http://dctheatrescene.com Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website Fri, 25 May 2012 19:37:45 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website DC Theatre Scene no Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website http://dctheatrescene.com/wp-content/plugins/powerpress/rss_default.jpg http://dctheatrescene.com http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/06/01/edward-gero-and-sasha-olinick-on-playing-salieri-and-mozart-in-amadeus/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/06/01/edward-gero-and-sasha-olinick-on-playing-salieri-and-mozart-in-amadeus/#comments Wed, 01 Jun 2011 14:04:57 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=25722 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/06/01/edward-gero-and-sasha-olinick-on-playing-salieri-and-mozart-in-amadeus/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/18/jenny-jules-on-playing-mama-nadi-in-ruined/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/18/jenny-jules-on-playing-mama-nadi-in-ruined/#comments Wed, 18 May 2011 11:15:26 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=25395 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/18/jenny-jules-on-playing-mama-nadi-in-ruined/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/11/outstanding-new-york-performances/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/11/outstanding-new-york-performances/#comments Wed, 11 May 2011 16:34:06 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=25269 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/11/outstanding-new-york-performances/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/09/matthew-scott-and-nancy-anderson-sing-sondheim-at-signature/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/09/matthew-scott-and-nancy-anderson-sing-sondheim-at-signature/#comments Mon, 09 May 2011 12:15:41 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=25191 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/09/matthew-scott-and-nancy-anderson-sing-sondheim-at-signature/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/06/11-shows-and-1-movie-im-glad-i-saw/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/06/11-shows-and-1-movie-im-glad-i-saw/#comments Fri, 06 May 2011 13:28:53 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=25078 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/05/06/11-shows-and-1-movie-im-glad-i-saw/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/29/wonderland%e2%80%99s-el-gato-jose-llana/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/29/wonderland%e2%80%99s-el-gato-jose-llana/#comments Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:13:57 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24982 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/29/wonderland%e2%80%99s-el-gato-jose-llana/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/27/sam-ludwig-florrie-bagel-and-parker-drown-in-speech-debate/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/27/sam-ludwig-florrie-bagel-and-parker-drown-in-speech-debate/#comments Wed, 27 Apr 2011 12:20:34 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24942 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/27/sam-ludwig-florrie-bagel-and-parker-drown-in-speech-debate/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/26/jahi-kearse-baby-it%e2%80%99s-you/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/26/jahi-kearse-baby-it%e2%80%99s-you/#comments Tue, 26 Apr 2011 17:59:31 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24829 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/26/jahi-kearse-baby-it%e2%80%99s-you/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/20/they-%e2%80%98pushed-da-button%e2%80%99-the-color-purple%e2%80%99s-dayna-jarae-dantzler-and-taprena-augustine/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/20/they-%e2%80%98pushed-da-button%e2%80%99-the-color-purple%e2%80%99s-dayna-jarae-dantzler-and-taprena-augustine/#comments Wed, 20 Apr 2011 19:41:19 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24793 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/20/they-%e2%80%98pushed-da-button%e2%80%99-the-color-purple%e2%80%99s-dayna-jarae-dantzler-and-taprena-augustine/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/19/margaret-colin-at-home-in-arcadia-and-on-the-big-and-small-screens/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/19/margaret-colin-at-home-in-arcadia-and-on-the-big-and-small-screens/#comments Tue, 19 Apr 2011 15:37:07 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24401 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/19/margaret-colin-at-home-in-arcadia-and-on-the-big-and-small-screens/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/13/rags-from-auditions-to-opening-night/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/13/rags-from-auditions-to-opening-night/#comments Wed, 13 Apr 2011 13:09:55 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24442 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/13/rags-from-auditions-to-opening-night/feed/ 3 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/07/the-thrill-of-elden-street-players%e2%80%99-musical-thrill-me-the-leopold-loeb-story/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/07/the-thrill-of-elden-street-players%e2%80%99-musical-thrill-me-the-leopold-loeb-story/#comments Thu, 07 Apr 2011 13:54:37 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24178 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/07/the-thrill-of-elden-street-players%e2%80%99-musical-thrill-me-the-leopold-loeb-story/feed/ 9 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/05/nick-adams-elaine-marcos-priscilla-the-musical/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/05/nick-adams-elaine-marcos-priscilla-the-musical/#comments Tue, 05 Apr 2011 14:03:16 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24017 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/05/nick-adams-elaine-marcos-priscilla-the-musical/feed/ 2 Nick Adams and J. Elaine Marcos talk to us about playing Adam/Felicia and Cynthia They both wear outrageous colorful and eye-popping costumes and dance and sing their hearts out in the entertaining Broadway production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert ... Nick Adams and J. Elaine Marcos talk to us about playing Adam/Felicia and Cynthia They both wear outrageous colorful and