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 […]
Legally Blonde
Legally Blonde Adapted for the stage by Heather Hach from the MGM film, based on the novel by Amanda Brown Music and lyrics by Laurence O’Keefe and Nell Benjamin Directed and choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Presented by The Kennedy Center Reviewed by Debbie Minter Jackson Legally Blonde is a big splashy musical with heart. Sure […]
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol Book by Mike Ockrent and Lynn Ahrens Music by Allen Menken . Lyrics by Lynn Ahrens Directed by Daniel L. McDonald Produced by Toby’s Dinner Theatre of Baltimore Reviewed by Leslie Weisman Toby’s Dinner Theatre is a place where the show may be the main reason you’re there, but it’s usually not […]
Les Miserables
Les Misérables Music by Claude-Michel Schönberg Lyrics by Herbert Kretzmer Based on a novel by Victor Hugo Original French text by Alain Boublil and Jean-Marc Natel . Additional material by James Fenton Directed by Eric Schaeffer Produced by Signature Theeatre Reviewed by Gary McMillan Cameron Mackintosh tossed Eric Schaeffer the keys to his hummer Les […]
Peter Pan
Peter Pan: The Musical Book by J.M. Barrie Music by: Mark Charlap, additional music by Jule Styne Lyrics by: Carolyn Leigh, additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green Directed by Eve Muson. Produced by Olney Theatre Center Reviewed by Gary McMillan If you can pry junior’s fingers from his Game Boy, he just might […]
Next to Normal
Next To Normal Music Tom Kitt Book and lyrics Brian Yorkey Directed by Michael Greif Produced by Arena Stage Reviewed by Gary McMillan Arena Stage is sponsoring the DC regional premiere of the much heralded Off-Broadway musical Next to Normal. No doubt local audiences would have been pleased to see a reprise of the Second […]
Chatting with the creators of Next to Normal
Feeling Electric! Lyricist and book writer Brian Yorkey and composer Tom Kitt on Arena Stage’s new production of Next to Normal By Joel Markowitz There are musicals that have become cult favorites, and one of my favorite Broadway musical performers – Alice Ripley – has starred in four of them: Side Show, Rocky Horror Picture […]
White Christmas and Saturn Returns
Saturn Returns, White Christmas and Speed-the-Plow cast at the Drama League Luncheon by Richard Seff
Hairspray Philly Style
Interviews with Amy Toporek (Tracy Turnblad) and Michael Walker (Edna Turnblad) by Joel Markowitz Thanks to the management of the beautiful Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia for arranging for me to meet the two stars of Hairspray.
Grey Gardens
Grey Gardens Book by Doug Wright, Music by Scott Frankel, Lyrics by Michael Korie Based on the documentary by David and Albert Maysles Directed by Serge Seiden Produced by Studio Theatre Reviewed by Gary McMillan Studio Theatre’s Grey Gardens is a beautifully rendered and wonderfully off-kilter production of this Off Broadway-to-Broadway cult musical. Wealth and […]
Mark Jacoby
A Chat with Mark Jacoby Interviewed by Joel Markowitz
President Harding Is a Rock Star
President Harding Is a Rock Star Book, music and lyrics by Kyle Jarrow Produced by Landless Theatre Company Directed by Melissa Baughman Reviewed by Tim Treanor Full of highly listenable rock with funny lyrics, played by a tight band (Esther Covington, Brett Abelman and the excellent Josh Speerstra), beautifully sung and, best of all, funny […]