Baltimore Backstage - March 3, 2006

                                                

 

Get out the boxing gloves. In one corner, Marks Chowning and the wonderful line-up at Baltimore/>/>'s historic Hippodrome Theater. In the other corner, the Washington/>, DC/>/> heavyweight, the Kennedy/> Center/>/>.

 In their continuing struggle to be the first to obtain the best of Broadway's touring productions, the  first knockout punch was landed by the Hipp with such  powerful musicals such as "Spamalot", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "The 25^th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee" and  "Sweet Charity".

 A counter-punch was just landed by the Kennedy/> Center/>/> announcing that the six Tony Award winning musical, "Light in the Piazza" will be heading to DC from Dec. 19, 2006/> to January 7, 2007/>.  Following that comes the Tony Award winning revival of Edward Albee's 1962 play, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Wolf" with Tony Award winner Bill Irwin and Kathleen Turner.  The other highlight in my judgment is "Sweeney Todd: The Reunion Concert" playing June 22 and 23, 2007.  Tony Award winners Christine Baranski and Brian Stokes Mitchell return to DC to commemorate they performed five years ago during the Kennedy Center Sondheim Festival. The line-up includes "Twelve Angry Men", Oct. 3-22, 2006/> (and then traveling up I-95 to the Hipp from Oct. 24- Nov. 5), Dublin's famous Gate Theater's production of "Waiting for Godot", the Kennedy Center production of "Carnival" (based on the 1953 MGM film), and the perennial favorite, "The Phantom of the Opera".

 And the winner is….in a knockout…theater lovers!!!

 I have continually been surprised how well "Piazza" has done at Lincoln/> Center/>/> without any famous lead actor.  I don't believe it's just because of its six Tony Awards. It is word of mouth that has led to its success. It is a lovely show with an incredible score by Adam Guettel. You can thank Lincoln/> Center/>/>'s Bernie Gersten for making sure the production had the right number of musicians to make the show reach its potential. Buy the CD and enjoy. I wonder if the gigantic Lincoln/> Center/>/> set will travel with the road show. I look forward to seeing it a second time, this time being familiar with the score.

 One show I would like to see arrive locally is "Bombay Dreams". Did not get critical raves but I really enjoyed the spectacle, the music, and the dancing.

Baltimore...you don't have to wait long to see the only musical with a song that says, "It's a privilege to pee". Yes, that's right, "Urinetown" is coming. The Carver Center for the Arts and Technology is presenting this Tony Award winning musical March 8-11 @ 7 p.m. If you have never seen it, I highly recommend it. Tickets are only $15. Call 410-887-2775. Carver has an incredible history for presenting quality work. These high school students do it all...from the orchestra, set design, set construction, lighting, sound, costume design, and ofcourse act, sing, and dance. 

Congratulations to Baltimore/>/>'s Vagabond Theater which celebrated its 90^th anniversary last Sunday night.  It is Baltimore/>/>'s only truly Broadway theater. You can see a double bill of "The Actor's Nightmare" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All to You" beginning tonight through April 2 at 806 Broadway in historic Fells Point. Call 410-563-9135.

Watched Cynthia Nixon's first national televised interview regarding her wonderful performance in "Rabbit Hole" on the "Tony Danza" show on March 1.  It was embarrassing for Danza to admit he wasn't able to use his tickets to see the show for an unexplained reason.  He could have easily returned to the Biltmore Theatre another time prior to the interview.  This wonderful play has been extended through April 9 due to incredible ticket demand.

 If you are an August Wilson fan, get your hands on the Theatre Development Fund's January issue of "Play by Play". It's a Special Edition which takes a look at the late playwright's life and work. Plus, its' free. Log onto www.playbyplayonline.org or call the Theatre Development Fund at 212-221-0885 to receive this free quarterly newsletter. You can also pay $25 to receive discount ticket offerings online and through the mail.  To join, visit www.tdf.org/application or send a self-addressed stamped envelope to : TDF Membership, 1501 Broadway, 21st Floor, NYC 10036.

Did you catch Tony Award winning actress Sara Ramirez from "Spamalot" (the Lady of the Lake/>) on ABC's hit show "Grey's Anatomy last Sunday? She looks "mahvelous". She seems to have a recurring role.

 Playwright David Mamet has limited TV experience but you can catch him directing on the new CBS drama "The Unit" premiering on Tuesday at 9 p.m./> He has written many episodes and directed two.  If you plan to be in Chicago/>/> soon, you can experience Mamet's works being showcased at the Goodman Theatre during the next seven weeks.

 Sad news for Baltimore/>/> audiences hoping to see Tony Award winner Cherry Jones in the hit play "Doubt". She has restricted her journey on the road for six months and that leaves Baltimore/>/> out in the cold.  I believe the last time Jones appeared in Baltimore/>/> was in an impressive production at Center Stage in "Moon for the Misbegotten".

 The still homeless Theatre Hopkins finishes its run this week-end of A.R. Gurney's "What I Did Last Summer" at the Swirnow Theater, in the Mattin/> Center/>/> on the campus of Johns Hopkins. Call 410-516-7159.  It would be great to have the Baltimore/>/> theater community support Theatre Hopkins in its quest to find a home.

 Last chance to see Noel Coward's "Blithe Spirit" at the Dundalk Community Theatre. The run ends March 5. Call 410-780-6369.

Also last chance to see "Awake and Sing" by Clifford Odets at Washington/>/>'s Arena Stage. March 5 the curtain comes down. Call 202-488-3300. 

Cockpit in Court has announced auditions for its summer season this week-end. Look forward to the musicals, "The Full Monty" and "The Music Man", the Neil Simon comedy, "Plaza Suite", "Peter Pan" and the wonderful drama "An Inspector Calls". Saw this on Broadway and you shouldn't miss this. Call 410-780-6369.

Can you wait for the first dinner theater in Baltimore/>/> in many years?  It arrives next week. Toby's opens its Canton/>/> location on March 10 with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast". Call 410-649-1660.

 You have one more week to see the Olney/> Theatre/> Center/>/>'s wonderful production of "The Heiress". Call 301-924-3400.

Also only one more week to see the controversial "The Murder of Isaac" at Center Stage.

Call 410-332-0033. Show ends March 5.

Finally, coming to the Hipp on Tuesday for two weeks is the Billy Joel musical "Movin' Out". Keith Roberts reprises the role of Tony he originated on Broadway in 2002. Do not miss this dance musical with choreography by Twyla Tharp. The dancer's just dance. They don't sing. The music comes from above the stage with an incredible band you may want to watch. But it works. You have until March 19 to see this great show. Call 410-547-SEAT.

For comments or suggestions to "Baltimore Backstage", email me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.