eye-popping costumes and dance and sing their hearts out in the entertaining Broadway production of Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical. What are the challenges of performing in a high-energy, quick-costume-changing, and visually stunning musical? We schmooze about that and lots more! Joel: What is Priscilla Queen of the Desert The Musical about? Nick: It's about three friends looking for love, family, and acceptance. J. Elaine: From Cynthia's point of view, well ...according to her, everything is about her. But Cynthia is this mail-order-bride stuck in a the middle of nowhere and all she wants to do is be free from this boring life she has with her husband Bob. Priscilla (who is actually a bus and not a person) represents a chance for Cynthia to get out. Metaphorically, the bus represents a journey that we all go thru. It might not be about the destination, but how one gets from one place to another. Why did you want to play the roles of Felicia and Cynthia? Nick: It's a leading role in a new Broadway show. What musical theatre actor wouldn't want to? It's a role that really calls upon all the criteria of musical theatre. J. Elaine: Cynthia captures everything that I (deep down) love to do. Be over the top, be shockingly silly, and sing with a Filipino accent. How did you get the role of Cynthia? J. Elaine: To be honest, most of my auditions been like Cynthia's number: unexpected, comedic with random but strong choices all the while singing a 16 bar cut of a musical song. I don't think it's a wonder Telsey (casting office) thought of me for this role because for a while, all I did was sing in an accent for many shows they cast me in. For instance, in The Wedding Singer, I played Imelda Marcos. How did you prepare for your roles? Nick: I worked on the material with some great acting teachers/directors and dialect coaches. I really tried to bring in something specific and personal. I am like Adam/Felicia, because he uses what he's got to get what he wants. J. Elaine: I had already prepared my whole life for this role. It required me to literally impersonate my Mom and so no rehearsal was really necessary. Her mannerisms and speech patterns were burned in my brain! You recently opened the show on Broadway. What are your favorite memories from Opening Night? Nick: Feeling completely fearless the moment I stepped onstage. Looking out into the crowd while riding the silver shoe over the audience and catching my mother's face. Looking in Will Swenson's eyes when we were entering for the finale and bursting into tears. Taking my bow during the curtain call. J. Elaine: Joan Rivers coming up to me and telling me she thought I was "funny"!!! I'll take that. I also loved putting on this gorgeous Reem Acra dress that was so gorgeous and fun to wear. It was nice to wear something other than the same old Gap sweats. You both appeared in Toronto with the show before it moved to Broadway. What changes did they make in Toronto and for this production at The Palace in NYC, and how do you think these changes help the Broadway production? Nick: We established a more appropriate opening number with better story telling. It's clear what the focus of the story is from the get go. We also tightened some dialogue and jokes. Any changes to your character, songs or costumes? Nick: They allowed me to infuse the role with a youthful jovial quality. I have some new custom shoes, a new Barbie outfit, and we made a bigger ending on "Like A Prayer". J. Elaine: They did add Zebra print to my leggings and arm bands. In the movie, Cynthia comes in wearing a Zebra hat so I think they wanted that "animal-like" presence still to be apart of the costume. They didn't change much with my number. I just got notes to try some different things on different lines, DC Theatre Scene no http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/04/a-chat-with-an-ideal-husband%e2%80%99s-lord-goring-cameron-folmar/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/04/a-chat-with-an-ideal-husband%e2%80%99s-lord-goring-cameron-folmar/#comments Mon, 04 Apr 2011 16:23:18 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=24010 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/04/04/a-chat-with-an-ideal-husband%e2%80%99s-lord-goring-cameron-folmar/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/31/urbanarias-opens-with-two-ricky-ian-gordon-short-operas/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/31/urbanarias-opens-with-two-ricky-ian-gordon-short-operas/#comments Thu, 31 Mar 2011 11:24:34 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23942 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/31/urbanarias-opens-with-two-ricky-ian-gordon-short-operas/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/28/londons-first-lady-of-musical-theatre-to-appear-in-follies/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/28/londons-first-lady-of-musical-theatre-to-appear-in-follies/#comments Mon, 28 Mar 2011 13:11:51 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23809 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/28/londons-first-lady-of-musical-theatre-to-appear-in-follies/feed/ 9 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/16/ten-young-outstanding-performers/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/16/ten-young-outstanding-performers/#comments Wed, 16 Mar 2011 14:13:48 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23560 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/16/ten-young-outstanding-performers/feed/ 23 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/11/joshua-morgan-and-derek-thompson-from-the-chosen/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/11/joshua-morgan-and-derek-thompson-from-the-chosen/#comments Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:06:41 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23475 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/11/joshua-morgan-and-derek-thompson-from-the-chosen/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/10/patrick-page-spider-mans-green-goblin-talks-with-dcts/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/10/patrick-page-spider-mans-green-goblin-talks-with-dcts/#comments Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:36:24 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23422 