Baltimore/Washington Backstage - April 7, 2008

With apologies for a little self-promotion, I will be a guest on "Mid-Day with Dan Rodricks" radio program between 1-2 p.m. (WYPR-FM, 88.1) on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 for a discussion on theater coming this spring to the Baltimore/Washington area and Broadway.  You can access the program live on www.wypr.org or for about a month after the program on the WYPR web site. I hope to hear from many of my readers. You may call during the program at 410-662-8780 or long-distance at 866-661-9309.

So local theaters, don't hesitate to email any items you would want me to mention. I'll do my best. You may email me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

On Wednesday, April 9, 2008, you will get an opportunity to listen to former Baltimore Sun theater critic, J. Wynn Rousuck, at the Pikesville Public Library between 12-1 p.m.

Look for the television program "Theater Talk" to return to WETA on May 3. It will air following the evening movie. So on May 3 it will be at 11:10 p.m., May 10 at 11 p.m., May 17 at 11:40 p.m. and May 24 at 11 p.m. During sweeps weeks, there will be two films on Saturday night so…good luck.  No word yet when it premieres on WMPT.

There has been a wealth of opportunities for musical theater fans recently.

The Hippodrome's presentation of Camelot finished this past Sunday evening. I couldn't help using a quote from a patron on opening night, "I wish I was in Spamalot. Why it was decided to force comedy into what was a lovely evening of theater, I'll never know. I heard that the production with Michael York in the lead was more serious.  With Lou Diamond Phillips in playing King Arthur, it just doesn't work.

Next at the Hippodrome for three weeks beginning April 29 is The Color Purple.  For tickets, call 1-800-343-3103 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

Now that baseball season has returned, check the Orioles' calendar when attending Hippodrome events to help with parking.

Hairspray gets a one week stay at the Warner Theatre April 15-20. 202-397-SEAT.

There are two more musicals that do merit your attention.

Center Stage is presenting Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music and what a production it is. You can read my article "Meet the Actors of A Little Night Music" and a nice interview of Polly Bergen by James Howard and his review elsewhere on this site.

Do not miss this production, one of the best musicals ever done at Center Stage. It closes April 13 so get your tickets NOW. I wish they could extend it. Call 410-332-0033 if there are any left.

You may recall Willy Holtzman's Hearts at Center Stage. Well, Holtzman has a play Off-Broadway that's getting a lot of buzz, Something You Did Opening Night. Jordan Charney (so magnificent in the leading role of Hearts) is joined by Tony-winner Joanna Gleason, Tony-winner Adriane Lenox, Portia McReele, and Victor Slezak. The play is at 59E59 Theaters. 212-279-4200. I wouldn't be surprised another Holtzman play will return to the area soon.

Another musical not to be missed is Kiss of the Spiderwoman at the Signature. I was fortunate to see the original Broadway cast but this group of actors takes no back seat.

Hunter Foster plays the role of Molina and Will Chase plays his cellmate Valentin and the two of them do a masterful job. Natascia Diaz has the unenviable task of playing the Spiderwoman (originally played by Chita Rivera).  I don't want to be repetitious, but…do not miss this terrific production.

And congratulations to the Signature. Glory Days  (which just ended its run at the Signature on Feb. 17) will be heading to Broadway. Staged by Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer, the four man show will play at the Circle in the Square beginning with previews April 22 and opening on May 6. This is the same intimate theater that housed The 25^thAnnualPutnamCounty Spelling Bee.

Opening this week is another Kander & Ebb's musical The Happy Time which runs until June 1. Imagine TWO Kander & Ebb musicals running simultaneously in the same theater. Has this ever been done before I wonder? Visit www/signature-theatre.org. or call 703-573-7328.

Congratulations to the Arena Stage. Moises Kaufman's 33 Variations has been honored by the U.S. Theater Critics Association with the Steinberg/ATCA New Play Award. It comes with a check for $25,000 to Mr. Kaufman for his play about Beethoven.

Meanwhile, the Arena Stage continues with its Arthur Miller Festival with A View From a Bridge and A Death of a Salesman performing in repertory until May 18. Visit www.arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300.

Free events to enhance and augment the festival are being held at various sites. There is a free screening of "Miller, Kazan and the Black List: None Without Sin" Monday, May 5  at  7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring.

Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly), playwright Emily Mann and Ari Roth (Artistic Director of Theater J) will discuss "The Political Impact of Arthur Miller on 21^st Century American Theater", Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Georgetown Theater Department's Gonda Theater. Arena Stage Senior Dramaturg Mark Bly will serve as moderator. To reserve tickets, call 202-687-ARTS.

August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean is at the Everyman Theatre through April 27 and what a superb production this is under the direction of Jennifer L. Nelson. The entire cast is exceptional.  Aunt Esther is portrayed by an actress who played a Delaney sister on Broadway and in the film ("The Delaney Sisters"), Lizan Mitchell, and she is unforgettable.  Jefferson Russell returns to the Everyman as Citizen Barlow.  And whatever he is getting paid, it is NOT enough. He gives a stunning performance. Do not miss this. Visit Everymantheatre.org or call 410-752-2208.

The Spotlighters ends its production of 4 By Tenn (Tenn as in Tennessee Williams) through April 13. Visit www.spotlighters.org. BWW readers get a $5 discount by clicking on the site and entering the code BWW-4T. On deck, the musical A New Brain by William Finn opening April 25.

The Folger Shakespeare Library has a hit on its hand in Macbeth, co-directed by Teller and Aaron Posner. The SRO sign is out until April 13. The Box Office number is 202-544-7077.

And don't forget Shakespeare's Birthday Open House on Sunday, August 27, 2008 between noon-4 p.m. You can help celebrate his 443^rd birthday with jugglers, jesters, music, song, and dance. Visit www.folger.edu.

More Shakespeare can be found at the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival where The Winter's Tale continues until April 27. Visit www.baltimoreshapespeare.org or call 410-366-8594.

Annapolis' Bay Theatre is gearing up for Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia from May 9 to June 14. Visit www.baytheatre.org or call 410-268-1333.

For all you Wicked fans, The Stephen Schwartz Project is coming to Alexandria's Metrostage April 10 and run through May 25. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bobbitt, you'll see a potpourri from the Schwartz canon. Yes, "Defying Gravity" is included. Visit www.metrostage.org or call 1-800-494-8497.

If you are enjoying the terrific HBO mini-series "John Adams", you can see part of the story and hear Adams actually sing "I am Obnoxious and Disliked" in the acclaimed hit musical 1776  coming to the Olney Theatre Center April 9 through May 11.

Now at the Olney is bad dates through April 20. For tickets at Olney, visit www.olneytheatre.org or call 301-924-3400.

A finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize is Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) it its Baltimore/DC premiere at the Rep Stage in Columbia. Visit www.repstage.org or call 410-772-4900.

The Tony-winning play, History Boys, is being presented at the Studio Theatre through May 4. If you missed it on Broadway, don't miss it here. You also get a chance to see the wonderful Tana Hicken. Visit www.studiotheatre.org or call 202-332-3300.

Lord of the Flies has been adapted for the stage by Nigel Williams and runs at the Roundhouse Theatre in Bethesda through April 27. Visit www.roundhousetheatre.org or call 240-644-1100.

I'm looking forward to Kimberly Akimbo, coming to the Vagabond Players April 18-May 18. 410-563-9135.

Three Days of Rain ends its run at the Fells Point Corner Theatre April 13.Fells point

Catch Robert Prosky and his sons in The Price at Theater J through April 18. Visit www.theaterj.org or call 800-494-TIXS.

The Summer 2008 Wolf Trap schedule has been announced. Rent plays June 27-29,

Marvin Hamlisch conducts the NSO in a program of Broadway hits July 12, Susan Egan (remember her at Center Stage in Triumph of Love?) joins Capathia Jenkins, Doug LaBrecque, and Rob Evan in  "Broadway Rocks" with the NSO, and finally Les Miserables from August 29  to September 7. Visit www.wolftrap.org or call 877-WOLFTRAP.

High School Musical at the Academy of the Holy Cross April 12^th and 19^th. 301-929-6489.

On Golden Pond at the Potomac Theatre Company April 13 and 14. 301-299-8571.

Parade (April 8) and Hair (April 12) at the Theatre Lab School for Dramatic Arts. 202-824-0449.

Signature Stage One Musical Theatre Institute for ages 14-16 on May 10 10:30-noon. Visit www.signature-theatre.org.

Finally, I say good-bye to a close friend and theater-lover Monte Mordecai who recently passed away. Look for more information regarding a June 1^st fund-raiser, "A Dance for the Cure" to raise money to find a cure for esophageal cancer. Monte, you are now the first "honorary" member of the Shubow Shuttle.

 For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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