Baltimore/Washington Backstage - November 8, 2008

November 13, 2008 is opening night for the Broadway musical Billy Elliot. You can see a preview on the CBS news television magazine "Sunday Morning".  Expect to see the three "Billys", Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish, and David Alvarez, director Stephen Daldry, and composer Elton John in an interview with Katie Couric. 

I was disappointed in the Billy Elliot episode featured on ABC's "Ugly Betty". I expected to see and or hear music from the show but to no avail. You did see an attempt at dance by "Ugly Betty" star Mark Indelicato when he auditioned for the musical. This could have been much better. For videos of the authentic audition process, visit www.BillyElliotBroadway.com.

Next Broadway connection on "Ugly Betty" will be the star of  the "Hairspray" film, Nikki Blonsky airing sometime in the future. Visit www.abc.go.com/primetime/uglybetty.

Check out NBC's "The Today Show" on Monday morning to see Ann Curry interview Daniel Radcliffe about his role in the Tony-winning play Equus  airing between 9-10 a.m.

Tony winner Cherry Jones (Doubt) is the next president on Fox's "24" beginning January 11. 

The ABC series "Life" recently starred Stephen Bogardus  in an episode called "Jackpot". For those who saw Bogardus in the terrific Center Stage production of A Little Night Music, you wouldn't recognize him. Visit www.NBC.com to watch the episode. What an actor!

Another Tony-winning Broadway musical is heading to the big screen.  Following the huge success of Mamma-Mia!, Universal Pictures has announced that In the Heights is next. If you saw the wonderful television commercial for the musical actually filmed in the Washington Heights neighborhood near the George Washington Bridge, one can only imagine how terrific it will be if it is shot on location. The musical Wicked is about to shoot shortly.

 Remember 33 Variations at the Arena Stage in September 2007?  It was just announced that this venture which started at the Tectonic Theatre Project is heading to Broadway next season starring Jane Fonda.   Playwright Moises Kaufman (Tony-nominee for directing I Am My Own Wife) will direct his work about Beethoven. Fonda will play the role of a musicologist who researches Beethoven's sheet music. See my review from last year on this site.

Attention Jason Robert Brown fans. Read a nice interview with the composer of 13 by my friend and colleague Joel Markowitz at www.dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/31/composer-jason-robert-brown.

And speaking oF Brown, bring the family to the Kennedy Center where the world premiere of a concert version of E.B. White's The Trumpet of the Swan: a Novel will occur from Dec. 4-6 in the Eisenhower Theatre. Brown wrote the music and will be conducting a 35-piece orchestra. Marsha Norman has adapted the book, Bob Balaban directs, and the cast features Kathy Bates. Recommended for ages 7 and up.

Also heading to the Kennedy Center is Stacy Keach in Frost/Nixon (Nov. 11-30) and Legally Blonde (Dec. 16-Jan.11, 2009). For tickets at the Kennedy Center, call 202-467-4600 or www.kennedy-center.org.

This Sunday evening, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. see Tony-winners Christine Ebersole (Grey Gardens) and James Naughton (City of Angels, Chicago)  in concert at Strathmore Hall.  This is a wonderful venue to see these two top entertainers. Visit www.strathmore.org.

Speaking of Grey Gardens, the musical makes its DC premiere at the Studio Theatre Nov. 12. 202-332-3300.

Selling well at the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company is Boom. It opens Nov. 9 and already been extended to Nov. 30. Visit www.woollymammoth.net.

Children auditions for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang coming to the Hippodrome Theatre January 6-18, 2009 for 16 performances will be held Sunday morning, Nov. 9 at the Maryland Science Center beginning at 9:30 a.m. Please enter at the group entrance on Key Highway no later than 9 a.m. Those aged 8-12 and no taller than 4'10" are invited. For more information email France-MerrickPAC@broadwayacrossacmeric.com.

Beginning Nov. 11 at the Hippodrome is the musical How the Grinch Stole Christmas through Nov. 23. 410-837-7400.

Openings this week:

Center Stage has Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf through Nov. 30. 410-332-0033.  Breaking News!!! Center Stage has announced the final play of the season replacing The Understudy will be Souvenir starring the sensational Judy Kaye who revives her Tony-nominated role as the vocally challenged Manhattan socialist Florence Foster Jenkins. Kaye got a Tony for The Phantom of the Opera and a Tony nomination for Mamma-Mia! This will be a special event. 410-332-0033.

The Everyman Theatre is presenting Filthy Rich Canadian playwright George F. Walker through Dec. 14. 410-752-2208.

The Vagabond Players in Fells Point is presenting Bram Stokers' Dracula through Nov. 23. 410-563-9135.

