Baltimore/Washington Backstage April 7, 2006

Today marks the renaming of my weekly column to Baltimore/Washington Backstage. Since I attempt to cover both theater communities and I post the column in both the Baltimore regional edition and the Washington regional edition, it was time to recognize this fact. So, in deference to the name change, I start with what's going on in the Washington area.

 What could be one of the highlights of the year, the Royal Shakespeare Company presents "The Canterbury Tales, Parts 1 & 2 April 15- May 7, 2006 at the Kennedy Center. "From high romance to low farce, "The Canterbury Tales" is a lively journey through 14th-century English traditions and values as performed by one of the most critically acclaimed companies in the world." Watch for members of the company on MPT's "Artworks This Week" on Wednesday night, April 19 at 7:30 p.m.

Also coming to the Kennedy Center, "Mame" with Christine Baranski, Tony winner Harriet Harris, Tony nominee, Emily Skinner, and the wonderful Jeff McCarthy (Officer Lockstock in Urinetown) as Beauregard. Dates are May 27-July 2. The Kennedy Center Family Theater ends its World Premiere Original Production of "Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales" on April 16. Tickets for the one hour play are only $15. For tickets at the Kennedy Center, call 800-444-1324.

"Shenandoah" continues at the Ford's. Scott Bakula stars in this musical about the Civil War. Catch an interview with Bakula Saturday morning, April 6 on MPT's Artworks This Week at 9 a.m. Hurry if you want to see the huge hit "Fat Pig" at the Studio Theatre. It closes this Sunday. Call 202-332-3300.

Also ending on Sunday, the new musical "Hot Feet" (with music of Earth, Wind & Fire) making its pre-Broadway run at the National. 800-447-7400. Final performances this week-end also at the Arena Stage for "The Rainmaker" and just opened is "lady day at emerson's bar and grill". 202-488-3300.

Final two weeks for the Studio Theatre "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie". 202-332-3300. The musical "Anything Goes" continues till April 30 at the Olney Theatre Center. Kids are half-price. 800-551-SEAT.

Beginning this week-end at Wooley Mammoth, "The Gigli Concert" by Tom Murphy. 202-393-3939. "The Persians" opens this week at the Shakespeare Theatre Company. 202-547-1122.

 Discounted previews at the Folger Theatre from April 7-10 for the flirtatious comedy "The Game of Love and Chance". 202-544-7077.

Discounts also available at Theater J for the World Premiere of Richard Greenberg's "Bal Masque". $25 tickets available Saturday at 8 and Sunday at 3 p.m. 800-494-TIXS. Greenberg is a hot playwright. His "Three Days of Rain" (which premiered at the South Coast Repertory Theatre in Costa Mesa, CA) is sold out on Broadway with Julia Roberts.

Also opening this week the acclaimed Broadway hit "The Retreat from Moscow" at Bethesda's Round House Theatre till April 30. 240-644-1100.

The Signature Theatre showcases "The Sex Habits of American Women". Call 703-820-9771.

Gallaudet University and the Amaryllis Theatre Company present "Much Ado About Nothing" April 20-23, 27-30. This will have simultaneous American Sign Language and spoken word. 877-651-5501.

Tonight, April 7, at the Hippodrome is "100 Years of Broadway" with Donna McKechnie for one night only. Beware a parking and traffic grid-lock situation. Red Sox v. O's are at 7 p.m., the Arena at 7:30 has "Stars on Ice", and the Hipp's program is at 8. Baltimore…we have a problem. So…take the light rail, subway, or come early to the Hipp and have a pint with dinner at Maggie Moore's across the street to avoid a headache.

Opening at Baltimore's Hippodrome on Tuesday, April 11 for two weeks is the musical adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's timeless tale "Little Women". The wonderful Maureen McGovern repeats her Broadway role. 410-547-SEAT. You can see an interview with McGovern on Wednesday night, April 10 on MPT's Artworks This Week at 7:30 p.m.

The Lyric Opera House hosts Tony winner Melba Moore and Grammy Award winner Stephanie Mills in "If This Hat Could Talk" where civil rights leaders are celebrated. Through Sunday. 410-547-SEAT.

Best Bargain of the week at Center Stage: August Wilson's "Radio Golf" (which continues till April 30) has an incredible program for its Wednesday night, April 12, performance. It's Family Night. Dinner at 6:30, a pre-theater discussion of the play, and tickets to this wonderful production… ALL for $8. $8??? Yes….$8 a ticket. Bring the kids to take advantage of this. You must act quickly for this deal.

Center Stage has college night TONIGHT. Half-price tickets. Call 410-332-0033 for details on both these promotions. There is NO excuse for not seeing this play! And KUDOS to Rocky Carroll who was kind enough to promote the play "Radio Days" at 6:45 a.m. on Fox 45. That is beyond the call of duty. You may remember Rocky from the television shows "Roc" and "Chicago Hope".

Everyman continues with "A Number" till April 23. See colleague James Howard's wonderfully interesting and informative interview with Kyle Prue and Megan Anderson which ran in Thursday's edition on this site. And actors…don't forget the auditions on Monday and Tuesday. Call 443-524-0154.

Everyman presented its new season for "06-07" this week and what a bold line-up for this great equity house. There will be two area premieres and one classic 1771 play in the line-up. Starting the season in September is "Opus" which focuses on a string quartet that loses one it s members days before its highest profile performance, a televised White House concert. Great to see Will Love returning next season in the "School for Scandel" by Sheridan who takes a satirical look at 18th century society. "Going to St. Ives" by Les Blessing is next. It concerns the mother of an African dictator visiting a British surgeon. World War II is the setting for the comedy-drama "And a Nightingale Sang" which is infused with period music. And finally, Nobel Prize winner Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" will close the season. This is the British playwright's best-known work which concerns a marriage and an affair. Everyman will also feature a cabaret series. For more information, visit everymantheatre.org.

The Spotlighters finishes its' "Jesus Hopped the "A" Train on Sunday. Call 410-752-1225. Noel Coward's wonderful "Blithe Spirit" ends Saturday at Villa Julie College's Inscape Theatre. Call 443-334-2618.

 Another BARGAIN of the week: The Brown Center's Falvey Hall at MICA presents Showcase Live on Saturday night at 8 p.m. This annual show features the talents of Baltimore area college students who portray their talents in music, acting, poetry and comedy. Call 410-225-2300.

Toby's Dinner Theater Baltimore continues with Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" till May 28. Call 410-995-1969. They have been promoting this new addition to the Baltimore theater line-up heavily on television recently.

Finally, one of this year's hit Broadway musicals is "The Color Purple". I loved this new musical and you can get a glimpse on the Sunday, April 9th edition of A & E's "Breakfast with the Arts" from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The beautiful ballad "What About Love" will be sung by LaChanze and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes. Last week's feature on  "Bridge and Tunnel" was terrific. May I suggest you set your DVRs, VCRs, or just get up early to catch this great program?

For any comments, do not hesitate to email me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

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