Baltimore/Washington Backstage - October 18, 2007

By Charles Shubow

The biggest news this week is MTV finally airing the Broadway hit musical Legally Blonde on Saturday afternoon, October 13  at 1 p.m. This is a video of the September 17 performance and features backstage access prior to the show. Repeats will be on Saturday night, Oct. 14 at 8 p.m. and Sunday morning Oct. 14 at 9 a.m. Go to www.mtv.com for further information and a sneak preview of five of the numbers. Thank you MTV!!!

 

The ABC hit series Boston Legal had a big surprise during their first episode of the season.  It featured the cross-dressing attorney performing a duet of "Big Blonde and Beautiful" from Hairspray. And it was wonderful.

 

I call Wednesday night on ABC TONY night.  On Oct. 17 during  Pushing up Daisies Kristen Chenoweth was singing "Hopelessly Devoted to You" from Grease. 

 

On Private Practice  you can see Audra MacDonald and Taye Diggs. I wonder how the writers will get them to sing a duet.

 

CBS Sunday morning presented a nice preview of the Broadway theater season two weeks ago.

 

HBO has a five-part mini series "Five Days" on Tuesday nights which features Tony winner Janet McTeer. I will never forget her memorable performance in Hedda Gabler in 2001.

 

Have you seen the Toyota Highlander commercial about a young New York professional attempting to back into a parking space and thanks to the rear view television camera, he's able to park without hitting a squirrel?  Well, featured in the commercial is Steve Rosen, the wonderful actor who portrayed a knight in the original cast of Spamalot.  Congratulations Steve. You're terrific!!

 

You can get a sneak preview on this site of the trailer from the film Sweeney Todd.

One will not have a clue this is a musical from the preview. You get Johnny Depp singing a couple of lines  from "I will have vengeance" but NO chorus singing "Lift Your Razor High Sweeney".  It does look terrific. This opens in December.

 

Thanks to my nephew Raphael reporting from Maine that Baltimore's Eric B. Anthony was terrific playing "Seeweed" in one of only five regional productions of Hairspray recently at the Ogunquit Playhouse.  Eric was in the original Broadway cast of  Hairspray and most  recently was dancing up a storm on Broadway as a chimney sweep in Mary Poppins. Eric graduated from the Carver Center for the Arts and Technology in Towson.

 

What is it with the name Brewster?  In August, former U.S. Senator Daniel Brewster past away.  Then there are the Brewster sisters who have a secret wine recipe now playing at Center Stage in Arsenic and Old Lace. And finally, coming soon at the Arena Stage is the world premiere musical, The Women of Brewster Place.

 

A concert preview of  Brewster Place will occur on  October 12 starting at 8 p.m. at Strathmore Hall.  The full-blown show begins at Arena Stage October 19-December 9. Tim Acinto penned the musical's book and score. Artistic Director Molly Smith will be the narrator. All tickets are $25. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.

 

More good news at the Arena Stage. Their Board of Directors has approved the start of construction of a $125 Million renovation of the Arena. Ground is expected to be broken in January 2008 and the new theater hopes to be completed for the 2010/2011 season. In the meantime, theater patrons will be heading to Crystal City, VA where they will have a temporary home at the Crystal Forum. Ella will be the first production there beginning December 28. Congrats to the Arena Stage.

 

This is just one more example of  the resurrection of the theatre scene in the area. We have witnessed new spaces at the Shakespeare Theatre, Wooly Mammoth, Studio, Signature, and the new Everyman Theatre arising in downtown Baltimore. We are indeed lucky to be living during this theatre renaissance.

 

Now, about those Brewster sisters. What a delight. Welcome back two Center Stage veterans, Tana Hicken (who I've seen in 14 Center Stage productions and remember every one) and Pamela Payton-Wright (so terrific in Center Stage's Glass Menagerie).  

 

It was also great casting to bring John Ahlin fresh from his great performance on Broadway in the Tony-winning play Journey's End (with Broadway veterans Boyd Gaines and Jefferson Mayes). Ahlin was amazing in this play. and he plays a terrific Teddy Roosevelt in Arsenic.

