Baltimore/Washington Backstage - May 5, 2006

Has anyone else besides me noticed the three connections this week between Oregon/>/> and Maryland/>/>?

 

The Round House Theatre in Bethesda/>/> utilized an Associate Artist of the famed Oregon Shakespeare Festival, James Edmondson to direct the recent "The Retreat from Moscow/>/>".

 

The Baltimore Ravens then selected two Oregon/>/> football players in the first four rounds of the draft.

 

And finally, the Baltimore Symphony guest conductor on Sunday, Carlos Kalmar, is the Maestro of the Oregon Symphony. I was one of the few lucky patrons to hear the incredible performance of Charles Adams' Pulitzer Prize winning piece "On the Transmigration of Souls" which was commissioned by the New York Philharmonic to commemorate the first anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy. What a magnificent concert this was. If you get a chance to see Kalmar/>/>, don't miss him. Remember his name.

 

Center Stage Dramaturge Gavin Witt was a guest at the Noon-time lecture on Wednesday where a discussion of "Crumbs from the Table of Joy" was led by Dramaturgy fellow Liana Thompson.  Playwright Lynn Nottage, best known for her wonderful "Intimate Apparel" done at Center Stage a few years ago, has written a play that takes place in Brooklyn, in the early '50s that deals with racism, religious fanaticism, step-mother/step daughter relationships, Communism, and a Shabbas Goy (Elvis Pressley was one).  See the wonderful article about actress Amina Robinson in the May 5^th Sun by Jessica Brandt. Many of you may have seen Robinson perform at the Hippodrome Theatre in the road shows of "Little Shop of Horrors" and "Mamma Mia!"  "Crumbs" plays till June 11. Call 410-332-0033 for tickets. Really looking forward to this.

 

Do not let the horrible television commercials affect your decision to see "Golda's Balcony" at the HIPP opening Tuesday night, May 9. Director Scott Schwartz is the son of acclaimed "Wicked" composer Stephen Schwartz. I saw this wonderful play on Broadway and am looking forward to Valerie Harper's take on the Russian born, Milwaukee/>/> bred Prime Minister of Israel, Golda Meir. Harper plays a total of 43 roles in the production. The two week run ends May 21. Harper will be featured on MPT's "Artworks This Week", Wednesday night, May 10 at 7:30 p.m./> Call 410-547- 7328.  According to an ad in the Baltimore Sun, if you sign-up to pay your subscription via EZ-Pay, you may be eligible for half-price tickets for Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sunday nights for all seats. For this special, call 1-888-539-1280. I have trying to suggest discount tickets for the HIPP since January. This is the first such "special" I have seen. It's a great idea to fill the vast theater.

 

Kudos to my colleague James Howard who in this week's "Charm City Stage Door" column previewed the "Cappies" awards Sunday @ 5:30/> at the Hippodrome Theatre. This Tony-style awards celebration involves local high school  theater programs. Thirteen local schools have competed to win these prestigious awards. I find it curious that neither Carver/> Center/>/> for the Arts and the Baltimore/> School/>/> for the Arts are not participating. For more information about this nationwide program, visit www.cappies.com.. Tickets are $35. Is there anywhere else in the area you can read about this? Washington/>, DC/>/> has a similar program.

 

Get ready for some Shaw as the Everyman ends its season with "Candida" (May 16-June 25). For bargain hunters, get your tickets NOW for the Pay What You Can performance on Tuesday, May 16 @ 7:30/>. You better hurry for these tickets. Call 410-752-2208.

 

The Everyman has also announced a first-ever cabaret series. The first will open Nov. 12-14 called "Broadway Boys" featuring music by leading Broadway songwriters. A tribute to Stephen Sondheim will be presented April 22-24.  Judy Simmons, who served as Director of the Signature Theatre's acclaimed cabaret series is the director.  This program I assume had its genesis with the incredible performances by composer Jason Robert Brown who had two incredible performances in conjunction with his musical "The Last Five Years" last September.

 

Speaking of Sondheim, one of my favorite musicals, "Sunday in the Park with George" comes to the Fells Point Corner Theater May 12-June 11. The Pulitzer Prize winning musical  has been done at the Carver/> Center/>/> for the Arts but this very well may be its community theater premier. Bill Kamberger is directing. Call 410-276-7837.

