It didn’t surprise me that Elden Street Players (ESP) would tackle Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story by Stephen Dolginoff. On their Web site, Past President Rich Klare writes “Our brand of theatre is not for everyone, for which we make no apologies. We try to offer theatre that is challenging and thought provoking, as well as entertaining.”

And that’s why I have been attending ESP’s productions for over two decades because they have produced plays and musicals that other local community theatres would not dare to touch (until ESP had done them) including  La Cage aux Folles, Love! Valour! Compassion!, True West, The Weir, The Invention of Love, Boston Marriage, and The Violet Hour. [Read more...]

She’ll Be Here! Elaine Paige on playing Carlotta in Kennedy Center’s upcoming production of Follies

I was so excited when it was announced that Elaine Paige would be playing the role of Carlotta in The Kennedy Center’s new production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Follies that I jumped at the chance to interview her because I am a big admirer of hers. Every week I listen to her recordings of “Heaven Help My Heart” and “I Know Him So Well” (With Barbara Dickson) from Chess. To me, it’s the most beautiful recording of these two songs ever made. When Elaine finally made it to Broadway in Sunset Boulevard and also starred as Mrs. Lovett in a concert version in NYC – I hopped on a bus to see her. There is something magical about her voice, her stage presence, and her ability to grab an audience and never let go – even after the curtain falls. Elaine’s life is full of triumphs, some disappointments, health challenges – just like Carlotta’s and ours. I am honored that Elaine spent 50 minutes on the phone with me. I look forward – as do her many fans in the DC area – to watching her ‘steal’ the show when she sings “I’m Still Here” in Follies next month at The Kennedy Center. [Read more...]

Attention all DC area casting directors – here are ten young actors, some of them great athletes, some great dramatic actors, some great singers, and some who are very funny, whose performances in recent local productions made audiences swoon with delight. Need a young actor for your show? Consider auditioning these ten talented future stars. [Read more...]