Baltimore/Washington Backstage - May 19, 2006

Just a reminder…get thee to the Hippodrome for "Golda's Balcony" which ends Sunday night, May 21. 410-547-7328.

 

If you have never seen "The Elephant Man", do I have a deal for you?

The Olney/> Theatre/> Center/>/>'s production, (May 24-June 18) announced that thanks to an anonymous donor, ALL SEATS will be $10!! That's right…$10. The OTC has dubbed this quite correctly as "MUST-SEE PRICING". Call 924-3400.

 Another DEAL!!! Love these Pay-What-You-Can deals. What an invention. So, Washington's Studio Theater is doing "Caroline, or Change" through June 25 and Saturday, May 20 @ 2 p.m. is their PWYC performance. And "Frozen" continues there until June 4. For tickets, call 202-332-3300.

OPENING NIGHT! How many of you when you hear this think of the Mel Brooks' song from "The Producers"? (Now available on DVD). Well, it is for the Everyman Theatre's production of "Candida". The Shaw play will continue through June 25. Call 410-752-2208.

 

Nice to see that the Washington Post's Jane Horwitz plugging next season's Everyman Theatre's line-up on May 16.  And quite a season it will be. Michael Hollinger's "Opus" starts the season Sept. 5, about a string quartet rehearsing Beethoven, the "School for Scandal" by the 18^th century playwright Richard Sheridan (Nov. 7), Lee Blessing's "Going to St. Ives" (Jan. 16), the romantic comedy "And a Nightingale Sang" by C.P. Taylor (March 20) and finally, Harold Pinter's "Betrayal" (May 15)

 

And if you enjoyed "A Number" at the Everyman and want to see a different look, head to Philadelphia/>/>'s Wilma/> Theatre/>/> where it plays in repertory with "Cloud 9". It runs through June 4 as part of the Wilma's Caryl Churchill Festival. Call 215-546-7824 or www.wilmatheatre.org.

 

You can see another Lee Blessing play "A Body of Water" at the Round House Silver Spring through June 4. 240-644-1100.

 

Center Stage continues with the wonderful "Crumbs from the Table of Joy". The Lynn Nottage play, directed by Baltimorean David Schweizer, continues until June 11. Catch a great interview on MPT's "Artworks This Week" Saturday at 9 a.m./> Rhea Feinkin asks the question I have not seen asked before, "Were you surprised you were asked to direct this play, being a White man?"  He replied in the affirmative but gives a great explanation.  You can also read a great interview with the director, who is looking forward to directing the Rodgers and Hart musical "The Boys from Syracuse/>/>" next season, at www.backstage.centerstage.org. He is quite a character.

 

Last chance to see "Mamaleh" at Spotlighters on Saturday, May 21. Don't forget there is a special "Broadwayworld" discount that allows you to get a $15 ticket for $10. This offer is good ONLY for phone reservations. Call 410-752-1225.

 

Also last chance to see the Tony-nominated muscial "A Year with Frog and Toad" at the Pumpkin Theatre, this Saturday and Sunday at 1 and 3 p.m. See my review on this web site. Call 410-828-1814. This will sellout so act quickly.

Fells Point Corner Theater continues with "Sunday in the Park with George" through June 11. Call 410-276-7837.

 

One of my favorite musicals, "Pippin" (which may get another Broadway turn) is at Laurel Mill Playhouse through June 10. Written by Stephen Schwartz ("Wicked"), this is the show that put Ben Vereen on the map. Call 301-617-9906.

 

Speaking of Schwartz, head to NYC this week-end and see The American Musical Theater Ensemble at Manhattan School of Music's presentation of "Defying Gravity, A Musical Journey with Stephen Schwartz" May 19 and 20 @ 8 p.m. You'll see numbers from "Pippin", "Wicked", "Children of Eden", "The Magic Show", "Pocahontas", "The Hunchback of Notre Dame", "Godspell", and "The Baker's Wife". Admission is FREE!!!

For further information, call 917-493-4429 or visit www.msmnyc.edu.

 

The Arena Stage continues with "On the Verge or the Geography of Yearning" (ending June 11) and "Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill (ending June 4). Call 202-488-3300. Look for reviews on these two plays shortly.

 

I have to admit I'm looking forward to the CBS "Early Show" contest entitled "My Broadway Debut". This is a six-day series from May 29-June 5, which will culminate in two college drama students getting walk-on roles in a Broadway musical.

 

CBS News producers and Broadway casting director, Bernie Telsey have selected 10 students from Northwestern, Wagner, U./> of Michigan/>/>, U./> of Arizona/>/>, and Florida/> State/>/> to participate. Each day one male-female pair will perform a number from such Broadway musicals as "The Wedding Singer", "Hairspray", "Rent", "Avenue Q", "Chicago" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". Each presentation will be introduced by a star from the appropriate show.

 

Starting on June 2, viewers can log onto www.CBSNews.com to vote for their favorite finalist. Should be fun.

 

Fans of Sandra Bernhard (are there any out there?) can see her on the A&E "Breakfast with the Arts, Sunday morning, May 21 from 8-10 a.m./> She will discuss her off-Broadway show "Everything Bad is Beautiful".

 

The Tony Awards were announced on CBS Tuesday morning in an amateurish way. You would think since CBS is covering the Awards on June 11, they would have someone besides Harry Smith who was reporting live DURING the announcement of the nominations.  CBS missed a great opportunity to promote this historic event.

 

"Gladiator the Musical"?  Well playwright William Nicholson (recently saw his "Retreat from Moscow/>/>" at the Round House in Bethesda/>/>) is working on a book based on his screenplay. Hans Zimmer's original film score will be featured and Brian Stokes Mitchell is being sought to play the Russell Crowe role.

 

Finally, you Ben Folds fans out there. Just saw a sneak preview of the cartoon "Over the Hedge" with Folds penning many songs. The film's terrific as is the CD which I bought right after seeing the film.  If you missed Folds performing with the Baltimore Symphony, he will be doing an encore presentation at Columbia/>/>'s Merriweather Post Pavilion on June 28. Tickets go on sale May 20 @ 10 a.m./> Do not miss it!!! Call 410-547-SEAT or 202-397-SEAT.

Happy Birthday to my son, Justin!!

 For comments, email me at cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

 

 

 

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