 

Another musical, "Mamaleh" is at the Spotlighters. This not-to-be missed show runs till May 21. 410-752-1225.

 

Looking for more bargains?  Bethesda/>/>'s Round House Silver Spring Theatre presents Lee Blessing's "A Body Of Water" May 12-June 4. Friday night May 12 and Saturday matinee (3 p.m./>) May 13 are "Pay What You Can". Call 340-644-1100.

 Opening tonight (previews) at the Arena Stage is Eric Overmeyer's "on the verge or the geography of yearning" (till June 11)and continuing until June 4 is "lady day at emerson's bar and grill". Both of these shows I have seen at Center Stage and I enjoyed them both. Overmeyer is working in Baltimore on HBO's "The Wire" and Baltimore's Billy Holiday is the topic in "lady day" (which like Center Stage has a cabaret setting). Kenneth Lee Roberson, who directed the terrific "Once on this Island" at Center Stage, directs. Call 202-488-3300.

Mark your calendars for the Olney/> Theatre/> Center/>/> for the Arts Gala Week-end May 13 and 14. There will be free back-stage tours and mini-performances on Saturday and on Sunday there will be a special one-woman performance by theater legend Kitty Carlisle Hart. The Imagination Movers will also be performing two performances a day (for kids 2-6 years old). Call 301-924-3400.

 

Back by popular demand at the Wooley Mammoth Theatre Company is "The Gigli Concert" directed by Tom Prewitt. For half-price tickets through May 7 call 202-393-3939 and mention code GCTM.

 

Coming to the Kennedy/> Center/>/> May 7 are Tony Award winners Angela Lansbury and/> George Hearn who starred in "Sweeney Todd" on Broadway.

The Kennedy/> Center/>/> will be celebrating its 35^th Anniversary at 8:30 p.m. Lansbury will reprise her Act I finale "A Little Priest". There will be three Valjeans from "Les Miserables" (J. Mark McVey, Craig Schulman, and Timothy Shew) performing the incredible "Bring Him Home". Others performing are Judy Collins, Harolyn Blackwell, Sarah Chang, and Savian Glover. Marvin Hamlisch will conduct the National Symphony Orchestra. Tickets range from $35-$75. Call 202-416-8338 or go to www.kennedy-center.org. Oh, do I wish I'd be in town for this!!!

 

For the fanatics who love free theater events in New York/>/>…get your pen and paper handy.  Wednesday, June 7 is "Stars in the Alley" at 11 a.m./> in Shubert Alley on 44^th Street. This Annual Concert the week before the Tonys  features most Broadway shows. Monday night, June 26, is "Broadway Under the Stars" a free outdoor Broadway concert normally in Bryant Park. Saturday, July 8, is "Broadway Barks" which is the brainchild of Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore. It concerns the adoption of pets. See www.broadwaybarks.com.

 

 "Broadway on Broadway" will be on Sunday morning, September 10 at 11:30 a.m./> in Times Sq. This free 90 minute concert is incredible. Each Broadway show performs one number and you will get a sneak preview of shows yet to open. I have attended two of these. Plan to get there no later than 9 a.m./> to get close.

Bring a beach chair, the Sunday Times and relax. Every theater lover must experience this once.  A&E Network's "Breakfast with the Arts" did a 15 minute highlight show last year. I cannot understand why the entire show cannot be video-taped.

 

Just learned that Billboard Magazine has instituted (since Jan. 12), the top Cast Albums chart regarding Broadway cast recordings and other musical albums. The new Decca Broadway release of "South Pacific" (the Carnegie Hall concert) debuted at No. 6. Does anyone doubt what is #1? For 16 weeks it's been Stephen Schwartz' "Wicked". Look for my report on an interview with this incredible composer coming soon.  For the fourth straight week…right again, "Mamma Mia!" followed by "Jersey Boys", "Spamalot" and "The Color Purple". Other best-sellers are the "Rent" and "Phantom", the new "Sweeney Todd", "Hairspray", "Avenue Q", and "Beauty and the Beast". Go to www.billboard.com.

 

Still receiving suggestions for casting the film of "Mamma Mia!" Please send your suggestions to cgshubow@broadwayworld.com.

 

 

 

 

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