Baltimore/Washington Backstage - July 21, 2006

Balt/Wash backstage July 21, 2006

Never thought I would hear this news. The production of the musical "Hairspray" will be filmed, NOT in Baltimore, but in Toronto.  First the film, "Annapolis" is not filmed in the capital city and now will the first number of "Hairspray" be changed to "Good Morning Toronto"?  John Waters must be livid about this. What a terrific opportunity is lost to "Les Habs".

Want to applaud MPT's "Artworks This Week" which had a terrific show last week. Wish I could have promoted it. A highlight was the coverage of the Cockpit in the Court's production rehearsal for "Peter Pan" Interviewed were Director Diane Smith, Honor Bowerman (Curly), Kelsey Lake (Peter Pan), Casey Kolb (Wendy's brother John), and Daniel Hasty (Captain Hook). It is not often such productions get this kind of television coverage. Why local television does not cover local theater is still a mystery to me.

Thanks also to the same show for the wonderful report in this week's edition about the musical "For the Glory" being played at the restored (cost of $16 million) Majestic Theater (850-seat capacity) in Gettysburg, PA.  You'll see snippets of the musical (known formally as "Civil War" but adapted here) and interviews with Michael Lanning (Union Captain, a role he played in the Broadway version) and the great Keith Bryon Kirk as "The Abolitionist". Kirk's Broadway credits include "Miss Saigon", "The Grapes of Wrath" and the Broadway cast of "Civil War". But the part I will always remember him for is the role of Jim Conley in Jason Robert Brown's wonderful Tony winning musical "Parade".  You can catch a repeat of "Artworks This Week" Saturday morning, at 9 a.m. To learn more about the production, go to their web site, www.fortheglorythemusical.com where you can hear 7 of Wildhorn's terrific songs and see the thoughts of playgoers who have seen the show on the BWW message board. Call 917-715-2836 for tickets. I hope to catch the show and review it in a few weeks.

Now a little web-site self-promotion. BroadwayWorld.com and BroadwayWorld.TV are bringing the latest web technologies to bring Broadway to the world. Catch a great 27 minute backstage tour of "Wicked" on Broadway Beat "From the Archives". Just log onto the article "BWW TV Gets Supersized with Broadway Beat and WICKED" on this site. It's a terrific show.

The Maryland Arts Festival's great production of "Gypsy' ends Saturday. This should not be missed. Todd Pearthree has another great directorial achievement. (Saw his sister Pippa in Broadway's Tony winning Best Play "The History Boys"). Call 410-704-2787. The British film of "The History Boys" opens in New York Nov. 24 with most of the Broadway cast in the film.

The OlneyTheatreCenter has a busy week-end. Ending July 23 are "Hedda Gabler", "No End of Blame", and "An Experiment with an Air Pump". The tremendous "Jacques Brel" continues to July 30 and "An Enemy of the People" ends Aug. 27. Call 301-924-3400.

Thank you to Brel's J.D. Goldblatt for letting me know Baltimore's Eric Anthony (a Carver Arts & Technology grad) is heading back to Broadway in "Mary Poppins". J.D. appeared with Eric in Atlanta's Alliance Theater's "Jelly's Last Jam". J.D. (remember his great role in Center Stage's "Once on This Island" as Daniel?) will also be heading to Broadway in "Les Miserables".

Another Carver grad, Lauren Williams, will be in the Signature Theatre's "My Fair Lady" in September 26 to Nov. 19.

Attended the highly touted Washington Shakespeare Theatre's acclaimed production of "Love's Labour's Lost". One of my favorite weekly news magazines, "The Week" gave it "Four Stars". Director Michael Kahn must have had a ball thinking of a way to update this comedy. This edition is a salute to pop culture. You will see hippies, Indian musicians, mopeds, singing cosmonauts….well, you get the picture. Bring all the kids who THINK they wouldn't enjoy Shakespeare. But it helps if they know the plot before hand. It's a hoot. 202-547-1122.

It's also the final week-end for the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival's "A Midsummer Night's Dream outdoors in the Meadow at Evergreen House. 10.366-8596.

More Shakespeare?  And FREE!!!! The Maryland Shakespeare Festival is doing "Two Gentleman of Verona" on FederalHillPark (overlooking Baltimore's Inner Harbor) July 28-30. There will be a KIDS Show at 7 p.m. Performances start at 8 p.m. Log onto www.shakespeareonthehill.com. for further info.

Cockpit in Court's "Music Man" continues until Aug. 6. 410-780-6369.

Taking a little break and hope to have the next edition of "Baltimore/Washington Backstage" on August 18. Meanwhile, read James Howard's great reviews and his Tuesday "CharmCity" column. This is one of the many reasons it's great to have a partner.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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