Stage Banter: The Arena Stage Blog

People are falling in love with Piazza

by Janine Sobeck

There has been the normal flurry of reviews and conversation since the opening of The Light in the Piazza, and let me tell you...people have been buzzing about the performances that they've been seeing.  Hollis Resnick as Margaret, Nicholas Rodruigez as Fabrizio and Margaret Anne Florence as Clara have captured many hearts (and I think Nicholas has captured many eyes as well!).  Here's just a taste of what's being said:

"The Light in the Piazza" requires an actress of embraceable finesse in the role of Margaret, the Southern matron who takes her childlike grown daughter on an eventful sightseeing trip to Florence. And in the vibrantly intelligent Hollis Resnik, Arena Stage found one. - Peter Marks, The Washington Post

As the dashing yet boyish Fabrizio, Nicholas Rodriguez did a superb job in a role that can be a little difficult to pull off.  Lacking almost entirely in English language skills throughout much of the first act, his character still manages to communicated effectively to Clara - and to us - by emphasizing his simple Italian sentences that help non-Italian speaks to pick up nine-tenths of his meaning.  That's quite a feat without the help of operatic surtitles. - Terry Ponick DC Theatre Scene

From the first step Margaret Anne Florence takes into our Piazza, in a delicious Limoncello yellow dress, her refreshing childlike eagerness in tow, Florence deftly captures our attention and wrestles control of it and never lets go. - Rene Pedraza, CNN iReport

Arena Stage has captured the rapturous essence of the musical "The Light in the Piazza" in a lovely production at its Crystal City space in Arlington, Virginia. The intimate staging allows for small gestures and understated performances, all guided by Molly Smith's empathetic direction. - Susan Berlin, Talking Broadway

Beautiful singing and wonderful acting. I had seen the NY production and I thought this one was very close in quality all around. Such a gorgeous score... his music is more complex and unpredictable than most composers. - Goldstar Member

And here's a glimpse from Hollis, Nicholas and Margaret Anne on the own feelings about the show - as well as some additional audience reactions!

Catch the streaming action

by Janine Sobeck

If you've been following along on our American Voices New Play Institute blog, then you know that today is the day that the DC area theatre community is gathering to talk about the recent publication of Outrageous Fortune: the life and times of the new american play by Todd London.  To make it even more fun, the whole conversation is going to be livestreamed.  So if you're interested in hearing what all the fuss is about (and trust me...this book is causing a LOT of discussion) then you should definitely check it out.  The Live Event will be streaming on our New Play TV, starting at 2pm.  More info can be found HERE.

Announcing the TBA's

by Janine Sobeck

If you didn't catch the press last week, the final two shows of next season have been officially announced!  

The Kreeger will be opening with Anna Deveare Smith's Let Me Down Easy.  I've personally wanted to work with Ms. Smith since her extraordinary performances in Fires in the Mirror and Twilight: Los Angeles (and I know there are a lot of excited West Wing fans out there), and really, any woman Newsweek calls "the most exciting individual in American theatre" is definitely going to bring a whole new level to the opening season of the Mead Center for American Theater!  Let Me Down Easy is coming out of it's New York run, and explores the power of body, the price of health and the resilience of the spirit - and is based on interviews with people such as a heavyweight boxer, a rodeo rider, Lauren Hutton and Lance Armstrong.

The final Kreeger project is going to be the first ever stage adaptation of a John Grisham novel.  Tony award winner Rupert Holmes will be bringing Mr. Grisham's first novel, A Time to Kill - about a father who takes the law into his own hands when his daughter suffers from an unspeakable crime - to the DC stage on its way to Broadway.  My co-worker told me this morning she bought the book over the weekend and lost sleep last night because she couldn't put it down.  We all can't wait to see what new levels a theatre production will bring to this thriller.

Just 224 days to go!

A Sophisticated Cast

by Amrita Mangus, Line-producer and Dramaturg for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies

The casting announcement was recently made public for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies. Throughout the week, I've watched this cast in the rehearsal room and they continue to blow me away with their fantastic dancing and singing skills. In addition to show-stopping Broadway legend Maurice Hines, learn a little more about the other members who make up the ensemble. Just hit them with a hot note and watch them bounce!

Sam Cahn New York: The Lion King, Wicked (Broadway), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall). Regional: Celine Dion's A New Day (Caesars Palace, Las Vegas) 

Mara Hicks Broadway: Caroline, or Change; The Lion King; Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. Off-Broadway: Thunder Knocking on the Door. Regional: Crowns (Arena Stage), Cuttin’ Up, The Women of Brewster Place (Arena Stage and Alliance Theatre), Porgy and Bess (Zach Scott Theatre).

