Baltimore Backstage - February 17,2005

Sometimes wishes do come true. Both my Broadwayworld.com fellow correspondent, James Howard and I had hopes that the BIG Broadway  musicals now on tour would find a way to stop in Baltimore/>/> this season. And Broadway Across America (not Clear Channel anymore) has brightened the eyes of theater-goers throughout the greater Baltimore/Washington area.

 

Theater group leaders throughout Maryland/>/> were invited to a special presentation on Feb. 16 to view the 2006-2007 subscription season. Thanks to the Sun's announcement, it was no longer a secret that the theater had succeeded this time in bringing the best available Broadway tours to the Hipp. The two people in charge of group sales, Barb Wirsing and Shirley Stidham, were doing a brisk business before the event got started. For group sales call 410-837-0110. Subscription sales start Feb. 19.

 

Over 200 theater enthusiasts were assembled. I have never heard such an unenthusiastic portrayal of a theater line-up presented by the Chairman of the Board of the Hippodrome Foundation, Wally Pinkard. To say it was lackluster is being kind.

 

But not even the drawl reading of the upcoming season could spoil the excitement in the room after hearing the incredible line-up of shows for next season at the HIPP.    Some of the best selling shows still running on Broadway will be coming: "Wicked", "Spamalot", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Putnam County Spelling Bee" and "Doubt". Joining these blockbusters are the classic musical "Sweet Charity" and the drama "Twelve Angry Men".  You can read the details on performance dates in our articles on the web site.

 

We were treated to a video montage from all of the musicals. But the highlight was a surprise appearance of the off-Broadway cast of "Alter Boyz".  They gave a fabulous performance which was much appreciated by the attentive audience of theater aficionados. Dennis Moench (an NYU graduate) was the alter boy wearing the kippah and was terrific playing the Orthodox Jew.  It was great to see again the Obie nominated Tyler Maynard ("Mamma Mia") portray his character Mark (who has a crush on Matthew the group's lead singer). The actor portraying Mark went into the audience for a female, brought her on stage and serenaded her with a lovely ballad called "Something About You Baby". Some attendees were disappointed to hear Tyler/>/> will be staying in New York/>/> and not traveling with the tour.

 

It will be interesting to see how the two small musicals "Spelling Bee" and "Alter Boyz" which both play in small intimate spaces in New York/>/> (one being an off-Broadway house) will transfer to the huge Hippodrome. 

 

Bridge & Tunnel Feature on Sunday morning, Feb. 19

 

One of the most talked-about shows on Broadway is "Bridge & Tunnel. Sarah Jones recently re-opened her one person show at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre. She plays a Pakistani accoutant,  a Jewish grandmother, a Dominican sixth-grader, a Russian poet, among many others.  See what this incredible play is all about on the A&E program "Breakfast with the Arts" Sunday morning Feb. 19 between 8-10 a.m. This successful show has just been extended through July 9, 2006./>

 Catch the cast of "Jersey Boys" on David Letterman

The cast of "Jersey Boys' will be performing on the David Letterman show on CBS, Tuesday night, Feb. 21. I highly recommend this airing since the Letterman show does wonderful presentations of Broadway musicals. They did a great job with "A Color Purple" and "Wicked". Wonder if and when Letterman will invite the cast of "Mamma Mia" which is almost directly across the street from the Ed Sullivan Theater.

Now that you have seen or read about the Everyman Theatre's excellent production of "The Last Five Years", composer Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for a New World/>" deserves a look. Last year the Spotlighters did an excellent production of this eclectic piece. If you missed it, ArtsCentric is presenting it this week-end at the Maryland Presbyterian Church,

1105 Providence Rd/>, Towson this week-end. Call 443-413-1528.

 

The Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's rendition of "Hamlet" will be performed by their teenage troupe Saturdays and Sundays, through Feb. 26 at the St. Mary's Outreach/> Center/>/>, 3986 Roland Ave. Call 410-366-8596.

 

"Ain't Misbehavin" continues at the Chesapeake/> Center/>/> for the Creative Arts in Brooklyn Park/>/> through Feb. 26. Call 410-636-6597.

 

Other shows on the boards this week-end include "And Then There Were None" at the Spotlighters, "Barefoot in the Park" at Annapolis' Bay Theater Company, "Blues for an Alabama Sky" at the Arena Players, closing Sunday at the Fells Point Corner Theater is "Dinner with Friends", and  "Measure for Measure" at the Mobtown Players.

 

At local equity houses, "The Murder of Isaac" at Center Stage, "The Cripple of Inishmaan" at the Everyman, "Fully Committed" at Rep Stage, and "Nevermore" at the Signature in Arlington, VA. Look at the reviews of all these shows in the web site.

 

 I will be heading to the Olney/> Center/>/> for the Arts on Saturday night to see "The Heiress". Look for a review next week.

 

See you at the theater.

To post a comment, you must register and login.