Baltimore/Washington Backstage – May 11, 2007

If you have tickets to the last week-end at Signature's "Saving Aimee", look to your left and to your right…it could very well be a Broadway producer next to you.  Why? Because there is so much interest in this musical starring Carolee Carmello and a stellar cast.  If you can, snag a ticket to the show that ends after the 7 p.m. performance Sunday night.  Call 800-955-5566. 

 

On deck at the Signature is the American Premiere of the musical comedy, "The Witches of East wick" directed by Eric Schaeffer, who staged the London original production. He has cast four Broadway veterans.  Tony-winner Marc Kudisch (who I've seen Broadway in "The Apple Tree" and was terrific at the Signature's "The Highest Yellow") will be the Devil. The witches include Emily Skinner, Christian Noll, and Jacquelyn Piro Donovan. It runs June 5 to July 15.

 

The Signature in conjunction with the Music Center at Strathmore Hall in Bethesda is presenting a musical concert of Jason Robert Brown's "Songs for a New World", Wednesday and Thursday night, May 16 and 17. Brown is not only the music director, he will be at the piano while a quartet of wonderful performers will be singing.  They include two Tony Award nominees Emily Skinner ("Side Show"), Brian d'Arcy James ("Sweet Smell of Success", plus Tituss Burgess ( to play Sebastian on Broadway in "The Little Mermaid), and a late replacement for Laura Benanti, Laura Griffith ("The Light in the Piazza"). Directing will be Michael Baron, Associate Director of the Signature.

 

I'm looking forward to my first visit to the DC area home of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. The Music Center at Strathmore Hall is located at 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda. Show times are 8 p.m. for both nights. Tickets range from $21-$50. Call 301-581-5100 or visit www.strathmore.org.  See a nice article about this concert by the Baltimore Sun's J. Wynn Rousuck in Thursday's May 10 edition. (See www.Baltimoresun.com.)

 

No doubt this is one of the most exciting times in theater in the Baltimore/Washington area.  I'm so excited about seeing "Falsettos" opening tonight at the Fells Point Corner Theatre. While I've only seen "Falsettoland" off-Broadway, this production combines that musical with "March of the Falsettos" to make this musical which continues to June 10. Bill Kamberger directs. Call 410-276-7837 or visit www.fpct.org.

 

Closing this week-end, Tony winning "Doubt" at the Hippodrome with Cherry Jones (410-547-7328), "Annie Get Your Gun" at the Dundalk Community Theatre (410-780-6369), "Coriolanus" by the Royal Shakespeare Company at the Kennedy Center (202-467-4600) and "The Heidi Chronicles" at Arena Stage (202-488-3300).

 

Speaking of the Arena Stage, just saw their "Peter and Wendy". Yes, Peter and Wendy from "Peter Pan". This is an amazing theatrical experience! It would be enough reason to see this show due to the incredible performance by narrator Karen Kandel who recreates her role of the narrator and the myriad voices of all the characters of the play. The famous Mabou Mines troupe performs "Peter and Wendy" with Asian puppetry and the work of Kandel is remarkable and unforgettable. Imagine playing BOTH Peter Pan and Captain Hook. Imagine the sword-fencing with puppets.

 

But wait…there's more. There's the music. There's gorgeous Celtic music played by an amazing orchestra featuring Dublin native Aidan Brennan (guitar and vocals), Jay Ansill (Celtic Harp, Vocals), Jerry Busher (Percussion), Tola Custy (Fiddle) from County Clare, Stephanie Geremia (Flute, Whistles till May 30), Ivan Goff (Uilleann Pipes May 31-June 24), Alan Kelly (Accordian, Music Director), Jay Peck (Percussion), and the haunting voice of Susan McKeowin, a terrific singer from Dublin who has recorded ten albums. The music ALONE is worth the price of admission but you also get a great show to go with it. DO NOT MISS THIS ONE!!! Call 202-488-3300. It plays until June 24.

 

And don't forget about the Target FAMILY FUN PACK SPECIAL. Four tickets (two adults), four drinks, four snacks for $100!!! That's less money than ONE orchestra ticket on Broadway.

