Page to Stage @The Kennedy Center

It's too late for this year, but next year, if you are in the DC area over Labor Day weekend, you might want to consider attending the annual 3-day Page-to-Stage new play festival at the Kennedy Center.

This year marked the 13th staging of the event. More than 40 DC-area theater companies participated in the festival, which paid tribute to the Women's Voices Theater Festival - an initiative by 50 local theaters to each produce a world premiere play by a female dramatist in the fall of 2015. Thirty of Page-to-Stage programs showcased created by females.

We attended 2 of the performances.

Author Walter Dean Myers

In His Own Words: A concert tribute to Walter Dean Myers

Presented in collaboration with the University of Maryland and the Kennedy Center, the theatrical tribute combined music, dance, and the spoken word to honor noted young adult black writer Walter Dean Myers. 

Myers, who died in July of this year at 86, wrote more than 100 books in a career spanning 45 years.

Included in the program were excepts from his picture book We Are America, his gritty teen novel Monster, and his memoir Bad Boy. Segments from 2 Kennedy Center-commissioned adaptations of his work - Harlem and Blues Journey - were also performed by the 10-member cast.

Talented cast members from the Venue Theater

Witches Vanish

Members of the local Venus Theater staged a reading of the still-in-development play Witches Vanish written by Claudia Barnett, who attended the 90-minute performance.

In the surrealistic play, the 3 witches from William Shakespeare's classic Macbeth ("Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn, and cauldron bubble") are involved in the stories of women who have disappeared in real life such as Virginia Dare, Amelia Earhart, and the scores of young Mexican girls missing from Juarez. The theme is given extra poignancy as the weird sisters recite a litany of names prior to each of the 10 scenes in the 1-act play. There are also vignettes featuring fractured fairy tale accounts of young heroines such as Cinderella and Little Red Riding Hood.

When it is actually produced by the Venus company in 2105, the play will include a boiling cauldron, puppets, and mutilated doll figures. I will definitely put this one on my calendar of plays to see.

Oh What A (60s) Night

Welcome to this week's Friday Flashback. Each Friday in the Flashback we will offer a post about some part of the past and its relationship to DC. Sometimes, we will write a new entry. Others times, we will showcase articles that previously appeared in The Prices Do DC or some other online publications. But no matter who does the writing, you can trust that you will learn something important from the Flashback. 

For 8 performances a week for more than a 1,000 shows in total, Christian Hoff, Michael Langoria, Daniel Reichard, and J. Robert Spencer channeled The Four Seasons as the original cast members in the award-winning Broadway mega-hit Jersey Boys.

The quartet had so much fun with the musical that after they left the cast, they formed the group The Midtown Men to continue signing Four Seasons' tunes and other harmonious hits from the 1960s.

After a private performance in New York City, Steven Reinke, the enthusiastic pops conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra, told the quartet that they should perform with symphony orchestras.

Tonight, after 17 such concerts around the country, The Midtown Men, Reinke, and the NSO joined for the 1st of 2 nights of offerings of nostalgic 60s songs arranged especially for orchestra at the Kennedy Center.

Obviously, the clapping crowd loved the 8 Four Seasons songs performed, as well as a medley of classic Motown hits. But it was the more unique offerings such as "Happy Together" by The Turtles, "California Dreaming" by The Mamas and Papas, and "Time of the Season" by the Zombies (which I chose as song of the night) that really showcased the strong harmonies and versatility of the former Broadway stars.

The orchestra also had its moments to shine. As the show opener, the NSO performed an extended instrumental version of "On Broadway," which was arranged by Reinke and featured several solos from orchestra members. It might also have been the 1st time in NSO history when they played the horn- driven opening of Sam and Dave's classic "Hold On, I'm Coming" to bring The Midtown Men to the stage.

But the real highlight for the NSO was a world-premier performance of an especially commissioned medley of the 5 songs - "I Want to Hold Your Hand," "All My Loving," "Till There Was You,""I Saw Her Standing There" and "She Loves You" - which the Beatles played 50 years ago on their first appearance of the Ed Sullivan Show, a show which was watched by a then-record 70 million viewers. (Did we like it - yeah, yeah, yeah).