Sabra Lewis New York: Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Phantom of the Opera (Broadway); Camelot, Mack and Mabel (Lincoln Center). National Tour: Spamalot. Regional: Oklahoma! (Paper Mill Playhouse), Minsky’s (Center Theatre Group).

Tony Mansker New York: Mary Poppins (Broadway), Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall). National Tour: West Side Story. Regional: 42nd Street, Singin’ in the Rain, Oklahoma!, Cabaret.

John Manzari D.C.: Walking the Winds: Arabian Tales, Nutcracker, Brothers of the Knight (Kennedy center); The Nutcracker (Warner Theater).

Karla Mosley TV: Hi-5, The Guiding Light, Gossip Girl Film: Red Hook, Burn After Reading

Wynonna Smith Broadway: Sarava, The Three Musketeers, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, Grind, Hot Feet. Off-Broadway: Jazzbo Brown.

Keith Lamelle Thomas Broadway: The Red Shoes, Ragtime, Swing!, Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, The Producers, Jelly’s Last Jam, Black and Blue, Porgy and Bess. Other New York: Harlem Song (Apollo).

DeMoya Watson New York: Radio City Christmas Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall). Regional: The Last Adam (Holy Land Experience); Beauty and the Beast, Finding Nemo the Musical (Disney Entertainment).

 

Hollie E. Wright Broadway: Hot Feet. National Tour: The Color Purple. Regional: Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel (Alliance Theatre), principal dancer with the Philadelphia Dance Company.

Richard Riaz Yoder New York: Irving Berlin’s White Christmas (Broadway), Voices of Bahá (Carnegie Hall). International Tour: 42nd Street. Regional: Hairspray, 42nd Street, The Music Man (MUNY).

Leo Manzari (Swing/Ensemble) D.C.: The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Brothers of the Knight (Kennedy Center); The Nutcracker (Warner Theater).

Citizen Review: The Light in the Piazza Like You've Never Seen

By David Dower

Susan Allen filed this Citizen Review of Piazza as a comment, but it is so thoughtful and substantive that it merits its own post!

"I am an Arena subscriber who has seen four versions of Light in the Piazza, beginning at the Intiman Theatre in Seattle (also Chicago’s Goodman and New York’s Lincoln Center). I love this show and its lush, romantic score, but I braced myself for disappointment, feeling nothing could compare to the Tony-winning NY show. After seeing Arena’s March 6 preview production, however, I am happy to report I left delighted in many ways.

Here’s why: Molly, bravo for a different and highly romantic Piazza. You brought warmth and intimacy to this production in a way I have not experienced before. The earlier shows seemed to have a touch of coldness. (the shock of winter?) You brought out the nuances of all the characters. I liked the more rounded-out interpretation and prominence of Giuseppe, including his relationship with Fabrizio, his wife and his parents.

The other examples of love relationships—Giuseppe’s and his wife’s jealousies, lack of trust—the broken and never-quite-there love between Margaret and Roy—the mutual suspicions of Signor and Signora Nacarrelli, and the hint that Signor had lost the love of his life in the past—these all stood out more in this production, heightening the contrast between these love relationships and the innocence, passion and purity between Clara and Fabrizio. Another thing I appreciated was the energy and dynamic flow of the Naccarelli family, particularly Signor.

Welcome back to the Casting Office: We've Missed You!!

by Jamil Jude, Allen Lee Hughes Casting Fellow

Welcome back! It is good to be back in the office! Our last update came quite some time ago so let me try to catch you back up to speed.

We are COMPLETELY CAST for the entire season! This is a huge milestone in our office. It is such an exhilarating feeling to see miniature headshots of all the actors on our big board in the office. A lot of hard work, time and energy was put into making that happen and it is good to see it all pay off. A special thanks to all of our NY casting directors who helped with our shows.

Over the last couple of weeks, I've had the opportunity to work on the amazing Student Playwright Project (SPP). The project, sponsored by our Community Engagement (CE) department, has truly been a rewarding experience. Not only have they let me direct a play (by an amazing playwright if I do say so myself) but they allowed me to cast the show. This was my first solo casting job and I must say, it was challenging and rewarding. It proved to be a "final exam" of sorts as my Fellowship year winds down. I thank CE for the opportunity; I truly feel honored. The cast for SPP 2010 is as follows:

• Catherine Presite
• Ariana Almajan
• Theodore Snead
• Felipe Cabezas
• Paige Hernandez
• Baye Harrell
• Daniel Kenner
• Brynn Tucker (Winning Plays)
• Wendy Nogales (Honorable Mentions)

Please come out and see this amazing ensemble perform our winning plays March 14-16!

The Head Honcho, Casting Director Dan Pruksarnukul, comes back from vacation March 4. I am starting to think I have bad body odor, or that I'm a horrible office mate, or I have a huge spot on my face because Dan and I haven't been in the office together in quite some time! Before his vacation, I went to Boston to work on Stick Fly. January and February were filled with mid-week auditions and events that either Dan or I had to attend. The experience, being the sole person in the office, has been "a trial by fire." I've learned a lot, but lost a few fingers and toes in the process!

