moving production of Chaim Potok's classic tale, THE CHOSEN, is adding performances, and will now extend its run through November 8 at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. THE CHOSEN, adapted for the stage by Chaim Potok and Aaron Posner is the classic uplifting tale of fathers and sons, faith and family, featuring Bay Area theatre veteran Corey Fischer, with The Jewish Theatre of San Francisco (formerly A Traveling Jewish Theatre) Artistic Director Aaron Davidman at the helm.

On October 18, 2009, the crowd walked to 'remember those we have lost, walked to help our friends, family and fellow Angelinos who are affected by HIV/AIDS, and walked to show our never-ending determination to end AIDS.' Tony winner John Lloyd Young performed 'You'll Never Walk Alone' for the crowd to honor those in need and who have passed on from AIDS.

Tony Award winner John Lloyd Young will guest star as a 'former wood shop instructor with a voice of gold' on the upcoming FOX series GLEE. Lloyd Young described the role 'as great fun, the whole cast is top notch and full of talented film and theatre actors.' His guest starring episode will air Wednesday, Sept. 16th.