http://dctheatrescene.com Washington DC's Liveliest Theater Website Sat, 11 Feb 2012 20:43:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 2009-2010 lorraine@dctheatrescene.com (DC Theatre Scene) lorraine@dctheatrescene.com (DC Theatre Scene) 1440 http://dctheatrescene.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/dcts.jpg http://dctheatrescene.com 144 144 http://dctheatrescene.com/?feed=podcast Lively up close interviews and audio plays Podcasts interviews and audio shows from the Washington DC area theatre scene. podcasts, DC theatre, radio plays, DC Theatre Scene DC Theatre Scene lorraine@dctheatrescene.com no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/04/04/chicagos-charlotte-damboise/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/04/04/chicagos-charlotte-damboise/#comments Sat, 04 Apr 2009 15:03:55 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=5469 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/04/04/chicagos-charlotte-damboise/feed/ 5 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/31/maureen-mcgovern/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/31/maureen-mcgovern/#comments Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:32:12 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=5324 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/31/maureen-mcgovern/feed/ 3 0:25:10 She is in her 37th year onstage as a folk singer, a cabaret star and musical theatre actress, and now Maureen McGovern is bringing her solo show A Long And Winding Road to Arena Stage in Crystal City, after workshops in Florida and Boston.  Mauree[...] She is in her 37th year onstage as a folk singer, a cabaret star and musical theatre actress, and now Maureen McGovern is bringing her solo show A Long And Winding Road to Arena Stage in Crystal City, after workshops in Florida and Boston.  Maureen sat down with Joel Markowitz to talk about the songs she chose for the show.  “It’s reminiscences from my life, but in tandem, it’s universal reminisces from all the Baby Boomers out there -  those of us born between 1946 and 1964 – and everyone else can take the ride with us. It’s a very powerful, funny, moving and ultimately life affirming piece..This is a coming home for me.. a full circle for me to go back and relive all those great songs that influenced me.” As we listen to her sing, she tells us how songs like “The Times They Are A-Changin”,  once a call to action for the 60′s generation, and “Fire and Rain”, which many related to the Viet Nam War, are still fresh and relevant today. And we couldn’t leave without talking about her gorgeous romantic ballad “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow.” and many more from her personal songbook that will fill out the Long and Winding Road program. She touches on her stage career – Little Women, Pirates of Penzance, Three Penny Opera – then a story probably no one has ever heard about playing the crazy nun in the movie Airplane. A Long and Winding Road plays at Arena Stage in Crystal City thru April 12th. Click here for details, directions and tickets. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/22/from-crowns-e-faye-butler-and-zurin-villanueva/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/22/from-crowns-e-faye-butler-and-zurin-villanueva/#comments Sun, 22 Mar 2009 16:52:50 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=5080 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/03/22/from-crowns-e-faye-butler-and-zurin-villanueva/feed/ 1 0:21:53 They’ve Got Hatitude! They’ve come from different times and places – E. Faye Butler, the Chicago born musicals star whose favorite roles include Caroline, or Change, The Gospel According to Fishman, Saving Amy, and Polk County, and[...] They’ve Got Hatitude! They’ve come from different times and places – E. Faye Butler, the Chicago born musicals star whose favorite roles include Caroline, or Change, The Gospel According to Fishman, Saving Amy, and Polk County, and Zurin Villanueva, Brooklynite, Howard University student, and winner of Arena Stage’s Finding Yolanda talent search.  In Crowns, E. Faye’s character Mother Shaw and Zurin’s Yolanda develop a deep bond which has spilled over into their personal lives, as you will hear here. Joel met them at Arena  costume shop and while those famous church ladies’ hats were being created in the background, they talked about their characters, the story and songs from the shows (you’ll hear some clips) , and, of course, about hats and having ‘hatitude!’. ‘Is this the same production of Crowns that we have seen before at Arena Stage?”, Joel asked. E. Faye says that it is not. ”They built this show from the ground up… It’s special because it’s new. Molly (Smith) took a piece that has been here before, added an elegance and has taken it a notch up, and has put an elegance and polished it up… It feels good. It feels new. It feels fresh”. All photos by Scott Suchman Related:  DCTS coverage of Arena’s casting call: Finding Yolanda Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/27/edward-albee-interview/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/27/edward-albee-interview/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 15:57:11 +0000 Tim Treanor http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=4226 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/27/edward-albee-interview/feed/ 3 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/26/kathleen-chalfant-interview/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/26/kathleen-chalfant-interview/#comments Thu, 26 Feb 2009 13:51:20 +0000 Lorraine Treanor http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=4209 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/26/kathleen-chalfant-interview/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/17/dantes-ben-cunis-and-paata-tsikurishvili/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/17/dantes-ben-cunis-and-paata-tsikurishvili/#comments Tue, 17 Feb 2009 19:24:45 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=4080 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/17/dantes-ben-cunis-and-paata-tsikurishvili/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/05/deal-of-the-day/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/05/deal-of-the-day/#comments Thu, 05 Feb 2009 11:58:23 +0000 Lorraine Treanor http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3687 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/05/deal-of-the-day/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/03/cool-papas-maurice-hines-and-tom-jones/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/03/cool-papas-maurice-hines-and-tom-jones/#comments Tue, 03 Feb 2009 17:12:19 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3836 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/02/03/cool-papas-maurice-hines-and-tom-jones/feed/ 4 0:18:29 Cool Papa’s Party A conversation with choreographer Maurice Hines and writer/director Thomas W. Jones II by Joel Markowitz It was late, the end of a long evening rehearsal, and the cast of Cool Papa’s Party had one more song in them [...] Cool Papa’s Party A conversation with choreographer Maurice Hines and writer/director Thomas W. Jones II by Joel Markowitz It was late, the end of a long evening rehearsal, and the cast of Cool Papa’s Party had one more song in them – “Sho’ Can Dance” which they recorded for us before quitting the stage, leaving just me, 12-time Helen Hayes Award-Winning writer and director Thomas W. Jones II, and the legendary dancer, director and choreographer Maurice Hines. Like verbal tappers, Maurice and Tom crack each other up with stories  about the history evoked by the show and putting this production together,  but what underscores their talk is the respect these artists hold for each other, their cast and those who have come before. Tom Jones who wrote as well as directed the piece says “Cool Papa’s Party is to Sammy Davis Jr, as Dreamgirls is to Barry Gordy and the Supremes … It’s a tone poem – a love poem to an era that’s gone, and the people who shaped it… This show feels like it came through me, not from me.”" Cool Papa’s Party was already underway when Tom mentioned it to his friend Maurice Hines, who immediately offered to choreograph it.  “It just came out of my mouth, and I said, “I’ll do it!” Maurice and his brother Gregory knew Sammy Davis Jr. “so it was easy for me to recreate the tap and jazz.”  Maurice talks briefly about his early career, stretching back to the days at the Apollo with the young Sammy Davis, Jr. and on through  “the golden years of Las Vegas” in the 50′s which the show re-creates. “This show is perfect for me …. it’s fanabulous!” Cool Papa’s Party is onstage Feb 5 – March 15 at MetroStage, 1201 North Royal St, Alexandria, VA. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/29/shreks-brian-darcy-james/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/29/shreks-brian-darcy-james/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 17:30:13 +0000 Richard Seff http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3764 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/29/shreks-brian-darcy-james/feed/ 1 0:24:36 Brian d’Arcy James Talks with Richard Seff Recorded by Joel Markowitz Sixteen years ago Richard Seff met Brian d’Arcy James when the two performed in Lend Me AaTenor at the Players Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. A bond was formed, an[...] Brian d’Arcy James Talks with Richard Seff Recorded by Joel Markowitz Sixteen years ago Richard Seff met Brian d’Arcy James when the two performed in Lend Me AaTenor at the Players Theatre in Columbus, Ohio. A bond was formed, and Richard has watched Brian grow from the Bellboy in Tenor to Shrek The Ogre in Shrek The Musical, now in its Broadway run. Here, they reminisce about some of the ups and downs of the seventeen years that have lapsed since they met,  in a career that has included plays as well as musicals on the road, regionally and in stock, to Titanic, The Sweet Smell of Success, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and Shrek The Musical on Broadway. Some highlights:  those early Lend Me a Tenor days, workshopping today’s musicals, James as an unusual choice to play Shrek, and finding Shrek’s voice. Shrek:The Musical is at the Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway, NYC. Related: Brian d’Arcy James sings ‘Who I’d Be’ from Shrek on the Today Show (video) Richard Seff’s review of Shrek Richard Seff is author of Supporting Player: My Life Upon the Wicked Stage , celebrating his lifetime on stage and behind the scenes, available through online booksellers, including Amazon.com. Other DCTS Podcasts featuring Richard Seff: Interviews with and about John Kander, With Complete Kander Richard Seff: A Lifetime on Broadway Click here Inside Broadway: A Return Visit with Richard Seff Listen here. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/28/cody-green-from-west-side-story/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/28/cody-green-from-west-side-story/#comments Wed, 28 Jan 2009 14:08:32 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3749 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/28/cody-green-from-west-side-story/feed/ 3 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/21/karen-olivo/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/21/karen-olivo/#comments Wed, 21 Jan 2009 15:33:17 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3633 http://dctheatrescene.com/2009/01/21/karen-olivo/feed/ 5 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/#comments Sun, 21 Dec 2008 21:21:10 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3385 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/21/alice-ripley-in-next-to-normal/feed/ 11 0:25:11 Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz sat down with Alice Ripley in her dressing room at Arena Stage prior to the December 16th evening performance of Next To Normal. They discussed her role as Diana, the changes that were made for the Arena[...] Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz sat down with Alice Ripley in her dressing room at Arena Stage prior to the December 16th evening performance of Next To Normal. They discussed her role as Diana, the changes that were made for the Arena Stage production, the “Costco” song and “I Miss The Mountains,” working with Brian d’Arcy James in the NY show ” … what every leading lady wishes. You could just stand and watch him sing to you every night. It’s a really wonderful thing.”, her NYC cast now at Arena Stage and new cast members Louis Hobson and J. Robert Spencer “”…He is so tall like a pine tree-something that shields you from the elements, something you can lean on…he has a great rock voice. He’s different from Brian in every way, and that’s why it works.”,  her theatre career, and great advice that the late Robert Prosky gave her when she met him working on Shakespeare in Hollywood at Arena Stage. DC theatregoers have seen some of Alice’s best work on our local stages. Alice was nominated for two Helen Hayes Awards in 2003 for her performances of “manic” Amy in Company, at the Sondheim Festival, and as Emma in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Tell Me On A Sunday, both at the Kennedy Center. The following year, in 2004, she was nominated for her performance as Lydia Lansing in Arena Stage’s production of Shakespeare in Hollywood. But it’s Alice Ripley’s mesmerizing performance of Diana Goodman in Arena Stage’s powerful production of Next To Normal, that has the local critics raving. Joel has been an Alice Ripley fan since he saw her play the roles of Mrs. Walker in the Who’s Tommy, Betty Schaefer in Sunset Boulevard,  and Fantine in Les Miserables on Broadway.  But, after seeing her “joint” Tony Award nominated performance as Violet Hilton (with Emily Skinner) in Side Show, Joel turned into an Alice Ripley groupie. Joel returned to NYC to catch her performances of Molly Ivors in The Dead and Janet in The Rocky Horror Show, as well as attend many concerts where Alice appeared. His love and respect for Alice Ripley shines in this podcast. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/19/three-who-shone/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/19/three-who-shone/#comments Fri, 19 Dec 2008 17:20:33 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3304 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/19/three-who-shone/feed/ 1 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/11/chatting-with-the-creators-of-next-to-normal/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/11/chatting-with-the-creators-of-next-to-normal/#comments Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:51:36 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=3082 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/12/11/chatting-with-the-creators-of-next-to-normal/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/25/faith-prince-and-richard-thomas/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/25/faith-prince-and-richard-thomas/#comments Tue, 25 Nov 2008 17:48:23 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=2854 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/25/faith-prince-and-richard-thomas/feed/ 4 0:17:50 The two actors talk about Terrence McNally’s new play Unusual Acts of Devotion by Joel Markowitz It was closing weekend of a play which Broadway stars Faith Prince and Richard Thomas have both opened and continued working on during its five w[...] The two actors talk about Terrence McNally’s new play Unusual Acts of Devotion by Joel Markowitz It was closing weekend of a play which Broadway stars Faith Prince and Richard Thomas have both opened and continued working on during its five week premiere at the Philadelphia Theatre Company. You can feel their deep friendship for each other in this backstage interview with Joel Markowitz. Faith and Joel kibbitz about her musical career and then she talks about playing Aggie in A Catered Affair and Josie – the hard drinking, tough-as-nails former teacher who is hiding many secrets and yearnings in Unusual Acts. “They are both extremely different women. Aggie was in a world where she believed her dreams could come true but she missed the mark.Going from one extreme to the other. That’s one of the reasons I did it. I wanted something so different from A Catered Affair.” Richard chimes in on his character Chick, a kindhearted, loving, hurting tour guide whose has never fully recovered emotionally since his lover killed himself by jumping off the roof. He has a hidden love and must act on it or be doomed to loneliness forever. Washington audiences have had the pleasure of the company of these fine performers. Richard recently appeared in the one-man show Blanche and Beyond and will be part of the ensemble of Jason Robert Brown’s The Trumpet of The Swan on Dec 4-6th, both at The Kennedy Center. Faith recalls her DC stint in the musicals The Dead and Carousel, also at The Kennedy Center, and her recent concert at the Barns at Wolf Trap. Why does Richard think of himself as a McNally Actor? “His voice is always in my ear..It seems to sit easily in my psyche..we have an affinity. Terrence writes for an actor (like me)  who (work) is on the “large side.” Faith agrees about McNally’s works: “his characters are as wide as boisterous as they are deep.” Richard compares McNally to his work with Tennessee Williams’ plays: “Tennessee Williams is a similar writer to Terrence. Their feet are planted in the world in the issues of human emotions, but their language is very poetic and very beautiful. Tennesee’s letters are easy to play.. They are like plays. They are meant to be spoken out loud.” The run of Unusual Acts of Devotion has ended its five week run in Philadelphia. Here’s what they hope the audiences found in the play: Faith: “Realize that life is short and what you say and mean is important.”Richard: “The sense of having been entertained and moved and being emotionally involved.. Go home and perform an unusual act of devotion.” Even though the show has closed and those not lucky enough to have seen it will have to wait for another production, those are good sentiments to keep in mind during the holiday season. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/15/andrew-baughman-as-president-harding/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/15/andrew-baughman-as-president-harding/#comments Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:04:02 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=2715 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/15/andrew-baughman-as-president-harding/feed/ 4 0:12:56 an interview with the star of President Harding Is a Rock Star -  Andrew Baughman By Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz had a presidential visit from Warren G. Harding – that is – Andrew Baughman who plays the 29th President in Landless The[...] an interview with the star of President Harding Is a Rock Star -  Andrew Baughman By Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz had a presidential visit from Warren G. Harding – that is – Andrew Baughman who plays the 29th President in Landless Theatre Company’s off-the-wall production of Kyle Jarrow’s President Harding Is a Rock Star. You’ll hear some clips from the show as Andrew tells us about how helpful Gov. Sarah Palin was to his interpretation of the rock star president. Josh Speerstra, he tells us, is the real rock star of the show. The lead guitarist not only gave the musical its first orchestrations, he also wrote an original song for the show, and is front and center for all the action. “He’s the Eddie Van Halen of the piece … he’s my rock star soul.” Andrew and director Melissa Baughman had no trouble finding women to handle the female vocals. “There were 10 ladies lined up across the stage. All 10 of them sang so well that I almost just wanted to sell tickets to the audition.” It was Richelle Howie who won the plum role of Florence Harding and you’ll understand why when you listen to her sing ‘Sad Eyes’. Andrew is busy performing in this show and getting ready for Landless Theatre’s Christmas specials, yet he found time to compose a special song  for DCTS, ‘Joel Markowitz’, which he plays for us on his Yamaha Keytar, an instrument, he admits, is “the lamest of all rock instruments.” There’s still time to rock on over to DCAC to catch the show. It runs through Nov 30th, Thursdays through Saturdays at 7:30, with matinees the 23rd and 30th. DCTS review of President Harding Is a Rock Star Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/03/mark-jacoby/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/03/mark-jacoby/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2008 18:44:53 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=2578 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/11/03/mark-jacoby/feed/ 2 0:20:23 A Chat with Mark Jacoby Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz is a big fan of musical star Mark Jacoby, and was thrilled to sit down with him Saturday, October 17th before the evening performance of State Fair at The Walnut Street Theatre,[...] A Chat with Mark Jacoby Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Joel Markowitz is a big fan of musical star Mark Jacoby, and was thrilled to sit down with him Saturday, October 17th before the evening performance of State Fair at The Walnut Street Theatre, where Mark was playing the role of Abel Frake. “It came out of the blue and it’s not a kind of role I have played before…overalls and farmer in Iowa. I spent a lot of my youth in the Midwest, and I knew a lot of farmers, so I am drawing on that, that sense of the heartland. Joel has seen many of Mark’s most memorable roles: as the Father in the original Broadway cast of Ragtime, as Gaylord Ravenal in the 1994 revival of Showboat, as the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera, the Padre in the revival of Man of La Mancha, and as Judge Turpin in John Doyle’s orchestra pitless production of Sweeney Todd, where Mark played trumpet and orchestra bells. They talk about them all, and his most recent appearance in the Washington area as The Mayor in Signature Theatre’s production of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s The Visit. “It’s probably one of the most unusual love stories with one of the unusual plot lines you’ll ever see, but there’s no question that it’s a love story.  It’s a love story between two people who are no longer young, and you don’t get to see a true passionate romance between two elderly people carry a show.” Will we ever see mega-musicals like Showboat and Ragtime again? “With Showboat, we had over 70 people in it. It was Ziegfeldian in its grandeur…It was hideously expensive, and I don’t know if they would have sold out every seat at full price if the show could have ever been profitable, so how that could be done in the commercial theatre again, I don’t know. Perhaps in an opera company or a not-for-profit situation you could do it.” Finally, this musical theatre star reveals the one role he is longing to play. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/31/composer-jason-robert-brown/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/31/composer-jason-robert-brown/#comments Fri, 31 Oct 2008 14:08:57 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=2545 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/31/composer-jason-robert-brown/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/22/kate-eastwood-norris/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/22/kate-eastwood-norris/#comments Wed, 22 Oct 2008 21:14:20 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=2440 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/10/22/kate-eastwood-norris/feed/ 1 0:18:16 Kate Eastwood Norris appearing in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘N Roll at the Wilma, Philadelphia interviewed by Joel Markowitz In his recent visit to Philadelphia, Joel Markowitz caught up with Kate Eastwood Norris, the Helen Hayes Award winning a[...] Kate Eastwood Norris appearing in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘N Roll at the Wilma, Philadelphia interviewed by Joel Markowitz In his recent visit to Philadelphia, Joel Markowitz caught up with Kate Eastwood Norris, the Helen Hayes Award winning actress whom Washington audiences have seen regularly in productions at Folger, Round House, and most recently at Woolly Mammoth.Kate married actor Cody Nickell this summer and is in the process of moving to New York. She would be there already, she tells us, but along came the chance to play two roles in Tom Stoppard’s Rock ‘N Roll while Cody appeared in Shakespeare Theatre’s Romeo and Juliet. Here she takes us through finding her two very different characters in Rock ‘N Roll, the makeup which helps her transform into Eleanor, a woman  in the terminal stage of breast cancer, and connecting to Esme, Eleanor’s daughter, by listening to Pink Floyd, music both Esme and Kate like.   ”No matter of how tired I am of crying, which I have to do every day, I still want to go to work and I’ll feel really sad when this one is over..” The show closes October 26th. Kate loves working in the Philadelphia theatre community because of the care they take of the performer, the friendships and really great artists’ housing . “They are so nice to me and to everybody “.  If Philly were a character, she muses, they would be the cool uncle or aunt with maybe a scruffy past. Kate is probably best known for playing Shakespeare. This is her first Stoppard play.  How does Stoppard’s language compare?  Joel asked this actor/writer.  