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/10/patrick-page-spider-mans-green-goblin-talks-with-dcts/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/07/elden-street-sweeps-watch-awards/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/07/elden-street-sweeps-watch-awards/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 10:53:40 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23308 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/07/elden-street-sweeps-watch-awards/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/01/this-years-helen-hayes-awards-nominations/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/01/this-years-helen-hayes-awards-nominations/#comments Tue, 01 Mar 2011 22:39:08 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23119 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/03/01/this-years-helen-hayes-awards-nominations/feed/ 22 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/28/erin-weaver-from-comedy-of-errors/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/28/erin-weaver-from-comedy-of-errors/#comments Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:47:00 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=23048 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/28/erin-weaver-from-comedy-of-errors/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/25/local-actor-ryan-watkinson-tells-how-to-succeed-on-broadway/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/25/local-actor-ryan-watkinson-tells-how-to-succeed-on-broadway/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 15:11:39 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22989 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/25/local-actor-ryan-watkinson-tells-how-to-succeed-on-broadway/feed/ 8 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/15/an-interview-with-director-mary-zimmerman/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/15/an-interview-with-director-mary-zimmerman/#comments Tue, 15 Feb 2011 18:40:56 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22781 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/15/an-interview-with-director-mary-zimmerman/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/11/rob-mcclure-on-playing-mozart-in-amadeus/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/11/rob-mcclure-on-playing-mozart-in-amadeus/#comments Fri, 11 Feb 2011 16:45:09 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22716 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/11/rob-mcclure-on-playing-mozart-in-amadeus/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/09/landless-mash-up-fest-part-2/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/09/landless-mash-up-fest-part-2/#comments Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:51:37 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22579 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/02/09/landless-mash-up-fest-part-2/feed/ 5 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/31/stephen-cole-and-david-krane-on-the-musical-the-road-to-qatar/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/31/stephen-cole-and-david-krane-on-the-musical-the-road-to-qatar/#comments Mon, 31 Jan 2011 11:47:22 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22268 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/31/stephen-cole-and-david-krane-on-the-musical-the-road-to-qatar/feed/ 3 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/21/luminas-musicalized-canterbury-tales-putting-it-all-together/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/21/luminas-musicalized-canterbury-tales-putting-it-all-together/#comments Fri, 21 Jan 2011 16:17:31 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22209 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/21/luminas-musicalized-canterbury-tales-putting-it-all-together/feed/ 14 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/19/ed-dixon-from-sunset-boulevard/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/19/ed-dixon-from-sunset-boulevard/#comments Wed, 19 Jan 2011 16:10:44 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=22182 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/19/ed-dixon-from-sunset-boulevard/feed/ 4 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/07/interview-with-oscar-andrew-hammerstein-iii/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/07/interview-with-oscar-andrew-hammerstein-iii/#comments Fri, 07 Jan 2011 17:47:41 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21927 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/07/interview-with-oscar-andrew-hammerstein-iii/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/03/chris-sizemore-margo-seibert-and-tracy-lynn-olivera-on-candide/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/03/chris-sizemore-margo-seibert-and-tracy-lynn-olivera-on-candide/#comments Mon, 03 Jan 2011 21:13:14 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21874 http://dctheatrescene.com/2011/01/03/chris-sizemore-margo-seibert-and-tracy-lynn-olivera-on-candide/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/29/oy-vey-schmoozing-with-the-kinsey-sicks/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/29/oy-vey-schmoozing-with-the-kinsey-sicks/#comments Wed, 29 Dec 2010 14:23:26 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21831 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/29/oy-vey-schmoozing-with-the-kinsey-sicks/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/21/musical-scene-stealers-december-2011/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/21/musical-scene-stealers-december-2011/#comments Tue, 21 Dec 2010 17:04:53 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21604 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/21/musical-scene-stealers-december-2011/feed/ 33 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/14/an-enchanted-chat-with-south-pacific-star-david-pittsinger/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/14/an-enchanted-chat-with-south-pacific-star-david-pittsinger/#comments Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:48:40 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21484 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/14/an-enchanted-chat-with-south-pacific-star-david-pittsinger/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/02/oklahomas-showstoppers-june-schreiner-and-cody-williams/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/02/oklahomas-showstoppers-june-schreiner-and-cody-williams/#comments Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:27:50 