After the Motown medley, which included a stellar version of The Temptations "Just My Imagination," The Midtown Men closed the show with the Frankie Valli chart-topper "Oh, What a Night (December, 1963). Hearty applause brought the group back for an encore of The Four Seasons' "Bye, Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye).

Extra! Extra! Read All About It

Setlist for Sensational Show with The Midtown Men 
backed by The National Symphony Orchestra
If You Can Get Tickets for Tonight's Show, Go

1st Set

• On Broadway (NSO under direction of Steven Reinke)
• Working My Way Back to You Babe
• Breaking Up Is Hard to Do
• Let's Hang On
• Can't Buy Me Love
• Happy Together
• Ain't That Peculiar
• Dawn (Go Away)
• Up on the Roof
• Time of the Season
• Cry for Me (from Jersey Boys)
• Big Girls Don't Cry
• Sherry
• Ain't No Mountain High Enough

2nd Set

• Ed Sullivan Welcomes the Beatles (NSO)
• River Deep Mountain High
• California Dreaming
• Can't Take My Eyes Off of You
• Motown Medley
• Oh, What A Night (December, 1963)

Encore

• Bye, Bye Baby (Baby Goodbye)

Side Show: Grandeur from the Grotesque

When I was young, only one film truly terrorized me. That was Tod Browning's shocking cult classic
Freaks. The ending scenes of the pinheads and the armless and legless creatures slithering and scurrying for revenge left an indelible imprint on my memory. It was (and still is) the perfect stuff of nightmares.

I never imagined that 50 years later, that film would provide an opening and closing bookend to the fantastic re-imagined musical Side Show, now playing until July 13 at the Eisenhower Theater in the Kennedy Center. Browning even appears on the stage as a character.

Actually, Side Show is focused on co-joined twins Daisy and Violet Hilton (portrayed brilliantly by Emily Padgett and Erin Davie) and chronicles their rise from freak circus attractions to famous vaudeville entertainers during the Great Depression. The emotionally rich musical follows the twins search for normalcy and love amidst the spectacle of the scrutiny of the spotlight.

Playbill calls Side Show "the must-see event of the DC summer season." And I agree. But don't just tale my word for it. Here is what the critics are saying:

• "a searing, soaring musical is reborn ... the boldest and most splendidly realized production at the  Kennedy Center since Sondheim Celebration in 2002".  (from The Washington Post)
• "a grandeur that eclipses the grotesque." (from The New York Times)
• "simply spectacular" (from Broadway World. com)

During the engaging production (this is a musical which will cause you to think), much is made of all types of connections. The best advice I can give you is connect yourself as quickly as you can to tickets for Side Show. As the title of the opening and closing number you really should "Come Look at the Freaks."

Extra! Extra! Read All About It

Even More about Freaks. Read It If You Dare.

How Freaks out-horrored Frankenstein and all that came later. (from The Judgmental Observer)

"Offend one and you offend them all." (from Horror Film History)

It's still difficult to watch Tod Browning's 80-year-old movie. (from The Guardian)

Sarah Paulson tweets her "Freak Show" American Horror Story role.(from Science Fiction.com)

It Isn't Over Until the Fat, Mighty Whale Sings

Capt. Ahab and his doomed crew

In American culture and the arts, Moby Dick has been many things. Of course, first it was the classic 19th Century Herman Melville masterpiece novel of the obsessed, megalomaniacal sea captain Ahab's relentless hunt for the giant white whale that had severed his leg and stolen his soul. Then it was the popular 1950s movie starring Gregory Peck.

Now, in the 21st Century, it is an American opera. And this Saturday, Moby Dick, with songs by Jake Heggie and libretto by Gene Scheer, debuts at the Kennedy Center.

