Elliot Lanes - Page 4

Today’s subject Erin Driscoll is someone you are most likely familiar with if you have been inhabiting productions in our area theatres for any length of time. Her memorable leading performances include the title character in Violet at Ford’s Theatre and Cloak and Daggar at Signature Theatre. You might be saying to yourself that you have not seen Ms. Driscoll onstage for a while and that you’ve been missing her superb soprano sound. Well, the wait is over because Erin Driscoll is back onstage in Signature’s current production of Ragtime where she is not only in the ensemble but also covers the role of Mother which she will be performing for both shows on December 10th. The production runs through January 7th in the MAX.

Today’s subject Marcus Yi is living proof that you can do it all and succeed in the theatre. Currently he is living his theatre life as the book, music, and lyric writer of the World Premiere Musical The Dragon King’s Daughter. The show runs from November 18th through December 17th in the Family Theater at Kennedy Center.

One thing about living in DC is when an important holiday such as Veterans Day happens there is generally at least one event that sticks out as being unique.

Today’s subject Don Michael H. Mendoza is a local artist now living his theatre life as one of the Co-Producers of the Immersive Broadway musical Here Lies Love. The show is slated to close on November 26th at the Broadway Theatre in New York and to be perfectly honest, it’s a shame that it is. More about that in a bit.

Today’s subject Sir Bryn Terfel is a Grammy, Classical Brit, and Gramophone Award–winning recording artist with a discography encompassing operas of Mozart, Wagner, and Strauss, and more than 15 solo discs including Lieder, American musical theatre, Welsh songs, and sacred repertory. He is, rightfully so, considered one of the greatest bass baritones in the world. On Sunday November 19th, Sir Terfel will be performing in recital at Kennedy Center’s Concert Hall at 2:00pm for one coveted performance only and is co-presented by Fortas Chamber Music Concerts and Renée Fleming Voices.

What better way to ease into fall and the holiday season than with an evening of show tunes with a symphony orchestra, three great singers, and a superb maestro.

Today’s subject Teal Wicks has what is known as the WOW factor. Every time I see her onstage in something, I can’t help using that expletive to describe her performance. Currently, Teal is living her theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre playing the role of Mother in Ragtime. The production runs through January seventh in Signature MAX space.

In 1975 a revolutionary approach to L. Frank Baum’s The Wonderful Wizard of Oz opened on Broadway at the Majestic Theatre. The Wiz was a musical that no one thought would get past its opening night. The show proved everyone wrong. It won eight Tony Awards including Best Musical and ran for 1,672 performances. The all-African American version of Dorothy’s trip down the yellow brick road is now embarking on a thirteen-city pre- Broadway tour and is playing at the National Theatre here in DC through October 29th. I am sorry to say that this version is a rocky journey over a cool “Ease on Down the Road”.

Today’s subjects Danielle A. Drakes and Kelsey Mesa are currently living their theatre lives as the director and playwright respectively of Taffety Punk Theatre Company’s World Premiere production of La Salpêtrière. The show runs through October fourteenth at the company’s artistic home Capitol Hill Arts Workshop (CHAW).

Today’s subject Erin Davie is currently living her theatre life in Signature Theatre’s excellent production of Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman’s The Bridges of Madison County in which she plays the lead role of Francesca. The production continues through September 17th in Signature’s MAX space.

There was nothing humdrum or lazy about last evening’s late summer Gavin Creel concert at Kennedy Center. The Broadway performer with just two other musicians ignited the stage and audience in the Terrace Theater with an evening of some familiar tunes mixed with a good chunk of songs from Creel’s upcoming musical at MCC in NY called Walk On Through: Confessions of A Museum Novice for which he is the creator of.

Today’s subject Francis Jue is currently living his theatre life performing the role of Duch in Cambodian Rock Band at Arena Stage. The production continues through August 27th in Arena’s Kreeger Theater space. The production will then continue without Jue on to Seattle’s ACT Contemporary Theatre as a co- production with 5th Avenue Theatre.

Today’s subject Liz Mikel is currently living her theatre life on tour playing Dr. Benjamin Franklin, delegate from Pennsylvania, in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of 1776. The show is currently running through July 16th at Kennedy Center’s Eisenhower Theatre.

Wolf Trap and Signature Theatre’s yearly collaboration continued this past weekend with the third edition of Broadway in The Park. A concert that is meant to showcase some of our best and brightest talent while also featuring two headliners from Broadway. The event is always a good time and this year’s edition was no exception.

The term Broadway royalty can only be given to a handful of performers. Today’s subject Leas Salonga is one of those people. You probably know her best as the singing voices of Princess Jasmine and Mulan in Disney’s Aladdin and Mulan, but she is also an accomplished Broadway and concert performer who wows audiences all over the world with her dynamic voice and excellent acting.

The Theatre Lab School of the Dramatic Arts is one of 34 organizations nationwide selected to receive a Creative Forces® Community Engagement grant. A grant of $44,000 will support healing and community building through The Theatre Lab’s Life Stories program for individuals connected to the military. Creative Forces Community Engagement Grants are part of the National Endowment for the Arts’ Creative Forces® initiative and are in partnership with Mid-America Arts Alliance.

Today’s subject Andrew Veyette is currently living his theatre life as the longest running dancer with New York City Ballet. The company begins a two-program week-long engagement at Kennedy Center this evening that continues through June 11th in the Opera House.

Today’s subject Peter Salem is currently living his theatre life as the composer of Scottish Ballet’s production of The Crucible. The show runs now through May 28th at Kennedy Center in the Eisenhower Theater.

Today's subject Sarna Lapine is currently living her theatre life at the directing helm of Signature Theatre's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim's gothic musical masterpiece Sweeney Todd. The production begins performances on May 16th and will play through July 9th in Signature Theatre's MAX space. It is the fourth time Signature has produced the show, making it Signature Theatre's most produced Sondheim musical overtaking Assassins and Into The Woods with three productions each.

Today's subject Susan Rome is currently living her thetre life in an epic way. She is currently playing four very different roles in Angels in America Part One: Millennium Approaches at Arena Stage. The production runs through April 23rd in Arena Stage's Fichlander Theatre Space.