Baltimore/Washington Backstage - January 19, 2007

A Baltimore/Washington Backstage EXCLUSIVE!!! I have been singing the praises of Broadway's latest hit "Spring Awakening". Well, leave it to David Letterman's "The Late Show" to give this show its first national exposure. While you can view much on the show's web site www.springawakeningthemusical.com), the Letterman show has a tradition of dealing with musicals in a terrific fashion. So, Thursday night, February 8, do not miss the cast performing "The Bitch of Living". Also, thanks to a loyal reader, look for the cast on "The View" on Feb. 22. Rosie O'Donnell mentioned the show and said, "I haven't been so moved in the theater in such a long time."  USA Today will interview composer Duncan Sheik in their Friday, January 26th issue. Rolling Stone magazine has a feature on the show in their January 27^th issue. For a review of the CD, read Andrew Gans' column in Playbill.com dated January 12, 2007.

 

Wednesday night, Jan.26, you can the see Julie Taymor's acclaimed version of "The Magic Flute" on both WETA and WMPT from 9-10 p.m. This Metropolitan Opera presentation was recently presented in movie theaters nationwide. 

 

What a joy it was to watch "Scrubs – the Musical" on NBC, Thursday evening, January 19.  Paying homage to "Hairspray", "Les Miserables", and Gilbert and Sullivan…the Tony winning composers of "Avenue Q", Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx did a fine job of writing four of the songs.  Of course it helped to help a talented cast (led by Tony nominated Stephanie D'Abrusso  (also from "Q")  and Zach Braff, who admitted in the show he went to theater camp (Stage Door Manor to be exact). Karen Ziemba even makes a brief appearance. There's a great duet called "Guy Love" now on YouTube.

To read more, I recommend Robert Diamond's great interview with D'Abruzzo on this web site (January 17, 2007).

 

 

 

Speaking of "Avenue Q", if you have "little" ones, a great way to introduce them to Broadway show music is John Tartaglia's children's show "Johnny and the Sprites" Saturday mornings at 10 a.m. on the Disney channel. Tony winner Sutton Foster will guest star on the January 20 episode along with "Avenue Q" alumna Natalie Venetia Belcon.

 

 

 

Has anyone watched the first two episodes of NBC's "Grease: You're the One That I Want?" Painful to watch this rip-off "American Idol". The idea is to have the public pick the two stars of the new Broadway production of "Grease".  Starting on January 26, there will be six LIVE episodes with the 12 finalists.  It just may improve…well…a little anyway. 

 

 

 

Always great to witness a new playwright get terrific exposure. You may want to head to the Arclight Theatre,

152 W. 71^st Street

to see "The Germans in Paris" by Jonathan Leaf. This playwright was recommended to me and I am pleased to pass on the good news about this promising new playwright. "The Germans in Paris" inaugurates the Verse Theater Manhattan's "Plays About Poets". This one is about the German poet, Heinrich Heine and a possible relationship he has with two colorful characters, the revolutionary Karl Marx and composer Richard Wagner in 1840's Paris.  Also mentioned prominently is the Jewish composer Giacomo Meyerbeer who Wagner adored, admired, and was incredibly jealous of his music. (You may recall reading about Meyerbeer in my article on the Arena Stage's production of "Awake and Sing". See, www.meyerbeer.com.)

 

 

 

 

Leaf was named one of America's ten up-in-coming playwrights of note by Time Out New York. I can understand why.

 

 

 

Playing the role of Heine is John Krupp who has appeared in two Shaw plays at Center Stage, "Candida" and "Man and Superman".

 

 

 

This Equity approved showcase continues until January 27 in a lovely intimate 93 seat theater. For tickets, 212-352-3101 or visit TheaterMania.com.  You will laugh, learn some history, and witness a promising new playwright at work.

