Jamie McGonnigal - Page 2

Following his stint as a semi-finalist on American Idol, Todrick has not only become a YouTube sensation, but he's redefined the genre. He's currently touring the country with a concert version of his new visual album, Straight Outta Oz, which will be at DC's Howard Theatre on Monday, August 1st.

Bigger and better than ever before! This fresh and dazzling production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's perennial classic comes to D.C. as part of a brand-new North American tour. Cast member Victor Wallace takes some time to tell us what's in store.

Andrew has had a prolific career as a writer, from the above mentioned Off-Broadway favorites, to supplying additional material for the You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown revival, as well as music & lyrics for Broadway's Big Fish and The Addams Family. Now he's taken on two of our country's greatest civil rights legends, gay rights activist Harvey Milk, and women's rights activist Anne Hutchinson

I first met Noah Racey when I was directing the 2004 Nightlife Awards at Town Hall in New York. He was performing with his co-star from Never Gonna Dance, Nancy Lemenager. If you've never seen him dance, you haven't lived. I got to chat a bit about his stay down here in DC. 

I first met the lovely and talented Dani Marcus 20 years ago when she was playing Louise to my Herbie in Gypsy. I was roughly 4 years older than her, but it was a barn in the middle of Vermont and no one seemed to care. Spending my summer with her, I knew she'd continue on to great things. A true talent - hilarious onstage, with a stunning voice and presence, it was a privilege to be onstage with her.

Natascia Diaz is one of DC's greatest talents. With several Helen Hayes Awards and nominations under her belt, she's returned to her roots playing her favorite role, Anita in Signature Theatre's West Side Story.

As the Billboard Top 40 Rap Chart features Broadway's own Hamilton at the top of the page, it's exciting to remember a time where hearing Broadway tunes on the radio, and having them performed by top talents was not such a rarity. If you need a reminder of the timelessness of a good melody, of the allure of crisp, intelligent lyrics, go no further than the Sidney Harmon Theatre in downtown D.C. Under the direction of Alan Paul, with smooth and sexy choreography from Michele Lynch, Shakespeare Theatre Company's KISS ME, KATE opened last week to a well-deserved standing ovation. 

Jeff McCarthy starred in Broadway's Beauty & The Beast, Chicago, Les Miserables, and the original casts of Side Show (Terry) and Urinetown, creating the role of Officer Lockstock, which he reprised several times for the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS events, The Easter Bonnet and Gypsy of the Year competitions. He's spending his holiday season in Washington D.C. at the Arena Stage, where he'll take on the role of Fagin in their production of Oliver!. Jeff took a moment to chat with me about the show, as well as his past, present, and future plans.

What happened Thursday night though, was not only a trip down memory lane with a woman who created roles in Les Miserables, City of Angels, and one of my all time favorites, A Class Act, but it was a master class in how to perform a song. She wouldn't still be around if she wasn't damn good at what she does.

One of the contributions to the Women's Voices Theatre Festival is The Keegan Theatre's THE DEALER OF BALLYNAFEIGH, a new dark comedy/farce from Rosemary Jenkinson, and directed by Abigail Isaac Fine.

A few years ago, her Elle in the national tour of Legally Blonde earned her a Helen Hayes nomination. Now, Becky Gulsvig is back in DC singing some more familiar tunes in BEAUTIFUL: The Carole King Musical.

The musical tells the story of a marine about to head to Vietnam for the war that saw an estimated 1.5 million casualties. Birdlace (Tiziano D'Affuso), and his fellow marines Boland (Harrison Smith) and Bernstein (David Landstrom) are on leave in San Francisco when they plan a party, like the soldiers before them, called 'The Dogfight.' All the soldiers put money in a pot and compete by bringing the ugliest girl and dancing with her at the party.

Studio Theatre's 2nd Stage has been transformed into a cabaret theatre, complete with proscenium running lights and a runway that would make any Mama Rose proud.  With tongue planted firmly in cheek, the familiar story of Jonathan Demme's Oscar Winning 1991 film, "Silence of the Lambs," comes to life. 

Broadway's Jennifer Laura Thompson (Nice Work If You Can Get It) and Rachel Bay Jones (Pippin) star in the World Premiere of DEAR EVAN HANSEN and they've also managed to tackle being working actors and real-life mothers at the same time. I got the chance to speak with both of them about how all that works - juggling successful careers and parenthood is something not a lot of Broadway actors can pull off.

?Washington DC's Theater J wraps up their 2014-2015 season with Charles Busch's THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST'S WIFE.

Dan DeLuca plays Jack Kelly in the production that will be coming to DC's National Theatre for a limited two-week engagement June 9-21st.

Closing out the 26th season, Artistic Director David Simmons has put together some of the greatest works by your favorite composer and mine, Stephen Sondheim. When I was 14 years old, I heard 'Sunday' from Sunday in the Park with George for the first time. I remember it clearly. I'd borrowed the album from the library - yes - while everyone else was playing kickball down the street, I was holed up in my room, listening to the vinyl of lesser-known musicals. THAT'S how gay I am.

Zuri Washington is the young star of a musical which tackles many of the issues we're seeing play out on the streets around the nation today. 

Men dressing as women is an art form as old as Shakespeare. In Elizabethan times, women were forbidden from appearing on the stage. Therefore, all of Shakespeare's greatest women, from Lady MacBeth to Portia to Juliet - all originally played by men.

Barbara Cook's Spotlight Series at The Kennedy Center has served as an incredible showcase for some of Broadway's greatest talent to take a smaller stage. The first one I attended was 5 years ago when Laura Benanti took the stage. Since then, dozens of other brilliant performers have taken to the Terrace stage to share a different, more casual side.