BWW Recap: An Evening at Kennedy Center's 'Page to Stage' Fest.

I have read with great interest about the Kennedy Center's "Page to Stage" Festival. This year is the 9th Annual Event, always held during the Labor Day week-end with performances from 2 p.m.  to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday (Labor Day).

When I noticed that the Signature Theatre's "American Voices Musical Voices Project: The New Generation" was going to be featured at 6 p.m. on the Millennium Stage, I decided it was time to check out this great event and I was not disappointed.

I was shocked to see a crowd of close to 500 people jammed into the North Foyer of the Kennedy Center to hear the music from musicals in development at the Signature Theater by composers Matt Conner, Adam Gwon, Marisa Michelson, Chris Miller, Scott Davenport Richards, and Jeanine Tesori.

Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer introduced the 60 minute show. The performers were all incredible. They included:  James Gardiner, Sam Ludwig, Greg Maheu, Stephen Gregory Smith, Bligh Voth, Stephanie Waters and Rachel Zampelli. On the piano was the talented Gabe Mangiante who played with much gusto.

There was a delightful duet sung by Waters and Ludwig who performed a Matt Conner number from his musical Hollow entitled "Little Things".  I wrote down a lyric that went "So many times I wished upon star and here they are." I looked at the very young cast on stage and thought to myself, here they are, the future stars of musical theater.

Following this wonderful event, I attended the beginning of a 7:30 p.m. presentation of a new musical based on the poetry of Williams Shakespeare entitled Greenwood Tree conceived and composed by Will Reynolds.  This is a co-production of the Folger Theatre and the Signature Theatre.  Performers included Alexander Strain (Puck), Nikki Renee Daniels (Sylvia), Zachary  Prince (Will), Jeremy Jordon (Henry) and muses Madeline Botteri, Erin Driscoll, Vincent Kempski, and Gabriel Lopez. There was some gorgeous acoustic music by musicians Eric Davis (guitar), Susan Davis (violin), Andy Einhorn (piano) and Lee Hinkle (djembe). Reynolds has a great future.

I only stayed a short time in the Terrace Theatre and then it was off to the packed Family Theater to get my first ever look at the award-winning Synetic Theater.  And I was not disappointed. It's not often one gets a chance to see a working rehearsal and that's what those lucky enough to be in attendance observed. Synetic kicks off its inaugural season in Chrystal City, VA a new workless epic, King Arthur. On full view was a mixture of movement, music, combat and drama. The cast includes Ben Cunis (King Arthur), Vato Tsikurishvili (Lancelot), Brynn Tucker (Guinevere, and Jodi Niehoff (Morgan le Fay).

Following the rehearsal, acclaimed director Paata Tsikurishvili invited questions from the appreciative audience.  Yes, the swords are real, made of metal so the sword fights have to be choreographed. And yes, there are injuries. I was surprised that almost no one in the cast had dance training. The cast, almost in unison, replied they get "on the job training". The beautiful original music is composed by Konstantine Lortkipanidze who was in attendance.

Oh, by the way, this production will showcase the company's fluid movement on its first-ever water stage. (They even sell Splash Zone seats!)

King Arthur runs from September 30 to October 31 at the theater located at 1800 S. Bell Street, Arlington, VA.. There's a Pay-What-You-Can Preview on Wednesday, Sept. 29 at 8 p.m. For tickets, call 800-494-8497 or visit www.synetictheater.org.

Well, that's what I observed in just over three hours and it was all FREE!!

So, take my advice. Reserve  Labor Day week-end, Sept. 3-5, 2011 and you can spend three days having a wonderful free theatrical experience.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

Photo: Rachel Zampelli, Stephanie Waters, Sam Ludwig, Bligh Voth, Greg Maheu, and James Gardiner, with Gabe Mangiante at the piano. Photo by Charles Shubow.

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