Category Archives: Theatre

July 8, 2012

Thought of the Day 7.8.12

By ritalovestowrite

“He had delusions of adequacy.”

—Walter Kerr

Walter Kerr was born today in Evanston, Illinois  in 1913. He would have been 99.

Kerr was a mid 20th Century New  York theatre critic, director and author. His sharp, witty reviews could make or break a Broadway show and he won a Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. Kerr also put his money where his mouth is– producing work for the stage as a writer and director. With his wife Jean Kerr he wrote Goldilocks, which won the 1958 Tony Award. Kerr directed the production. He also directed Touch and Go andKing of Hearts.

His books include How Not to Write a Play, Criticism and Censorship, The Theatre in Spite of Itself, and Thirty Plays Hath November.

In 1990 Broadway gave Kerr the ultimate honor. It named a theater after him. The old Ritz Theatre at 218 West 48th Street was renovated and reopened the Water Kerr Theatre. It opened to August Wilson’s The Piano Lesson and has since house six Tony Award Winning Plays.

Marquee of the Walter Kerr Theatre, advertisin...

Marquee of the Walter Kerr Theatre, advertising Christine Ebersole in Grey Gardens 218 West 48th Street, Manhattan, New York (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

2 Comments   |  tags: , | posted in Broadway, Musical Theatre, postaday, Theatre, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, United States, Walter Kerr, Writing

July 5, 2012

Thought of the Day 7.5.12

By ritalovestowrite

“If I shoot at the sun I may hit a star”

— P.T. Barnum

Phineas Taylor Barnum was born in Bethel, Connecticut in 1810. He would be 202 years old today.

According to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey website P.T. Barnum presented “the public of the 19th century shameless hucksterism, peerless spectacle and everything in between.”  The consummate promoter, Barnum began by presenting acts in New York. Here’s a few of the live acts and curiosities the “Master Showman” brought to the public: Joice Heth — a blind, nearly paralyzed slave woman, whom he claimed was the 161 year old Nurse to George Washington;  Charles Stratton, aka General Tom Thumb– “The Smallest Person that Ever Walked Alone;” and the embalmed remains of the “Feejee Mermaid.” In 1850 he presented a more refined act when he brought “The Swedish Nightingale” Jenny Lind to the American Stage.

In 1870 Barnum took his show on the road with P.T. Barnum’s Grand Traveling Museum, Menagerie, Caravan and Circus. The Circus made $400,000 its first year and quickly became known as the “The Greatest Show on Earth”  Barnum also started America’s first aquarium.

Barnum lectured as a temperance speaker, served two terms in the Connecticut legislature and was mayor of Bridgeport.

Image courtesy of the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Baily Circus website

1 Comment   |  tags: | posted in American History, History, postaday, Theatre, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday

July 3, 2012

Thought of the Day 7.3.12

By ritalovestowrite

“Every exit is an entrance somewhere else”

–Tom Stoppard

Tom Straussler was born this day in Zlin, Czechoslovakia in 1937. He is 75  years old.

As War World II loomed in Europe his family moved to Singapore to escape the Nazis. In 1941 as the Japanese were poised to invade Singapore he and his mother and brother fled to Darjeeling, India. (His father stayed in the city and was died in the invasion.) After the war they moved to England and his mother remarried. Kenneth Stoppard adopted Tom and his sister.

Stoppard left school when he was only 17 and began to write for local newspapers. He started writing plays and scripts and in 1963  his first television play, A Walk on the Water was produced. Success on the stage came with his hugely popular Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, a play that looks at Hamlet from the point of view of two minor characters. For the screen he penned Empire of the Sun, Billy Bathgate, and co-wrote Brazil and Shakespeare in Love. He won the “Best Screenplay” Oscar  for Shakespeare in Love.

His other works include: Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, The Real Thing, Arcadia and Dogg’s Hamlet, Cahoot’s Macbeth

Tom Stoppard on a reception in honour of the p...

Tom Stoppard on a reception in honour of the premiere of “The Coast of Utopia” in Russia (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

1 Comment   |  tags: | posted in Film, postaday, Theatre, Thought of the Day, Today's Birthday, Uncategorized, World War Two, Writing

June 27, 2012

My Darcy Weekend

By ritalovestowrite

As you may recall from Will (and Jane) This Summer in B’more (June 6) THIS past Friday, Saturday and Sunday was Regency Weekend at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company (CSC).  The acting troupe put on Christina Calvit’s adaptation of  Jane Austen’s delightful Pride and Prejudice.  The Jane Austen Society of North America: Maryland Chapter (JASNA:MD) joined forces with CSC on Sunday for our Summer meeting, and I came by with some family and friends on Saturday to help with a Game Tent and to drum up some interest in JASNA.

SATURDAY:

My lovely daughter Maggie, my sister Margie, my husband Bill and I headed to Ellicott City’s Patapsco Female Institute (the stabilized ruins of an old girls school that is now an open air theatre and part of the Howard County Park System) where we met our friends  Lynn Reynolds, Chris and Matt. There  we split up to handle Game Duties and the JASNA recruitment table.