Well that is all for now. We will start the casting process for next year's phenomenal season shortly. Like always, I'll keep you updated! Casting Office Out!

Margaret and Clara are right - We're finally here!

by Janine Sobeck

 Oh, opening night.  There is such a thrill that runs through this whole day.  Even as I sit at my desk with a hundred other things to do (no rehearsal today!  what a great gift to the actors), my mind keeps running over different scenes from The Light in the Piazza and I have different songs that stick in my head (currently it's the opening number, "Statues and Stories"). 

We had a great moment yesterday when Molly sat down with the whole cast and crew to reminisce about the journey we have been on.  From our first week when the snow tried to shut us down, to the very first time we tried to stumble through the whole play, to the great leaps and bounds that have been happening since we moved into the space: it has been a tremendous ride.  The cast and crew have really come together through the whole experience and there are moments when I feel like we've created our own big Italian family.

And now, we have the great moment where we get to let it just happen.  Only 6 hours until the opening strains of the overture will fill the Crystal City space...

To the cast, there really only is one thing left to say:

In bocca al lupo!

A Call To Action

Things are heating up in the world of all things Buckminster Fuller-- what we're calling around here the DC Bucky Convergence of Spring 2010.

There are events all over the region, beginning March 22nd with a screening as part of the DC Environmental Film Festival at the National Building Museum, and rolling right into summer.  There will be public art displays in Crystal City, conferences on a bunch of different aspects of Fuller's work, and events leading up to the opening of the play: R. Buckminster Fuller: THE HISTORY (and Mystery) OF THE UNIVERSE.

Like this one:

On March 29th Arena will hold a special event in our Crystal City theater with members of the Buckminster Fuller team. Join Bucky's daughter, Allegra Fuller Snyder and his grandson, Jaime Snyder as they discuss the legacy of R. Buckminster Fuller and his work in the world today. D. W. Jacobs will discuss the work of the play. Both Allegra and Jaime are powerful presenters and you leave a discussion with them charged with the essential message of Fuller's work:

“If success or failure of the planet and of human beings depended on how I am and what I do… How would I be? What would I do?”

Details in the flyer that follows the jump.

A Bouncing Sophisticated Ladies Video

by Amrita Mangus, Line-producer and Dramaturg for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies

Wow. Today marks the first rehearsal for Duke Ellington's Sophisticated Ladies and I am jazzed (no pun intended) to sit in the rehearsal room and watch the inspiring choreography and musical score come together.

As many of you know, the casting process for the show began in October in DC when Maurice Hines and Charles Randolph-Wright staged two master classes and an open audition to scout for young, fresh talent. The newly-released video below features two brothers, John and Leo Manzari, who were discovered from one of the master classes and were later cast in the show! Remember those names. You'll see why. 

Cutting Off My Baby's Toes: Master Class with Student Playwrights

By Christin Siems, Dramaturgy/Literary Management Fellow

Eight fabulously talented young playwrights came together this past Monday for their second master class with Arena Stage's Student Playwright's Project.  (aka: SPP)

Arena Stage's dramaturg, Janine Sobeck, kicked off the class with words of inspiration and experience.  It was very cool for the playwrights to hear from a professional dramaturg, and cool for me to see my boss again (she lives and breathes LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA these days).  To the playwrights who have to cut down their scripts (they can only be ten minutes, and most are way over that), Janine provided the hope they needed to hear: Sometimes there's a "thread" that can just be pulled out... that doesn't affect the piece as a whole, and often strengthens it.

After that, the playwrights got to meet with their dramaturg and director.  I'm absolutely delighted this year to be the dramaturg for Forrest Penrod's play "The Epiphany"... a deliciously creepy psychological thriller.  Most of the playwrights are brand new at playwriting, but Forrest is a veteran: this is his third time to win SPP!  And Forrest is fourteen.  I think.  Which basically makes him a prodigy.

The young playwrights (or prodigies... as far as I'm concerned they're ALL brilliant) finished up the day by creating tableaus.  In groups, they were asked to come up with three tableaus for each of their plays: a beginning, a middle, and an ending tableau.  It was a great exercise for the playwrights to choose what was absolutely vital in their plays, and therefore see the "threads" that could be pulled out.

We'll have another master class today, Monday, where the playwrights will read their revisions and pared down scripts (10 MINUTES!!).  It's a tough process.  As one playwright remarked a couple years ago, that haunts the SPP playwrights each year: "I feel like I'm cutting off my baby's toes."

Yes.  Yes, you are.

But ironically, your baby's going to run better without those toes.... SO CUT 'EM!!!  And, uh, good luck, playwrights.