Baltimore/Washington Backstage - April 25, 2008

 First, I want to thank my readers for your lovely emails about my first ever appearance on the radio on April 8 on "Mid-Day with Dan Rodricks". It was so much fun. If you were not able to hear it, you can access it on the web. Just go to  www.wypr.org , click on "Mid-Day" and scroll down to April 8 at 1 p.m.  My apologies to the local theaters I was unable to mention.

I was a little shocked to get a call that 18 performances of the new Broadway musical Billy Elliot have been cancelled. This will be disappointing to those readers who are "Shubow Shuttle" members hoping to see the musical in November. I hope to get refunds out shortly.

 I am a fan of the television series "Eli Stone". The final episode (hopefully of the season) ended with George Michael and Victor Garber singing an upbeat "Feelin' Good" from the musical The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Roar of the Crowd by Anthony Newley and Leslie Bricusse. Shouldn't there be credit given at the end of the program?

 Are you unable to wait for the film of the musical Mamma Mia! on July 18? Good news for you. It was just announced that the ABBA hit is returning to Washington, DC to The National Theatre. It will run from June 24 to July 13. Tickets go on sale May 11 via Telecharge.com (or calling 800-447-7400) ONLY. Box office sales begin May 27.

Cry-Baby, the second John Waters' musical has finally opened on Broadway. Go the www.nytimes.com/theater to see a slide show of the musical narrated by choreographer Rob Ashford. WBAL-TV will show highlights Monday morning between 5-7 a.m.

 There are now FOUR shows on Broadway that have a Baltimore influence. Grease (which was based on the experiences at Baltimore's Forest Park High School), Hairspray, Cry-Baby, and Thurgood, the one man show about Baltimore native and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall (opening April 30).

Today there are two shows at the Lyric Opera House of Blast!, winner of the 2001 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event. It is great fun. Visit www.blasttheshow.com.

Next at the Hippodrome for three weeks beginning April 29 is The Color Purple. The producers met with Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon recently promoting the event to attract more Black attendance.  Couldn't Mayor Dixon have done the same for the Arena Players (now presenting The Church), Everyman Theatre (Gem of the Ocean) and Center Stage (Joe Turner's Come and Gone?)  For tickets, 1-800-343-3103 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

 In previews at Center Stage is the World Premiere of Melanie Marnich's These Shining Lives through June 1. It concerns the women in Chicago watch factories called "Radium Girls" who helped make watches that could glow-in-the-dark watch faces. When many became ill, they launch a landmark workplace-safety lawsuit. David Schweizer (who directed Boys from Syracuse directs. For tickets, 410-332-0033.

Congratulations to Center Stage. Their magnificent production A Little Night Music was recently mentioned in the national publication "The Week" and deservedly so.

 There's another musical there that has caught the attention of critics, including this one at the Signature Theatre. That is "The Happy Time" by Kander & Ebb. This long undiscovered jewel of a musical is a delight. It takes place in the intimate "Ark" space at the theater (120 seats) so seats are a premium. Michael Minarik plays the lead and is a star in the making. I bought the CD of the Broadway recording after the show and listen to it often. I'll have more about this musical in an interview with musical director David Holcenberg. Visit www.signature-theatre.org. or call 703-573-7328. It runs through June 1^st.

 Meanwhile, the Arena Stage continues with its Arthur Miller Festival with A View From a Bridge and A Death of a Salesman performing in repertory until May 18. Visit www.arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300.

 Free events to enhance and augment the festival are being held at various sites. There is a free screening of "Miller, Kazan and the Black List: None Without Sin" Monday, May 5  at  7 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre in Silver Spring.

 Pulitzer-Prize winning playwright David Henry Hwang (M. Butterfly), playwright Emily Mann and Ari Roth (Artistic Director of Theater J) will discuss "The Political Impact of Arthur Miller on 21^st Century American Theater", Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at the Georgetown Theater Department's Gonda Theater. Arena Stage Senior Dramaturg Mark Bly will serve as moderator. To reserve tickets, call 202-687-ARTS.

 The Shakespeare Theatre Company is presenting "The Roman Repertory" – Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra. Discounted previews today through May 8. Visit www.ShakespeareTheatre.org or call 202-547-1122.

 August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean continues at the Everyman Theatre through April 27 and is selling out each performance. See my interview with Jefferson A. Russell (Citizen Barlow) on this site. Do not miss this. Visit Everymantheatre.org or call 410-752-2208.

 The  Spotlighters has opened the William Finn's musical A New Brain.  Visit www.spotlighters.org.

