Elliot Lanes - Page 22

Today's subject disproves the theory that you can't be good at everything. Kevin Laughon is the Production Associate at Theater J, but his long career of working in the theatre has taken him on both sides of the footlights.

Today's subject is living his theatre life on both sides of the Atlantic and beyond. Jeff James is the Associate Director for the internationally and critically acclaimed production of A View from the Bridge, which begins performances this evening at Kennedy Center and runs through December 3rd. He has been a part of the current production of A View from the Bridge at the Young Vic in London, London's West End, Theatre de l'Odeon in Paris, and on Broadway where it won two Tony Awards (Best Director and Best Revival of a Play).

Natsu Onoda Power is one of the most creative forces in DC theatre. With such credits as Yellow Face at Theater J and Astro Boy and the God of Comics at Studio Theatre, Power's productions are always visually stunning and very clear in the way she tells a story. This review starts as it does because I want it to be perfectly clear that I am a big admirer of Power's work upfront. Unfortunately, her latest endeavor goes against everything I just said.

Today's subject is living her theatre life from a very important vantage point; the audience. Let's face it, without audience members there would be no reason to do what we do.

An epidemic of senseless gun violence and police brutality is sweeping through the United States. Trayvon Martin and Freddie Grey are two of the more famous examples of this. Award winning actress, choreographer, and writer Debbie Allen takes a no holds barred look at this all too hot topic in her theatrical/dance/ multimedia extravaganza Freeze Frame...Stop the Madness. I always knew that Debbie Allen was a force of nature as an actress in any show she's in and this show is no exception. She plays a few roles, but is also the director, choreographer, and writer. This is one of the first times I have actually seen that working scenario prove successful as one person usually can't do it all.

Today's subject is living his theatre life to the fullest. Ari Roth might be one of the most passionate and outspoken figures working in DC theatre. One thing is clear, he follows his passion and the result is always something extraordinary.

One of the neat things about writing a column for Broadway World is that you get a chance to interview some folks whose work you've been enjoying and admiring for many years. One of today's subjects first came on my radar way back in 1980 with the Broadway revival of West Side Story. Debbie Allen played Anita in that production and her Her performance deservedly garnered her a Tony Award nomination and a Drama Desk Award. A few years later she wowed me again playing the lead role in Sweet Charity, which resulted in yet another Tony Award nomination.

Today's subjects are living their theatre lives overseeing the nightly operations for one of the most ambitious productions the area has ever seen. It's so big that it took two theatres to co-produce it. I'm speaking of Round House Theatre and Olney Theatre Center's production of Angels in America, Tony Kushner's two-part, nearly-seven-hour Tony Award-winning magnum opus. Millennium Approaches (Part 1) and Perestroika (Part 2) run in repertory through October 30th and are performed at Round House Theatre in Bethesda, MD.

Put your hands in the air and wave them up high; it's time to talk about (say it with me!) All the Way Live! The Kennedy Center and B-Fly Entertainment co-commissioned this high-energy and well-crafted show and I can truly say it is a match made in hip-hop heaven.