DINER at the Signature Theatre - You can taste the french fries and gravy!

Being a Baltimorean and a fan of Barry Levinson's film "Diner", I was thrilled the Signature Theatre was given the opportunity to present the World Premiere of his fun musical (though I wished a theater in Baltimore had undertaken this Herculean task of a new musical). Certainly, Eric Schaeffer's Signature has the respected pedigree to present world premiere musicals and in fact there are two more coming in 2015, KID VICTORY and SOON.

It was producer Scott Landis, Director Kathleen Marshall's husband, who approached Signature's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer about bringing DINER to Shirlington, VA and the small and intimate 276 seats in the Max. It was a brilliant move because the show works beautifully in this small setting.

Many patrons are familiar with the hit 1982 film by Barry Levinson which featured a bunch of unknown actors that included Mickey Rourke, Kevin Bacon, Ellen Barkin, Steve Guttenberg, Daniel Stern and Tim Daley. The film lead to their Hollywood success stories. Levinson's film and story is semi-autobiographical. The film told the story of his group of friends growing up near Pimlico Race Course who frequented the Hilltop Diner on Reisterstown Rd. near Rogers Ave. The time is the end of 1950's, 1959 to be exact, when a group of six friends, now in their early twenties, reunite for the upcoming wedding of "Eddie" played by the talented Adam Kantor. There are three actors in the musical who have worked with Tony-winning composer Jason Robert Brown. Kantor was was superb recently in his THE LAST FIVE YEARS Off-Broadway while both Whitney Bashor (Barbara) and Derek Klena (Boogie) were both on Broadway in Brown's THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY.

In fact, ten of the 20 in the cast have Broadway experience. And one Erika Henningsen (Beth) I've seen in "Show Boat": Live from Lincoln Center with the New York Philharmonic. Yes, this is one hell of a talented group of actors assembled by Director Kathleen Marshall. Many are Signature regulars. They have terrific voices and they shine singing the wonderful music from Sheryl Crow. There are lovely ballads, great rock-and roll, super doo-wop numbers, and some blues. It's all in there. Not only are Baltimoreans flocking to see this musical, but so are people in the DC area who have gobbled up almost every available ticket during its seven-week run. The word is out on the street that something special is going on at the Signature and the word is correct!

You need a good book, great music, a talented cast, an inventive director, and a touch of fun choreography to make a successfully musical and DINER has it all.

Sure it helps if you are familiar with the characters. I have met the DINER guy who had the first television commercial in Baltimore for lawyers, and I've met the owner of the successful Merry-Go-Round clothing store (Boogie). The fact that these are real people only makes it more fun.

One improvement from the film is the addition of female voices and maybe that is one of the reasons Levinson reached out to Sheryl Crow for the music. She has written 20 numbers and they all work.

Levinson's script at times is just plain hilarious and true to the film. The memorable popcorn scene is in there, don't worry.

Each actor is spot on. Besides, Kantor, the men include Josh Grisetti (Shrevie), Aaron C. Finley (Billy), Bryan Fenkart (Modell), Derek Klena (Boogie), and Matthew James Thomas (Fenwick) who played the leading role of "Pippin" in the recent 2013 Broadway revival. A narrator was added, the elder "Boogie" played by John Schiappa.

Besides Bashor and Henningsen, the woman include Tess Aoltau (Elyse who must pass the famous Baltimore Colts test to marry her intended), MaryLee Adams, Maria Egler, Colleen Hayes, and Nova Y. Payton.

I enjoyed the wedding scene, complete with a "Chupa" held by four of the men used in a Jewish wedding. There is also the traditional "Breaking of the glass" after the wedding but I do miss no one yelling "mazel-tov". And yes, they walk down the aisle to the Baltimore Colts Marching Song (now the Ravens' marching song).

The orchestra does yeoman's work under the baton of Lon Hoyt. Special mention to Ben Bokor on the various saxophones. Other musicians include Victor Simonson on keyboard, Dan Hovey on guitar, Bill Hones on bass, and Joe McCarthy on drums.

Paul Tazewell always does great work and his costumes work well. Derek McLane and James Kronzer have a lovely set, Peter Kaczorowski does the effective lighting, Lane Elms does the sound, Charles G. Lapointe the wigs, and the orchestrations are by Mitchell Froom.

Thank you Signature for another memorable musical.

The Shirlington Library will be playing the film January 5 at 6:30 p. m. and "Inside Signature" features Whitney Bashor on January 8 at 1 p.m. talking about her life and career.

DINER runs until January 25, 2015. All tickets are sold out but you may be able to snag a ticket . One hour before each performance, they sell 15 partially obstructed view seats for $30. Call 703-820-9771 or visit www.signature-theatre.org.

cgshubow@broadwayworld.com

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