I created the Jane Game while working with a graphic design student. It was a side-by-side project and our goal was to create a board game that we would want to play. It is a trivia game based on the novels of Jane Austen and comes with a laminated or cloth playing board, 100 cards on Pride and Prejudice, glass game pieces and a draw string bag. If you are interested in securing your very own game send me a message.

At the Game Tent we set up The JANE GAME a trivia game based on Pride and Prejudice and Austen BINGO.

WoMANning the JASNA table. (Photo courtesy of Kim Rock)

Over at the JASNA info table we had registration forms and some fun Austen inspired gear. JASNA is a terrific organization dedicated to the appreciation of Jane Austen and her writing. The over 4,000 members in JASNA (US and Canada) enjoy reading and discussing Austen’s books, learning more about the things Jane liked to do, and exploring the world that influenced her writing. Membership is open to every one interested in the life and works of Jane Austen and includes: a subscription to JASNA News; JASNA’s literary journal — Persuasions; an invitation to the Annual General Meeting; An invitation to join one or more local chapter — like  JASNA: MD ; and participation in members-only tours of Austen sites.  Membership is only $30.00 per year (for individual members.)

We got to talk to some lovely people (first from the cast, then  from the audience) and then we got to see the play.

Mr. Darcy observes Caroline and Lizzy in a scene from Pride and Prejudice (running now through the end of July at the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company.)

As you may have already figured  out, I’m a huge Jane Austen fan (I’ve created a board  game based on her books and I’ve got my own Regency dress, for heavens sake!)  So I was primed and ready for this stage play of P&P.

And I’m happy to say it was universally charming! Happy thought INDEED!

The pre-show panel “Kitty and Lydia: Mischief and Merriment” with Rachael Jacobs, Karen Stakem Hornig, Mark Turner, Jana Stambaugh and moderator, Polly Bart.

SUNDAY:

JASNA:MD worked with CSC to pull together a special treat for Sunday’s audience, a pre-show panel discussion on “Kitty and Lydia: Mischief and Merriment.” Polly Bart, JASNA:MD’s Programming Chair, co-ordinated the event for the group and acted as the moderator for the panel. She brought together the actresses who play Kitty and Lydia, Jana Stambaugh and Rachael Jacobs, with JASNA members Mark Turner and Karen Stakem Hornig.

Kitty and Lydia on stage.

The actresses spoke on the joys and challenges of bringing their 200 year old characters from the page to the stage. Turner, who is known for delighting JASNA members with his mind tickling Austen era Charades, took over with “Kitty and Lydia: Their Roles and Relationships” (aka “The Case of the Ugly Bonnet”)

Hornig holds up her favorite film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice.

Hornig presented “Kitty and Lydia as Character Types in Film Adaptations of Pride and Prejudice.” (Note the image of Colin Firth on the cover the Collector’s Edition of the DVD.)

Photo courtesy Kim Rock

My friend Kim helped me at the JASNA registration/info table on Sunday. We met some wonderful Jane fans who were interested in learning about the organization, as well as tons of lovely current JASNA members stopped by to say hello!

Jane and Lizzie share a sisterly moment in Act One.

I enjoyed the show even more on Sunday. (All the stage shots in this blog are from Sunday’s performance — you aren’t allowed to use a  flash, but since the Sunday show starts two hours earlier… I could shoot with out a flash.)

Sadly I don’t have any photos of Jose Guzman as Mr. Collins. He was hilarious as the sycophant clergyman. Jonas David Grey (Mr. Bennet) and James Jager (Mr. Bingley) were also very funny. Blythe Coons (Lizzy) and Adam Sheaffer (Mr. Darcy) gave more subtle, but equally delicious performances. I particularly like how the audience on Sunday was cheering for Jana Stambaugh — after her pre-show talk about how she, Kitty,  was the “Jan” of the Bennet family, she definitely had us in her corner.

This just in: Thanks to Kim Rock, we now have a picture showing Mr. Collins! (fourth from the right).

Although my weekend with Mr. Darcy, Lizzy and the rest of the Pride and Prejudice cast is over I hope that you will take the opportunity to visit Chesapeake Shakespeare Company this summer and catch this charming adaptation of Jane Austen’s classic.

Pride and Prejudice runs in repertoire with Romeo and Juliet until July 29th.

Cheers! Rita

3 Comments   |  tags: , , , | posted in 1812, Jane Austen, JASNA, Pride and Prejudice, Theatre

June 10, 2012

Thought of the Day 6.10.12

By ritalovestowrite

“Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.”

—Judy Garland

Judy Garland was born today in 1922 , she would have been 90.

She starred in dozens of movies from 1929 to 1963, most for MGM.  She won an Academy Award for her Dorothy in “The Wizard of Oz” and a nomination for the award for her roles  in “A Star Is Born” and “Judgement at Nuremberg“. Other Garland favorites include “Meet Me In St. Louis“, “The Harvey Girls” and “Easter Parade.”

