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Five Fabulous Scene Stealers and other Kudos
Elizabeth Rayca, Richelle Howie, Steven Rigaux, Sonya Lillenstein, Vishal Vaidya,  The Cast of PetPourri, Josh Speerstra and Rita Moreno.
By Joel Markowitz

Local theatregoers were recently treated to many scene stealing performances. Here are my personal favorites: (more…)

Composer Jason Robert Brown on his newest works:13, Trumpet of the Swan, his children’s book “Tickety-Tock”and on Open Circle’s unique production of Songs for a New World
By Joel Markowitz

Jason Robert Brown’s beautiful scores of The Last 5 Years and Parade has been produced by several DC theatre companies. Last year Jason’s incredible piano playing was heard at Signature Theatre’s concert version of Songs for a New World at Strathmore, and this year we were treated to an innovative production of the show at Open Circle Theatre.  Now, DC audiences will be able to watch Jason conduct a concert version of his new work The Trumpet of the Swan at The Kennedy Center on December 4 thru 6.

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Welcome to the Hard Luck Café
A new musical by Karin Ringheim gets its start in DC
By Joel Markowitz

I attend many readings of new works and when you walk in the room and watch the faces of the playwrights, book writers and composers, you always see the same emotions - pride, fear and hope.

Recently, I slid into a reading of Karin Ringheim’s musical Welcome to the Hard Luck Café. I was invited to attend by actress and singer extraordinaire Renee Rabben, who was reading the role of Hazel. Two of my favorite local actresses were in the cast -Amy McWilliams and Amy Conley. (more…)

 

 Hard Luck Cafe music samples [6:51m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (330)

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, 110 in the Shade, and pre-show at How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents.
by Joel Markowitz

I’ve seen some outstanding performances lately. Here are some you still have time to savor for yourself.

A Really Lovely and Hysterically Funny Funny Thing at TAP

Aaah! What bliss! Musical director Mark Deal and his superb orchestra breezed through Stephen Sondheim’s extremely hummable and toe-tapping overture of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, (more…)

SCINTILLATING SUMMER MUSICAL SCENE STEALERS:
Kevin Girard Bender, Kristen Zwobot, Hope MacDonald, Zachary Conneen

As summer comes to a close, here are four memorable scene stealing musical performances by local young and talented performers.

KEVIN GIRARD BENDER singing “Role of A Lifetime” in Bare: The Musical at The Baltimore Theatre Project.

I was introduced to the gorgeous voice of Kevin Girard Bender when I attended opening night of Zanna, Don’t at Kensington Arts Theatre (KAT) (more…)

• WELL NOTED: THE 2007-2008 MUSICAL SEASON IN REVIEW
• By Joel Markowitz

 I am a very fortunate man. This year I saw many wonderful musicals and musical performances on our local professional, community and children’s theatre stages.

Here are my favorites.

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• GREAT MUSICAL PERFORMANCES 2007-2008 
• by Joel Markowitz

Here are 17 performers who made their mark in our local musicals in the past year, and whose performances I loved.
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• ROOMS stars in rehearsal for MetroStage show
• By Joel Markowitz

July 6 - New York

I fell in love with Natascia Diaz at the Kennedy Center’s 2001 Sondheim Festival, when she played the role of Petra in A Little Night Music, and stole the audience’s hearts with her gorgeous rendition of “The Miller’s Son”. (more…)