The hype had been mounting about the sensational “Newsies” soon coming to The National Theatre June 9 – 21st. Its arrival was indeed a hit. As Newsies was based on a 1992 Disney film, the crowd included many nicely dressed children who were excited to visit the theatre. If Disney Theatrical Sponsorship isn’t enough, it might be notable to mention that Newsies won a Tony on Broadway.
Calling all Potterheads! Daniel Clarkson and Jefferson Turner, the brilliant Brits otherwise known as Dan and Jeff, are once again at Shakespeare Theatre with their over-the-top live version of all 7 Harry Potter books. Even if you have seen this show before, their performance is guaranteed to make you giggle and want to read the books all over again.
Dirty Dancing is one of those experiences that you never forget. NETworks Productions LLC. brings the movie to life with the stage production that is playing now through May 24th.
Memphis, the Tony Award winning musical rocked and rolled its way into the hearts of DC theatre lovers at the Warner Theatre May 1 & 2. Tony Awards in 2010 included Best Musical, book by Joe DiPietro, and original score by David Bryan. Although inspired by actual events, it tells the fictional story of Huey Calhoun, and the birth of Rock and Roll.
The show is set in the 1950’s where racial separation was abundant in the south. Scene one opens stereotypically showing a white radio station
“Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike” has taken up residence at the Fichlander Theatre through May 3rd. Christopher Durang’s 2013 Tony winner is sure to tickle your funny bone and tug at your heartstrings.
The Hippodrome in Baltimore, welcomes “Wicked” back for another enchanting and engagement. “Wicked” is one of the hottest shows on Broadway and around the world. You can see it now through April 26th.
NETworks LLC presents Cole Porter’s Broadway classic, “Anything Goes” at DC’s famed Warner Theatre. As any of you who follow me know, I am always leery of large scale, non-Union tours. In the past, I have been cautious about the hits, or misses from this production company, and I have to say that since I gave them a second chance, I have been very happy to be an audience member. “Anything Goes” is no exception and if anything, it is the perfect example of giving something another chance.
Last week I had the privilege of attending a fabulous performance of “Chicago” at the National Theatre. For those unfamiliar with the story, it is about a woman named Roxie Hart who is in prison in the late 1920’s for shooting her lover. This is complicated by the fact that she is a married woman. At the time, the story details, no woman has yet been hung for murder.
“Chicago” is one of those shows…if you only ever see one Broadway show/tour, you can’t go wrong with “Chicago”! In general, the book, the score, the choreography is second to none. I mean really!
The curtain opens to a fabulous vaudevillian type song & dance number by the girls in the speakeasy, where our leading man, Jimmy Winter, (Alex Enterline), is celebrating his bachelor party. The rumble is broken up by the Senator Max Evergreen (Benjamin Perez), and his sister Duchess Estonia Dulworh, who heads the “Association of Dry Women” (Stephanie Harter Gilmore) & the police Vice Squad. But leading man Jimmy escapes & meets our leading lady, Billie Bendix (Mariah MacFarlane) who is in a gang of bootleggers known as Brown Beard’s Henchmen. Billie converses with drunken Jimmy and tells Billie about his upcoming plans to marry in order to show his mother that he is responsible. During the conversation, Billie also finds out that his beach house is empty & decides to store the booze there.
