Theatre potpourri*

[devifemme]

For the past 15 years or so, Kennedy Center hosts each Labor Day weekend a "page to stage" festival -- dozens of local theater groups (the Washington region abounds in such entities, from minuscule to quite well established) present a gamut of their current projects

Comments

[anais_pf]

Wow, that sounds great!

Oooh, the expert!

[devifemme]

Dear Anais:

Oooh, YOU are the very person the Center's major effort is aimed at -- someone with experience as performer, as well as the ass-in-seat side.

Something that has always struck us is the comparatively low attendance at each piece (probably averaging around 50). This is no doubt due to the holiday weekend -- but also to dividing up the thousand or so attending at any one time (many theatre folks included) among the 55 pieces offered this year. But it wouldn't work as well with bigger crowds...

Thanks for commenting so quick, before I'd in fact finished it. Do check out my summaries of two terrific pieces. (To do them justice, I had to look up the program, which Joanne had squirreled away. Even so, I regret not getting the name of the actor/pianist who was so good as Shelley.)

Re: Oooh, the expert!

[anais_pf]

Oh, I am indeed the perfect audience, or performer, or both, for this sort of thing! It sounds great!

According to the Washington Rogues Facebook page (does NOBODY keep their website current anymore?) Shelley was either Dillon Greenberg, David Chavez, or Anderson Wells.

* * * * *

From Alexandra Petri, writer of last year's hit "The Campsite Rule", this sexy rock musical explores the explosive marriage of Mary and Percy Shelly, pioneering proponents of free love and polyamory, and their encounters with the seductive rock star of his time, the legendary Lord Byron. It's weird! It's feminist! It's the Rogues' first musical, and we are ready to rock! Followed by post-performance discussion. Featuring live music from an original score by Sam Linden!

Cast: Emily Crockett, Dillon Greenberg, David Chavez, Courtney Feiman, Anderson Wells

Directed by Ryan S. Taylor
Musical Direction by Allyson Harkey
Book by Alexandra Petri
Music by Sam Linden
Lyrics by Alexandra Petri and Sam Linden

Searching...

[devifemme]

I too had hit on the Rogues' Website, likewise encountering the three names -- none of them, alas, ringing ANY bells. (Hell, does NOBODY...?)

I must say Act 1 WAS quite feminist -- that is, until Mary got with child, all a bit traumatic for a "sexy rock musical..." Well, Act 2 is going to be a bitch -- but presumably it's already on paper, somewhere.

I know how much you're into music, sweetie -- so I googled Sam Linden, composer/lyricist -- precisely because his songs were damned good. Found his Website and learned that the show was, at that moment, "currently titled 'Young Guns'..." (That is one of the First Act's best numbers -- even if that title would have mystified Shelley and the others back in the early 19th century).

Thanks!
J

[awakenyourfaith]

This festival sounds so cool!

[devifemme]

Thanks, Owl! We're off to see Round 2 later this morning -- gluttons for punishment!

[ggary]

I used to go to the theatre a lot--David Threlfall and Eleanor Bron in the Oedipus plays, Gary Oldman in THE COUNTRY WIFE, Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke in THE SECRET OF SHERLOCK HOLMES spring to mind especially. At college there were performances where the performers often outnumbered the cast, and I auditioned for loads of plays and never got chosen for any of them. It's a while since I saw a live performance, and it's time that I got back to the theatre. There's a performer called Robert Lloyd Parry, and I'd love to see him. He reads the ghost stories of M R James, although it is probably more true to say that he becomes the great Victorian writer, slowly drawing his audience in before terrifying the life out of them. I really must see him some time.