Baltimore/Washington Backstage - April 27, 2007

 By Charles Shubow 

This week's news was not good for Broadway. Ever since O'Donnell returned to day-time television on "The View", she has been a huge booster of Broadway musicals.  On her recently celebrated birthday, the casts of three were featured: "Les Miserables", "A Chorus Line", and "The Color Purple". With her announcement on April 25 she would be leaving "The View" in mid-June, I can't imagine this program will continue her policy of plugging Broadway. Hopefully, the Tony nominated shows will get some free publicity before she leaves.

Rosie will also appear with the cast of "Spring Awakening" on Monday, April 30 at 3 p.m. at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre in a one-hour town hall for teenagers, along with the cast of cable show "Degrassi: The Next Generation" seen on the N network. The event will broadcast in mid-May on the network. The one hour session will attack the problems common with teenagers. To attend this free event, visit www.springawakening.com/degrassi.

Meanwhile, "The Today Show", after not having much to do with Broadway recently, had a tremendous story on "Spring Awakening" on April 26 with many clips from the show and interviews with the cast. Meredith Vierra added her personal touch after the segment suggesting parents take their children, but only after seeing it first themselves.

I'm sure this will be available soon on the show's website, www.springawkeningthemusical.com.

On CBS's Sunday Morning, Mo Rocca will report on what it's like to be in a Broadway musical. Which musical is this former Jon Stewart correspondent in you ask? Here's a hint. It deals with spelling.

The winners of the 2007 Touring Broadway Awards were recently announced. No surprise here. "Spamalot" won Best New Musical ("Wicked" won last year) and "Doubt" won for Best Play ("Golda's Balcony" won last year).

The Helen Hayes Awards, which honor excellence in D.C. area theatres, were announced on April 16. The Studio Theatre's "Caroline, or Change" won for Outstanding Resident Musical and its star, Julia Nixon, took the Outstanding Lead Actress 

In a shocker, the Wooly Mammoth Theatre Company's "In the Continuum" received the award for "Outstanding Non-Resident Production beating "Spamalot", "The Light in the Piazza" "Twelve Angry Men" and "The Canterbury Tales, Part I". For all the results, go to www.helenhayes.org.

As my readers well know I really enjoyed "The History Boys" on Broadway. Now you see the DVD which features audio commentary by director Nicholas Hynter and playwright/screenwriter Alan Bennett, a featurette "History Boys Around the World: The Tour Diaries, and a featurette "Pass it On: The History Boys on Screen".

I was pleased to see the Pulitzer Prize for Drama this year go to David Lindsay-Abaire's "Rabbit Hole" done at the Manhattan Theatre Club. (See my review elsewhere on this site). I am disappointed that I have not seen this play as of yet on any local theater's schedule for next season.

The last play to win this prize was "Doubt" which opens a two-week run at the Hippodrome from May 1- May 13 starring Tony-winner Cherry Jones. For tickets call 410-547-SEAT 

No doubt there will be a film of "Doubt"…wait…there will be!! It will star Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman and will begin shooting in December. Streep is also making the film of the musical "Mamma Mia!" and was recently in London recording the film's soundtrack.

Hollywood will also bring the musical "Nine" to the screen. The Maury Yeston musical won the 1982 Tony for Best Musical.

For a sneak preview of the film of the musical "Hairspray", you can find it elsewhere on this site.

Finishing this week-end is the Everyman Theatre's "And a Nightingale Sang". Call 410-752-2208 or visit www.everymantheatre.org.

Speaking of the Everyman, this week they announced their impressive new season. While awaiting their new home on W. Fayette Street downtown, the 2007-08 season will start with one of my favorite playwrights, Donald Margulies' "Sight Unseen" which won the 2002 Obie Award for Best Play. The theatre first foray with Shakespeare will be "Much Ado About Nothing".  Donald Hicken will direct "The Turn of the Screw". Artistic Director Vince Lancisi will direct the 1998 Tony Award winner for Best Play of the Year, "Art". I saw this play in London with Albert Finney, Tom Courtney, and Alfred Molina and loved it. The REAL surprise is August Wilson's "Gem of the Ocean" (just given a wonderful production at the Arena Stage in DC.  How and why Everyman got "Gem" while Center Stage decided to Wilson "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" (which they have done before) is a mystery. With this line-up, subscriptions should rise. To get an early start call the number mentioned above.

Center Stage's "Things of Dry Hours" has begun in previews. The play is based on the Communist Party in Depression-era Alabama and is making its East Coast Premiere. Thanks to Center Stage for bringing back British West Indian playwright Kwame Kwei-Armah ("Elmina's Kitchen") to direct. It runs until June 3.

One of the best deals in town is "Live @ Centerstage on May 3 at 6:30 p.m. This event is geared for those between 20-40. For $25, you get free food, prizes, happy-hour bar prices, and a seat for the play Entertainment by Mentalist Jason Linett.  What a deal!

If you like to attend the "Meet the Actors" night when you get a chance to discuss the show with the cast, May 4^th is the night for you. For tickets, 410-332-0033.

Opening this week-ed at Annapolis' Bay Theatre Co. is the British comedy "Table Manners" from "The Norman Conquests" trilogy by Alan Ayckbourn. I'm looking forward to see this highly acclaimed comedy. It plays through June 2. For a real bargain, they offer a Pay-What-You-Can performance on May 10. For tickets, 410-268-1333 or visit www.baytheatre.org.

Get ready for "Falsettos" with music by the great William Finn at the Fells Point Corner Theatre. Bill Kamberger directs. Dates are May 11-June 10. I saw this Off-Broadway and fell in love with it. Can't wait for this one. Call 410-276-7837 or visit www.fpct.org.

Last chance to see the wonderful "Eubie" at the Olney Theatre Center. Do not miss this tremendous production about the music of Baltimore's Eubie Blake. You'll see great dancing, superb singing, and a great orchestra.

Also continuing at OTC is the Tony-winning "I Am My Own Wife" which runs until May 20.  Call 301-924-3400.

There's much buzz about the Signature Theatre's World Premiere of "Saving Aimee". I loved this musical.  A great cast with brilliant performances, with wonderful music, tastefully directed by Eric Schaeffer with a fascinating true story about Aimee Semple McPherson, a woman evangelist. This is selling out, so act quickly.  Call 703-820-9771.

Another Tony-winning play in the area is "The Heidi Chronicles". Washington's Arena Stage has this until May 13. 

One play I am fascinated about is "Peter and Wendy" at the Arena Stage.  The world-renowned experimental theater company Mabou Mines utilizes east Asian puppetry and Celtic musical score to bring to life the story of Peter Pan and the Darling family Cannot wait to see this. And thanks to TARGET, their Family Fun Pack gives you 4 seats, 4 non-alcoholic drinks, and 4 snacks for $100!!! That's less than one orchestra ticket for a Broadway musical. You have until June 24, but act quickly.  Call 202-488-3300.

Another Tony winner?  Yes, "Into the Woods" at the Laurel Mill Playhouse through May 6. 301-617-9906.

For future Broadway stars, Clear Space Productions has a Musical Theatre Summer Intensive for students 6-16 in Lewes, DE. This two week program runs June 25-July 6. There are only 10 spaces remaining. Fee is $400. For more information, visit www.clearspaceproductions.org.

CSP is also presenting Broadway Voices featuring Broadway veteran Mark Agnes on Monday, May 7 at 7 p.m.in Lewes, DE.

And coming this summer is the Tony winning "Thorougly Modern Millie" July 19-22 in Lewes, DE and July 26 and 27 at the Schwartz Center in Dover, DE. Call 302-644-3810. 

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

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