 

re-cropped screenshot of Judy Garland from the...

re-cropped screenshot of Judy Garland from the trailer for the film A Star Is Born. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leave a comment   |  tags: , | posted in Musical Theatre, Theatre, Thought of the Day, Uncategorized

June 9, 2012

Thought of the Day 6.9.12 Cole Porter

By ritalovestowrite

“Birds do it, bees do it, even educated fleas do it. Let’s do it, let’s fall in love.”

–Cole Porter

[“Let’s Do It”]


It is Cole Porter’s Birthday he would have been 119 years.

Porter was an icon of the Great White Way, and wrote both the lyrics and music for hundreds of songs including “Night and Day”, “Begin the Beguine”, “De-Lovely”, “You Do Something to Me”, “I’ve Got You Under My Skin”, “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”  “In the Still of the Night”,  “I get a Kick out of You,” and “You’re the Top”. His musicals include Anything goes and Kiss Me Kate (a take on Taming of the Shrew.)  Are you singing yet?

Cole porter smiling

Cole porter smiling (Photo credit: Lord Mariser)

2 Comments   |  tags: | posted in Music, Musical Theatre, Theatre, Thought of the Day

June 6, 2012

Will (and Jane) this Summer in B’more

By ritalovestowrite

Frankly, when the wonderful Baltimore Shakespeare Festival closed its doors last year I thought it was curtains for live classical theatre in Baltimore.

Then I discovered the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company. Their  summer venue under the stars at the old Patapsco Female Institute in Ellicott City is a bit of a drive, but this is SHAKESPEARE!

The CSC announced this spring that it has found a new indoor facility in downtown Baltimore. The  Merchantile Trust and Deposit Company building on East Redwood will allow for an eight month production schedule as well as extended educational programs. And they’ll continue with their summer tradition of performing alfresco at the PFI.

This summer the troupe will present two of the greatest love stories ever written. Huzzah!

Mass-produced colour photolithography on paper...

Photolithography on paper for Toy Theatre; Romeo and Juliet  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Catch the Bard’s star crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet as the CSC open’s its season this weekend (June 8, 9 & 10 is opening weekend). Two R&J has another full weekend then it begins to run in repertory with CSC’s other summer production…

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE

The most famous of Jane Austen’s novel’s Pride and Prejudice takes stage June 22nd. There’s a special REGENCY WEEKEND to launch P&P (June 22, 23 & 24).

There is a strong argument for READING Austen. But when it is performed really well, and really faithfully I love it too. I got to see EMMA performed last winter in PA, and it was delightful. And, of course I’ve seen every Austen film out there from the A&E Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth to the Bollywood inspired “Bride and Prejudice”. I doubt there will be any wet shirts on stage at the CSC but knowing the caliber of their productions I have very high hopes for this stage version of P&P.

Try and come during Regency Weekend. There will be a costume booth where you can try on period outfits, English Line Dancing, a talk on “Kitty and Lydia” with some  JASNA;MD folks (on Sunday) and Jane Austen trivia with me on Saturday!  (If you can’t make opening weekend the show runs in repertory with Romeo and Juliet until July 29th.

For tickets to the Romeo and Juliet or Pride and Prejudice you can go to http://www.chesapeakeshakespeare.com/tickets.html

English: This diagram, or map, illustrates the...

For anyone who has stumbled upon this post and DOESN’T know the plot of Pride and Prejudice… this might help.  (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

And there’s more good news on the Shakespeare front. The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory, which had been performing in Carroll County has moved to Charm City and taken over the Meadow at Evergreen Museum this summer.

The Baltimore Shakespeare Factory presents the Cannon as it would have been done in Bard’s day, in natural light (so the actors can see the audience as much as the audience can see the actors), minimal sets and contemporary music. We saw their Macbeth this spring and it was nicely done, indeed.

That’s the Doctor up in the tree, btw. He won’t be in the BSF’s performance, but how cool is that?

They will be doing Love’s Labour’s Lost from July 13 – Aug 5, and

the Taming of the Shrew from Aug 2 – Aug 26.

I have yet to see either of these to plays live so I’m very much looking forward to packing a picnic and heading to Charles Street to catch these.

For information on the Baltimore Shakespeare Factory go to  http://theshakespearefactory.com/

So in summary… Your summer should be filled with lots of great Shakespeare and Austen.

Breakdown:

Hope to see you under the stars this summer.

————————————

BTW here’s my list of must brings to an alfresco theatre production: HAT, Sunscreen & Sunglasses (if its during the day), bug repellant, bottle of cold water, lawn chair or blanket, light sweatshirt/jacket (if its at night)  snack or picnic (optional), wine (optional), chocolate (optional, but always recommended.)

1 Comment   |  tags: , , | posted in Baltimore, Jane Austen, Shakespeare, Theatre