A roundup of some of this week’s theatrical news and notes from DC Music Theatre Workshop, Forum Theatre, Ford’s Theatre, Women’s Voices Theater Festival, Constellation Theatre and Signature Theatre.
DC Music Theatre Workshop presents its first musical
When Zach Roberts founded the DC Music Theatre Workshop earlier this year, the goal was to offer productions under 90-minutes long that would cost whatever someone could afford.
The inaugural production, Family Portrait, a British musical written by composer Theo Jamieson, will play Aug. 8 and 9 at Lincoln Temple, UCC- 1701 11th St., NW.
“Our production will be the U.S. premiere of this intimate, moving musical and the inaugural production of the newly formed DC Music Theatre Workshop,” Amber Gibson, co-producer of the play, tells DC Theater Scene. “The show invites audiences to witness a snapshot of a modern family struggling with the idea of the ‘family unit’ and what ‘home’ means to them.” The play stars Kristin Cardinal, Madeline Cuddihy, Harv Lester, Katie McManus and RJ Pavel.
Theo Jamieson is a London based composer, musical director, and pianist. Recently, he music directed Here Lies Love, the Fatboy Slim musical, at the National Theatre in London and Putting it Together, a Sondheim review, at the St. James Theatre. His musical theatre writing has been performed at Kings Place, Shaw Theatre and Blackheath concert halls.
All performances are “Pay What You Can,” and running time is approximately 30 minutes.
For more information, visit dcmusictheatreworkshop.com.
Forum Theatre announced its wrap of the 9 episode Walking the City of Silence and Stone, audio podcasts from locations around DC. These last two tell stories about Meridian Park and the Titanic Memorial at Washington Channel Park. Forum says “Spend the rest of your summer “walking the city” and listen to all nine episodes. Also, Save the Date for the official #SilenceAndStone listening party on September 6.” Downloads are pay-What-You-Want.
To listen, visit http://forum-theatre.com/walking
Child Actors wanted for Ford’s A Christmas Carol
Young actors are being sought for Ford’s Theatre Center’s upcoming holiday production of A Christmas Carol, with auditions for children ages 6 to 13 being held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Aug. 22 at the Ford’s Theatre Center for Education and Leadership (514 Tenth Street NW).
The audition is open to anyone in the Washington D.C. and Baltimore metro areas and those interested can sign up beginning at 8:30 a.m. on the day of auditions. Callbacks will be held the next day.
Interested young actors should prepare a verse from a traditional Christmas song and the scene materials for their specific age group, available for download here . Photos and resumes are also required.
Rehearsal and performance commitment dates run from Nov. 3 to Dec. 31, with rehearsals taking place 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends. Anyone with conflicts, will not be considered.
For more information, visit www.fords.org/work-ford-s/upcoming-auditions.
First Lady named Honorary Chair of Women’s Voices Theater Festival
Theatergoers were already excited about the upcoming Women’s Voices Theater Festival, which begins this month and extends through November with more than 50 productions in our area, and now comes news that First Lady of the United States of America, Michelle Obama, will serve as Honorary Chair of the festival.
The First Lady joins a prestigious group of theater artists and advocates on the Honorary Committee supporting the Festival’s mission to celebrate the work of women in theater.
Fifty four women playwrights will be produced by companies ranging from Shakespeare Theatre to some newly minted for the occasion.
The Festival’s seven originating theaters—Arena Stage, Ford’s Theatre, Round House Theatre, Shakespeare Theatre Company, Signature Theatre, Studio Theatre and Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company—along with Festival participant Theater J, will each play host to an ancillary event sponsored by the Washington Post. These consist of special workshops and discussions that will feature participation from local and national playwrights, directors, performers, artistic leaders and collaborators.
For a complete list of events, visit womensvoicestheaterfestival.org.
Constellation Theatre presents award winning percussionist Tom Teasely accompanying Lotte Reininger’s 1926 cutout film The Adventures of Prince Achmed, August 13 – 15 at Source Theatre.
Teasely writes “My live score makes use of about 20 instruments ranging from ancient to futuristic, and reflects my hybrid world music / jazz improvisation background.The film’s plot is based on the story of The Arabian Nights. I’ll be drawing heavily on my multiple historic tours to Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Jerusalem where I collaborated with master musicians. This is a great way to celebrate my upcoming 10 year anniversary with Constellation Theatre (my favorite collaborators), as my first involvement with them was Mary Zimmerman’s Arabian Nights in 2007!”
For details and tickets visit http://www.constellationtheatre.org/achmed.html
Signature to Highlight Area Playwrights with new reading series
Signature Theatre has long been dedicated to launching new work, and continues that commitment with the launch of SigWorks: Monday Night New Play Readings, a new initiative to highlight and support the work of DMV and regional playwrights.
Signature Theatre Director of New Works Joe Calarco stated, “The DMV area has one of the richest theater communities in this country. One of the first things Signature Theatre Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer and I talked about when I took the position as Director of New Works was that not only did we want to give local writers a place to hear how audiences react to their work, but we really wanted to create a gathering place for all local theater artists to come and support each other’s new work as well as socialize. The Monday Night New Play Reading Series is that opportunity.”
The free series will consist of five readings throughout the 2015-16 season, with readings scheduled for Oct. 5, Dec. 7, Feb. 1, April 4 and June 6, all at 7 p.m. All readings will be held at Ali’s Bar in Signature Theatre’s Mead Lobby.
The series will allow playwrights, actors, directors, designers, and patrons the chance to explore new plays in a fun and informal environment. Signature is accepting play submissions (no musicals) until Aug. 23.
Interested playwrights should submit the following: full scripts with a clear cast/character breakdown, a synopsis, and name, address, phone number and email address to [email protected].
For more information about the series visit sigtheatre.org.