Wendy Wasserstein's plays seem to be everywhere!!!

Opening this week is The Sisters Rosensweig at the Fells Point Corner Theatre and plays until Dec. 7. 410-276-7837 and through Nov. 23 at the Arts Barn. 301-258-6394,

Other Wasserstein plays in the area:

An American Daughter at Port City Playhouse through Nov. 15. 703-838-2880.

Third at Silver Spring Stage through Nov. 30. 301-593-6036.

The Heidi Chronicles at the Foundry Players through Nov. 23. www.foundryplayers.com.

The Arena Stage has the deal of the week!! Pay attention. A theater-goer one-day-only bailout plan.

For a period of only 24 hours from Midnight, Thursday, Nov. 13 to midnight, Friday, Nov. 14, ALL TICKETS for the remaining 7 shows will be just $25 each for the first week of performances. 

Performance dates available for sale:

Next to Normal, Nov. 21-28.

I Love a Piano, Jan. 29-Feb. 4, 2009.

A Delicate Balance, Feb. 6-11, 2009.

Crowns, March 27-April 1, 2009.

A Long and Winding Road, March 31-April 5.

Legacy of Light, May 8-13, 2009.

Sweet Bird of Youth, May 29-June 3, 2009

The staff will work around the clock. Call 202-488-3300 or visit www.arenastage.org.

The musical Next to Normal runs Nov. 21- to January 18 in Crystal City and will feature Alice Ripley (Side Show) and J. Robert Spencer (Jersey Boys). Two-time Tony nominee Michael Grief (Rent, Grey Gardens) directs. See the numbers above for the Arena Stage.

Are you a Spring Awakening fan? Well composer Duncan Sheik is coming to the Barns at Wolf Trap Wed, Nov. 12 at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. With him will be cast member Lauren Pritchard. For tickets, 877-WOLFTRAP or visit www.wolftrap.org.

One of the funniest plays I've ever seen is The Lieutenant of Inishmore playing at the Signature Theatre to Nov. 16.  Irish beer for only $3. Call 703-573-SEAT. See my review on this site.

Can you imagine Les Miserables in a small setting with a 14 piece orchestra, 28 actors, 138 costumes, and a five ton steel set?  Well, the Signature Theatre is undertaking this Herculean task beginning Dec. 2 and running to January 25, 2009. Get your tickets NOW. 703-573-7328 or visit www.signature-theatre.org.

Ending Nov.9 is the Metro Stage production of Pearl Bailey..by Request. Call 703-548-9044..

Upton Sinclair's The Jungle comes to CCBC Essex Mainstage Nov. 14-24. 410-780-6369.

CCBC Catonsville is presenting Emily Bronte's Wuthering Heights Nov. 12-15. 410-780-6369.

Bernstein's West Side Story is heading to Broadway at the Palace Theatre beginning Feb. 23.  You can catch it in DC to at The National Theatre Dec. 15 to Jan. 17.

A Jew Grows in Brooklyn comes to the Gordon Center for Performing Arts in Owings Mills Nov. 19-23. 410-547-7328.

The Folger Theatre presents I Henry IV Oct. 8-Nov. 16. Call 202-544-7077.

The Shakespeare Theatre has extended Romeo & Juliet and continues with the costume comedy The Way of the World. Call 202-547-1122.

Butterflies are Free continues through Nov. 15 by the Catonsville Theatre Company. Call 410-455-4400.

The story of percussionist Evelyn Glennie is being presented at the Imagination Stage in Bethesda. Playing from the Heart continues through Nov. 30. Bring the whole family. It's only 90 minutes. 301-280-1660.

Germano's Trattoria in Little Italy continues with its Thursday evening cabaret performances.  Nov. 13 features Baltimore School for the Arts students, Nov. 20 has The Baltimore Theater Alliance, and the BSA returns on Tuesday, Nov. 25. Call 410-752-4515 or visit www.germanostrattoria.com.

The Suburban Players will hold auditions for their 34th annual dinner theatre production.  This year,the group will be presenting How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, the Tony Award andPulitzer Prize winning musical  Frank Loesser and Abe Burrows.    Auditions are being held on Saturday, November 15th  from 1-00pm to 4-00pm and Monday, November 17th from 7-00pm to 9-00pm at Saint Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church on 2504 Cub Hill Road in the Carney area of Baltimore County.  Auditioners should come with a prepared song and be dressed for a light dance audition.  An accompanist will be provided.  John Desmone directs, Sally Tarr is the musical director, and Debbie Goetzinger choreographs.  The show will run for three weekends beginning February 13, 2009.  For directions, please call 410-661-1090.

For comments, email cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.