Elliot Lanes - Page 9

Music has always been able to get us through the most turbulent times in this nation's history. With the ongoing pandemic and all the other craziness that is happening right now, Signature Theatre gives us Signature Vinyl. It's a cinematic concert experience that will make you forget everything in the world for a little while as some of Signature's top performers put their spin (no pun intended) on some classics from the 60's and 70's.

My fellow theatregoers! Ever since this pandemic began, we have been asking when and if will live theatre return to the DC area. I am happy to report that the answer is a resounding YES and it is going to happen sooner than you maybe thought it would.

Renée Fleming's long and distinguished career includes performing in some of the world's most famous opera houses, performing on Broadway, and being heard on many recordings singing everything from arias to showtunes. Tonight Ms. Fleming will add another honor to her canon as she and Vanessa Williams will become the first artists to perform a live indoor concert onstage at Kennedy Center's Opera House. The evening is entitled A Time to Sing: An Evening with Renée Fleming and Vanessa Williams. While the audience will be very minimal in person, you can watch the concert in your very own living room by purchasing a ticket for the livestream. Click here for details.

On September 16th, Arena Stage will unveil it's latest socially relevant docudrama. The 51st State will feature the work of several playwrights including today's subject Otis Cortez Ramsey-Zöe.

On June 21st the DC theatre community took a punch in the gut as our incredibly talented Musical Director, Pianist, Orchestra Contractor, Educator, and friend George Fulginiti-Shakar passed away after a long illness at age 73.

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic much has been written on the effects it has had on theatre companies around the world and the thousands of artists onstage and off that are unemployed until further notice. What hasn't been written about very much is the effect this pandemic has had on audience members. Let's face it, without an audience why would you spend lots of money to mount a production?

Many theatres around the world have started engaging their audiences with lots of digital content since the COVID-19 pandemic started back in March. Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA  has taken the idea of digital content and has kicked it up  many notches. They were the first area company  to stream one of their productions with Easy Women Smoking Loose Cigarettes. The play was shuttered mid-run.

The Coronavirus pandemic has been rough for everyone but one one of the groups of people that might be having the hardest time adjusting to a 'new normal' are students of all ages.  While there are ways to make learning fun for the younger set, high school and college students have to take things more seriously. Institutions of higher learning all over the country have gone digital and this includes The Catholic University of America (CUA) here is DC.

Towards the end of the musical A Chorus Line, the director/choreographer asks of his auditioning dancers 'What are you going to do when you can't dance anymore?' The COVID-19 outbreak has affected everybody without question. Social distancing, face masks, and quarantining ourselves have become the 'new normal.' It's anything but that!

A few days ago Senator Bernie Sanders was kind enough to record a public service announcement for Broadway World for which we were greatly honored. 

On Wednesday Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont ended his second election bid to become President of the United States.  Since he is no longer having to campaign. Broadway World was able to have Mr. Sanders record the following public service announcement as an exclusive to our website.

With everything shut down due to the pandemic do you find yourself looking for an innovative and affordable way to get your theatre fix? Have you ever wanted to take a theatre class taught by a top DC theatre artist but thought that you couldn't afford one? Well, my favorite DC area arts education institution has found a way to solve both of these issues while you are cooped up in your home practicing social distancing and binge watching whatever one binge watches.

Today's subject was kind enough to give me an hour of his time in the balcony of the place he lived his theatre life for almost 40 years.  I'm sure there isn't a person here in DC who would argue that Howard Shalwitz was one of the most influential minds in the DC theatre community as the Artistic Director of Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. Under Shalwitz, Woolly Mammoth produced some of the most thought provoking, wild, and sometimes shocking pieces of theatre this area has ever seen. Shalwitz stepped down in 2018 and the company is now run by Maria Manuela Goyanes. Mr. Shalwitz remains as Artistic Director Emeritus.

Today's subject Jennifer Elizabeth Smith is currently living her theatre life touring the country in Bandstand in which she portrays the lead character of Julia Trojan. The show plays here is DC at the National Theatre from March 3rd through 8th.

With very few exceptions stage musicals based off of comic books and horror movies are never truly successful. You're a Good Man Charlie Brown and Little Shop of Horrors are two very rare examples where those genres succeeded commercially.

As a reviewer you generally find something wrong with a production no matter how much you enjoy it. Signature Theatre's latest World Premiere Musical Gun & Powder is a rare breed of show because it is literally a perfect theatrical experience. Under the fantastic direction of Robert O'Hara it features a superb cast, a compelling story, and possibly one of the best new scores of the season to be heard here or anywhere else.

Today's subject Marva Hicks is currently living her theatre life onstage at Signature Theatre in the World Premiere Musical Gun & Powder. The production runs through February 23rd in Signature's MAX Theatre space. You'll be able to see my review of the show on Broadway World soon. Trust me it will be worth the wait.

Today's column starts with some questions for you my fellow readers. Have you ever thought about how theatres get audiences to attend their productions? Generally the first thing you might see after a season is announced is what's known as a press release for each individual production. Have you ever wondered who puts out that information?

Everyone once in a while a project is announced that basically sounds fool proof. The latest entry into Kennedy Center's Broadway Center Stage series Next to Normal is definitely one of those projects.

Today's subject Justin Weaks is currently living his theatre life onstage at Studio Theatre where he plays Omari Joseph in the company's current production of Pipeline. The production runs through February 23rd in Studio's Mead Theatre space.