Last week, selected members of the Washington National Opera cast previewed songs from the show on the Millennium Stage. The cast performed 5 selections. They were:

• "Greemhorn with me ..." from Act I, scene 3 featuring Norman Garrett and Chad Johnson
• "Well Stub, wise Stub ... " from Act I, scene 5 featuring Christian Bowers and Jacqueline Echols
• "Captain Ahab? I must speak with you" from Act I, scene 7 featuring Norman Garrett
• "Poor Rover" from Act II, scene 2 featuring Jacqueline Echols and and Chad Johnson and
• "Ah, Starbuck, it is a mild wind" from Act II, scene 6 featuring Corey Evan Rotz and Norman Garrett

In performances in other cities, much interest has been focused on the innovative, creative stage set designed by Robert Brill. Here, The Washington Post's Anne Midgette interviews Brill about the monumental task of staging the opera, which had its world premiere in 2010. And here Midgette gets Heggie to talk about the production.

Two fantastical sea scenes from Moby Dick

Synetic Readying Dorian Gray

If you have ever attended a Synetic Theater (or, as we like to call it, the world-class theater in our Crystal City basement) production, you have probably wondered what type of intensive exercise training would be required to prepare the troupe for such physically demanding dancing, fighting, and mime-like movements.

Well, at its annual appearance at the Kennedy Center's Page to Stage series, Synetic cast members presented a 10-minute demonstration of one of their intensive exercise routines. Of course, the session was greatly abbreviated. Exercise, training, and conditioning sessions can last from 1 to 6 hours a day depending upon the production.

Synetic also used their time on the Millennium Showcase stage to preview scenes from their upcoming production, The Picture of Dorian Gray, an original restaging of the classic Gothic Fautian-themed novel by Oscar Wilde.

The performance, which, based on the preview promises to be another in the long line of award-winning presentations, opens on Sept. 26 and will run until Nov. 3.

But back to those warm-up exercises for a minute. If you would like to experience a sample of the such intensity yourself, you can. Synetic offers exercise and training programs for the public. Just check out the group's web site.

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips
If you would like to see the entire one-hour performance by Synetic, you can by clicking here.

Touring DC: In the Steps of JFK

July annually means the start of the summer tourist season in DC. This year, 4 historic anniversaries are being celebrated in the nation's capital: the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the 150th anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation, the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington and Martin Luther King's I Have a Dream speech, and the 50th anniversary of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy. To commemorate the 4 events, The Prices Do DC has designed a full-day tour featuring monuments and museum exhibitions selected to help you know more about the people and events of the times. Today's tour: The Life and Times of President John F. Kennedy

Morning

Kennedy Grave Site at Arlington National Cemetery
Pay your respects to the slain President. To learn more, click here.  Free. (Metro - Arlington Cemetery - Blue Line.)

Newseum
It has been 50 years since President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas and to commemorate JFK's life the Newseum is displaying 3 special exhibitions: A Thousand Days, Creating Camelot, and Three Shots Were Fired. To learn more, click here. Admission charge. (Metro - Archives - Yellow and Green Lines.)

Afternoon

Smithsonian Museum of Air and Space
In 1961, President Kennedy pledged that America would send a man to the moon by the end of the decade. Although he did not live to see it, America made the deadline. The story is detailed in the exhibition From Apollo to the Moon. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Smithsonian Station - Blue and Orange Lines or L'Enfant Station - Yellow or Green Lines.)

International Spy Museum
The 1960's was the time of the Cold War and one of President Kennedy's favorite authors was Ian Fleming, the creator of 007 James Bond. Check out the exhibition Exquisitely Evil: 50 Years of Bond Villains. To learn more, click here. Admission charge. ( Metro - Gallery Place/Chinatown Station - Yellow, Green, and Red Lines.)

Evening

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
There are electronic kiosks here where you can learn more about JFK. The building itself is impressive and worth a visit. Also, every night of the year at 6 p.m. there is a free 1-hour show on The Millennium Stage. To learn more, click here. Free. (Metro - Foggy Bottom Station - Blue Line - then take the free shuttle bus to the Kennedy Center.)

Related Dining Experiences for Lunch or Dinner

• Martin's Tavern (This 78-year-old Georgetown eatery is where John Kennedy proposed to Jackie) 
• Mrs. Kennedy loved elegant dining and French food. Try one of DC's French restaurants. Click here for some suggestions from Yelp. 

