Baltimore/Washington Backstage - Feb. 15, 2007

The new Hugh Grant/Drew Barrymore comedy released on Valentine's Day "Music and Lyrics" has at least three Broadway connections.  Matthew Morrison, who played the original "Link Larkin" in "Hairspray" and the original "Fabrizio" in "Light in the Piazza" (both Tony-winning musicals) has the role of "Ray".  I also recognized Jason Antoon, the silent bartender who tries to help Boyd Gaines from the Tony-winning musical "Contact", playing the role of lyricist Greg Antonsky.

This is a cute film and features new music from Adam Schlesinger who is currently finishing the music for the Broadway version of the John Water's film "Cry-Baby" which will initially play at the La Jolla Playhouse Oct. 30-Dec. 16. After this California run, look for it to transfer to Broadway next season.

A thank you to the ABC Family Network for televising the 1997 musical "Cinderella" this week featuring Brandy in the leading role. It was the first time I could watch the Prince played by Paolo Montalban since his great performance as twin Antipholus from the recent Center Stage production of "Boys from Syracuse".

Broadway is getting so much more savvy utilizing television to promote itself. "The Color Purple" just celebrated its 500^th performance and on Sunday night, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. on the cable channel TV One, you can view "The Color Purple: The Color of Success". The one hour film chronicles the trip from novel, to film, to Broadway. It is also available On Demand via the TV One site.

For anyone with a college I.D., Thursday night, Feb. 15, head to Center Stage of view the fabulous "Trouble in Mind". But arrive at 6:30 for free food from the great Indian restaurant, "Akbar", live music from "Soul Cannon", door prizes from City Café, Earth Treks Climbing, the Rotunda Cinematheque, and Record and Tape Traders. There will be discounted beer and wine and ? price tickets for students, starting at just $7.50. Visit www.students.centerstage.org or call 410-332-0033.

If you can get tickets, do not miss Josh Lefkowtiz in "Help Wanted: A Personal Search for Meaningful Employment at the Start of the 21^st Century" which ends Saturday Feb. 17. This 80 minute show has received much-deserved stellar reviews. This is some journey for him. His last job at Center Stage was pushing scenery during their presentation of "Sweeney Todd".

May I suggest a double-header. Attend the Saturday  matinee of  "Trouble in Mind" at 2 p.m., have a nice dinner on Charles Street and then take-in the 7 p.m. show "Help Wanted". There is also a 10 p.m. show. My kind of day.

February is Black History Month. Is it a coincidence that local theaters seem to be presenting plays with that in mind? 

As mentioned above, Center Stage is presenting playwright Alice Childress' "Trouble in Mind" and is getting rave reviews. I have spoken to many theatergoers who are proud that Center Stage has shown the "chutzpah" to present this 1955 successful Off-Broadway play but never made it to Broadway due to the reluctance of the playwright to make the corrections the producers insisted upon. The diverse cast is tremendous led by E. Faye Butler who is phenomenal. This is Irene Lewis' 50^th play she has directed at the theater and she does a masterly job. "Trouble in Mind" continues to March 4.  Two actors from the production, Butler and Thomas Jefferson Byrd can be heard on the Marc Steiner Show which played on WYPR-FM. You can listen to a podcast of the interview by going to www.wypr.org.

The Everyman Theatre has the terrific "Going to St. Ives" which concerns an African woman seeking assistance from a London ophthalmologist in dealing with her son, a dictator. I just saw the film "King of Scotland" which deals the Uganda's dictator, Idi Amin. If you see the film, you can understand fully the predicament a mother has when her son is the cause of 300,000 deaths.  It continues to Feb. 25. 410-752-2208.

The wonderful musical "Once on this Island" also continues until Feb. 25 presented by Winters Lane Productions at the Q. Theatre at the Community College of Baltimore. 410-780-6369.

BET and David E. Talbert: Love in the Nick of Time plays the Lyric Opera House until Feb. 18. It stars Robin Givens. 410-547-SEAT.

The Arena Stage has a GEM…August Wilson's "Gem of the Ocean". While the play is not the finest of Wilson's ten plays, the second act I found breath-taking. You will never forget how the "The Middle Passage" is depicted. A tremendous production which you will never forget. It will play until March 18. To save 25% off tickets call 202-488-3300 and mention code gem07.

Another Wilson play is also in DC. "Jitney" ends its run at the Ford's Theatre Feb. 18. This is a co-production with the African Continuum Theatre Company. Call 202-397-7328.

You could easily experience a "Wilson" double-header this week-end in DC.

Sorry to say there are NO tickets available for the Signature Theatre's "Into the Woods".   But…you can still get tours of the terrific new theater space in Shirlington, VA. By popular demand,  there are organized tours on Feb. 15 at 1, Feb. 16 at 4, Feb. 20-22 at 1 p.m. and Feb. 23 at 4 p.m. These tours are FREE but patrons must RSVP by sending your name and number of people to Marketing/Sales Manager Rachel Applegate at applegate@signature-theatre.org.

The Folger Theatre has extended "King Lear" until Feb. 25. Call 202-544-7077.

Two more shows in DC which also closes Feb. 25. "Orson's Shadow" at the Round House (240-644-1100) and "Vigils" at the Whooly Mammoth (202-393-3939).

Opening this week at the Olney Theatre Center is "The Constant Wife" by W. Somerset Maugham. (I recently saw the film "The Painted Veil" also based on a Maugham story). It runs till March 10. 301-924-4485.

I was exhausted after view last Sunday's Washington Post's "Spring Arts Preview". So much theater. So  little time. I'm looking forward to "The Pillowman" (Studio Theatre March 14), "Dead Man's Cell Phone" (June 4)  by Sarah Ruhl (loved her "The Clean House") at Whooly Mammoth, Sherry Glaser's" Family Secrets" (March 7) at Theater J, "The Musical of Musicals" (April 4) at Metrostage, "Saving Aimee" (April 10) with Tony nominated Carolee Carmello and E. Faye Butler at the Signature, the Tony-winner Best Play, "I Am My Own Wife" (March 18) at Olney, "Songs for a New World" with the composer Jason Robert Brown performing at Strathmore Hall (May 16 and 17), "Summer of '42", a new musical at the Round House (May 30), "The Witches of Eastwick" (June 5) with Marc Kurdish (now on Broadway in "The Apple Tree" at the Signature, "Souvenir" (June 13) at the Studio, "Brooklyn Boy" (June 20)at the Olney, and Motti Lerner's English-version premiere of "Pangs of the Messiah" at Theater J (June 23).

Finally, thanks to a reader, the new budget submitted by our President slashes funding for National Public Radio and PBS. If you are inclined to fight this, you may wish to visit www.freepress.net/publicbroadcasting/=policy.

For comments: cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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