And which role does she most want to play? And why take the risk of moving to New York when her career is so stable in Washington? “I get really bored staying in one place and I love to travel, and the anonymity of being an actress  nobody necessarily knows in a very difficult role, is kinda helpful. It’s so free to work with people I haven’t worked with, and to go to places I have never been….” It was her dual roles as Kay Fine and Jayne Summerhouse in Woolly Mammoth’s hysterical She Stoops to Comedy which both won her the Helen Hayes Award and brought her to the attention of Philadelphia directors.  After rave reviews for her dual roles in Rock ‘N Roll, doubtlessly more east coast directors will be considering her. Fortunately, she has been named a Woolly Mammoth company member. Which means she’ll be back in Washington.  Hopefully soon. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/09/05/director-oz-scott/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/09/05/director-oz-scott/#comments Fri, 05 Sep 2008 18:19:09 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1970 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/09/05/director-oz-scott/feed/ 0 0:21:40 Oz Scott on Directing Daniel Beaty’s Resurrection Interviewed by Joel Markowitz  Recorded August 21, 2008  Oz Scott was once a kid with a broom sweeping the set at Arena Stage when someone said ‘Hey, kid, you want to stage manage?[...] Oz Scott on Directing Daniel Beaty’s Resurrection Interviewed by Joel Markowitz  Recorded August 21, 2008  Oz Scott was once a kid with a broom sweeping the set at Arena Stage when someone said ‘Hey, kid, you want to stage manage?’ He went on to direct Ntozake Shange’s for colored girls who considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf , has written and directed for television and film as well as theatre, and now he is working his magic with Daniel Beaty’s new work Resurrection at Arena Stage in Crystal City. It was early in the rehearsal process when Oz Scott took time to talk with Joel Markowitz.    “Resurrection looks at the lives of five black men and one young boy. Each of the characters has a flaw, like we all have flaws ..  Resurrection for me is finding life within ourselves finding that thing that makes us move on – live - and put the past behind us.”    And his directing style? “I live through my emotions, I live through the actors’ emotions, through the writer’s emotions. I try to get inside of all of them…I direct from my heart..”   He talks about finding common ground with playwright Daniel Beaty, about composer DBR – Daniel Bernard Roumain, violinist extraordinaire - and breaks down the six characters and what they represent. He gives us his views on the state of black men today and talks about Beaty’s message to the black community: “Stand up black man, stand up for yourself, stand up for your family, stand up for your community, stand up for the world. He’s asking us to all take responsibility.” Joel asked him to compare for colored girls...and Resurrection: “for colored girls… is not about men, it’s about women. Resurrection is about men, about  growing and learning about themselves. Both shows are about finding that in yourself and loving it…”      Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/29/rooms-natascia-diaz-and-doug-kreeger/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/29/rooms-natascia-diaz-and-doug-kreeger/#comments Fri, 29 Aug 2008 19:19:25 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1946 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/29/rooms-natascia-diaz-and-doug-kreeger/feed/ 4 0:21:43 Meet the stars of Rooms: A Rock Musical An interview with Natascia Diaz and Doug Kreeger by Joel Markowitz Minutes after accepting their standing ovations, their Scottish accents still on the tips of their tongues, the stars of the new bound-for-N[...] Meet the stars of Rooms: A Rock Musical An interview with Natascia Diaz and Doug Kreeger by Joel Markowitz Minutes after accepting their standing ovations, their Scottish accents still on the tips of their tongues, the stars of the new bound-for-NYC musical Rooms: A Rock Musical sat down with Joel to talk about the show, the characters they play, and take us behind the scene of this new Paul Scott Goodman musical, directed by Scott Schwartz and musical direction by Jenny Cartney. No one knows Rooms or its creators better than Natascia Diaz, recently seen in the starring role of Signature’s Kiss of the Spider Woman, who originated the role at the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival. “Monica is a fictional representation of Paul Scott Goodman. …He is a rampantly creative poet, an effervescent explosive comet of energy and creativity.” Doug Kreeger debuts in the role of Ian Wallace. “He is just what we were missing.” Monica tells us.  Doug says of Ian: “It’s about pushing his boundaries, stepping out of his comfort zone, and getting out of his room mentally and emotionally and physically, and letting this weirdo get into his life…”   If you haven’t seen Rooms yet, you’re probably wondering about the music. Doug described the Euro-’70s score best:  ”It’s crazy and unique and the styles of music beautifully reflect our journey…at the end, it becomes a rock opera..” This is ultimately a musical about a relationship. How’s the chemistry?  Hear for yourself in this free flowing conversation, with the MetroStage band joining in on some selections which they kindly allowed us to record. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/25/synetic-forges-a-message-of-love-from-a-tragedy/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/25/synetic-forges-a-message-of-love-from-a-tragedy/#comments Mon, 25 Aug 2008 22:03:52 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1940 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/25/synetic-forges-a-message-of-love-from-a-tragedy/feed/ 7 0:10:53 A conversation with Synetic Theater’s Artistic Director Paata Tsikurishvili By Joel Markowitz Recorded Saturday, August 23, 2008 As Russian troops occupied the Republic of Georgia, DC’s Synetic Theater, headed by Georgian artists, was r[...] A conversation with Synetic Theater’s Artistic Director Paata Tsikurishvili By Joel Markowitz Recorded Saturday, August 23, 2008 As Russian troops occupied the Republic of Georgia, DC’s Synetic Theater, headed by Georgian artists, was rehearsing their season opener The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari. Artistic Director Paata Tsikurishvili received a call, then turned on Georgian news to learn about the tragedy that was unfolding in his native country, affecting his family and the family of other company members. “Russian tanks and soldiers are running around in my small beautiful country…they are burning everything even forests, ranches, houses.” In an emotional interview, Paata reacts to the occupation and remembers growing up in Georgia and friendships he held then and now. “I have Russian friends, Russian colleagues, Russian donors and supporters, and everyone has the same reaction I do – we all stand together and we all oppose it. We don’t want killing in the 21st century. We can all talk.”  What, then, Joel asked, is the artist’s role in the face of tragic world events? Paata takes us behind the scenes as his anger turned to action and he decided to replace Dr. Caligari with a revival of Host and Guest, which Synetic created in 2002 as a response to the tragedy faced by his adopted country on Sept 11th. Backed by some exceptional music tracks from the production he tells us “It’s a Georgian play about old traditions, it’s about old hatred and friendship and love. We see the same tragic event still happening today.”   With a turnaround few companies could manage, Synetic has re-cast the play, bringing back some of its original performers, re-arranged the music and re-thought some of the play’s moments. This company, composed of Georgian, Russian, American, Bulgarian, Romanian and other Eastern European actors will be ready for opening night, with a Georgian play about peace and love. “We have enough voice as artists”, he said, “to reach the world…It’s time to stop killing each other.” Paata ended the conversation with a message for his fellow artists in Georgia, delivered in both Georgian (Kartuli) and English: “God Bless You All, God Bless You Georgia, and we should stay united.” Host and Guest opens at Rosslyn Spectrum Sept 26th.  Ticket information and performance times are here. Note:   All music heard on this podcast was written by Georgian composers for Synetic productions. Underscoring the discussion of the Georgian crisis is an excerpt from Romeo and Juliet by Konstantine Lortkipanidze. You will hear two excerpts from Host and Guest by Vato Kakhidze in the concluding section.       Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/06/charles-strouse/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/06/charles-strouse/#comments Wed, 06 Aug 2008 14:40:54 +0000 Richard Seff http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1895 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/06/charles-strouse/feed/ 0 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/05/lawrence-redmond/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/05/lawrence-redmond/#comments Tue, 05 Aug 2008 15:42:05 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1888 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/08/05/lawrence-redmond/feed/ 3 0:00:01 A two part interview with actor Lawrence Redmond starring in Jerry Springer: The Opera By Joel Markowitz Part One:  Lawrence Redmond on Jerry Springer Aug 1, 2008 – Who is that actor hiding behind the wig and red glasses pretending to be [...] A two part interview with actor Lawrence Redmond starring in Jerry Springer: The Opera By Joel Markowitz Part One:  Lawrence Redmond on Jerry Springer Aug 1, 2008 – Who is that actor hiding behind the wig and red glasses pretending to be Jerry Springer?  Joel Markowitz schmoozes with two-time Helen Hayes Award winning actor Lawrence Redmond before his descent into Hades at Studio Theatre’s Jerry Springer: The Opera How did Lawrence prepare to play the host of that infamous TV show?  ”I went back and watched the show, read his autobiography and re-screened his movie Ringmaster….He’s smarter than most people give him credit for…” Lawrence is working once again with local favorite Bobby Smith. “Bobby is so good and so focused… you have to be on your game all the time. It’s like playing with Roger Federer and Tiger Woods…” This actor who has made his mark in musicals, is in an opera and doesn’t sing a note. Strange? “I still have to have some musicianship – I still have to count…It’s count or die! My cues cue the singers and musicians…” With a 35 member cast, you only imagine how crazy the rehearsals were. “The division of labor was quite smart. Keith [Director Keith Alan Baker] and Matt [Co-director/Choreographer Matt Gardiner] had a great sense of confidence in each other, “You can’t buy it, or make it or fake it. You thrill to that trust in the rehearsal space, and…you say ,”Oh, WOW!” Unsure whether this show is for you? Lawrence has some cautionary advice: ” There are 8,000 obscenities in this show…If words bother you, you might want to think twice. If you have a sense of humor about religion, come on down.”   Listen to this segment here. Part Two:  Lawrence Redmond on his acting career Lawrence tells a great Helen Hayes awards story from 1997 when he was performing in about Signature Theatre’s Sunday in The Park with George at Arena Stage.  His first paid acting job at Source Theatre in 1981 was performed at The Vault (think “FUR”). First job. First bad review. He can still quote it verbatim. “Redmond – able actor though he may be – never finds a way to convey the deterioration, age and utter wackiness of the character.”     His one claim to fame: putting the director/writer Tony Award winning team of Thoroughly Modern Millie, Michael Mayer and Dick Scanlan together, when he cast them in a production of West Side Story, which Lawrence directed. “Talk about casting against type!” Why does he like performing in musicals? “I don’t think of myself as a musical performer. I don’t have that triple threat training… I was never the high school star… I just was the second banana from day one.” Lawrence’s career has taught him a great deal about musicals and musical composers, as you will hear when he describes the compositional approaches of Sondheim and Rodgers and Hammerstein. His greatest regret, “that I never got to do a Shaw play directed by Washington Stage Guild’s  John MacDonald, (who recently passed away). “John said you just talk. Shaw is in all those characters. Don’t think. Just talk.” When you are performing in a show that the critics hated, and no one is showing up, how do you hold your head up? “Respect [for the audience] and intestinal fortitude. We all go in and ram our heads against the wall, because we still doggedly think we can make it work…” Now at a midpoint in his career, Lawrence passes on some advice to young actors. Listen to this segment here. At the end of the interview, this kind, talented, generous mensch of an actor leaves to put on makeup, wig and glasses and become the notorious Jerry Springer. Related:  our review of Jerry Springer: The Opera Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/30/heidi-blickenstaff/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/30/heidi-blickenstaff/#comments Wed, 30 Jul 2008 13:14:57 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1873 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/30/heidi-blickenstaff/feed/ 6 0:00:01 From Meet John Doe, to Little Mermaid to [title of show].  Critics and audiences were wowed by her scintillating Helen Hayes Award winning performance as Anne Mitchell in last year’s Ford’s Theatre’s production of Meet John D[...] From Meet John Doe, to Little Mermaid to [title of show].  Critics and audiences were wowed by her scintillating Helen Hayes Award winning performance as Anne Mitchell in last year’s Ford’s Theatre’s production of Meet John Doe, and now Heidi Blickenstaff is starring in [title of show] at the Lyceum Theatre in New York City, where she sat down with one of her biggest fans – Joel Markowitz – to schmooze about [title of show]‘s journey to Broadway. “It’s a simple story about 2 guys with a dream and 2 girls who help them get it.”  Heidi tells us how the dream was kept alive while the cast – creators Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, and actress Susan Blackwell and Heidi worked on other projects in the theatre after [title of show]‘s successful and award winning Off-Broadway run in 2006 at the Vineyard Theatre,, before finally getting the call to bring the show to the Lyceum Theatre on the Big White Way.  In between playing “inanimate objects and mammals,” Heidi burned up the Fords Theatre’s stage as the reporter from hell. ”I was so excited to sink my teeth into it… I knew her very well… I loved her, even though there was a lot not to like about her.” Listen as Heidi talks about why the song ”I Hope You Can See This” was so emotional for her to sing. After Meet John Doe, Heidi tried to make a splash in The Little Mermaid, understudying the role of Ursula – the “Cruella de Vila” of the underworld, but never went on for the Merman of the sea – Sherie Rene Scott.” That broad’s got chops. She is an old school belter. I kept expecting her to wear out…” But, no luck.” Heidi swam away from the mermaids and the fins to return to [title of show]. And now, she gets to play herself on Broadway, in a show where ”a lot of people connect to the story and they feel they are seeing something in their lives that they want to do.”  Listen here. Related:  Meet John Doe review and podcast with John Doe creators Andrew Gerle and Eddie Sugarman Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/15/scott-greer/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/15/scott-greer/#comments Tue, 15 Jul 2008 17:17:23 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1705 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/07/15/scott-greer/feed/ 0 0:00:01 A conversation with the Philly actor, now playing in Les Miserables Part of our series taking a look at theatre in Philadelphia By Joel Markowitz DC theatre goers will remember Philadelphia theatre veteran Scott Greer’s outrageous, over-[...] A conversation with the Philly actor, now playing in Les Miserables Part of our series taking a look at theatre in Philadelphia By Joel Markowitz DC theatre goers will remember Philadelphia theatre veteran Scott Greer’s outrageous, over-the-top performance as The Stranger in the Round House Theatre’s A Murder, A Mystery and A Marriage, the musical version of Mark Twain’s newly rediscovered short story.   Now, Scott is playing the comic relief in Les Miserables at Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia. Scott’s big number - ”Master of the House”-  is a relief to the audience who has watched so much misery before Scott and actress Dawn Spence (Madame Thenardier) ham it up and bring some laughs. “The audience is glad to see me. People are ready for it.” Joel loved Scott’s performance as Dr. Faustus in Arden Theatre’s production of Wittenberg, and Scott talks about the role that was “a real gift.”  Click here to listen online. Also appearing with Scott is Hugh Panaro as Jean Valjean.  Listen to Hugh’s podcast here. Les Miserables is at the Walnut Street Theater, 825 Walnut Street in Philadelphia thru August 3rd. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/27/nixons-nixon-2/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/27/nixons-nixon-2/#comments Fri, 27 Jun 2008 16:51:56 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1534 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/27/nixons-nixon-2/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Nixon’s Nixon A Conversation with Ed Gero and Conrad Feininger of Nixon’s Nixon by Joel Markowitz By now, Ed Gero and Conrad Feininger are deeply familiar with Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. They first played them in Nixon[...] Nixon’s Nixon A Conversation with Ed Gero and Conrad Feininger of Nixon’s Nixon by Joel Markowitz By now, Ed Gero and Conrad Feininger are deeply familiar with Richard Nixon and Henry Kissinger. They first played them in Nixon’s Nixon at Round House Theatre in 1999, and are reprising their spot-on portrayals, again for  Round House Theatre. Joel Markowitz sat down with them to get their insights into the play and the men they so aptly embody every night. Ed says “They are rich, so full of life and theatrical…These are people we have all lived with for 30 years. And God bless them both. they have been very good to us!” What’s different this time around?  For Ed – ” I’m noticing that Nixon is a character without a bottom..like a character out of Shakespeare. You just keep finding another layer, another layer..” For Conrad, “It’s less funny than it was before because now we have lived through it in 2000., and it happens for real in the memories of people here. The world is less humorous than it was in 1999.” Director Jerry Whiddon has put his stamp on the play. “Jerry Whiddon wanted Kissinger to be a lot lighter than he was last time..” Ed’s Nixon is still ”on the ropes. He’s trying to get out of a maze that runs out of dead ends, almost manic depressive in a way- a real roller coaster emotional ride. ” Find out where these actors turned for source materials, and how we as an audience have changed in the last 9 years. For Ed and Conrad, Nixon’s Nixon is “like walking through a familiar attic and rummaging through memories. We get to look back in a political mirror to see where we have come as a nation… It’s a hopeful play for the times we are in, and a look forward to the next generation ..” And for these actors who would love nothing better than to play these roles “anywhere on the planet”, doing the revival was “like we picked up where we left off 9 years ago, Like we never spent a day apart…” Listen here. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/19/spectacular-scene-stealers/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/19/spectacular-scene-stealers/#comments Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:30:01 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/?p=1489 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/19/spectacular-scene-stealers/feed/ 13 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/14/1466/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/14/1466/#comments Sat, 14 Jun 2008 13:15:03 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/14/1466/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/14/1466/feed/ 5 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/03/brad-oscar-and-j-fred-shiffman/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/03/brad-oscar-and-j-fred-shiffman/#comments Wed, 04 Jun 2008 01:17:48 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/03/brad-oscar-and-j-fred-shiffman/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/03/brad-oscar-and-j-fred-shiffman/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Starring in The Mystery of Irma Vep Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Brad Oscar and J. Fred Shiffman stepped away from rehearsing Arena Stage’s upcoming production The Mystery of Irma Vep, to tell us what it’s like to play the eig[...] Starring in The Mystery of Irma Vep Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Brad Oscar and J. Fred Shiffman stepped away from rehearsing Arena Stage’s upcoming production The Mystery of Irma Vep, to tell us what it’s like to play the eight outlandish Charles Ludlam characters, and enduring those quick costume changes.  The roles are so physically demanding that Brad is hoping that “muscle memory will take over soon” and J. Fred dryly suggests he is “experimenting with pills and liquor.” Rebecca Bayla Teichman, whose work local theatregoers have seen at Woolly Mammoth  (The Clean House) and The Shakespeare Theatre (The Taming of the Shrew) has an unusual approach to directing which they let us in on. Before time is called, the two give us the funniest sendoff we have ever recorded. It guarantees a smile the next time you leave a show. Listen here. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/02/chita-rivera/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/02/chita-rivera/#comments Mon, 02 Jun 2008 17:45:57 +0000 Richard Seff http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/02/chita-rivera/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/06/02/chita-rivera/feed/ 7 0:00:01 Love and Love Alone: A Conversation with Chita Rivera and her long-time friend Richard Seff Recorded by Joel Markowitz As wistful and winning as the best Kander and Ebb songs themselves, this two part look at Chita Rivera and her latest sh[...] Love and Love Alone: A Conversation with Chita Rivera and her long-time friend Richard Seff Recorded by Joel Markowitz As wistful and winning as the best Kander and Ebb songs themselves, this two part look at Chita Rivera and her latest show, Kander and Ebb’s The Visit, is all about the love she and Richard Seff hold for the theatre world, for each other and especially for Kander and Ebb. Richard Seff on Chita Rivera Interviewed by Joel Markowitz To listen, click here. Budding agent Dick Seff saw the young Chita O’Hara dancing a number called ‘Garbage’ in the Off-Off Broadway The Shoestring Review over fifty years ago. “She simply knocked me off my feet.” Seff became Chita Rivera’s agent, and guided her career for nearly 20 years before he himself returned to the stage. “She had star quality, as Noel Coward would put it, and presence.” Richard remembers it all: the hits, the bombs, the in-between jobs she did for the work. He remembers how Chita had to convince Gower Champion that she was right for the role of Rosie in Bye Bye Birdie, to show him she could be “tender instead of bombastic” as she was as Anita in West Side Story. “I remember she sang a few bars of ‘Little Girl Blue.’ That was all it took, and was probably the last time Chita Rivera ever had to audition. “And how did Chita’s long relationship with Kander and Ebb begin? “Once they had her in Chicago, they fell in love.”  Richard knows The Visit as well as anyone. . He was there in 1959 when the play opened the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre in New York with Lynne Fontanne and Alfred Lunt in the leading roles. He was there again when the musical opened in 2001 at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago with Chita Rivera . “I found it very moving … and very close to the original.” What does he attribute Chita’s long career and success to? “Discipline and hard work. She is in incredible condition. She tells her body, “We did it yesterday, and we can do it today.”       Chita Rivera Interviewed by Richard Seff with Joel Markowitz To listen, click here. These two friends re-visit Chita’s career from the earliest days (Seeing her perform ‘the first impression of Marilyn Monroe ever’ in The Shoestring Review, Richard spotted her talent immediately and quickly became her agent) through to The Visit at Signature Theatre. How is the 2001 Chicago production different from the one now onstage at Signature? ”The story is exactly the same,” she tells us, “… we’ve had more time with the script and Frank Galati’s direction is different.” And she has a new leading man in Broadway great George Hearn. “Jerry Herman always wanted us to play together.” Dick and Chita both thank God that George didn’t leave theatre to grow tomatoes because he is “brilliant” in The Visit.   ”It’s a love story, you know.” she tells us, explaining some of the depth to the Terrance McNally book. “…dark and complex.” Lyricist Fred Ebb, who passed away in 2004, is greatly missed. You can hear how this chance to work on The Visit at Signature adds sweetness to the sadness they both feel for the loss of their friend.  And how will Kander and Ebb be remembered? “Two of the greatest writers we’ve had in musical theatre.” Chita continues, “Without them, I wouldn’t be here.” And with that, she leaves to get ready to play Claire Zachanassian, the richest woman in the world.  Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/29/bill-irwin-clown-prince/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/29/bill-irwin-clown-prince/#comments Fri, 30 May 2008 02:15:07 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/29/bill-irwin-clown-prince/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/29/bill-irwin-clown-prince/feed/ 0 0:00:01 Appearing now in The Happiness Lecture for the Philadelphia Theatre Company Part of our look at Philadelphia’s spring season Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Unhappiness can strike anywhere. Anytime. For Bill Irwin, it struck in L[...] Appearing now in The Happiness Lecture for the Philadelphia Theatre Company Part of our look at Philadelphia’s spring season Interviewed by Joel Markowitz Unhappiness can strike anywhere. Anytime. For Bill Irwin, it struck in London. Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf was a hit. The cast was happy. The money was good. And Bill, playing his Tony Award winning role of  George, was, as he puts it, ‘miserable.’ Until he read ‘Pursuing Happiness’, an essay by John Lanchester in The New Yorker which set him on the journey to writing the perfect antidote to misery, The Happiness Lecture, and to a return to his first love, ‘baggy pants work.’ Joel, who caught the Sunday May 25th matinee, called The Happiness Lecture ”a non-stop whirlwind of hysterical vignettes, crazy puppets, kamikazes. . . and wait til you see him flip his noodle … it’s 80 minutes of sheer joy.” Bill Irwin joined Joel after the show. In this candidly funny interview, the Master Clown talks about the show, actors like Buster Keaton who most influence his work, and what makes him happy. And what did he think about performing Virginia Woolf at The Kennedy Center, which won him a Helen Hayes Award? “It was our first stop on our tour and it was our favorite theatre…I’d be glad to go there again.” Bill’s advice to young actors, acrobats, jugglers and clowns on making it a full-time career? “Get ready, and don’t get ready for eating regularly.”  Should misery strike, Bill has one thought: “Frivolity is the refusal of the species to suffer.” You won’t want to miss this one. Click here. Just announced:  The Happiness Lecture has been extended to June 22nd at the Philadelphia Theatre Company in Philadephia.  Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/28/cathy-simpson/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/28/cathy-simpson/#comments Thu, 29 May 2008 02:19:47 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/28/cathy-simpson/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/28/cathy-simpson/feed/ 3 0:00:01 Cathy Simpson appearing in Eurydice at The Wilma Theater Part of our look at Philadelphia’s spring season Interviewed by Joel Markowitz DC theatre-goers remember her powerful Helen Hayes Award nominated performances: for  Ntozake [...] Cathy Simpson appearing in Eurydice at The Wilma Theater Part of our look at Philadelphia’s spring season Interviewed by Joel Markowitz DC theatre-goers remember her powerful Helen Hayes Award nominated performances: for  Ntozake Shange’s Spell #7 at The Studio Theatre in 1992 and, the next year,  for Athol Fugard’s Boesman and Lena at the American Showcase Theatre (MetroStage), which she credits as ‘the most rewarding and the most challenging role of my career.’ We caught up with this former Washington actress after her Sunday night performance as the Loud Stone in Sarah Ruhl’s interpretation of the Greek myth Eurydice. Listen in as Cathy tells us how the three actors playing the Stones came to understand their characters, and then this petite, soft spoken actress delivers her opening line and you’ll see how very loud an angry inanimate stone can get. Thanks to composer Toby Twining, we’re able to give you some samples of the music that underscores this astounding and gorgeous circus-inspired Wilma Theater production which closes June 1st.  We will have a chance to see Eurydice at Round House Theatre next spring. Cathy has found a home in the Philadelphia theatre community. She won a Barrymore Award for Old Settler at Freedom Theatre, and has been a company member of People’s Light & Theatre Company since 1994. Last year’s, People’s Light’s critically acclaimed production of Six Characters in Search of An Author was mentioned in The New York Times. Cathy talks about the difficulty African American actors still have breaking the color barrier. “I’m not likely to be cast in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Unless there’s an all-black version. And why do they have to have an all-black version for that to happen”?  And what does she want audiences to take with them after seeing Eurydice? “That love can heal all the mishaps in our lives.” Click here to listen. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/27/mark-shugoll/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/27/mark-shugoll/#comments Tue, 27 May 2008 15:27:21 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/27/mark-shugoll/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/27/mark-shugoll/feed/ 2 0:00:01 A Conversation with Mark Shugoll President of Shugoll Research and Arena Board Chair Is Just a Fan at Heart. Mark Shugoll (courtesy of Shugoll Research) When theatres from around the country face tough marketing decisions, they know who to call. Dr[...] A Conversation with Mark Shugoll President of Shugoll Research and Arena Board Chair Is Just a Fan at Heart. Mark Shugoll (courtesy of Shugoll Research) When theatres from around the country face tough marketing decisions, they know who to call. Dr. Mark Shugoll, President of the Bethesda-based Shugoll Research applies his companies’ years of expertise in corporate market research to the challenges facing theatre companies. Recently, the calls have asked ’How do I attract and satisfy new audiences when theatre attendance is declining?’ and ‘What can we do better?’ So what does this marketing expert have to say about the recent decline in Washington theatre-going? He identifies two principal villains: ticket price and theatre he characterizes as less than “engaging.” “[Audiences] sit on their hands, they’re a little bit bored sometimes…We’ve got to do work that’s consistently great; we’ve got to do work that engages the audiences; and we don’t always deliver.” Shugoll says. Part of the problem, he believes, is theatre that isn’t always relevant to diverse audiences. “People look around and say ‘where are people like me in the audience? Where are young people? Where are African-American people? Where are Latinos and Asians?’…We can’t just expect diverse audiences to find us doing traditional work.” Shugoll acknowledges that more theatre companies competing for the same audiences and rising ticket prices compound the problem. Companies offer discounts on their websites, but “students can’t even name non-profit theatres in this town, let alone find their websites. We’ve got to find a way to go to them.” Shugoll lays out the problems, then tackles the answers in this absorbing discussion. Listen here. ——————— But Mark Shugoll is more than a man who knows his way around focus groups and complex statistical analyses. Mark Shugoll is madly in love with Theatre. It began, he tells us, back home where the offer of ‘two-fers’ in his Long Island high school got him into Broadway shows.  ”We would go almost every weekend to something for three, four bucks. I loved it.” His high school teacher offered him a deal to get him onstage in Inherit the Wind – he remembers it well. “…and then I retired.” he says with a huge laugh. But his passion to be in the audience continued unabated. It was the Kennedy Center’s production of Shaw’s Captain Brassbound’s Conversion that hooked him on Washington theatre. Horatio, a musical about Horatio Alger, was his first Arena Stage play (he still has the poster). He took his future wife, Merrill. (She’s now a member of the Board of Directors at Signature). Mark Shugoll, patron to many theatres, Board Chair of Arena Stage, is also a man with a secret. “I am a stage-door addict.” “Any time I go to the theatre, I will go to the stage door.” Shugoll didn’t used to go to the stage door alone. “The best thing I used to do, when my kids were really small, I used to wait at the stage door, and I used to give them my Sharpie and my program …you know, my kids are really cute.. (Shugoll has two daughters, now 25 and 20) – I used to use them to get my autographs. .. I was a little embarrassed to ask for autographs, so I would ask my kid to do it.” In a free ranging conversation with Joel, Mark Shugoll talks about his life, his work for Arena Stage, the risky business of doing new plays and his great love for theatre and the people who make it.  