 

It is not often the "Wall Street Journal" covers Center Stage. But their highly respected critic Terry Teachout decided to see it and this is what he said, "I knew Arsenic and Old Lace was funny. Anyone who doesn't shatter a rib laughing at Center Stage's production is…well, dead."

 

Baltimore was home for the very first production of this play back in 1941. DO NOT MISS this revival which closes Sunday, Oct. 14. 410-332-0033 or visit www.centerstage.org.

Kudos to Center Stage for the clever placement of Champagne glasses on each seat for subscribers (non-subscribers got the season brochure) to toast the new season with free Champagne (or carbonated cider) at intermission.

Regarding that incredible production of  The Glass Menagerie, its' talented director Tim Vasen is back in town preparing for the opening of  Hearts on October 26. I'm sure he will find time to get  together with Ms. Payton-Wright to reminisce about that incredible production which also featured Robert Sean Leonard (now appearing in the Fox hit television series "House"). I remember taking Leonard, a huge baseball fan, to opening day at Camden Yards to see the Yankees play the Orioles.

 

Congratulations to the Everyman Theatre for being selected as the Best Theatre in Baltimore in the people's poll in the City Paper. Much Ado About Nothing is in rehearsals and opens Nov. 7.

 

The Rep Stage had recent success with Mrs. Farnsworth.  Well lightning has struck again with an amazing production of A Shayna Maidel.  This wonderful work, beautifully done, features a passionate cast assembled by Director Peg Denithorne.  The new black box theatre, which seats only about 100, is an intimate setting for this stirring play about two sisters who have been separated by the Holocaust and reunited sixteen years later in New York. The entire cast is magnificent starting with the patriarch of the family played by the amazing Dan Manning.

 

The play opened in New York in 1987 and featured Melissa Gilbert.

 

In 1992, it became a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" television  production with its title changed to Miss Rose White (Can you imagine a "Hallmark Hall of Fame" film with a Yiddish title?) and starred Kyra Sedgwick, Amanda Plummer, Maximilian Schell, D.B. Sweeney, and Maureen Stapleton.

 

I remember that production and loved it. The Rep Stage version is even better. There will be post-show talkbacks on Friday, October 12 and October 19 and a pre-show lecture on Saturday, October 13 at 1 p.m. It continues until November 4. Call 410-772-4900.

 

Ending this week-end at  the Studio is My Children, My Africa.  If you have never seen it…don't miss it. Call 202-332-3300.

 

The Spotlighters is presenting the hit Off-Broadway musical Trailer Park the Musical through Nov. 4. 410-752-1225.

 

The Signature is presenting The World Begins through Dec. 2.Call 703-573-SEAT or visit www.signature-theatre.org.

 

On October 26, the Vagabond Players in Fells Point will be presenting Jason Robert Brown's incredible "The Last Five Years".  If you missed it at the sold-out Everyman Theatre, here your chance to grab a ticket now.  This is the Vagabond's 92^nd season!! Call 410-563-9135.

 

Lisa Kron's Tony winning play Well ends its run at the Arena Stage  Oct. 14.  Call 202-488-3300.

 

"Of Mice and Men" has opened at the Olney Theatre Center playing through Oct. 28. Call 301-924-3400.

 

The Tony winning play, The Pillowman,continues at the Mobtown Theater until Oct. 20 Not for the squeamish. 410-467-3057.

 

The Taming of the Shrew continues at the Shakespeare Theatre until Nov 18. Call 202-467-4600.

 

 

The Fells Point Corner Theatre has Anna in the Tropics which continues until Oct. 21. Call 410-276-7837.

 

Also ending this week-end at The Round House is A Lesson Before Dying. Call 240-644-1100.

 

Disney's  High School Musical continues at Winters Lane Productions until Oct. 21. Call 410-780-6369.

 

For comments, additions or corrections contact me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

 

 

 

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