Baltimore/Washington Backstage - May 17, 2008

"It's May, it's May, the merry month of May". And with May comes the Tony Awards Nominations!! In The Heights led the list (deservedly so) with 13 nominations. James Howard and I will continue the tradition of picking the winners coming soon.

The new Broadway hits are starting to appear on national television. Passing Strange was on "The View" (which promises to feature many Broadway productions and stars until the Tony Awards) and "Good Morning America" showcased the cast of In The Heights  singing and dancing in Times Sq.

On Friday, May 23, "Live with Regis and Kelly" will spotlight the shows "Off-Broadway". This is a first.

Want to see a Broadway musical and get FREE PARKING? Never saw this promotion before but I like it. The John Waters' musical Cry-Baby (nominated for Best Musical) is offering free parking for six hours ANYTIME with a ticket stub at 146 W. 44^th Street from that day's performance.

Speaking of Cry-Baby, MPT's "Artworks This Week" reprises their backstage tour of the musical on Wednesday night, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. It's very enjoyable.

Great news from the Hippodrome Theatre. They are presenting a Tony Awards Broadcast Party on Sunday, June 15. This is a fund-raiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Produced by Hipp Promotions Director Katie McCullogh and Stages Advertising, there will be food tastings, cash bar, live performances from area theaters, a silent auction, a live auction, plus door prizes. During commercial breaks, there will be videos of performances and scenes from the summer release of the film version of the musical Mamma-Mia! Seats are limited to 500 and are only $15.  For theaters who want to participate, call Ben Ryland at 410-483-1162. For ticket reservations, 410-483-1162.

Mamma-Mia!  returns to Washington, DC to The National Theatre. It will run from June 24 to July 13. Tickets are on sale May 11 via Telecharge.com (or calling 800-447-7400) ONLY. Box office sales begin May 27. I

f you happen to be in NYC May 27-29, check out "Star Crossed", 7 original plays conceived, written, and performed by school children at The Public Theater, 425 Lafayette St. There is wine and cheese at 6 p.m. and performances are at 6:30 p.m. and it's FREE. And who is responsible for this program? Opening Act, an innovative nonprofit that provides free theater programming to New York City's most under-serviced public schools. Visit www.openingactnewyork.org. Here's a fund-raiser for those who love dance. "Dance for the Cure" now has on-line registration for its initial event to be held at Towson University on June 1^st. Mindy Mintz Mordecai has started this charity to fight Esophageal Cancer. There will be twenty classes ranging from Belly dancing, Irish to Israeli, Salsa to Swing and there will even be a class in Broadway dance being taught by a former dancer from the Broadway production of Mamma-Mia!  (Yes, my daughter Britt.)  For further information, visit www.BeACancerDancer.org. NO DANCE EXPERIENCE REQUIRED.

Heading to the eastern shore this summer but desire some good entertainment. Don't forget Clear Space Productions. This year-round theater company has Broadway Voices, 2008  starring Deidre Goodwin, direct from Broadway's A Chorus Line Saturday, May 31 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 1 at 3 p.m.

Coming July 24-27 will be Rodgers & Hammerstein's South Pacific at the Little Theatre/Cape Henlopen High, Lewes, DE. Also, being performed Aug. 7-8 at the Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts in Dover, DE. Call 302-644-3810.

Clear Space is also sponsoring a one-day bus trip to see Broadway's Gypsy with Patti LuPone, September 13 leaving from Rehoboth, DE. Orchestra tickets, bus, and  breakfast are $170.

Closing this weekend at the Hippodrome is The Color Purple.  What a joy to have this musical here in Baltimore. Don't miss it.  For tickets, call 1-800-343-3103 or visit www.BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.

The Single Carrot Theatre's Spring Gala is tonight, Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 120 W. North Avenue. $30 admission includes food, drinks, live entertainment. Call 443-844-9253 or visit www.singlecarrot.com.

For the perfect musical theater double-header head to the Signature Theater. I loved The Happy  Time which continues to June 1^st. Do not miss this rediscovered musical by Kander & Ebb. See this at a matinee, enjoy one of the many delightful restaurants across the street (many with out-door seating) and return at night to Kander & Ebb's The Visit.  And what a cast!!! Two two-time Tony Award winners headline the cast: Chita Rivera and George Hearn.  This is directed by Frank Galanti with choreography by Ann Reinking and a book by Terrence McNally. The Visit had its world premiere in 2001 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago and the creative team remains intact for the Signature Production. Are you up to the challenge? Two musicals in One Day!!!  Visit www.signature-theatre.org. or call 703-573-7328.

 A musical on a smaller scale? See The Immigrant at Fells Point Corner Theatre until June 8. Bill Kamberger directs. 410-276-7837 or visit www.fcpt.org.

Ending this week-end, the Arena Stage's Arthur Miller Festival with A View From a Bridge and A Death of a Salesman until May 18. Visit www.arenastage.org or call 202-488-3300. On deck, the hysterical The Mystery of Irma Vep.

This is the final week-end also at the  Spotlighters for the William Finn musical A New Brain.  Visit www.spotlighters.org.

Head to Maryland's state capital, Annapolis, for the Bay Theatre's production of Edward Albee's The Goat, or Who is Sylvia through June 14. Visit www.baytheatre.org or call 410-268-1333.

If you're a fan of Pippin or Wicked, do not miss The Stephen Schwartz Project  at Alexandria's Metrostage  running through May 25. Conceived, directed, and choreographed by Michael Bobbitt, you'll see a potpourri from the Schwartz canon.   Visit www.metrostage.org or call 1-800-494-8497.

 Ending this week, the terrific hit musical 1776  at  the Olney Theatre Center  which has been extended until May 18. For tickets at Olney, visit www.olneytheatre.org or call 301-924-3400.

Good news for Olney. Jim Petosa is NOT leaving as Artistic Director as previously announced.

Nixon's Nixon returns to the Round House Theatre in Bethesda May 28. First produced by Round House in 1999, this was a huge hit, with sold out houses, rave reviews, and Helen Hayes nominations. Edward Gero (Nixon) and Conrad Feininger (as Kissinger) reprise their roles for this new production. Following the June 1^st matinee, there will be a discussion with Reagan White House official Ken Adelman, author Robert Allek ("Nixon and Kissinger:Partners in Power", and Nixon's memoir ghostwriter Frank Gannon. Visit www.roundhousetheatre.org or call 240-644-1100.

Kimberly Akimbo ends its successful run at the Vagabond Players this week-end. Call 410-563-9135.

Theatre Hopkins  is presenting The Arabian Nights adapted by Mary Zimmerman (Tony winner for Metamorphoses) June 13-June 29 at the Swirnow Theater on the campus of Johns Hopkins. 410-516-7159 or visit www.jhu.edu/-theatre.

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.

Of all the line-ups of shows for next season, one of the most interesting belongs to the Studio Theatre: Althol Fugard's The Road to Mecca, the musical GreyGardens, two plays nominated for the Tony Award for Best Play The Seafarer by Conor McPherson and Rock 'N' Roll by Tom Stoppard, and finally August Wilson's Radio Golf.

And don't forget the Studio's The History Boys  (a Tony winner for Best Play) has been extended AGAIN until June 1^st. 202-332-3300.

Restaurant Recommendation:

What a find in the Mt.Washington area!! Ethel & Ramone's at 1615 Sulgrave Ave. 410-664-3923. This is a quaint place with great Creole Cuisine. Talk to Chef Ed Bloom, mention Broadwayworld.com and he'll give you a free dessert!! What do I recommend? Try their crab cakes but don't miss their Jambalaya. 

For comments, write to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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