You are here: Home / Archives for Joel Markowitz

All posts by Joel Markowitz:

Joel writes the DCTS column 'Theatre Schmooze' and podcasts local, Philadelphia and NYC actors and directors. In 1990, Joel founded The Ushers Theatre Going Social Group in the DC area and leads groups on theatre weekends in NYC. Joel is a fan of Stephen Sondheim, William Finn, Jason Robert Brown and Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty. He is a huge supporter of children's theatre. His favorite,musicals include Ragtime, The Secret Garden, The Light in the Piazza, Sweeney Todd, The Last Five Years, In The Heights and [title of show]. Joel is also a Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres fan, so you may see him at ice hockey rinks as well as stage doors where he schmoozes with the stars.

The Side Show interviews

September 1, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 4 Comments

Shelly Work, Amanda Rife on playing Daisy and Violet Hilton, and David Gregory on directing Side Show at Teatro 101

Whenever I hear that Side Show is being produced in our area, I find a way to see it. I was so impressed by Teatro 101’s production of Violet, (which I recently named as one of the Best Musicals of 2009-2010), that I knew they would do a wonderful job with one of my favorite musicals. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Theatre Schmooze Tagged With: teatro 101

Matthew Schleigh and Ray Hatch in Buddy Holly

August 31, 2010 By Joel Markowitz Leave a Comment

Until September 12th at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, Matthew Schleigh is re-rocking the house in his Helen Hayes Award-winning performance as the late-great Buddy Holly and Ray Hatch is not only recreating the bundle of energy MC at the Apollo in Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story, but he is also co-directing with Toby Orenstein and providing the choreography. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Theatre Schmooze

See South Pacific live from Broadway tonight

August 18, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 2 Comments

Aug 19, 2010 — What an enchanted evening tonight will be when PBS’s “Live from Lincoln Center” presents the 7-time Tony Award-winning revival of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical South Pacific. You can watch it locally on two PTS stations: WETA, Channel 26 at 8pm, re-broadcast on Aug 19 at 1am, 6am and 2pm, and again on Aug 20 at 2am, and  Maryland Public Television at 8pm and re-broadcast Thursday, Aug 19 at 3am and again on Sat, Aug 21 at 7pm. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: News

Best Musicals and Best Musical Performances of 2009-2010

August 16, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 31 Comments

Musicals are my life and I saw a lot of them on DC-area stages in the past year – in professional theatres, community theatres, family theatres, children’s theatres, high schools, and programs that train young actors. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Audience Choice Awards 2010, Theatre Schmooze Tagged With: Audience Choice Awards

Gavin Lee on playing Bert in Mary Poppins

August 10, 2010 By Joel Markowitz Leave a Comment

Kennedy Center audiences love Gavin Lee’s heart-warming, lovable performance as Bert, the chimney sweep in the national tour of Mary Poppins. Gavin originated the role in London, performed it on Broadway, and has been playing Bert all around the country on this tour. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Interviews, Theatre Schmooze

The Women of the national tour of Avenue Q

August 6, 2010 By Joel Markowitz Leave a Comment

An interview with members of the Avenue Q national tour: Kerri Bracken, Julianna Lee and Jacqueline Grabois

It was an hour before their call for the evening performance of  Avenue Q when cast members Jacqueline Grabois (Kate Monster and Lucy the Slut), Kerri Bracken (Mrs. T. and one of the two Bad Idea Bears), and ensemble member Julianna Lee, who performed the role of Christmas Eve when I saw the show on opening night, sat down with me in their dressing room. [Read more...]

Share|
 Joel interviews 3 cast members of the Avenue Q national tour [18:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (173)

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts

Personal reflections on this year’s Fringe musicals

July 26, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 18 Comments

It wasn’t hard to select my favorite musicals of this year’s Capital Fringe Festival ( I’ll get to them in just a minute) because so many of this year’s so-called musicals sucked. The majority of them had poorly written scores, books, and lyrics, and casts that couldn’t sing in key if their lives depended on it. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Theatre Schmooze Tagged With: 2010 Fringe

Favorite 2010 Fringe Musical Performances – Part Two

July 22, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 7 Comments

The second week of the Capital Fringe Festival brought ten musical performances that I enjoyed immensely. Many were by local artists who I have never seen or heard before. I am hoping that many of our directors and casting directors will audition these incredible actors/singers. I look forward to seeing them in future performances. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Theatre Schmooze

H.M.S. Pinafore

July 19, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 2 Comments

The Gilbert and Sullivan Youth Company made another big splash this year with their ship-shape production of H.M.S. Pinafore, which was filled with wonderful performances and gorgeous singing by some of the DC area and Naples, [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Our Reviews Tagged With: 2010 Fringe

Queer in the USA

July 18, 2010 By Joel Markowitz 1 Comment

DC theatregoers have a unique opportunity to see a heart-warming, funny, touching, and beautifully written one-man show, with a tour-de-force performance by Queer in the USA’s writer and performer Manuel Simons. [Read more...]

Share|

Post to Twitter

Filed Under: Our Reviews Tagged With: 2010 Fringe
« Older Posts