Baltimore Backstage - February 10, 2006

.Wishing the Hippodrome Theater a Happy 2nd Birthday! Hard to believe that two years has transpired after the tremendous hard work that went into the great restoration of this historic theater. We have so many memories already. What stands out in my mind are "The Producers", "Phantom of the Opera", the late Frank Gorshin's interpretation of George Burns in "Say Goodnight Gracie", and ofcourse, "Mamma Mia!" My wish for the HIPP when they announce their new season next week..."Spamalot", "Wicked", and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels".

If you have any memories, complaints or wishes...please write me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

I recommend Maryland Public Television's "Artworks This Week" to be replayed on Saturday morning, Feb. 11, at 9 a.m. You'll find two great interviews. The first with James Flanagan who plays "Cripple Billy" in Everyman's tremendous production of "The Cripple of Inishmaan". You have until Feb. 26 to see this great play. Call 410-752-2208. The second is an interview with Israeli playwright Motti Learner who's "The Murder of Isaac" is having its American premiere at Center Stage. Call 410-332-0033 for tickets. Head to the Head theater Friday night when Center Stage presents "Meet the Actors" where the entire cast will discuss the show following their performance.

Don't forget the WBAL Auction for Center Stage on Sunday, Feb. 12 from 8 a.m. to Midnight. Look for the list of items in Sunday's Sun.

If you can get to Annapolis Friday night, check out Rain Pryor's "Fried Chicken & Latkes" which will play at the Maryland Hall for the Creative Arts, 801 Chase St. GO if you can. Saw this show at the Hippodrome. I hope this make it to Broadway. Call 410-263-5544.

Opening on Feb. 10 and continuing until March 11, "Ten Little Indians" at the Spotlighters. Call 410-752-1225 for tickets.

A suggestion for Valentine's Day. Head to Olney, have a lovely dinner in this lovely little community and head to the Olney Theater Center for a special "Pay-what-you-can" Preview of "The Heiress" based on the Henry James novel, "Washington Square" and written by Augustus and Ruth Goetz. "The Heiress" continues until March 12. Call 301-924-3400 for tickets.

The Olney Theater Center has also just announced his line-up for the rest of the year. Upcoming will be "Anything Goes", "The Elephant Man", "Hedda Gabler", "Jacques Brel is Alive and Will and Living in Paris", "An Enemy of the People", "The Foreigner", and "Cinderella".

An all-star cast, including several prominent Senators, members of the House of Representatives, and a diverse mix of print and television media personalities will take the stage in Arena Stage's 14th Annual Benefit production of "The Pundit Whodunit: The Curse of the Political Puzzle", a crime solving mystery comedy on Monday, March 6 @ 8:30 p.m. Some of the notables include Fred Barnes and Mort Kondracke (Fox News), Chris Matthews (MSNBC Harball), Cokie Roberts, George Stephanopulos, and Nina Totenberg. The cast also features E. Faye Butler who just starred in the Center Stage production of "Once on This Island". There is also a pre-show dinner and awards reception at the Mandorin Oriental in DC. The play is available for $200 and $400 includes the reception and dinner. Call 202-554-9066, ext. 266 for more information.

If you can't get enough of Irish playwright Martin McDonagh (who's "Inishmaan continues at the Everyman Theater), head to New York to see the Atlantic Theater's production of the Olivier Award winning "The Lieutenant of Inishmore". The show is now in previews and runs from Feb. 27 to April 9 at the Atlantic Theater Company, 336 W. 20th Street, New York. Atlantic continues its relationship with McDonagh, after presenting his critically-acclaimed "Beauty Queen of Leenane", which received for Tony Awards in 1998. Call 212-239-6200 for tickets.

Check out the Washington Post from Sunday, Feb. 5 for theater critic Peter Marks' Spring Theater Preview. Highlights include Christine Baranski in the 1966 musical "Mame" directed by the Signature Theatre's Eric Schaeffer at the Kennedy Center in late May and the musical, "Caroline or Change" at the Studio Theater. This will feature Trisha Jeffrey, the star of Center Stage's recent "Once on This Island". Speaking of the Signature, Stephen Sondheim's acclaimed muscial "Assasins" will play the Arlington, VA theater in May. And finally, the pre-Broadway tryout of "Hot Feet" which features music of Earth, Wind & Fire opens at the National Theater on March 21 and continues to April 9.

Other suggestions still running, "Awake and Sing" at the Arena, "Barefoot in the Park" at the Bay Theater Company in Annapolis, "Dinner With Friends" at Fells Point Corner Theater, "Fully Committed" at Rep Stage in Columbia, "The Imaginary Invalid" at the Howard County Center for the Arts, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" at the Vagabond, and "Nevermore" at the Signature. Go to www.baltimoreperforms.org for more info.

You can catch a sneak preview of the Broadway revival of "Pajama Game" on "Live with Regis and Kelly" on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 10 a.m. on WBAL. Harry Connick will sing "Hey There". Connick was on the "Today" show last week with co-star, Kelli O'Hara (Light in the Piazza) singning a jazzed up version of "There Once Was A Man..." In my opinion, NO tickets to the show were sold based on this dreadful performance. I hope Connick sticks to the Broadway arrangement of this classic song.

Finally, see a Broadway musical for $3? If you haven't yet seen the film of "The Producers" you can see it for $3 at the Beltway Movies 6, 7660 Belair Rd. Fullerton, Beltway Exit 32 South.

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