Listen here. —————- These days, Mark Shugoll has another backstage mission: his own solution for engaging young people in theatre: ArtSpeak!, a program which he admits “I kind of stole the ‘Inside the Actor’s S[...] Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/21/carmen/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/21/carmen/#comments Wed, 21 May 2008 19:06:06 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/21/carmen/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/21/carmen/feed/ 1 0:00:01 An Inside Look at Carmen with Paata Tsikurishvili, Irina Tsikurishvili and Philip Fletcher Interviewed by Joel Markowitz After sweeping this year’s Helen Hayes Awards, there is great anticipation for Synetic Theater’s upcoming [...] An Inside Look at Carmen with Paata Tsikurishvili, Irina Tsikurishvili and Philip Fletcher Interviewed by Joel Markowitz After sweeping this year’s Helen Hayes Awards, there is great anticipation for Synetic Theater’s upcoming production of Carmen at the Kennedy Center. Director Paata Tsikurishvilli, choreographer and actress Irina Tsikurishvilli playing Carmen, and actor Philip Fletcher, playing one of Carmen’s love interests, take a break from rehearsals to tell us about the production. Not content with the Bizet opera version of the story, Synetic returned to the source: an 1846 novella by Prosper Mériméé. Paata explains why, describes the unique look and sound of the show and when describing the exciting score, announced: “This production is a step up for us. For the first time we will have three musicians performing on stage.” Irina talks about her choreography, her approach to the role of Carmen, and how the audience has to “work with us” to experience this exciting and fiery production. Philip relives his recent Helen Hayes win (Outstanding Supporting Actor), how he was discovered by Synetic and reveals some of the exciting scenes from Carmen. Includes portions of two new tracks from Carmen.  Listen here. Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/07/harry-winter/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/07/harry-winter/#comments Wed, 07 May 2008 14:46:02 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/07/harry-winter/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/07/harry-winter/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Interviewed and recorded by Joel Markowitz It’s always a treat to see this talented gentle man of the Washington stage perform. You can do that now at Olney Theatre’s 1776 where he is starring as Benjamin Franklin, “a flower child[...] Interviewed and recorded by Joel Markowitz It’s always a treat to see this talented gentle man of the Washington stage perform. You can do that now at Olney Theatre’s 1776 where he is starring as Benjamin Franklin, “a flower child of the 1760′s, like I was a flower child of the 1960′s.” The tales this three time Helen Hayes Award nominee can and does tell looking back on his 30 years in Washington theatre!  Back then, beginners started in dinner and community theatre. He remembers playing against once local, now Broadway actors Brad Oscar, and Jason and Garth Kravitz; playing the Jason Robards role of Murray in A Thousand Clowns at Montgomery Playhouse with Jason Kravitz as his son Nick; pulling off a 6 day miracle production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; a moment of truth when touring with Jolson, the Musical and his many years at Signature Theatre. What does he think of DC theatres casting so many out-of-towner actors?  Listen here and find out.   Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/05/conducting-themselves-well/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/05/conducting-themselves-well/#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 18:56:57 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/05/conducting-themselves-well/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/05/conducting-themselves-well/feed/ 6 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/01/chats-with-johanna-day-and-tim-acito/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/01/chats-with-johanna-day-and-tim-acito/#comments Thu, 01 May 2008 14:14:19 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/01/chats-with-johanna-day-and-tim-acito/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/05/01/chats-with-johanna-day-and-tim-acito/feed/ 2 http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/28/stephen-schwartz/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/28/stephen-schwartz/#comments Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:30:13 +0000 Joel Markowitz http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/28/stephen-schwartz/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/28/stephen-schwartz/feed/ 1 0:00:01 Stephen Schwartz on The Stephen Schwartz Project Interviewed by Joel Markowitz There was “magic to do” when Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz arrived at MetroStage for his first look at the premiere of The Stephen Schwartz Pro[...] Stephen Schwartz on The Stephen Schwartz Project Interviewed by Joel Markowitz There was “magic to do” when Broadway composer Stephen Schwartz arrived at MetroStage for his first look at the premiere of The Stephen Schwartz Project. An hour before showtime, he sat down with Joel Markowitz to discuss what had attracted him to DC director/choreographer Michael J. Bobbitt’s concept – the unusual takes on  his songs and the unconventional arrangements by John Cornelius II. Schwartz flew to Houston to see the first workshop at Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS). Done with high school students, the concept of a showcase for young talent became part of the show. Before closing, he talked about his upcoming project for Opera Santa Barbara, an intriguing opera titled Séance on a Wet Afternoon scheduled to open Fall, 2009. Listen to the conversation here. And what were his reactions to the production?  In the talk-back session after, he told the packed house he admired how the cast took his songs and ran with them. “There are future stars in this cast.” Director/choreographer Bobbitt passed on more notes from the visit. “The kids who grew up loving Stephen Schwartz songs are really digging this re-invention. John and I will look at ways to open the show so that Broadway fans know they are in for a different kind of night   - we may change the title somewhat, and work in some new text explaining the project. Other thoughts? Maybe drop a song and add one from Enchantment. I was excited to see how much Stephen liked the show at this stage. I’m thinking it needs one more workshop and then – who knows?” Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/26/judas-iscariot-revealed/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/26/judas-iscariot-revealed/#comments Sat, 26 Apr 2008 22:01:24 +0000 Tim Treanor http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/26/judas-iscariot-revealed/ http://dctheatrescene.com/2008/04/26/judas-iscariot-revealed/feed/ 0 0:00:01 A conversation with actors Patrick Bussink, Jason McCool and dramaturg Hannah Hessel Interviewed by Tim Treanor What’s the hottest show in town? It could well be Forum Theatre’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, which has gotten r[...] A conversation with actors Patrick Bussink, Jason McCool and dramaturg Hannah Hessel Interviewed by Tim Treanor What’s the hottest show in town? It could well be Forum Theatre’s The Last Days of Judas Iscariot, which has gotten rave reviews since it opened last week. Sacred, profane, heartbreaking and hilariously funny, it offers eyeopening performances from some of the area’s best actors. On this podcast, DCTheatreScene senior reviewer Tim Treanor interviews Judas and Jesus, Jason McCool and Patrick Bussink, respectively, as well as dramaturg Hannah Hessel. How have they opened up this astonishing piece of drama for Washington audiences? And what sort of effect has it had on them, as theater professionals and questing humans? A provocative conversation featuring a reenactment of the play’s shattering confrontation between Judas and Jesus. The Last Days of Judas Iscariot plays through May 4th at the H Street Playhouse, 1365 H Street NE, Washington, DC. For tickets call 800 494-TIXS or visit the Forum website. To get in on the discussion, visit the Forum blog. (Caution: includes some strong language.) Listen here. Read Tim’s review here Interviews, Podcasts DC Theatre Scene no no