Elliot Lanes - Page 24

Today’s subject Matthew Gardiner is a prime example of someone living their theatre life to the fullest. While he has directed and choreographed all over town and in Korea as well, by far the bulk of his career has been working at Signature Theatre. Since coming there in 2004, Matthew has either choreographed and or directed some of Signature’s most memorable productions while also serving as the company’s Associate Artistic Director since 2011.

Sometimes a young artist makes a big impression on an ornery arts reviewer first time out of the box. Today’s subject Adelina Mitchell did just that to me and my wife a few years ago. More on that later on in the column. Now you can see her incredible talents for yourselves from the comfort of your own home Constellation Theatre Company’s streaming presentation of The Last Five Years. The production is available from June 22nd through July 11th.

Debbie Allen is one of those arts types that simply doesn’t fit into one category. I think it is safe to say she is an all-around goddess of the arts. Her list of achievements includes being directed by Bob Fosse and Jerome Robbins, directing Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway, choreographing the Oscars, being an executive producer and actress on the long running Grey’s Anatomy, and running a dance academy that bears her name.

Today’s subject Beth Hylton is currently living her theatre life performing on your TVs and computer screens as the sole performer in Round House Theatre’s latest streaming production of Throw Me on the Burnpile and Light Me Up. The show is available for viewing through June 13th.

You most likely know today’s subject Erin Driscoll Gardiner as a superb performer. Some of her most memorable performances over the years include the title role in Violet and Cinderella in Into the Woods at Ford’s Theatre, many productions at Signature Theatre including a Helen Hayes Award winning performance as Hope Cladwell in Urinetown, and of course her solo cabarets where her angelic voice always rings like a band of angels.

Today’s subject Lileana Blain-Cruz is currently living her theatre life as the director of Signature Theatre’s latest Signature Features streaming offering entitled Daniel J.Watts’ The Jam: Only Child. The show recounts Watts’ life as the only child of a single mother. From the fierce growing pains of boyhood innocence to the awkwardness of teenage years to a proud Black man, Daniel digs through his memory’s attic in a powerful and playful story of metamorphosis. The production is available for streaming through May seventh on Marquee TV.

Throughout this pandemic, theatre companies have found some creative ways to keep staff members employed. Today’s subject Jenn Sheetz is one of those fortunate artists that is living her theatre life as the Properties Manager at Arena Stage. She has held that position for the past three seasons after twelve seasons as Properties Director at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. She began her theatrical career at Arena Stage, working as a Properties Assistant for nine seasons in the Kreeger Theatre. She has also designed properties for Norwegian Cruise Line (Rock of Ages, Legally Blonde, Million Dollar Quartet), Comedy Central, and Showtime.

As the pandemic wears on I have been thinking about what I am going to miss as spring approaches. Certain things such as being able to view the cherry blossoms in person, giving directions to the National Zoo as a lost tourist stands in front of a sign saying “Zoo this way” are just two examples.

Today’s subject Emily Skinner is currently living her theatre life in your living rooms as part of Signature Theatre’s streaming presentation of Simply Sondheim. The production is available through March 26th. Over the years, Emily has wowed audiences on Broadway and throughout the country. You might remember her past Signature greatness from her performances in Dirty Blonde, Ace, and The Witches of Eastwick.

Today’s subject Richard W. Kidwell has been living his theatre life in DC theatre professionally since1966. He has been the Theatre Manager at the Opera House at Kennedy Center since it’s very first performance back in 1971 which makes him one of if not the longest running employees working in the DC theatre scene.

We all remember back in the day (meaning before mid-March 2020) when we would gather in a theatre, wait for the house lights to dim and hear the first notes from a live orchestra played. Since that time, theatre companies have found some very inventive ways to present plays in the new medium of streaming pandemic theatre. Presenting musicals however are always more of a challenge because of the number of people allowed in a space at any one time due to COVID-19 restrictions. Signature Theatre has solved that problem and is now presenting Simply Sondheim the first in their five show Signature Features subscription series.

On January thirteenth the DC area arts community lost the immensely talented performer Delores King Williams. She was an incredibly talented actress and singer who was always a huge support factor for her fellow performers.

For the past fourteen years DC Theatre Scene has been the place to go locally to find out what’s what in the DC theatre community. Its Publisher and Editor Lorraine Treanor recently announced the site would stop publishing fresh content on December 31st and, with that, the DMV loses its liveliest local theatre site.

Throughout this pandemic, arts in education institutions across the country have had to rethink how they conduct their classes and fundraising events. This Friday evening December eleventh at 7:30, DC’s finest arts education institution The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts will turn their yearly Dramathon, a centerpiece event for the organization, virtual via Zoom.

Music has always been able to get us through the most turbulent times in this nation's history. With the ongoing pandemic and all the other craziness that is happening right now, Signature Theatre gives us Signature Vinyl. It's a cinematic concert experience that will make you forget everything in the world for a little while as some of Signature's top performers put their spin (no pun intended) on some classics from the 60's and 70's.

My fellow theatregoers! Ever since this pandemic began, we have been asking when and if will live theatre return to the DC area. I am happy to report that the answer is a resounding YES and it is going to happen sooner than you maybe thought it would.

Renée Fleming's long and distinguished career includes performing in some of the world's most famous opera houses, performing on Broadway, and being heard on many recordings singing everything from arias to showtunes. Tonight Ms. Fleming will add another honor to her canon as she and Vanessa Williams will become the first artists to perform a live indoor concert onstage at Kennedy Center's Opera House. The evening is entitled A Time to Sing: An Evening with Renée Fleming and Vanessa Williams. While the audience will be very minimal in person, you can watch the concert in your very own living room by purchasing a ticket for the livestream. Click here for details.

On September 16th, Arena Stage will unveil it's latest socially relevant docudrama. The 51st State will feature the work of several playwrights including today's subject Otis Cortez Ramsey-Zöe.

On June 21st the DC theatre community took a punch in the gut as our incredibly talented Musical Director, Pianist, Orchestra Contractor, Educator, and friend George Fulginiti-Shakar passed away after a long illness at age 73.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic much has been written on the effects it has had on theatre companies around the world and the thousands of artists onstage and off that are unemployed until further notice. What hasn't been written about very much is the effect this pandemic has had on audience members. Let's face it, without an audience why would you spend lots of money to mount a production?