SPECTACULAR SEPTEMBER-A DIARY By Joel Markowitz September was filled with many memorable theatre highlights.In this column and in my podcasts with local actors and directors, I try to capture these moments for you. Lace up your running shoes, and I challenge you to keep up with me as we stroll around our theatre community. On […]
Yaegel T. Welch on My Children My Africa
Personally Speaking: Actor Yaegel T. Welch Cast member of My Children! My Africa! Interviewed by Joel Markowitz He commands the stage with emotion, power and strength. He’s Yaegel T. Welch, a talented young actor who is playing Thami Mbikwana in Studio Theatre’s critically acclaimed production of the Athol Fugard play. Peter Marks called him […]
Joel Names His Top Musicals and Performers
HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES: THIS YEAR’S BEST MUSICALS! By Joel Markowitz I am a musical theatre crazy, and this year we were blessed with many wonderful productions in our local theatres. Here are my top ten musicals of the year, my top ten musical performances, and the musical performer of the year. BEST MUSICALS […]
Jason Robert Brown Says Yes to Open Circle
How Open Circle Re-Imagined Songs for a New World An Interview with Suzanne Richard, Artistic Director of Open Circle Theatre by Joel Markowitz On May 16th and 17th this year, many Jason Robert Brown fans, including myself, swallowed up tickets to see a concert version of the Tony Award Winner’s (for Parade) Songs For A […]
An Interview with Felicia Curry
An Interview with Felicia Curry By Joel Markowitz She sings. She acts. She climbs up the sides of houses. She does full splits. She is Felicia Curry, a powerhouse of talent, and one of the nicest actresses, singers and human beings I have had the privilege of knowing. I asked Felicia about her very busy […]
Report from Signature Open House
SIGNATURE OPENS ITS DOORS ONCE AGAIN – HIGH NOTES OF THE DAY By Joel Markowitz Talent was oozing from the walls of Signature yesterday, August 4th, as subscribers, curious Shirlington neighbors and musical theatre lovers (like me) flocked into The ARK and MAX theatres to watch and to listen to the area’s and some of […]
Jeffrey Johnson on Ganymede Arts
GANYMEDE ARTS IS TAKING FLIGHT- An Interview with Artistic Director Jeffrey Johnson By Joel Markowitz Ganymede Arts is up and ready to take flight. What will their 2007-2008 season offer local theatergoers? And what’s different since they’ve changes their name from Actors’ Theatre of Washington? Artistic Director Jeffrey Johnson fills us in. Joel: Why has […]
Godspell According to Luke Smith
An interview with actor Luke Smith By Joel Markowitz I have to agree with Broadway World critic Charles Shubow, when he wrote in his July 20th review about Olney Theatre Center’s production of Godspell, “Luke Smith (Jesus) is worth the price of admission. As soon as the show began, I was thrilled and honored to […]
Summer Gems, Part 1
SEUSSICAL, LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, GREASE, SOUVENIR, AND THE WITCHES OF EASTWICK BURN UP OUR SUMMER STAGES Whew! It may be hot and humid outside, but inside – our local stages are sizzling with great shows and great performances. GIVING A WHO-T ABOUT THIS SEUSSICAL In 2000, I was eagerly awaiting Stephen Flaherty and Lynn […]
Theatre Schmooze, June 2007. Act 2 gets 2 mentions, iMusical, plus happiness at the Tonys
JUNE DAYS ON THE RUN Blood Brothers . iMusical: The Musical . 1776 . Sweeney Todd . Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat and Spring Awakening BLOODY GOOD, JAKE AND MICHAEL!! What a way to start the month! I returned to Act Two Performing Arts on Friday, June 1st at The Olney Theatre Center […]
Joel Talks with Fiddler Cast
Wonder of Wonders: Tevye, Goldie, Perchick and Motel Fiddle Around with Joel at Toby’s Baltimore Theodore Bikel might have performed the role of Tevye over 2,000 times*, but David Bosley-Reynolds who’s playing The Singing Milkman in Toby’s The Dinner Theatre of Baltimore’s heartwarming production of Fiddler On The Roof, has also called the role of Tevye his own. […]
Theatre Schmooze: Tapioca Miracle
PUDDING IT TOGETHER Jello again. It’s Monday, May 21st. I’m at the Black Box Theatre at Blake High School in Silver Spring, Maryland, eagerly awaiting the first read-through of a new musical called The Tapioca Miracle. I’ve been invited by co-lyricist and co-book writers Eric Cole and Larry Kaye, (who is directing the critically acclaimed […]