Baltimore Backstage - March 31, 2006

It was 11 a.m./> at Morgan/> State/> University/>/>'s Murphy Fine Arts Center March 30, 2006/> and the huge theater was packed with high school students to view "Ragtime, the Musical".  They were treated to an ambitious production under the skillful direction of MSU Theatre Arts Coordinator, Shirley Basfield Dunlap.

 

I want to emphasize ambitious because "Ragtime" is HUGE. Under Dunlap's tutelage there was a cast of fifty comprised of students from Morgan, Towson/> University/>/> and a myriad of local community theater veterans with an assist from local high schools and middle schools. The excellent pit orchestra was under the able baton of Melvin N. Miles, Jr., Director of the MSU band which numbered about 20 pieces and they were fabulous. The effective choreography was by Timothy David Copney (assisted by Corin B. Self).

 

There were many audio problems which should be corrected before the week-end.

Another circumstance beyond anyone's control was replacing the leading role of Mother. Unfortunately, Susan Scher was involved in an automobile accident the day before and  what a trouper her replacement was, Allison Sherk. It was certainly understandable that she carried a cheat sheet of lyrics having only one day to prepare her part. And what a beautiful voice she has.  Another late casualty was the role of Sarah's friend. Wyanna N. White. She also was unable to perform but her replacement Angel R. Strong-Archer gave a tremendous rendition of the heart wrenching gospel ballad " Till We Reach That Day" just before intermission which brought a thunderous ovation.

 

There were many wonderful performances that stood out. Cheryl Vourvoulas gave power to the voice of Emma Goldman. Yasmine Jones was cute as a button in the role of Evelyn Nesbitt.  Sammie L Real III was a dynamic Booker T. Washington.

 

The backbone of the show, however, belongs to the actors who play Coalhouse Walker, Jr. and his love interest Sarah. Brian Stokes Mitchell and Audra McDonald will forever be attached to these great characters. Ashley Parker did an admirable job in this difficult role and her partner, Antonio Prioleau was just plain terrific as Coalhouse. The Carver/> Center/>/> for the Arts and Technology grad and Morgan student puts him stamp on this great role. Their beautiful duet "Wheels of a Dream" alone is worth a visit to Morgan.

 

One clear departure from the original Broadway production by Dunlap was the addition of Haitian immigrants to the Eastern European Jewish part of the  wonderful opening number where White Anglo-Saxon Protestants and Blacks join the immigrants in a wonderfully danced prologue.  I'm not sure how many Haitian immigrants there were in the early part of the twentieth century.  Hats off to the production team who put together a wonderful summary of the complicated story in the program.

 

"Ragtime" continues through Sunday, April 2. For tickets, call 443-885-4440 or Ticketmaster at 410-547-SEAT.

 

It's audition time at the Baltimore Playwright's Festival XXV at six participating theaters and nine new plays.  There will be three auditions: Sunday, April 2 at 7 p.m./> (Vagabond Theatre), Monday, April 3 at 7 p.m./> at Fells Point Corner Theater, and Tuesday, April 4 at 7 p.m./> (Mobtown Players). Bring a headshot and prepare a two-minute monologue. Call 410-276-2153.

 

The Everyman Theatre is having open auditions for both Equity and non-Equity actors for its 2006-07 season. Auditions are by appointment ONLY. For Equity actors, call 443-524-0154 on Monday, April 3 between 10 a.m./> and 3 p.m./> and 6-8 p.m./> For non-Equity and AEA actors,  call the same number on Tuesday, April 4 from 10 a.m./> to 3 p.m./>

 

Continuing at the Everyman is Caryl Churchill's "A Number".  For tickets 410-752-2208. Just read that Baltimore/>/>'s Josh Charles will join Bill Smitrovich at San Francisco/>/>'s American Conservatory Theater in the west coast premiere of this acclaimed play from April 28- May 28. You may recall Charles in the film "Dead Poet's Society" and the wonderful television show, "Sports Night" with Felicity Huffman.

 

Do you want to be in pictures? Head to the HIPP on April Fools Day to audition for the film of the musical "Hairspray". Auditions are planned for three major characters, Tracy Turnblad, Seaweed and Little Inez. So, April 1, Hippodrome Theater,

12 N. Eutaw St.

/>at noon/>. Good luck!

 

Coming to the HIPP on April 7 for one night only is "100 Years of Broadway" featuring Tony winner for "A Chorus Line", Donna McKenchnie and Liz Callaway. Call  410-547-SEAT. It will be interesting if more theater fans flock to this special engagement versus the great Linda Eder show with Michael Feinstein who's performance at the HIPP last week attracted under 900.