 And don't forget Shakespeare's Birthday Open House on Sunday, April 27, 2008 between noon-4 p.m. You can help celebrate his 443^rd birthday with jugglers, jesters, music, song, and dance. Visit www.folger.edu.

More Shakespeare can be found at the Baltimore Shakespeare Festival where The Winter's Tale continues until tomorrow, April 27. Visit www.baltimoreshapespeare.org or call 410-366-8594.

Annapolis' Bay Theatre is gearing up for Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia from May 9 to June 14. Visit www.baytheatre.org or call 410-268-1333.

The Stephen Schwartz Project may be a hot ticket at Alexandria's Metrostage  running through May 25. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bobbitt, you'll see a potpourri from the Schwartz canon. And today, the composer will be interviewed after the 3 p.m. matinee by the Washington Post's Nelson Pressley.  Visit www.metrostage.org or call 1-800-494-8497.

If you are enjoying the terrific HBO mini-series "John Adams", you can see part of the story and hear Adams actually sing "I am Obnoxious and Disliked" in the acclaimed hit musical 1776  at  the Olney Theatre Center through May 11. This is a wonderful production. Bring the kids, they're half-price. For tickets at Olney, visit www.olneytheatre.org or call 301-924-3400.

Something else for the kids is Looking for Roberto Clemente at the acclaimed Imagination Stage. This is a musical comedy about the great Pittsburgh Pirates' legendary baseball player. What a way to get a young person interested in theater! Visit www.imaginationstage.org or call 301-280-1660.

 Fells Point Corner Theatre has The Woolgather by William Mastrosimone through May 4. 410-276-7837.

 The Tony-winning play, History Boys, is doing so well the Studio Theatre has extended the run through May  18. Visit www.studiotheatre.org or call 202-332-3300.

 Lord of the Flies ends Sunday at the Round House Theatre in Bethesda. Visit www.roundhousetheatre.org or call 240-644-1100.

One of my favorite plays is Intimate Apparel by Lynn Nottage. I really enjoyed it when it was produced at Center Stage. Thanks to the African Continuum Theatre Company (founded and guided by Jennifer Nelson), you can see it at the Atlas Performing Arts Center through May 18 directed by Nelson (who also is responsible for the terrific Gem of the Ocean at the Everyman). This is the only play being done this year by the African Continuum due to financial difficulties. So get out and support it and see a great play. Call 202-399-7993.

Another favorite of mine is Brian Friel's Translations which I happened to see at The Abbey Theatre in Dublin. It continues at the Keegan Theatre at the Church Street Theater through May 17. If you like Irish theater, this play is not to be missed. 703-892-0202

I'm looking forward to Kimberly Akimbo, which continues to May 18 at the Vagabond Players. 410-563-9135.

On May 12, the Kennedy Center is presenting a performance by the University of Maryland Musical Theater Program at 6 p.m. in the Family Theatre. This is FREE!! Visit www.kennedy-center.org/millennium.

A reminder of the Summer 2008 Wolf Trap schedule. You can see Broadway shows sitting on a blanket under the stars (or pay more and sit under the roof).   Rent plays June 27-29. Marvin Hamlisch conducts the NSO in a program of Broadway hits July 12.  Susan Egan (remember her at Center Stage in Triumph of Love?) joins Capathia Jenkins, Doug LaBrecque, and Rob Evan in  "Broadway Rocks" with the NSO, and finally Les Miserables runs from  August 29  to September 7. Visit www.wolftrap.org or call 877-WOLFTRAP.

Auditions:

The Baltimore Theatre Alliance holds its 13^th Annual auditions May 17 (10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and May 19 (6 p.m. – 9 p.m.) at Center Stage. Actors are given two minutes to showcase their talents. An accompanist is provided for actors who wish to sing on May 17 from 10 a.m. to noon. You may access a registration from at www.baltimoreperforms.org or by calling 410-662-9945. The Baltimore Theatre Alliance comprises over 75 organizations of all sizes: Equity, semi-professional, community, and university arts groups.

Summer Dinner Theatre at Montgomery College has auditions for Evita and Beauty and the Beast May 9-11. Visit www.montgomerycollege.edu/sdt or call 240-567-7676. Montgomery College is where the Tony-nominated Barbara Walsh (Center Stage's A Little Night Music) got her start in theater.

The Rockville Musical Theatre has auditions for Gypsy April 27-29. Visit www.r-m-t.org or call 240-463-2912.

Restaurant Recommendation:

 Welcome to Baltimore Tark's Grill in Greenspring Station. Finally, a centrally-located eatery, open late with a great menu. Call 410-583-TARK. Great place for before or AFTER the theater. It's only ten minutes down the Jones Falls Expressway from its Lutherville location to downtown.

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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