Oscar Hammerstein II’s minor accomplishment was that he was the greatest lyricist in the history of Broadway, the principal author of a half-dozen of the most revolutionary and seminal musicals in the canon, and a man who by merely associating himself with a production could assure that it would attract a fortune in investment.
Rancho Mirage
Steven Dietz’s Rancho Mirage could also, with justice, be called Dinner with Horrible People, but that title would lack the mytho-poetic cachet of the title actually chosen. So the prolific Dietz’s new story is instead named after the gated community which is its situs, and which suggests the state of his characters’ material and emotional […]
Hamlet
A career as a stage actor won’t make you a millionaire, but if you’re working with New York’s Bedlam Theatre it’ll definitely save you a gym membership. The amount of exercise that Artistic Director Eric Tucker wrings out of Bedlam’s Hamlet, alongside his three very talented (and equally hard-working) co-stars Andrus Nichols, Ted Lewis, and […]
Saint Joan
The voices in Joan of Arc’s head guide her on a journey into parts unknown, winning hearts and minds to her cause. The cast of Saint Joan are living a similar life these days, having wandered far from New York into Olney, Maryland (not exactly parts unknown, but close). And the multitude of voices from […]
Back on the Line: Parker Drown and Carl Randolph from A Chorus Line
For Part 2 of our interviews with members of the “line,” Jeff Walker spoke with local performers Parker Drown and Carl Randolph.
From the Line: talks with 3 performers in Olney’s A Chorus Line
Take away the nearly unseen director, the memorable songs, the dazzling dance numbers, and the high-kicking finale in A Chorus Line and what’s left are the stories of dancers desperate for a job. More than a musical about an audition, Chorus Line gives voice to the “gypsies” – the dancers who must fight for jobs […]
Dance 10, Looks 10 . A Chorus Line at Olney Theatre Center
A Chorus Line at Olney Theatre Center is two hours of pure musical theatre bliss. The show runs on high octane energy from the fast-paced opening music with Michael Bennett’s signature choreography deliciously recreated by Stephen Nachamie who also directed.
In 2014, Olney Theatre offers its diverse audience three new ways to purchase in advance
Olney Theatre Center has resolved the problem of how to satisfy a diverse audience by announcing a nine-play 2014 season (they run on a calendar year) divided in thirds: three for audiences with a taste for the classics, three for audiences who like contemporary plays, and three for family audiences. Memberships (they no longer call […]
The Submission
It is easy to think of The Submission as “Tootsie” for writers. But Jeff Talbott’s eloquent, tedious story is both larger and smaller than the Dustin Hoffman vehicle. Larger, because unlike the egomaniacal Michael Dorsey, The Submission’s protagonist Danny (gloriously self-aggrandizing in Frank DeJulio’s portrayal) is motivated by his beliefs about race and authenticity. Smaller, […]
Neville’s Island
A list of the best stage entrances ever would have to include a group of middle-aged men climbing out of a river dripping wet onto a stark, rocky island. It is the perfect preface to Tim Firth’s witty survival farce Neville’s Island now playing at Olney Theatre Center.
Shipwrecked without a clue – Inside British comedy Neville’s Island at Olney Theatre
An Interview with Olney Theatre’s Jason King Jones and actor Michael Russotto Take four middle-managers from a Manchester business firm – think the UK version of “The Office.” Now hurl them into a rough and tumble setting where these members of the British middle class are literally fish out of water, being trapped on a tiny […]
Spring Awakening
It’s hard to watch something you love suffer. In this case, it is the 2006 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening, featuring a sumptuous indie-rock score from Duncan Sheik and poetry slam-bam lyrics by Steven Sater that prove rock musicals don’t have to be generic jukebox revues. They can shimmer with young, hungry sexual heat, […]