 

Center Stage is presenting its last show of the year, "Things of Dry Hours" by Naomi Wallace which runs until June 3.  While I was impressed with the three person cast and t.

he directing by the UK's Kwame Kwei-Armah (author of "Elmina's Kitchen), I was not thrilled with the play. The subject matter looked fascinating…the Communist Party infiltration with African-Americans in the south in the early 1930's. The program is more informative than the play about this subject.

 

You can see more about the play on MPT's "Artworks This Week" Wednesday night, May 16 at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, call 410-332-0033. "Artworks" will also feature the Baltimore School for the Arts fundraiser as well.

 

Harold Pinter. What do you think about when you hear that playwright's name? Probably "Betrayal" which opens next Wednesday, May 16 at the Everyman Theatre and runs through June 24. 410-752-2208.

 

Spotlighters has Larry Shue's hysterical comedy "The Nerd" playing till May 27. Call 410-752-1225.

 

The Vagabonds has Moliere's "Tartuffe". I believe this is the first play I ever saw at Center Stage back in 1975. It runs through May 20. 410-563-9135.

 

One of the shows on Center Stage's agenda next season is Tom Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead". If you can't wait or you want to compare productions head to the Studio Theatre for it plays there from May 16 to June 24. Rosencrantz is played by Raymond Bokhour (from Broadway's "Chicago" playing Mr. Cellophane) and Guildenstern by Liam Craig.  202-332-3300 or visit www.studiotheatre.org.

 

Another Tony winning play, "I Am My Own Wife" has one more week at the Olney Theatre Center. This tour-de-force performance closes May 20. 301-924-3400.

 

One of my favorite actors Helen Hedman (Olney and Everyman Theatres) will play the leading role in a free reading of "Homebody/Kabul" by Tony Kushner at the Rep Stage, Howard Community College on May 14 at 7 p.m. Director is Lisa A. Wilde 410-772-4900.

 

Now that the weather is finally improving, why not head to the State Capital of Maryland for dinner in Annapolis and see wonderful theater there as well. The Bay Theatre Company concludes this season with the British comedy by Alan Ayckbourn "Table Manners" through May 31. Call 410-268-1333 or visit www.baytheatre.org.

 

Theatre J is presenting Theodore Bikel and Edward Gero in "Shylock" May 13-15. Call 800-494-TIXS. Tickets are $50 and there's a talk-back with Bikel after the show.

 

Noticed Taye Diggs ("Rent") on "Grey's Anatomy", Bernadette Peters ("Sunday in the Park with George") on "Boston Legal" as a Judge, and Elaine Stritch ("Company") on "30 Rock".

 

Saw in a sneak preview of  the film "Knocked Up" which you can avoid. But I did notice the wonderful actor Paul Rudd ("Last Night at Ballyhoo") wearing a Baltimore Orioles' black jersey and hat. There must be a story there.

 

And speaking of the Orioles, at a recent game, heard the great tune used in the Geico caveman commercials. Do you know where the music comes from? The song is "Remind Me" by the Norwegian rock group Royksopp. (Thanks to my son Justin for this bit of info).

 

I enjoyed Mo Rocca's appearance on CBS' Sunday Morning last week. The former Comedy Central reporter spoke about his love of theater.

 

"Growing Up, it was my dream to be on Broadway. To that end, I did as much as I could. I did as much theater as I could. I did a lot of Gilbert and Sullivan. I was very serious about my work. My bedroom was a research library. Never mix original cast recordings with soundtracks. Kept all my Playbills in alphabetical order. Had a poster of Jim Dale from "Barnum". I had a prized "Cats" sweatshirt which I lined dry so the green eyes on the back wouldn't fade.

 

I had my Broadway debut recently in "The 25^th Annual County Putnam County Spelling Bee". The interaction with a live audience is thrilling. I'm lucky I had parents who encouraged me to dedicate myself to something that excited me…driving me to rehearsals and taking me to the theater.

 

My first show was "Showboat" 27 years ago, my father's favorite.

 Before my debut. Director James Lapine gave me this advice…Have fun. I take it very seriously."

Finally, "OPRAH" has the cast of the film "Hairspray" on Wednesday, May 16. Should be fun!!

 

For comments, cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.