Shelly Work, Amanda Rife on playing Daisy and Violet Hilton, and David Gregory on directing Side Show at Teatro 101 Whenever I hear that Side Show is being produced in our area, I find a way to see it. I was so impressed by Teatro 101’s production of Violet, (which I recently named as one […]
Matthew Schleigh and Ray Hatch in Buddy Holly
Until September 12th at Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore, Matthew Schleigh is re-rocking the house in his Helen Hayes Award-winning performance as the late-great Buddy Holly and Ray Hatch is not only recreating the bundle of energy MC at the Apollo in Buddy—The Buddy Holly Story, but he is also co-directing with Toby Orenstein and […]
Best Musicals and Best Musical Performances of 2009-2010
Musicals are my life and I saw a lot of them on DC-area stages in the past year – in professional theatres, community theatres, family theatres, children’s theatres, high schools, and programs that train young actors.
Gavin Lee on playing Bert in Mary Poppins
Kennedy Center audiences love Gavin Lee’s heart-warming, lovable performance as Bert, the chimney sweep in the national tour of Mary Poppins. Gavin originated the role in London, performed it on Broadway, and has been playing Bert all around the country on this tour.
Personal reflections on this year’s Fringe musicals
It wasn’t hard to select my favorite musicals of this year’s Capital Fringe Festival ( I’ll get to them in just a minute) because so many of this year’s so-called musicals sucked. The majority of them had poorly written scores, books, and lyrics, and casts that couldn’t sing in key if their lives depended on […]
Favorite 2010 Fringe Musical Performances – Part Two
The second week of the Capital Fringe Festival brought ten musical performances that I enjoyed immensely. Many were by local artists who I have never seen or heard before. I am hoping that many of our directors and casting directors will audition these incredible actors/singers. I look forward to seeing them in future performances.
Favorite 2010 Fringe Musical Performances – Part One
Every year I eagerly await the musicals at the Capital Fringe Festival. I know that I will sit through some awful, so-so, and enjoyable ones – but I also know that at these great, good, bad, and “don’t go there” musicals – I will hear some wonderful singing and see some performances that will knock […]
Charlie Ross on his One Man Lord of the Rings
I saw it with my partner Alex and we still can’t believe how Canadian actor Charlie Ross condensed almost 12 hours of Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings (LOTR) trilogy into a little over an hour of non-stop hilarity. Here he was twisting and turning and humming and singing, falling on the stage – […]
Playing Patsy Cline
Tiffany Walker Porta on Always…Patsy Cline I’m a big fan of Patsy Cline and when I saw Always…Patsy Cline on press night at Toby’s Baltimore, I was amazed how Tiffany Walker Porta’s renditions of many of Patsy’s hit songs – including “I Fall to Pieces”, “Crazy”, and “Walkin’ After Midnight”, had that unique Patsy “sound”.
Musical Scene Stealers – June 2010
This new group of Scene Stealers says a lot about how much talent we have in the DC area and is a tribute to the up-and-coming group of young actors, singers, and dancers who graced our local stages with scene stealing performances, sprinkled with great performances by two of our local theatre veterans.
Mark Jacoby on playing Tevye
Mark Jacoby on playing Tevye in Walnut Street Theatre’s Fiddler on the Roof. It was so nice to get a second chance to interview Mark Jacoby as he was “Ya ha deedle deedle, bubba bubba deedle deedle dum-ing” through the role of Tevye in Walnut Street Theatre’s stunning production of Fiddler on the Roof. Mark […]
Jeffrey Coon on playing Georges Seurat
Report from Philadelphia: Jeffrey Coon in the role of Georges Seurat in The Arden’s Sunday in the Park with George. It’s always an honor and pleasure to watch Jeff Coon perform. He can do it all – musicals, plays, and children’s theatre. He has one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard on […]