Baltimore/Washington Backstage - October 27, 2007

I'm writing this column listening to the weekly radio program "Standing Room Only" from Emerson College's  WERS-FM in Boston which features Broadway show music. It airs each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Sunday from 12 noon to 2 p.m. It's not only a wonderful show but has live interviews as well. Just go to www.wers-fm.edu.  Tell me what you think.

 

If you follow this column, you know how much of a fan I am of Jason Robert Brown. Well, good news. Two theaters in the area had opening nights last evening of  the wonderful  The Last Five Years which broke box office records recently at the Everyman Theatre.  You could see both productions.

In Baltimore, head to Broadway (in Fells Point) to see the Vagabond Theatre production which runs until Nov. 25. 410-563-9135.

 

The Springfield Community Theatre located in Fairfax, VA version runs until Nov. 4. 703-866-8238.

I mentioned the successful Donmar Warehouse production of Brown's Tony-winning Parade in London which featured some new music. Luckily, this has been recorded. Look for the release in November. Can't wait.

"Good Morning America" welcomes the new Broadway cast of Grease Monday morning, Oct. 29.

Rosie O'Donnell's "Rosie's Broadway Kids" will be performing on the Martha Stewart show on Wednesday morning, Oct. 31. Check out these talented young New York City students. For more information on this wonderful organization, visit www.rosiesbroadwaykids.org. 

Also on Oct. 31, "The Today Show" welcomes the cast of Young Frankenstein.

(On WERS-FM at the moment – "Good Morning Baltimore" from Hairspray. How appropriate).

 Sunday, Oct. 28 on the Travel Channel you can visit Stratford-Upon-Avon and view a segment on the Royal Shakespeare Company.

I attended a preview performance of  the new Broadway production of  Edmond Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac. This production is adapted and translated by Anthony Burgess and stars Kevin Kline, Jennifer Garner, and Daniel Sunjata.  The official opening is on Nov.1. Do not wait to read the reviews. Buy your tickets now!! The run is only for ten weeks. Director David Leveaux has a magical production!! At the Richard Rogers Theatre.

Following the show, we walked up 8^th Avenue and passed the restaurant where the cast of Mamma Mia! was celebrating their 6^th anniversary. They have become the 18^th longest-running show on Broadway and surpassed The Producers.  Who'd have thunk it? Congratulations.

Thanks to my brother Morris who recommended the special Fall 2007 issue of "Smithsonian". This magazine is chock full of great articles. The front cover's headline is "37 Under 36…America's Young Innovators in the Arts and Sciences". There are articles about Baltimore's own Sarah Jones, Tony Award-winning playwright and actress (Bridge and Tunnel), and playwright Sarah Ruhl (The Clean House).

 But I was most fascinated to read a terrific tale of a photograph. Do you recall the cover of the original cast recording of West Side Story (now celebrating its 50^th Anniversary)? It was the first record album I owned. It portrays the late Larry Kert being pulled by Carol Lawrence. Owen Edwards has written a short history of the background of what may very well be the most historic photo on a Broadway album. The noted and acclaimed photographer was Leo Friedman who at the ripe old age of 88 lives in Las Vegas.  According to Lawrence, they looked for days for locations. They finally settled for W. 56^th Street in Hell's Kitchen. Lawrence recalled that the two actors ran up and down the street (without any police assistance) until they got the shot to remember. I recommend you read the whole story.

 I thoroughly enjoyed MTV's production of the Broadway cast of Legally Blonde. Maybe they'll next tackle Xanadu. Hopefully, they will replay it.

Now playing on WERS…a song from tick, tick…BOOM!  Well, you can catch this great Jonathan Larson musical through Nov. 25 at the Metro Stage in Alexandria, VA. I saw this musical in Baltimore and loved it. 703-548-9044.

The Baltimore School for the Arts has an Open House on Sunday, Oct. 28 from 2-4 p.m. aimed at families with children of elementary and middle school age. They'll be dance, music, theatre, stage productions and visual arts. Visit www.bsfa.org.

Playing at Center Stage is Willy Holtzman's Hearts which continues to Dec. 2. I heard the playwright discuss this play earlier in the year and it sounds like this could be a big event. Center Stage as usual has many special events surrounding this production directed by Tim Vasen who is leading a talk-back after the Sunday evening, Oct. 28 performance. There's College Night on Nov. 1 with free food, live entertainment, and drink specials. Join the Stage Door Canteen from 5-8 p.m. with swing music and dancing. Active-duty military and veterans are invited to wear their uniforms. Friday Nov. 9 will be "Meet the Actors" after the show. Veterans Day will feature a post-show talkback (Sunday matinee Nov. 11).There will be a celebration of Jewish War Veterans on Nov. 14. On Nov. 15, you can meet the playwright, joined by his father, Donald, whose experiences in World War II inspired the play. 410-332-0033.

The Signature presents "From :Page to Stage" on Monday, Oct. 29 at the Arlington Public Library with the writers and performers of The Word Begins which ends its run on Sunday, Oct. 28. 703-573-SEAT. 

Wish I could attend their "Brown Bag Thursday" which will feature Christopher d'Amboise, writer, director, and choreographer of The Studio at the theater from 1-2 p.m. Visit www.signature-theatre.org.

Remember the great production of The Front Page at Center Stage? Well, Baltimore's Friends School is doing an "updated" version Nov. 2 and 3, written and directed by one of Baltimore's finest columnists, the Sun's Dan Rodricks. The script alludes to Al-Qaeda, military, tribunals, dirty bombs, DNA evidence, corrupt politicians and fired federal prosecutors. Looks fascinating. Tickets are only $6.

Another high school is presenting "Beauty and the Beast".  St. Paul's School in Brooklandville's performances are Nov. 1-3 and 8-10. 410-825-2500.

Finally, the Baltimore Symphony is being featured on the CBS Evening News next week featuring Marin Alsop, the very first woman conductor of a major American orchestra.

I attended their rehearsal of this week-end's concert which will be played tonight in Bethesda, and Sunday in Baltimore. Do not miss it. See Tim Smith's review in today's Baltimore Sun. Maestra Alsop is bringing a new burst of energy to Baltimore and Washington area music enthusiasts.

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

 

 

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