 

First Look Center Stage has just announced their reading of the new play, "The 13 Hallucinations of Julio Rivera" on Monday night, April 3 at 8 p.m./> Cost is only $5 and there are refreshments and a talk-back afterwards. The play concerns "Lions and tigers and…skinheads? Oh my! Enter the fantastical final fever-dream of Julio, where the Wizard of Oz becomes the Wizard of Odd – along with Madonna, Toto, and a nightmarish tango of gay-bashing thugs." Call 410-332-0033.

 

The reviews are in for the long anticipated "Radio Golf" by the late August Wilson.  And they are glowing. See my colleague James Howard's terrific review as well as the Sun's review. Baltimore/>/> is privileged that Center Stage got the rights for this special event. Wilson/>/> loved Center Stage. I met him once on the patio of the Kennedy/> Center/>/> prior to a performance of "King Hedley II", told him I was from Baltimore/>/>, and his eyes light up raving about Center Stage.  Tonight, March 31, is the "Meet the Actors" performance where you can chat the cast after the performance.  You can see a wonderful interview with Director Kenny Leon on Artworks This Week, Saturday morning at 9 a.m./> on MPT. Call 410-332-0033. (Next week's edition, Wednesday night, April 5,  will feature Scott Bakula performing in "Shenandoah" at Washington/>/>'s Ford Theater).

 

On Saturday afternoon, April 1 at 5 p.m./>, there will be "A Call to Action & Celebration" at the theater. This free event will discuss diversity in theater. "Ragtime's" director Dunlap and Howard/> University/>/>'s Dr. Sandra Shannon will speak. Acclaimed director,  Marion McClinton, will give a keynote speech.

 

Many of you may recall Tim Vason who was a popular director at Center Stage. His latest work is one of my favorite contemporary plays (and the most popular play in regional theater this year, 17 productions), "Intimate Apparel" at the Plays and Players Theater in Philadelphia/>/>. I met the playwright Lynn Nottage at intermission of "Light in the Piazza" at Lincoln/> Center/>/> last year and inquired about the possibility of turning this popular work into a musical. She replied she would rather do it as an opera. If you missed the great Center Stage production, head to Philly till April 17. Call 215-985-0420.

 

Bargain of the week: The acclaimed Round House Theatre in Bethesda/>/> presents the Tony nominated Broadway hit "The Retreat from Moscow/>/>" April 5-30. On April 5 at 7 p.m./> and April 8 at 3 p.m./> you can attend for "Pay-What-You-Can"!!! Call 240-644-1100. Who says you can't afford live theater?

 

One of the few musicals in the area can be found at the Olney/> Theater/> Center/>/>. "Anything Goes" continues till April 30. Kids are half-price. On Saturday afternoon, April 1 at 2 p.m./> there will be a post-show discussion. Call 301-924-3400.

 

Another musical…this one at the Arena Stage in DC. "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill" through June 4. Also at the Arena until April 9, catch "The Rainmaker".   See one of my favorite character actors, William Parry in this production. Parry has appeared at Center Stage but I'll always recall his portrayal of the one-eyed fisherman in the original Broadway production of Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George".

 

For the Family Special: The Kennedy/> Center/>/> presents "Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales" at the Family Theater, April 7-16. This one hour world premiere is collaboration between Jordanian and American artists celebrating "the richness, diversity, warmth, and humanity of Arabian culture…this "story-theater" style musical weaves together a colorful spectrum of Arabian legends and lore…it's heroic, comic, and dramatic." Tickets are $15 and the show is recommended for ages 9 and up.

This Sunday morning (April 2) on the A&E "Breakfast with the Arts" (8a.m. to 10 a.m.) I recommend the segment on Sarah Jones. I saw her Broadway one-person show "Bridge and Tunnel" and thoroughly enjoyed it. She is quite a talent. What is it about??..."a Pakistani accountant, a Long Island grandmother, a Dominican sixth-grader and a Russian poet are just a few of the characters brought to life by Sarah Jones in her melting pot of culteral diversity" in New York City. It's a fast-paced 90 minutes. 

You may recall my mention of Disney's "High School Musical". The CD of this show is #2 on the charts. The cast performed on the Today show on March 30.  Still think this will make it to Broadway.

 Finally, check out Harvey Fierstein's guest column in the New York Post where he discusses what it's like to perform in "Hairspray" in Las Vegas/>/>.

 For comments or insertions for next week, email me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.