 

 

 

Great news about the 2005 Pulitzer Prize/Tony winner "Doubt". Tony winner Cherry Jones has extended her contract with the national tour and will be with the production when it opens at DC's National Theater (playing March 13-25) and at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre (playing May 1-13). Interesting that prices in DC are $38-$78 with premium seating at $126.25 (www.telecharge.com) while in Baltimore seats are a bargain starting at $27 and going to $67, with NO premium seating (410-547-7328). I can still remember Jones appearing at Center Stage in "Moon for the Misbegotten".

 

 

 

The monster "Wicked" arrives at the Hippodrome January 24 for an extended run until Feb 18. Kudos to the Producers for instigating the Broadway policy of doing a lottery for tickets two hours prior to the starting time. Here, a limited number of best available seats will be subject to a lottery and thirty minutes later, you'll know if you're successful. These seats are $25!!!  This show sells out everywhere. Call 410-547-7328.

 

 

 

It's Opening Night Friday, January 20, for the Everyman's production of "Going to St. Ives" through Feb. 25.  Everyman also is bringing back "The Cone Sister" January 28-30 and Feb. 4-6 @ 7:30 p.m. There may be a few tickets left, but hurry. Call 410-752-2208.

 

"Listen to My Heart: The Songs of David Friedman" is running at the Vagabond Theatre, 806 S. Broadway (in the middle of Balimore's historic Fells Point). This musical review directed by Tom Wyatt features some of the best Baltimore's voices. They include Jeff Burch, Ken Ewing, Chuck Graham, Dan Johnson, Holy Pasciullo, Elizabeth Ruddy, Alyson Shirk, Beth Weber, Dennis Wood, and Shannon Wollman. It continues through Feb. 11. 410-563-9135.

 

The Signature Theatre opens its new space in Shirleyton, VA with "Into the Woods", January 20 which features Carver Center for Arts and Technology grad Lauren Williams as "Little Red Riding Hood".  For tickets, call 800-955-5566, Tickets.com, or www.signature-theatre.org.

 

 

 

Last week-end, the Signature featured an Open House showcasing its new $16 million two-theater space and the place was packed with theater fans who were able to witness free concerts with Emily Skinner and Euan Morton, master classes, readings, face painting and free food and drink (no wonder there was a mob). It was fascinating to attend an actual rehearsal of "Into the Woods" and watch Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer at work and tweak the last number about five or six times.  Theatergoers do not normally have this kind of an opportunity and the lucky few who attended really enjoyed it.

 

 

 

And what a theater it is. The MAX Theatre is a 299 seat black box while the ARK has room for about 99. Plus, there is FREE parking in the garage next door. There will be a live pianist performing prior to each performance…a nice touch. What a welcome addition to the Baltimore/Washington theater community.

 

 

 

Neil Bute's "This is How it Goes" continues at DC's Studio Theatre through Feb. 11. 202-332-3300.

 

 

 

I finally made my first visit to Washington's acclaimed "Theater J".  Continuing until Feb. 18, is the World Premier of "Sleeping Arrangements" by Laura Shaine Cunningham based on her best-selling memoir.  The play occurs in the Bronx, where a family lives in the shadows of Yankee Stadium. It has much comedy and poignancy in a similar vein as the brilliant television sitcom "Brooklyn Bridge".  Look for my full review. For tickets, call 800-494-TIXS.

 

 

 

Finally, a first for this column…a book suggestion. Just finished "Time Steps, My Musical Comedy Life" by Tony winner Donna McKechnie (with Greg Lawrence). It will give you a behind the scenes look at what it takes to be a Broadway star and how quickly that star fell.  McKechnie tells a tragic story of a tough child-hood which lead to her running away to Broadway as a teenager. You will gain much respect for McKechnie and yet wonder why she made so many terrible and tragic mistakes in her life. Of course, you will learn about the process of making "A Chorus Line", her failed marriages (one to Michael Bennett), and reminiscences of Bob Fosse, Gwen Verdon, and Stephen Sondheim.

 

 

 

For comments, cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.