Tales, Tidbits, and  Tips

Here are some suggestions to help you get the most from this, or any, DC visit.

• Consider staying in Crystal City, which is just across the Potomac, or a hotel/motel in Maryland near a Metro line. It is usually less expensive than staying in similar lodging in DC.
• Leave your car at home or at your hotel/motel. We have lived in the DC-area for 2 years and have never driven in the district. Between the Metro, buses, and taxi cabs it is safe and easy to get around the city. DC is also extremely walkable.
• You will have to be inspected and screened at most all museums and attractions. To save time, carry only what you absolutely need with you. 
• In the summer, DC is hot and humid. Dress accordingly.
• It doesn't hurt to download some DC apps on your smartphone. Our 5 top recommendations are DC Rider, Go Out from The Washington Post, Smithsonian, National Mall, and Yelp.
• For more valuable suggestions and tips,check out our The Prices Do DC blog and website.

The Legacy of Bob Marley

Bob Marley the man and masterful reggae musician is gone, but his powerful messages of love, peace, freedom, and social justice still reverberate on concert stages around the world. And nowhere was that more evident than tonight at the Kennedy Center as the facility hosted a Grammy all-star tribute to Marley, his music, and his legacy.

The artists came from as far away as Ghana and as close as neighboring Virginia. Most played Marley songs that had special meaning for them. A few performed originals that had been directly influenced by the Jamaican songwriter, who died of cancer in 1981. Before and after their selections the artists praised the man they called their mentor as a preacher, teacher, and reacher.

"Sometimes a musician is more than a musician," said the night's emcee, Dermot Hussey, a friend of Marley's and current host for Sirius/XM's all-reggae station The Joint. "Sometimes they are the social conscience of their times. Bob Marley was one."

Much of the credit for the music, which kept the sold-out Kennedy Center crowd dancing, swaying, and bouncing throughout the night, had to go to the solid back-up band, the Roots Radics, who have been turning out hits for themselves and Jamaican artists such as Bunny Wailer and Yellowman for 30 years. For much of the night, the Radics were joined by Bob Marley and the Wailers guitarist Junior Marvin, who played on many of Marley's greatest recordings and has fronted the Wailer's since Marley's death. Simone Gordon and Hassanah provided backup vocals.

International artists included Rocky Darwuni, who has been called the Bob Marley of Ghana, and David "Dread" Hinds, whose revolutionary lyrics create much of the draw of the British band Steel Pulse.

Several popular young performers on the summer festival circuit joined the tribute including Matisyahu, Citizen Cope, and Jacob Hemphill and Trevor Young of SOJA. One of the night's strongest performances  came from talented Toshi Reagon, who is originally from DC but is now based in Brooklyn.

Some of the loudest applause was given to Speech, the leader of the Atlanta rap group Arrested Development whose lyrics deal with the same social and political concerns as Marley's. Accompanied only by his guitarist from Arrested Development, Speech delivered a haunting acoustic rendition of "Redemption Song."

As you would expect, the 3-hour concert focused equally on Marley's songs of love and songs of protest. The crowd, obviously well-versed in reggae and Marley, sang along with hits such as "Get Up, Stand Up," "Stir It Up," and "No Woman, No Cry."

All the performers returned to the stage and swapped verses on "Exodus" and an anthemic "One Love/People Get Ready."

Tales, Tidbits, and Tips
The Marley concert concluded a 3-day The Legacy of Bob Marley event of the Kennedy Center's free Millennium Stage. On Friday, DC native Akua Allrich offered a jazz, blues, and soul show that included  2 Marley songs. Saturday night Southern Sudanese hip-hop artist and former child soldier delivered a show dedicated to such career-long Marley concerns as peace, social justice, and human rights. On Sunday, 2 hours before the Marley concert, the Grammy-winning hip-hop Arrested Development performed before a crowd of more than 1,000 fans who danced, bounced, and waved their hands in the air to such hits as "Tennessee" and "People Everyday."