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21246 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/12/02/oklahomas-showstoppers-june-schreiner-and-cody-williams/feed/ 7 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/29/dc-playwright-and-director-joe-calarco/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/29/dc-playwright-and-director-joe-calarco/#comments Mon, 29 Nov 2010 21:06:54 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21177 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/29/dc-playwright-and-director-joe-calarco/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/19/schmoozing-at-this-years-showbiz-expo/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/19/schmoozing-at-this-years-showbiz-expo/#comments Fri, 19 Nov 2010 19:55:00 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=21034 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/19/schmoozing-at-this-years-showbiz-expo/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/16/harry-connick-jr-on-his-happy-elf/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/16/harry-connick-jr-on-his-happy-elf/#comments Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:41:02 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=20951 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/16/harry-connick-jr-on-his-happy-elf/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/15/lulu-fall-on-being-a-member-of-the-hair-tribe/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/15/lulu-fall-on-being-a-member-of-the-hair-tribe/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2010 23:42:45 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=20925 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/15/lulu-fall-on-being-a-member-of-the-hair-tribe/feed/ 6 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/12/esther-covington-on-playing-fanny-brice/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/12/esther-covington-on-playing-fanny-brice/#comments Fri, 12 Nov 2010 19:23:00 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=20859 http://dctheatrescene.com/2010/11/12/esther-covington-on-playing-fanny-brice/feed/ 1 american century She’s on the stage for two hours – singing many of Fanny Brice’s best-known songs while tap dancing, twirling, telling funny jokes,  relating Fanny's personal life and career highs and lows, while  ‘Baby Snooking’ her way into the hearts of the audienc... She’s on the stage for two hours – singing many of Fanny Brice’s best-known songs while tap dancing, twirling, telling funny jokes,  relating Fanny's personal life and career highs and lows, while  ‘Baby Snooking’ her way into the hearts of the audiences. I asked Esther Covington to talk about preparing for and performing the role of the legendary comedienne in The American Century Theater’s production of One Night With Fanny Brice. Esther: The premise of the show is that Fanny Brice has returned from the dead (not like a zombie… although that would be kind of cool) for this one night to this particular stage to share with the audience the events from her life that shaped her earthly existence, complete with songs that she loved and performed when she was alive. The script doesn’t provide a reason why this particular phenomenon happens, which is one of the challenges of the script. Why is Fanny here on this stage on this night? I believe that Fanny has returned as a tribute to her children, grandchildren, etc. and to share one last night with the people who meant the most to her and never hurt her. Regardless of the reason, the show is two-acts of Fanny recounting actual events from her life. Joel: Who was Fanny Brice? Esther: Fanny Brice was the most famous and highest paid female comedian in America in the early Twentieth Century. Made famous by Barbara Streisand’s portrayal of her in the musical Funny Girl, Fanny Brice was the forerunner and inspiration for women like Carol Burnett, Lucille Ball, and Carol Channing. She performed in Burlesque, on Broadway (most notably the Ziegfeld Follies), in movies, and for more than 12 years on the radio as the character ‘Baby Snooks.’ In addition to her successful career as an actress, singer, and comedian, she was also well known for her 15-year tumultuous relationship with crook and con man Nick Arnstein. She was also a devoted and loving mother of two children. Fanny Brice died in 1951 at age 59 of a cerebral hemorrhage. Joel: Why did you want to play Fanny Brice? Esther: Honestly, the desire to play Fanny Brice was initially no different than my desire to play any character. I find that each role I play helps me further develop my skills as an actress so I’m always thrilled to be cast in any role.  As I learned about Fanny Brice, the excitement and apprehension grew exponentially. I mean, she was the funniest woman in America, which is a wonderful opportunity to improve my comedy chops and to be given a great deal of artistic license to just play and have fun with the role.  Yet there is also the huge challenge of playing a factual person, especially a fairly contemporary one, because there are many people who remember her, saw her perform, and knew her and I wanted to make sure I preserved the integrity of who she was, even without my personal knowledge of her. Joel: How do you relate to Fanny? Esther: I do find that I certainly relate to Fanny Brice, particularly when it comes to my own desires and insecurities. She was never considered beautiful, yet she has a very unique look and is a very pretty woman. I’ve heard similar things my whole life. She hated her nose (so much that she had rhinoplasty late in her career) and I’ve never been too fond of mine (no rhinoplasty for me though… yet). She had three siblings and was the second daughter, which is the same in my family. She adored her father and was always able to see only the good in him, despite some huge personal flaws, which I can definitely relate to in my own life. She was never afraid to take risks and was never too proud to take any role offered her. And she worked so stinkin’ hard her entire career. She never became complacent or assumed that fame would always be hers.  Up until the day she died, she was working. I definitely echo her work ethic. She was a devoted friend, wife, and mother, almost to a fault. Her marriages didn’t last, DC Theatre Scene no