All I could ask myself after watching the glorious performances of Edward Gero and Sasha Olinick as the tortured Salieri and the fart-filled Amadeus was, “What took so long for someone to cast them in a production of Amadeus? Well, I seized the opportunity to ask them myself, and also asked them to talk about […]
About Joel Markowitz
Jenny Jules on playing Mama Nadi in Ruined
How do you describe Jenny Jules’ performance as Mama Nadi in Arena Stage’s emotionally powerful production of Lynn Nottage’s Ruined? These words immediately come to mind: fierce, compassionate, defiant, tough-as-nails, and passionate. DC area theatregoers are so fortunate that they have the opportunity to see this London actress in the role of Mama Nadi in […]
This spring’s outstanding NYC musical performances
A look at 7 New York spring musicals, and a Stephen Schwartz opera Before the Tony Awards are upon us, I wanted to talk about some of the musicals I saw in NYC this spring. There was a tsunami of book problems this year with many of the musicals. All you have to do is […]
Matthew Scott and Nancy Anderson sing for Company
They’ve come to Signature Theatre to sing side by side with two-time Helen Hayes Award-winner Sherri L. Edelen in the just opened Side by Side by Sondheim. They are two of my favorite performers, so I asked Matthew Scott and Nancy Anderson to talk about the songs they will be performing, and to tell us about the […]
11 shows and 1 movie I’m glad I saw
I had to slow down a bit after having heart surgery the end of February, so I carefully selected shows I thought I’d have a great time seeing and for the most part I chose wisely. The critics have spoken (and you can read their reviews here) but here’s my take.
Wonderland’s El Gato: Jose Llana
It wasn’t Alice or the White Rabbit or The Mad Hatter that made everyone go ‘gaga’ the night I saw the new musical Wonderland on Broadway- it was a tail-swinging, tail-playing Jose Llana wearing a ‘purrfectly’ outrageous kitty outfit – that drew the loudest laughter and applause from the appreciative audience.
Sam Ludwig, Florrie Bagel and Parker Drown in Speech & Debate
I hear that Florrie Bagel, Parker Drown and Sam Ludwig are wowing audiences and critics with their powerful performances in Speech & Debate at Rep Stage. This is a change of pace for these three sensational singers, giving them a unique opportunity to display their excellent acting skills in leading roles. Here they talk about […]
Jahi Kearse, from MetroStage to Broadway debut in Baby It’s You!
Jahi Kearse is a hoofer, a singer, a musician, a powerful actor, and a songwriter who critics and DC area theatregoers have enthusiastically embraced his performances in MetroStage’s Cool Papa’s Party, Round House Theatre’s Pippin, and The Studio Theatre’s Slam!, Top Dog/Underdog, Passing Strange, and Slam!
They ‘pushed da button’: The Color Purple’s Dayna Jarae Dantzler and Taprena Augustine
I had seen The Color Purple the week it opened on Broadway in December 2005, with LaChanze and Elisabeth Withers-Mendes in the roles of Celie and Shug Avery and they were absolutely wonderful. In fact, both were nominated for the Tony that year and LaChanze won for her performance as Celie. I also saw The […]
Margaret Colin at home in Arcadia and on the big and small screens
Arcadia’s Margaret Colin on playing Lady Croom and her stage, film, and TV roles I’m a big fan of Margaret Colin’s work and it was so much fun schmoozing with her about her role as Lady Croom in the revival of Arcadia now playing on Broadway. What a blast it was talking about her soap […]
Rags – from auditions to opening night
It’s Rags time at Theatre Lab I never had a chance to see the 1986 Broadway production of the musical Rags because, with only 18 previews and 4 performances, it closed before I could use my tickets.
The thrill of working on Elden Street Players’ musical Thrill Me: The Leopold & Loeb Story
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.” […]